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AT&T vs Spectrum in Birmingham
The real trade-off in Birmingham: AT&T fiber offers far faster uploads and slightly wider coverage, while Spectrum cable undercuts it by about five dollars a month.
AT&T wins this matchup in Birmingham on the metrics that matter most. Its fiber delivers up to 5000/5000 Mbps with a 99/100 speed score, beats Spectrum on coverage (~92% vs ~89%), and starts at $55/mo. Spectrum’s cable tops out at 1000/35 Mbps with an 84/100 speed score for $49.99/mo. Choose AT&T if you want symmetrical fiber speeds and can get it at your address; choose Spectrum if it’s a few dollars cheaper and AT&T fiber hasn’t reached your block yet.
At a glance
AT&T vs. Spectrum, side by side.
| Provider | Type | Top speed | City coverage | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T |
Fiber | 5 Gig 5 Gig upload |
92% | $55/mo | Top fiber speeds |
| Spectrum |
Cable | 1 Gig 35 Mbps upload |
89% | $49.99/mo | Budget-friendly |
Coverage map
Two different questions, two views. Top speed shows who offers the faster plan where you can actually get it. Coverage shows who reaches more of each ZIP. Or pick a single provider to see just its footprint.
Neighborhood breakdown
Coverage shifts block to block in Birmingham, so the winner depends on your exact address. AT&T fiber reaches about 92% of the city and Spectrum cable about 89%, but neither covers everyone. Always check both at your specific street before deciding.
| ZIP | Neighborhoods | Coverage | Top speed | Speed Score | Winner | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | Spectrum | AT&T | Spectrum | AT&T | Spectrum | |||
| 35215 | Center Point, Huffman, Roebuck | 79% | 94% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 95 | 86 | AT&T |
| 35234 | Norwood, Druid Hills, Collegeville | 25% | 89% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 84 | 85 | Spectrum |
| 35211 | Green Springs, Oxmoor, Powderly | 36% | 96% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 86 | 86 | Spectrum |
| 35204 | Druid Hills, Smithfield, College Hills | 25% | 93% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 84 | 86 | Spectrum |
| 35208 | Ensley, Fairview, West End | 71% | 97% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 93 | 87 | AT&T |
| 35214 | Forestdale, Sandusky, Pleasant Grove | 20% | 92% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 83 | 86 | Spectrum |
| 35217 | Tarrant, Inglenook, Robinwood | 31% | 87% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 85 | 85 | Spectrum |
| 35228 | Midfield, Brighton, Lipscomb | 56% | 97% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 90 | 87 | AT&T |
| 35218 | Fairfield, Central Park, Pratt City | 46% | 87% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 88 | 85 | AT&T |
| 35242 | Meadow Brook, Greystone, Inverness, Highland Lakes | 68% | 85% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 93 | 84 | AT&T |
| 35206 | East Lake, Woodlawn, Roebuck | 45% | 96% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 88 | 86 | AT&T |
| 35209 | Homewood, Edgewood, West Homewood | 63% | 83% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 92 | 84 | AT&T |
| 35212 | Woodlawn, Avondale, Gate City | 27% | 93% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 85 | 86 | Spectrum |
| 35244 | Hoover, Riverchase, Ross Bridge | 76% | 87% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 94 | 85 | AT&T |
| 35216 | Vestavia Hills, Hoover, Shades Mountain | 69% | 91% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 93 | 85 | AT&T |
| 35210 | Irondale, Crestwood, Eastwood | 60% | 87% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 91 | 85 | AT&T |
| 35243 | Cahaba Heights, Mountain Brook, Brook Highland | 86% | 95% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 96 | 86 | AT&T |
| 35235 | Center Point, Huffman, Roebuck | 52% | 88% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 90 | 85 | AT&T |
| 35222 | Avondale, Forest Park, Cliff Road Historic District | 59% | 76% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 91 | 82 | AT&T |
| 35207 | Norwood, North Birmingham, Collegeville | 25% | 83% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 84 | 84 | Spectrum |
