AT&T vs. HughesNet Internet Providers Compared

Industry-leading fiber internet speeds and strong reliability from AT&T

AT&T Fiber can support all your data-intensive internet activities, now and in the future. AT&T continues to lead the industry with multi-gigabit (5000 Mbps) internet speeds available in select areas and more speed on the way. When you add no contracts, no equipment fees, no data caps, and a reputation for reliable customer service, AT&T is a superior choice for all-fiber internet. In areas where only AT&T copper service is available, customers should also check other options and compare speeds and pricing.

AT&T Fiber internet is affordably priced given its high quality and dependability

AT&T offers reasonable fiber pricing with first-tier fiber internet plans currently starting around $55/month. AT&T won’t always offer you the lowest price for fiber in your area. But AT&T will offer you the low end of industry standard prices. For those prices, you’ll often get higher internet speeds from AT&T than from the competition. You will get good value for the internet speed you’re buying. AT&T Fiber’s advantage is that their fiber connections give you equal download and upload speeds. So, even if AT&T Fiber and a cable provider offer you the same price for a speed they both call “300 Mbps,” you will not be getting the same speeds from fiber and cable providers. All cable internet may have high download speeds, but has much slower upload speeds (usually around 10-20 Mbps). AT&T Fiber will give you the same upload speed as your download speed for your monthly price. Having upload speed equal to your download speed can make a big difference for real-time activities such as video streaming and gaming. Fiber also offers low latency, which you’ll see in a ping test. So overall, you are getting more for your money with a fiber internet plan, even when fiber and cable plans advertise the same prices and download speeds. There’s one drawback to AT&T’s pricing. AT&T’s copper-wired service (DSL/ IPBB) is priced at around the same as its first-tier fiber plan. This price is higher by Mbps given that copper service is much slower and less reliable than fiber. We hope AT&T will consider lowering the price of its copper service to give better value to DSL/IPBB customers.

Hughesnet offers prices similar to Viasat, but often for slower speeds

Hughesnet offers its plans at rates that at first seem comparable to cable or fiber prices. The Hughesnet first-tier satellite internet plan starts at $49.99/month. But there are two catches. First, your initial rate is a promotional rate, and after the first six months, your prices will increase significantly for all plans. Second, you may only get an internet speed up to 50 Mbps download/5 Mbps upload, depending on your service area. This is not high-speed internet by the FCC’s definition [2]. And it is clearly not as fast as the 200-300 Mbps download speed you often get for $50-60/month from a cable or fiber internet plan.

Hughesnet uses soft data caps that may affect your internet speed

A drawback to Hughesnet plans is the use of soft data caps. When you order Hughesnet service, you don’t choose a speed level as you do with other internet types. Instead, you choose your data limit for the month, ranging from 100 GB to 200 GB. If you only surf the internet lightly and use email, you can stay within a 100 GB data limit pretty easily. But if you plan large file uploads, video streaming, or online gaming, the data usage can add up fast. Hughesnet does offer some solutions to help you work with their soft data caps. Their data tokens allow you to purchase extra data at the end of each month if you need more. Nonetheless, having soft data caps will affect how you use the internet. If you consistently need more data tokens, those extra charges may affect your monthly budget. Consider carefully whether you are likely to need more or less data than Hughesnet will allow you under each of their plans. Finally, Hughesnet requires a two-year contract. If you cancel your subscription early, you will pay an early termination fee prorated by the time still left in your contract.

Decades of growth give AT&T reliable infrastructure and sophisticated operations

As the third-largest ISP in the United States, AT&T has massive corporate size and history on its side. AT&T’s home internet serves over 100 metro areas in 22 states, with over 19 million fiber internet passings [1] [2]. AT&T provides strong infrastructure and tech support. With 99% reliability for your internet connection, AT&T Fiber service is less likely to be disrupted by outages or slowdowns than many other internet providers [3]. AT&T’s reliability rating is higher than some other ISPs because AT&T customers do not have to work with internet data caps. Many internet service providers have soft data caps. When you hit your data allowance for the month, your ISP will throttle your internet. Your internet speed will slow down to the point that only the simplest email tasks will be possible. You won’t be able to do complex web browsing, streaming, or your other usual internet tasks. In other words, your internet will become unreliable when you hit the limits of your data caps. AT&T and other providers with no data caps give you peace of mind because you won’t suddenly lose most of your internet functionality in the third week of the month. Unlimited data is a major bonus for your internet connection’s reliability.

