CenturyLink Internet is available in 37 states and is perhaps best known for its Price for Life deal. According to FCC data, it’s a major internet service provider in the US, with more than 49 million clients across the country.
LIKE
CenturyLink’s Fiber internet offers some of the most cost-effective fiber plans available.
There are no commitments, so there are no cancellation fees or overage charges to worry about.
DISLIKE
DSL speeds can vary greatly by location and fall below the FCC’s definition of “broadband.”
Depending to your address, you have a limited number of plan options.
Your internet experience may disappoint you if DSL is your only choice. Digital subscriber lines and fiber-optic internet services are available to clients of CenturyLink. Depending on where you live, your CenturyLink internet speed will be affected by the availability of ground-laid fiber-optic cable or phone line-based DSL connections. CenturyLink’s Fiber Internet is only available in 25 of the 37 states it serves, so faster speeds will not be available to all of its customers. It’s boasts of having one of the most affordable fiber plans you can get anywhere in the country, so don’t hesitate to sign up.
Pricing and options for CenturyLink
CenturyLink now offers DSL internet options, with speeds up to 140 megabits per second or a 100% fiber network with two distinct plans. For the remainder of this year, the Lumen team told CNET, the firm plans to continue bringing its Fiber Internet service to new cities by investing and expanding its fiber footprint.
For the most part, Internet service providers offer three to five distinct package options at the majority of locations. Many of CenturyLink’s service areas only have access to a few options above. When it comes to some locations, there may be just one option.
CenturyLink’s DSL services cost an average of $1 per megabit per second, which is a very reasonable price for that particular connection type. In comparison, AT&T, Frontier, and Verizon’s DSL services cost an average of $2.44 per megabit per second. I’m only comparing standard rates because CenturyLink doesn’t offer promotional pricing. It’s important to remember that the amount you pay when signing up is the price you’ll pay for the first year.
The average cost per Mbps is just 7 cents, which is much less expensive than cable gigabit offers from Spectrum (between 12 and 14 cents), Comcast and Cox’s cable gigabit offerings (12 to 14 cents), or the fiber gigabit options from AT&T, Frontier, and Verizon (9 cents).
DSL is a lot slower than fiber, but it’s still fast.
In most cases, CenturyLink’s internet service is sufficient if Fiber Internet options are offered. Download and upload speeds are equal, so you’ll have superior performance at work (no glitchy Zoom conversations or frozen FaceTime frames) and play (less lag during online gaming and no issues streaming Ozark in 4K).
More than 40% of CenturyLink customers experienced download speeds of more than 95% of the claimed speed in the most recent FCC report on fixed broadband performance. In comparison, another 40% or so reported speeds between 80% and 95% of the advertised number. More than 20% of customers are reporting speeds of less than 80% of quoted speeds.
Cable and fiber providers like Cox, Mediacom, Verizon, and Xfinity have 93%-99% of their customers reporting that their performance is at least 95% of the claimed download speed, which is a stark contrast. CenturyLink’s DSL plans were the only ones tested by the FCC; no fiber plans were included. As a result, the data is heavily weighted in favor of CenturyLink’s lowest speed levels.
What else should you know about CenturyLink’s internet service?
CenturyLink requires a monthly prepayment to provide you with its low prices and no-term contracts. But there will be no credit checks.
Recurring monthly charges
CenturyLink, like Spectrum, Verizon, and Xfinity, allows you to use your modem or router instead of renting one. Check out CenturyLink’s device compatibility list, but if you decide to use your equipment, you won’t be eligible for the company’s free 24/7 technical support.
Pay only once
Even though self-installation is free, not every address can take advantage of this option. CenturyLink will charge you $99 for professional installation if such is the case at your residence. That cost can rise to $125 in some cases. Additional charges include a $20 one-time broadband activation fee when you first sign up for service.
Every plan comes with no data limits.
CenturyLink previously exclusively offered its unlimited data plans with DSL connections. CenturyLink now provides unlimited data on all Fiber Internet rates as part of its launch of the Fiber Internet package. You won’t have to keep an eye on your data consumption or worry about consuming too many gigabytes before your payment cycle is over due to this important shift in policy.
