AT&T Internet for Seniors

AT&T Internet Plans at a Glance

AT&T’s Internet plans start at $55 per month for the first 12 months, plus taxes, fees, and (depending on the plan) an equipment fee of $10 monthly. Your geographic location will determine the availability of internet speed and connection type.

Which AT&T Internet Plan Is Best for Seniors?

AT&T Internet 300: Best for Heavy Internet Users and Large Households

AT&T’s Internet 300 plan runs on a fast, reliable fiber connection. These consistent speeds can support over 11 devices at once. The biggest drawback is that AT&T’s fiber plans have imited availability, especially compared to other fiber providers, such as Optimum and Verizon. AT&T’s starting price is $55 monthly, plus taxes and fees (including $99 for professional installation). That’s some solid bang for your buck!

The AT&T Fiber Internet 300 plan is a good option for older adults who use the internet multiple times a day for many tasks, such as emails, downloading videos and movies, streaming music and television, and making video calls. This plan is superb for older adults who host friends and family often, as several users can be online at once without significant lag times. You’ll also get unlimited data and no overage fees.

For comparison, other companies we’ve reviewed, like Xfinity, offer the same download speeds at a similar price but in cable form, which is less reliable than fiber. Compared to other fiber internet providers, such as Verizon, with plans starting at $49.99 per month for up to 300 Mbps, AT&T is a bit more expensive. Don’t forget that you can download the free Smart Home Manager app on your mobile device to check for nearby outages and get Wi-Fi help.

Using the Smart Home Manager app

AT&T Internet 100: Best for Light Internet Users and Couples

If you live somewhere without fiber but still want an AT&T plan, one of the company’s broadband plans may be a good option. These plans offer download speeds up to 100 Mbps, depending on location. They’re perfect for older adults who want to connect with their family on social networks, download music, or stream movies and television on a few devices.

This plan allows up to 10 devices, although your speed will depend on screen size and resolution. You can also stream videos in HD and share large files with family. Again, the speeds available will vary depending on your geographic location, and prices start at $55 monthly if you opt for autopay and paperless billing. (Be sure to sign up for these programs within the first two months of service.) AT&T’s broadband plans offer decent value if 100 Mbps speeds are available in your area.

I have a broadband plan. AT&T offers speeds up to 50 Mbps where I live, and I’ve found that my speeds are pretty consistent. I work from home and have three roommates, a few of which also work from home a few days a week, and we don’t experience any slow-downs. We often have a few TVs streaming shows and several phones and laptops connected simultaneously without lagging. I ran a speed test and got download speeds of around 46 Mbps, so we were close to our advertised speeds. I will say that this plan could offer better value since I pay $55 for 50 Mbps, while customers in other areas pay the same price for 100 Mbps.

Our speed test while using AT&T internet

AT&T Internet Air: Best for Light-Use and Moderate-Use Households

This fixed wireless plan includes the AT&T All-Fi Hub, a self-installed, all-in-one device that manages your Wi-Fi network through a Smart Home Manager app. The app lets you personalize your Wi-Fi, check data usage per device, manage screen time and user access, and more.

Like other AT&T plans, Internet Air has no data cap, contract, or price increase after 12 months. This plan has limited availability and a sizable speed range based on your location. It provides ample bandwidth for streaming videos and for enjoying social media.

This plan is $55 a month, plus taxes. If you bundle it with an eligible AT&T Wireless plan within 30 days, your price will decrease to $35. For $7 a month more, you can add AT&T ActiveArmor internet security to this plan. Active Armor adds privacy and protection features to your service.

Senior Discounts for AT&T Internet Plans

AT&T doesn’t currently provide senior-specific discounts or plans for internet service. However, they do have a few programs offering savings to eligible seniors.

Access From AT&T

Access from AT&T is an internet plan that provides low-cost internet services to low-income households. For $30 per month, it includes all of the perks from AT&T, such as free installation, in-home Wi-Fi, no contract, and no deposit.

Download speeds can reach up to 100 Mbps in some areas, but Access speeds depend on availability where you live. Those speeds are more than adequate for smaller households or people with limited internet needs. Eligibility requirements include participating in one of the following programs:

• Medicaid
• Lifeline
• Federal Public Housing Assistance
• Supplemental Nutritional Access Program (SNAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (California residents only)

Getting the Most out of Your AT&T Internet Plan

AT&T provides several perks for their customers, including antivirus software, an AT&T Internet Security Suite powered by McAfee, and Wi-Fi hotspot access in more than 30,000 locations nationwide so you can remain connected when you travel.

Another great way to get the most out of your AT&T plan is by bundling it with TV services. You can also check out our guide to the internet for seniors, which covers getting the best deals, the top providers, tips for staying safe online, and more.

DIRECTV and AT&T Internet Bundles

Bundling your TV and internet services with AT&T can be cheaper than paying for them separately, making them a great option for those on fixed incomes. DIRECTV offers satellite and streaming TV packages with up to 165 channels, depending on the chosen package. These packages can be bundled with AT&T’s fiber internet plans, which start at $124.99 monthly for the first year. There are auto pay and paperless billing discounts.

