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AT&T Internet vs TDS: Side by Side Comparison

Enter your zip code below to see if AT&T Internet or TDS offers service in your area.

AT&T Internet vs TDS

AT&T and TDS are both forward-thinking providers with strong bases in DSL service and an eye towards raising the bar with next-generation speeds and technology. Details in add-on services like TV create more than a few factors to weigh, alongside ongoing promotions and bundled packages.

AT&T Internet AT A GLANCE

  • Sales: (877) 722-3506
  • Support: (800) 288-2020
(877) 722-3506

$50-70/mo.

5-100 Mbps

1.0-100 Mbps

64%64%

DSL

20th ↓ (-1)

TDS Telecom AT A GLANCE

  • Sales: (855) 220-2592
  • Support: (855) 220-2592
(855) 220-2592

$29.95-89.95/mo.

50-1,000 Mbps

10-400 Mbps

--

DSL

38th ↑ (+1)

AT&T Internet OVERVIEW

AT&T Internet U-Verse is a bundled broadband Internet, phone, and television company. They offer connectivity over both DSL and fiber networks.

TDS OVERVIEW

TDS Telecom provides DSL Internet (with cable in some areas) throughout the country, in addition to TV and phone services. Select areas within their network have access to gigabit download speeds over fiber connections.

AT&T Internet INTERNET DEALS †

  • $50 for 100 mbps Fiber
    • 100 Mbps ↓ and 100 Mbps ↑ w/ a 1000 GB/mo data cap
    • 1-year promo rate. Regular rate is $60.00.
    • Contract Term: 1 year with up to $180 ETF
    • Get a $50 reward card with qualifying online orders.
    • Setup: Up to $99 installation cost.
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo
    • Call (877) 722-3506 to setup service.
  • $50 for 300 mbps Fiber
    • 300 Mbps ↓ and 300 Mbps ↑ w/ a 1000 GB/mo data cap
    • 1-year promo rate. Regular rate is $80.00.
    • Contract Term: 1 year with up to $180 ETF
    • Get a $50 reward card with qualifying online orders.
    • Setup: $0 (Professional installation included.)
    • Modem w/ WiFi included.
    • Call (877) 722-3506 to setup service.
  • $50 for 100 mbps DSL
    • 10 to 100 mbps depending on location w/ a 1000 GB/mo data cap
    • 1-year promo rate. Regular rate is $60.00.
    • Contract Term: 1 year with up to $180 ETF
    • Get a $50 reward card with qualifying online orders.
    • Setup: Up to $99 installation cost
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo
    • Call (877) 722-3506 to setup service.
  • $60 for 10 mbps Fixed Wireless
    • Download speeds of 10 Mbps or over and upload speeds of 1 Mbps or over w/ a 215 GB/mo data cap
    • 1-year promo rate. Regular rate is $70.00.
    • Contract Term: 1 year with up to $120 ETF
    • $0 equipment fee includes Wi-Fi gateway.
    • Setup: Installation cost of outdoor antenna is up to $99.
    • Call (877) 722-3506 to setup service.
  • $70 for 1,000 mbps Fiber
    • 1,000 Mbps ↓ and 1,000 Mbps ↑ w/ no data cap.
    • 1-year promo rate. Regular rate is $100.00.
    • Contract Term: 1 year with up to $180 ETF
    • Get a $50 reward card with qualifying online orders.
    • Setup: $0 (Installation cost waived.)
    • Modem w/ WiFi included.
    • Call (877) 722-3506 to setup service.
Show All Deals (8)
Last updated on 1/10/2020

†All plans not available in all areas or to all customers. Verify details with AT&T Internet.

TDS INTERNET DEALS †

  • $29.95 for 50 mbps DSL
    • Download speeds of 36 to 50 Mbps and 1.5 to 10 Mbps upload speeds
    • 1-year promo rate. Regular rate is $65.95.
    • Some areas have a 250GB data allowance, other markets have no usage caps.
    • Setup: $14.95 (Includes equipment one-time handling fee and free activation. $100 processing fee waiver available to qualifying customers.)
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $8/mo
    • Call (855) 220-2592 to setup service.
  • $39.95 for 100 mbps DSL
    • Download speeds of 75 to 100 Mbps and 7 to 15 Mbps upload speeds
    • 1-year promo rate. Regular rate is $65.95.
    • Some areas have a 250GB data allowance, other markets have no usage caps.
    • Setup: $14.95 (Includes equipment one-time handling fee and free activation. $100 processing fee waiver available to qualifying customers.)
    • Call (855) 220-2592 to setup service.
  • $39.95 for 100 mbps Cable
    • 100 Mbps ↓ and 10 Mbps ↑ w/ no data cap.
    • 1-year promo rate. Regular rate is $62.00.
    • Setup: $0 (Free installation.)
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo
    • Call (855) 220-2592 to setup service.
  • $49.95 for 300 mbps Fiber
    • 300 Mbps ↓ and 300 Mbps ↑
    • 2-year promo rate. Regular rate is $70.95.
    • Some areas have a 250GB data allowance, other markets have no usage caps.
    • Setup: $14.95 (Includes equipment one-time handling fee and free activation. $100 processing fee waiver available to qualifying customers.)
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $9/mo
    • Call (855) 220-2592 to setup service.
  • $59.95 for 300 mbps Cable
    • 300 Mbps ↓ and 10 Mbps ↑ w/ no data cap.
    • 1-year promo rate. Regular rate is $82.00.
    • Setup: $0 (Free installation.)
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo
    • Call (855) 220-2592 to setup service.
  • $69.95 for 600 mbps Fiber
    • 600 Mbps ↓ and 400 Mbps ↑
    • 2-year promo rate. Regular rate is $90.95.
    • Some areas have a 250GB data allowance, other markets have no usage caps.
    • Setup: $14.95 (Includes equipment one-time handling fee and free activation. $100 processing fee waiver available to qualifying customers.)
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $9/mo
    • Call (855) 220-2592 to setup service.
  • $79.95 for 600 mbps Cable
    • 600 Mbps ↓ and 20 Mbps ↑ w/ no data cap.
    • 1-year promo rate. Regular rate is $102.00.
    • Setup: $0 (Free installation.)
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo
    • Call (855) 220-2592 to setup service.
  • $89.95 for 1,000 mbps Fiber
    • 1,000 Mbps ↓ and 400 Mbps ↑
    • 2-year promo rate. Regular rate is $110.95.
    • Some areas have a 250GB data allowance, other markets have no usage caps.
    • Setup: $14.95 (Includes equipment one-time handling fee and free activation. $100 processing fee waiver available to qualifying customers.)
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $9/mo
    • Call (855) 220-2592 to setup service.
Last updated on 1/12/2020

