AT&T Internet Plans for Seniors
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November 21, 2024
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While AT&T does not offer a specific internet plan for seniors, it is one of the best internet options for people of any age. Its plans start at $55 per month, and its speeds performed well consistently in our tests. Certain plans come with hidden fees, particularly for equipment, but AT&T’s offerings are overall more affordable than some of its competitors. The provider also offers a plan for low-income individuals that costs $30 per month.
FYI: Looking for home internet from $20 per month? Then read our rundown of the best internet providers for seniors.
AT&T Home Internet Pros and Cons
AT&T Pros
- Fast speeds: AT&T offers internet with download speeds up to 5,000 Mbps. Granted, most households will not need such fast internet, but their more affordable plans offer ample speeds too
- Low-income plan: AT&T offers a specific plan for low-income individuals that costs only $30 per month with no equipment fees, no contracts, and no initial deposits.
- Free installation: If you install AT&T internet yourself, you’ll pay no fee. Professional installation, however, will cost a one-time $99 charge.
- Equipment included: AT&T does not charge a monthly fee for the equipment you need to set up its home internet service.
AT&T Cons
- Price hikes: After your first 12 months of service, AT&T reserves the right to increase the price of your internet service. It’s not guaranteed that the price will go up, but this is a possibility.
- Limited devices: On certain plans, AT&T limits the number of devices a person can simultaneously pair. Some plans limit a household’s device count to as low as four.
AT&T Home Internet Plans and Pricing
| Plan | Monthly Price | Download Speeds |
|---|---|---|
| Access* | $30 | Up to 100 Mbps |
| Internet 300 | $55 | Up to 300 Mbps |
| Internet 500 | $65 | Up to 500 Mbps |
| 1 Gig | $80 | Up to 1,000 Mbps |
| 2 Gig | $150 | Up to 2,000 Mbps |
| 5 Gig | $250 | Up to 5,000 Mbps |
*The Access plan is only available to low-income individuals and those on specified government assistance programs.
AT&T Internet Fees
Unlike Verizon internet, which charges an additional monthly fee for equipment usage, AT&T does not charge extra fees to use their equipment. The company’s gateways (the only equipment needed to use the internet), come with no extra charges. If you need a Wi-Fi extender, which can help in larger homes, you’ll pay $10 per month.
Does AT&T Have an Internet Plan for Seniors?
As of 2024, AT&T does not have a specific internet plan or discount for older adults, unlike the AT&T discounted phone plan. However, the company does offer a discounted internet plan for people who meet certain income requirements or who are eligible for certain government programs.
AT&T Access is a discounted home internet service that offers download speeds up to 100 Mbps. This plan costs $30 per month, and there are no extra charges for equipment or installation.
To be eligible for AT&T Access, a person must be eligible for one of the following programs or income situations:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Only for California residents
- National School Lunch Program
- Having a household income less than 200% of federal poverty guidelines
In 2024, the federal poverty guidelines are as follows:
- $15,060 for individuals
- $20,440 for a family of two
- $25,820 for a family of three
- $31,200 for a family of four
If you double these numbers, and your household income is less than the resulting sum, then you’ll be eligible for AT&T Access.
Savings Tip: While AT&T advertises its internet service for $50 per month, this price reflects the amount you pay when enrolled in its AutoPay program, a service that automatically bills your credit card or checking account each month.
Installation
Once you’ve completed your transaction, AT&T will send you a Wi-Fi gateway device, which provides the connection throughout your home. We were pleased to find that this device came at no extra cost. Many providers will require you to rent a router for an additional monthly fee.
Once we received the Wi-Fi gateway, setting it up was as easy as plugging it in, syncing it with our AT&T app, and waiting about a minute for the connection to establish. Overall, the process was very simple and quick. The only caveat is that you’ll need a smartphone in order to set up your home internet on your own.
Using AT&T Internet
Using AT&T home internet was largely a positive experience. Although I chose the most basic Internet 300 plan, this was more than enough to stream video on multiple devices simultaneously with no buffering or lag.
One of the standout features of AT&T's service has been its consistency. Unlike my previous provider, I haven't experienced any significant downtime or unexpected outages. The Wi-Fi coverage throughout my home is excellent. Its signal remains strong — even in the rooms farthest from our router.
The one drawback I’ve encountered is the occasional dip in speed during peak evening hours. While it's not a major issue, it can be noticeable when everyone in the neighborhood is online. Despite this minor inconvenience, AT&T home internet has proven to be a reliable and efficient choice for my household.
>> Related Reading: Learn how AARP can save you money on AT&T cell phones.
AT&T Home Internet vs. T-Mobile
| AT&T | T-Mobile | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price |
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| Speeds | 300 Mbps | 25-100 Mbps |
| Price Increases | Never | Never |
| Connection Type | Fiber | Cellular |
| Long-Term Contracts | Not required | Not required |
| Activation Fees | None | None |
In terms of pricing, AT&T and T-Mobile both have a similar price, with AT&T starting at $55 per month and T-Mobile starting at $60. The primary difference is in the discounts that come from bundling phone plans with one’s internet.
T-Mobile offers discounts for bundling its home internet service with a wireless plan. While the monthly cost for internet alone is $60, its price drops to $40 per month for those with a premium wireless plan. AT&T will drop the price of their internet by $20 per month for those with an unlimited wireless plan.
Aside from pricing, the main difference between the two internet providers is in their connectivity. AT&T’s internet is powered by fiber-optic cables. This allows it to have much faster speeds overall. On the low end, you can expect 300 Mbps, and their plans top out at 5,000 Mbps speeds. T-Mobile, however, has only one plan, and it’s powered by the company’s cellular network. This means that not only will speeds max out at 100 Mbps, but they can also fluctuate significantly based on the time of day.
Since pricing is overall similar, we’d recommend AT&T, due to its faster speeds and greater reliability. We’d only recommend T-Mobile internet for those who don’t live within AT&T coverage.
Pro Tip: To learn more about Spectrum services, read our guide to Spectrum internet for seniors.
Bottom Line
While the company offers no specific plan or discount for seniors, AT&T is one of the most reliable home internet providers we’ve tested, and their pricing is surprisingly competitive.
To learn more about other internet providers for seniors, take a look at our guides:
AT&T Frequently Asked Questions
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Is AT&T home internet good?
Powered by fiber-optic cables, AT&T home internet is among the fastest providers we’ve tested, and its pricing is competitive with other providers.
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Does AT&T throttle home internet?
AT&T will not throttle your internet connection, and they have no data caps on fiber plans.
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Is 300 Mbps good for streaming?
For most households, 300 Mbps will be more than enough to browse the web and stream content on multiple devices simultaneously.