You’ll also have access to thousands of on-demand shows and movies. Additionally, you can record your favorite shows to watch later with cloud storage. Whether it’s a movie night with friends or watching a show with the kiddos, adding a DIRECTV package to your internet plan drastically ups your available entertainment options. When our team tested out DIRECTV’s TV packages, we found they offer an excellent variety of content, especially for sports fans and movie buffs.

Bundling AT&T internet with DIRECTV offers access to thousands of on demand titles and many channels, as seen on our tester's TV.

Many of these bundles also come with three months of free access to premium movie channels like SHOWTIME, Cinemax, HBO Max, STARZ, and EPIX. One thing to remember is that bundles require a two-year agreement for DIRECTV. If you’re OK with committing long term, the perks might be worth it. To learn more, visit our DIRECTV review.

For comparison’s sake, Spectrum’s Triple Play bundle with internet, landline phone service, and TV could save you $8 per month compared to what you’d pay for those services separately every month. A TV package with Xfinity that bundles TV, internet, landline, and home security services saves up to $60 a month.

AT&T Customer Service

In my experience, AT&T offers excellent customer service, with representatives who are helpful, kind, and knowledgeable. I had to go through a lengthy process over the phone to switch my AT&T account from my roommate’s name to mine. During the call, the representative was personable and kept me updated throughout the process. He was patient and able to answer any questions I had. I’ve also had pleasant experiences using AT&T’s online chat feature, which I can access through AT&T’s mobile app or on their website.

AT&T offers an online chat feature that I often use to get my questions answered quickly.

AT&T Versus the Competition

There’s no need to pay for more speed or internet features than you need. If you’re looking for a simple internet plan for basic activities, such as emailing and light web browsing, you may benefit from comparing plans with lower speeds. A few providers offer the same or faster speeds for lower prices. However, they may require a contract or increase prices after the promotional period ends. The chart below compares basic internet plans from AT&T with basic plans of other leading providers.

Internet Starter Plan Comparison

Although CenturyLink and WOW are a little (or a lot) cheaper than AT&T, CenturyLink only offers internet service in 16 states, compared with AT&T’s 22 states, and WOW Internet service is only available in six states, currently. So you might have better luck getting AT&T service in your area.

Our Methodology: How We Tested and Reviewed AT&T Internet

My tech team and I spent more than 50 hours researching and testing AT&T’s internet plans. Taking into account our personal experience as well as industry research, we evaluated each internet provider’s costs, speeds, customer service, and service reliability. Here’s a look at our testing process:

1. Our team researched AT&T’s internet plans online and over the phone, reaching out to customer support to receive more details and assess the level of support offered. We considered package prices and contracts, including extra fees for things like installation, equipment, or activation.
2. We purchased an AT&T plan online, assessing the sign-up process and ease of purchase.
3. Once we received our equipment, we set it up in the living room of a 1,400 square-foot, two-story home.
4. Our team spent a week testing the internet plan throughout our home, taking note of connection consistency and any issues. We conducted 10 internet speed tests to find the average speeds of our plan and compare it to advertised speeds.

After our testing period ended, we evaluated AT&T’s internet plans using the following criteria:

• Pricing: Many seniors are on a budget, so we considered affordability in evaluating each internet provider we review. That included researching whether companies offer discounts for veterans, seniors, or low-income households. We also did our best to give you an accurate picture of a company’s fees, including taxes and equipment fees.
• Contracts: Some companies might require a service contract, sometimes for one or two years. We make note of this important detail and what a company’s contract might entail.
• Coverage: Many internet providers offer 5G coverage but only in limited areas. We strive to give you an accurate picture of a company’s network service nationwide and how to find a company’s coverage in your area.
• Plan variety and flexibility: We like to see multiple options in service plans that fit the needs and budgets of most older adults.
• Reliability: This is a big one! No one wants to pay for slow or spotty internet service, so we rigorously test how reliable a provider’s service is.
• Customer service: Everyone needs customer service and tech support that is accessible, helpful, and courteous, but it’s an especially important factor for older adults who might be less tech-savvy. We took note of how easy or difficult it is to reach a company’s customer service representatives and how helpful agents were when we did speak to them (or email or chat with them).

The Bottom Line

AT&T’s internet plans start at $55 monthly plus taxes. Keep in mind that available speeds and prices will vary by location. AT&T’s fiber plans offer fast, reliable service in some areas, which is great for heavy internet users or older adults who often entertain friends and family. Once you get into AT&T’s fixed wireless plans, the value decreases, as other providers offer the same speeds at lower prices. But don’t overlook the value of their fiber plans and lack of long-term contracts. Older adults who love to watch TV and movies will find the best value by bundling their services with one of AT&T’s internet and DIRECTV bundles.