A Hughesnet internet connection is slower than most other ISPs

The nature of satellite internet technology means that satellite internet has always been different from wired internet in three ways. 1) Slower speeds: Hughesnet’s maximum download speed right now (100 Mbps) is much slower than speeds for fiber and cable internet that can often reach Gigabit speeds (1000 Mbps and up). 2) Weather interference: Bad weather can sometimes cause temporary slowing or outage in a satellite signal. 3) Latency: The distance of a satellite from Earth causes latency, which is a slight delay in data transmission. Despite these drawbacks, satellite service can still give you a solid connection if you live in a rural or underserved area. In today’s digital world, high-speed internet may be your ticket to education, a job, and even medical care. Satellite internet can support high enough speeds to provide you with access to these opportunities. Hughesnet has attempted to address latency with their new Hughesnet Fusion plans, which launched in 2022. This hybrid technology uses a satellite connection but can also route signals through wireless towers when necessary. Hughesnet has not released data to prove lower latency yet. They claim that the latency is 100 ms on their FCC Broadband label. Customers online report higher latency for their Fusion service [3].

AT&T offers no equipment fees, optional self-installation, extra cybersecurity features

As long as you have AT&T internet service, you will also get to use an internet gateway at no charge [4]. (This gateway is a modem/router combo known as AT&T Smart Wi-Fi.) Your plan may also include a free Wi-Fi extender depending on your terms. If you order AT&T Fiber, technicians will install an ONT (optical network terminal) and a fiber jack or ethernet jack. Professional installation from AT&T will cost you $99 for either copper internet or fiber installation. If you are planning to order copper-based internet (DSL/IPBB) and there is already a dual-port phone jack in your home, AT&T can mail you a self-installation kit at no charge. You can even self-install fiber internet if you are comfortable with a wall installation and following technical instructions. AT&T customers have access to the AT&T ActiveArmor internet security app. The app will block fraud calls and guard risky Wi-Fi connections. For a small extra monthly charge, ActiveArmor offers advanced functions such as Identity Monitoring and Reverse Number Lookup. AT&T also offers a Smart Home Manager app to manage your Wi-Fi and all smart home devices and check for outages.

Hughesnet equipment requires initial investment or monthly rental fee

Buying satellite equipment can be expensive. The dish and gateway for Hughesnet Gen 5 plans costs around $350, while Hughesnet Fusion equipment is $450. If you don’t want to invest and would rather try out service first, you can rent the equipment for $15-20 a month. Buying the equipment outright will save you money if you end up using your service for more than 2 years. Hughesnet’s installation is often free, depending on your plan and current promotions. This is a nice bonus and ensures that a technician can get the best angle for your satellite dish. The technician will connect two of your devices in addition to setting up the antenna and modem/router.

AT&T Customer Service provides 24/7 tech support and ranks #1

AT&T has a robust customer support framework, including community forums, live chat, and phone assistance. Tech support is available 24/7, which can be a lifesaver if you work or study from home. Billing and account support are available from 7 AM to 9 PM CT Monday through Friday, and 8 AM to 9 PM Saturday. Those Saturday hours are especially valuable if you work Monday to Friday and can’t squeeze in personal business during the week. In 2023, AT&T ranked#1 for Customer Satisfaction in Residential Internet Service (North Central and West regions) with J.D. Power and Associates [5]. AT&T also ranked #2 in the South region.

Hughesnet customer satisfaction below average

Hughesnet has sometimes received low customer satisfaction ratings both in national surveys and in online reviews. It’s hard to know how much of that response is related to unrealistic customer expectations about satellite internet performance. Certainly, when Hughesnet gets online comments from unsatisfied customers, they tend to focus on internet performance. Meanwhile, remember that while satellite internet service has limitations, it can still provide high-speed internet access when your only alternative is slower DSL or no internet at all.