AT&T Internet
Sonic

AT&T Internet vs Sonic: Side by Side Comparison

A Side-by-Side Comparison of AT&T Internet and Sonic Net in 2023.

Learn more about AT&T Internet and Sonic:

Learn more about AT&T Internet and Sonic

AT&T Internet is a popular choice for its wide coverage, multiple plan options, and affordable prices. Sonic, on the other hand, doesn’t have as much availability as AT&T Internet, but it offers a reliable connection with gigabit speeds for all internet users. Below, we’ve outlined the similarities and differences below to help you find the one that best suits your needs.

AT&T Internet vs Sonic Overall Comparison

AT&T Internet vs Sonic Overall Comparison

  • Speed

    25 Mbps - 5 Gbps

  • Pricing

    $55 - $180/mo.

  • Service Type

    IPBB, Fiber, Fixed Wireless

  • Installation Fee

    $99

  • Equipment Fee

    $0 a month

  • Data Cap

    Unlimited Data

  • Speed

    20 Mbps - 10 Gbps

  • Pricing

    $39.99 - $59.99/mo.

  • Service Type

    DSL, Copper, Fiber

  • Equipment Fee

    $10 a month

  • Data Cap

    Unlimited Data

AT&T Internet offers IPBB, fixed wireless, and fiber plans with fast download speeds and extensive coverage. AT&T Fiber covers just 0.2 percent of U.S. homes, as the technology is still relatively new and expensive to build for infrastructure. Prices for non-fiber plans start at $55 per month, while prices for AT&T Fiber start at $55 per month with speeds up to 5 Gbps.

Sonic uses fiber technology with the goal of providing reliable internet for an affordable price. On the downside, its service is extremely limited to only a few cities in California. Download speeds, however, reach up to 10 Gbps and the price starts at $39.99 per month.

AT&T Internet vs Sonic: Best Deals

Internet Deals

AT&T Internet offers various deals when you sign up online. When you buy an AT&T Fiber plan, you might be able to take advantage of reward cards, free equipment, and free streaming service subscriptions, depending on current promotions. New customers who sign up for Sonic’s fiber service get the first month free. It also includes free installation with your internet plan.

Pros and Cons By Provider

Pros and Cons By Provider

AT&T Internet Pros

  • Wide selection of plans
  • Extensive coverage
  • Excellent customer service
  • Affordable pricing

AT&T Internet Cons

  • Data caps on non-fiber plans
  • Expensive installation fee

Sonic Pros

  • No data caps
  • Affordable monthly rate
  • Free standard installation
  • Fast and reliable speeds

sonic Cons

  • Only available in California
  • Poor customer service

AT&T Internet exceeds in customer service and has wide availability across the U.S. It also offers multiple plan options with different connection types, giving you more freedom to pick the price and speeds you need. On the downside, AT&T Internet does charge an expensive installation fee and has data caps on its fixed wireless plan.

Sonic is only available to California residents, so availability is extremely limited. That said, its internet plans don’t require a contract and have no data caps, allowing you to enjoy downloads up to 10 Gbps.

AT&T Internet vs. Sonic: Packages Compared

AT&T Internet offers plenty of Double Play packages that include internet and TV services. Each bundle comes with hundreds of channels – if you enjoy traditional TV through DIRECTV or DIRECTV STREAM, AT&T Internet’s packages are a great choice.

Sonic offers Double Play bundles, but instead of pairing TV service with its internet service, it offers phone service. They’re cheaper than TV bundles, so if affordability is your primary concern, Sonic deals the cheaper hand.

AT&T Internet vs. Sonic: Extra Fees and Contracts

AT&T Internet doesn’t require customers to sign contracts, so you won’t encounter early termination fees. The only contract you should be concerned about is the one with its DIRECTV package. Sonic doesn’t require a contract.

Installation

AT&T Internet offers professional installation for $99 on all its plans, but there are some instances where the fee is waived during promotions. Sonic offers free installation.

Data cap

AT&T Internet has data caps on its non-fiber plans such as 350 GB per month on the fixed wireless plan. Sonic doesn’t have any data caps.

AT&T Internet vs. Sonic: Customer Satisfaction

AT&T Internet excels in customer service, helping customers resolve issues as quickly as possible. However, complaints regarding high prices and hidden fees that aren’t explicitly communicated have come up from time to time.

Sonic has a solid customer service reputation. Customers have expressed satisfaction with its download speeds for an affordable price. Complaints center around limited coverage.

AT&T Internet vs. Sonic Internet Review

We asked BroadbandNow users to review AT&T Internet based on four core attributes: Customer Service, Reliability, Speed, and Value.

BroadbandNow readers submitted 3069 for AT&T Internet. AT&T Internet earned an average score of 3.39 out of 5.

As of May 2023, BroadBandNow’s editorial team has not been able to survey enough Sonic customers to provide a comprehensive understanding of how this service is meeting customers’ needs or expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions About AT&T Internet and Sonic

  • Is AT&T Internet cheaper than Sonic?

    AT&T Internet’s cheapest internet-only plan is $55 per month and Sonic’s cheapest internet-only plan is $39.99 per month.

  • Who has faster speeds — AT&T Internet or Sonic?

    AT&T Internet offers download speeds up to 5 Gbps. Sonic’s fastest speed reaches 10 Gbps.

  • Do AT&T Internet and Sonic have unlimited data?

    Both AT&T Internet and Sonic’s internet plans offer unlimited data, with some exceptions like AT&T Internet’s fixed wireless plan which has a data cap.

  • Do AT&T Internet and Sonic require a contract?

    Customers only sign a contract with AT&T Internet when they sign up for a DIRECTV package. Sonic’s internet plans don’t require a contract.