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 in some instances, an equipment fee of $10 per month. 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 somewhat limited 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, so you won’t need to worry about 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 where fiber isn’t available but you 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. AT&T’s broadband plans offer decent value if 100 Mbps speeds are available in your area.

I have a broadband plan, and AT&T offers speeds up to 50 Mbps in my area. 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 pretty wide 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. If you’re eligible for the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), you’re eligible for Access from AT&T! This includes all of the perks from AT&T, such as free installation and in-home Wi-Fi, no contract, and no deposit.

The plan costs $30 per month or less, depending on the speeds available where you live. Download speeds can reach up to 100 Mbps in some areas. Those speeds are more than adequate for smaller households or people who only use the internet sparsely. 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

Many older adults use the TV for news, information, entertainment, plus the internet. If you bundle your TV and internet services with AT&T, you can save on your monthly bill compared to paying for them separately.

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, starting at $124.99 monthly for the first year, with auto 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 the entertainment options available.

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 are worth it in our book. To learn more, visit our DIRECTV review.

AT&T Customer Service

Another thing I like about AT&T is the high level of their customer service. I’ve found that their representatives are helpful, kind, and knowledgeable. I personally had to go through a lengthy process to switch my AT&T account from my roommate’s name to mine, which took a while on the phone. During the call, the representative casually spoke with me and kept me updated about the whole process throughout. He was able to answer any questions I had and was very patient. 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

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; there’s no need to pay for more speed or features than you need. 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. Below is a comparison of basic internet plans from AT&T and other leading providers.

Internet Starter Plan Comparison

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 provide value to 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.