| 35205 | Five Points South, Highland Park, Southside | 19% | 86% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 83 | 84 | Spectrum |
| 35224 | Pleasant Grove, Sandusky, Forestdale | 49% | 94% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 89 | 86 | AT&T |
| 35226 | Hoover, Bluff Park, Shades Mountain, Riverchase | 80% | 94% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 95 | 86 | AT&T |
| 35213 | Mountain Brook, Crestline, Mountain Brook Village | 87% | 95% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 97 | 86 | AT&T |
| 35223 | Mountain Brook, Crestline, Mountain Brook Village | 84% | 94% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 96 | 86 | AT&T |
| 35203 | Downtown Birmingham, Uptown, Fountain Heights | 20% | 55% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 83 | 78 | AT&T |
| 35233 | Downtown Birmingham, Southside, UAB, Five Points South | 29% | 52% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 85 | 78 | AT&T |
| 35221 | Powderly, West End, Oak Grove | 29% | 97% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 85 | 87 | Spectrum |
| 35259 | Birmingham (PO Boxes) | 60% | 77% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 91 | 83 | AT&T |
| 35294 | UAB Campus, Southside, Five Points South | 24% | 47% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 84 | 77 | AT&T |
| 35231 | Birmingham (PO Boxes) | 58% | 91% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 91 | 85 | AT&T |
| 35219 | Homewood, Lakeview | 100% | 99% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 99 | 87 | AT&T |
| 35261 | East Birmingham (PO Boxes) | 14% | 86% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 82 | 84 | Spectrum |
| 35232 | Birmingham (PO Boxes) | 10% | 91% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 81 | 85 | Spectrum |
| 35266 | Birmingham (PO Boxes) | 75% | 88% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 94 | 85 | AT&T |
| 35202 | Downtown Birmingham, Central Business District | 32% | 62% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 86 | 80 | AT&T |
| 35201 | Downtown Birmingham, City Center | 32% | 62% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 86 | 80 | AT&T |
| 35260 | Birmingham (PO Boxes) | 96% | 99% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 98 | 87 | AT&T |
| 35253 | Mountain Brook (PO Boxes) | 75% | 79% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 94 | 83 | AT&T |
| 35255 | Southside (PO Boxes) | 14% | 94% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 82 | 86 | Spectrum |
| 35238 | Birmingham (PO Boxes) | 82% | 86% | 5 Gig | 1 Gig | 96 | 84 | AT&T |
Speed Score (0–100) blends each provider’s coverage and top speed in that specific ZIP, so it moves as availability changes street to street.
Which is better for…
The right pick comes down to what you actually do online.
Get connected
Pick your provider and check availability at your address.
- 5 Gig down · 5 Gig up Fiber
- 1 Gig down · 1 Gig up Fiber
- 1 Gig down · 1 Gig up Fiber
- 1 Gig down · 500 Mbps up Fiber
- 1 Gig down · 35 Mbps up Fiber
See what’s actually available at your address
Coverage changes from one street to the next. Check your exact address in seconds.
Check my addressFrequently asked questions
Can I get AT&T fiber or Spectrum at my Birmingham address?
AT&T fiber reaches about 92% of Birmingham and Spectrum cable about 89%, so most addresses have at least one option and many have both. Since coverage varies block to block, plug your exact street address into each provider’s checker before you compare plans.
Which is actually cheaper, AT&T or Spectrum in Birmingham?
Spectrum starts at $49.99/mo versus AT&T’s $55/mo, so Spectrum is about five dollars cheaper up front. Note these are promotional starting rates, so confirm the post-promo price, equipment fees, and any contract terms with each provider before you sign.
Is AT&T or Spectrum faster, and is it enough for gaming and 4K?
AT&T is faster, reaching up to 5000/5000 Mbps where available with a 99/100 speed score, versus Spectrum’s 1000/35 Mbps and 84/100. Both handle 4K streaming easily, but if you game or work from home with heavy uploads, check whether AT&T fiber is live at your address.