EarthLink
available in 
Price: $49.95–$189.95/mo.*
Speeds: 10–5,000 Mbps
Data cap: None (fiber and DSL)
50–150 GB (fixed wireless)
Compare all plans
◊ Provider star ratings are based on user reviews and our independent customer satisfaction survey.
Data effective 02/23/2023. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*with a 12-month contract.
Our EarthLink internet review
EarthLink’s unconventional business model is unique among internet providers. Instead of building its own infrastructure by burying cables, constructing broadcast towers, or launching satellites, EarthLink rents space on other internet service providers’ (ISP’s) networks. That gives EarthLink nationwide reach and allows the company to focus all its efforts on providing the best customer experience around.
Pros
- Highly rated customer support
- Expansive coverage area
Cons
- 1-year contracts
- Higher monthly cost
Jump to: Plans and pricing | Speed and data caps | Fees | Installation, equipment, and contracts | Customer ratings | EarthLink vs. the competition | Bottom line | FAQ
Jump to:
Compare EarthLink internet plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Speed | Type | Shop plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber 500 | $79.95/mo.* | 500 Mbps | Fiber | Shop EarthLink Plans |
| Fiber 1 Gig | $89.95/mo.* | 1,000 Mbps | Fiber | Shop EarthLink Plans |
| Fiber 2 Gig | $129.95/mo.* | 2,000 Mbps | Fiber | Shop EarthLink Plans |
| Fiber 5 Gig | $189.95/mo.* | 5,000 Mbps | Fiber | Shop EarthLink Plans |
| EarthLink 10-80 Mbps Internet | $49.95/mo.-$69.95/mo.* | 10 Mbps-80 Mbps | DSL | Shop EarthLink Plans |
| EarthLink LTE Home 50 GB- 150 GB | $64.95/mo.-$149.95/mo. | Up to 100 Mbps | Fixed wireless | Shop EarthLink Plans |
Data effective 12/14/2022. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*with a 12-month contract.
Find out if Earthlink is available in your area.
EarthLink speeds: What’s best for you?
EarthLink has a huge variety of plans, which means you can save a bit of money if you know how much speed you need. EarthLink fiber plans, which range from 100 Mbps to 5 Gbps, offer the best value for speed and reliability.
How fast are your EarthLink speeds?
Click below for a quick speed test and find out.
Download speed
000 Mbps
Upload speed
000 Mbps
Latency (ping)
00 ms
Jitter
00 ms
EarthLink data caps
EarthLink’s DSL and fiber plans don’t have data caps, which is a big selling point. Its only plans with data caps are its fixed wireless plans, which have data limits comparable in size to those you’d find in other wireless connections, like satellite internet.
Our favorite plan: EarthLink 1 Gig Internet is similar in price to other gigabit fiber plans but comes with EarthLink’s highly rated customer service.
EarthLink offers service in all 50 states using other ISP’s networks. Because it uses different networks, EarthLink’s connection speeds and reliability vary by location. Fortunately, EarthLink’s focus on customer service makes it easy to get outages and other issues resolved quickly.
Although speed is what most people think of when they think about fiber internet, fiber-optic internet connections are also incredibly reliable. Plans like EarthLink 100 Mbps Internet are great if you want fiber reliability without paying for speed you don’t use.
EarthLink ongoing deals and promotions + bundles
EarthLink's fiber plans include unlimited data without an extra fee.
Get the DealEarthLink internet fees
| Cost | |
|---|---|
| Equipment Fee | $12.95/mo. |
| Installation Fee | $79.95 professional installation (for fiber and DSL) |
| Activation Fee | $79.95 (for fixed wireless) |
| Other Fees | Up to $200.00 early termination fee |
Most of EarthLink’s fees are reasonable, but it enforces a hefty early termination fee on all its standard plans if you cancel service before the end of your 1-year contract. If you plan on moving in the next 12 months, you might consider a more temporary solution.
EarthLink internet installation, equipment, and contracts
EarthLink doesn’t give a self-installation option for fiber or DSL, but it manages to keep installation and equipment costs fairly low.
Earthlink’s fixed wireless plans do have self-installation with a $79.95 activation fee.
EarthLink installation and equipment
EarthLink offers professional installation at a pretty reasonable price. The installation experience varies somewhat by area—like most things with EarthLink—but the ISP’s customer service ensures that most people end up very satisfied with the process.