†All plans not available in all areas or to all customers. Verify details with TDS.

AT&T Internet: DATACAPS From 215 GB/mo.

We have found plans that include datacaps. AT&T Internet offer plans with data caps regionally or nationwide. Be sure to verify plan details before purchasing.

TDS: NO DATACAP FOUND

We have not found plans that include data caps. This doesn't mean TDS doesn't have data caps, just that we haven't found them when collecting their plans. Always verify plan details before purchasing.

AT&T Internet's TECHNOLOGY

AT&T markets both fiber optic and DSL broadband access for households and businesses throughout much of the USA. Fiber service is available for both residential and corporate subscribers. AT&T also offers several "double play" plans including bundled TV or landline phone options.

AT&T's DSL offering, historically called "U-verse", utilizes Fiber-to-the-Node technology. This means that a fiber cable terminates near the subscriber address, switching over to telephone, ethernet, and coaxial. Their hybrid fiber infrastructure has allowed them to service more robust plans than traditionally possible from DSL.[2]

AT&T Fiber to the Home is only sold in select areas. FTTH is considered the “gold standard” for strong, fast home internet.

TDS's TECHNOLOGY

TDS provides Internet, phone, and TV to their residential and business subscribers. They mostly offer DSL.

DSL offerings are delivered from an office near customer addresses via existing copper phone cables. Cable is generally provided using fiber until reaching a switchpoint in local areas, at which point digital data switches to an existing TV “cable” coaxial network. [3]

TDS fiber packages are serviced with 100% fiber optic cabling, usually Fiber to the Home (FTTH), allowing speeds up to 1Gbps (1,000Mbps). Using digital fiber transmission technology for the entire journey from ISP to user removes the performance degradation from “switching” to a copper cable.

AT&T Internet INSTALLATION

AT&T offers both technician installation and self-install.

AT&T generally charges a fee for technician installation, so if your house is already wired, self-installation might help you to save money when setting up service.

TDS INSTALLATION

TDS is somewhat simple to set up. Self-installation is possible for cable plans.

Professional installation is also available for subscribers that need assistance and can be scheduled directly through TDS (for a fee).

AT&T Internet COVERAGE & AVAILABILITY

AT&T Internet Interactive SVG Map showing broadband coverage.
Customize map

TDS COVERAGE & AVAILABILITY

TDS Telecom Interactive SVG Map showing broadband coverage.
Customize map

Quality of service is key

Don’t discount good customer service

Broadband Internet isn’t just a luxury, especially if you need it for work and communication. Providers that are responsive to customer requests and will quickly resolve technical difficulties are often worth paying a little extra for, even if the plan isn’t 100% perfect. The question is, how can you tell which online reviews are accurate, and which are fakes?

Overall, there are two trustworthy rating systems for broadband providers like TDS and AT&T. First, check their ACSI (American Customer Satisfaction Index) rating, included in the comparison above for each provider. This data is based on surveys conducted quarterly by trained professionals, evaluating a variety of points including customer service friendliness, speed of service, and installation ease.[1]

You might also have noticed the term “IP-verified” when checking out plans via BroadbandNow. IP addresses are the unique identifiers for individual internet connections — think of it as an address for your computer. We verify the IPs for reviews we collect to make sure that it’s a real person and that they’re actually using the provider in question.

To bundle or not to bundle?

“Triple play” vs “double play” broadband offerings

Bundling multiple services like phone, TV, and Internet from a single provider can often result in considerable savings. It’s a win for the provider and the consumer, since adding in phone and TV is usually easy assuming the house is hooked up for Internet.

“Triple play” bundles generally include TV, Internet, and phone service, while “double play” included Internet and TV. (Or Internet and home phone connection.) When shopping bundled offers, be sure the price is final, and not a limited-time offer to encourage sign-ups.

REFERENCES AND FOOTNOTES
  1. https://www.theacsi.org/industries/telecommunications-and-information/internet-service-provider ↩
  2. https://www.fcc.gov/general/types-broadband-connections ↩
  3. https://www.fcc.gov/general/types-broadband-connections ↩
Last updated on 1/12/2020.