EarthLink internet contracts
All EarthLink fiber and DSL plans come with a 1-year contract. This isn’t uncommon for an internet provider, but we definitely prefer the flexibility of no-contract plans.
EarthLink internet customer ratings
| Overall Rating | Speed | Price | Reliability | Customer Service | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EarthLink customer satisfaction rating | 4.0/5 | 3.9/5 | 3.8/5 | 3.8/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Average rating* | 3.7/5 | 3.8/5 | 3.3/5 | 3.7/5 | 3.6/5 |
*Based on our annual customer satisfaction survey
EarthLink was the undisputed champion of our 2022 customer satisfaction survey, taking the top spot in both price and customer service. This is also the third year in a row EarthLink has taken the top spot. EarthLink clearly sets the standard for customer service in internet service providers.
One of the most notable results from the 2022 survey is that even in areas where EarthLink struggles, it still provides a great experience to its customers. Despite reporting more outages, EarthLink customers reported being more satisfied with the reliability of their connections than customers of other providers.
Earthlink prioritizes its customer service and it shows with their beating out all other national providers in this category. If you dread having to deal with your ISP’s customer service, EarthLink might be a welcome breath of fresh air.
While all EarthLink customers love their internet, fiber customers gave EarthLink especially high marks. If EarthLink offers fiber in your area, it’s definitely worth looking into.
How Earthlink compares to the competition
| Provider | Plan price range | Speeds (range) | User rating* | Order online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthlink | $49.95–$189.95/mo.† | 10–5,000Mbps | 4.0/5 | View Plans |
| AT&T | $55.00–$250.00/mo.‡ | 25–5,000Mbps | 3.7/5 | |
| Xfinity | $30.00–$120.00/mo.§#* | 75–2,000Mbps | 3.7/5 | View Plans |
Data effective 03/30/2023. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Read disclaimers.
Since EarthLink uses its competition’s networks, it can’t offer higher speeds, but it can offer better customer service. Although EarthLink plans are generally more expensive than similar plans by nationwide providers like AT&T and Xfinity, 77% of EarthLink customers said that their speeds usually or always meet the speed that they were promised.
That EarthLink has some of the most satisfied and enthusiastic customers might seem contradictory. By the usual metrics for an internet connection, like speed, price, and reliability, EarthLink seems to lag behind other major providers. Nevertheless, EarthLink customers have better experiences with their internet than customers with other ISPs.
We love having fast connections, but many would rather settle for a bit less bandwidth, rather than having to spend hours on hold trying to fix a technical problem. EarthLink focuses on what actually provides a better experience to its customers, and it seems like that effort pays off.
Read our full reviews of EarthLink vs. its main internet competitors
Is EarthLink internet right for you?
If the main things you look for in an internet plan are download speed and price, you can probably find a better deal going with a more traditional ISP than EarthLink.
On the other hand, if you’ve had bad experiences with other providers and are looking for an internet provider that will be more responsive when problems arise, then EarthLink is just what you’re looking for. Because it’s so widespread, it can provide a welcome alternative in areas where customers have limited options for internet access. It also has no data caps, which keeps internet customers happy.
Shop EarthLink InternetFAQ about EarthLink
What are the best routers for EarthLink internet?
We recommend the TP-Link Archer AX10. It can handle the fastest speeds EarthLink offers and costs a fraction of the price of many other routers. It also uses Wi-Fi 6, which has lots of features to make your home internet experience even better.
Methodology
Our HighSpeedInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on customer input from our annual customer satisfaction survey, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. To strengthen our research, we look closely at provider contracts to get hard-to-find information on price hikes, data caps, and extra fees, and we keep tabs on the latest news reports and online reviews. When applicable, we also rely on our personal experiences testing these services.
Disclaimers
How Earthlink compares to the competition
*According to our annual customer satisfaction survey.
† with a 12 month contract.
‡Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101.
‡Price after $5/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount (w/in 2 bills). Plus taxes & fees. Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. One time install chrg may apply. Ltd. avail/areas. Call or go to www.fiber.att.com to see if you qualify.
‡Price after $5/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount (w/in 2 bills). Plus taxes & fees. Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. Ltd. availability/areas.
§ Connect plan: For 12 months. No term contract. Taxes and equipment not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Regional price differences may apply.
# Connect More: No term contract. Taxes not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount.
Gigabit Extra plans: For 24 months. No term contract. Taxes not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount.
*Fast, Superfast, and Gigabit plans: For 24 months. No term contract. Taxes and equipment not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount.