5G Home Internet vs. DSL: Is It Time to Switch in 2026?

Max McCaskill Sr. Staff Writer

Updated 17 March 2026

Contents

Jump to:

5G vs DSL: What's the difference?
Speeds
Pros and cons
Installation process
5G home internet and DSL plans
FAQs

5G internet is the newest home internet connection type, running off wireless companies' 5G networks. DSL is one of the oldest forms of internet connections, providing service through copper phone lines.

5G home internet offers faster download speeds and higher bandwidth, making it a great option for streaming, browsing the web, or working from home.
DSL offers some of the slowest internet speeds on the market and is being phased out nationwide.

If you're trying to choose between 5G home internet and DSL, you should almost always choose the 5G internet plan. It'll offer a better overall experience and may even be cheaper, especially if you bundle it with a wireless phone plan. You should only select a DSL plan if you have no other options for internet connectivity or can't afford a different connection type.

Let's dive into DSL and 5G internet. We'll cover how each service works, which offers the fastest speeds, and which you should choose for your next plan.

I can't get cable, fiber, or 5G internet. Am I stuck with DSL?

No, you're not stuck with DSL!

If you live in an area with no other traditional internet types available, look into satellite internet plans. While it is a more expensive service, it's one of the only ways to get high-speed internet in rural areas that are only served by a wired DSL connection.

Residential 100 Mbps

Satellite 100/35 Mbps
Unlimited Data

$55/mo

Available in select locations

+ $369 Upfront

View Plan

$55/mo

Available in select locations

+ $369 Upfront

View Plan

Quick guide: 5G internet vs. DSL

	5G home Internet	DSL internet
Speed	Up to 400Mbps	Up to 100Mbps
Price	$35–$75/mo.*	$40–$65/mo.
Latency	Variable: Prone to lag spikes	Average: Fine for basic browsing
Contract	None	Most plans don't require a contract
Availability	Limited to areas with strong 5G service	Widespread, but shrinking as DSL service winds down

*Lowest 5G internet prices require a wireless phone bundle.

5G internet vs DSL: What's the difference?

The key difference between 5G internet and DSL is how the internet service is delivered to your home.

5G home internet service comes from a wireless signal connected to a nearby 5G phone tower.
DSL is a wired service that comes into your home from copper phone lines.

How DSL internet works

DSL was the first new internet connection type after dial-up, and the technology hasn't changed much since the 1990s.

It uses your home's landline to connect your router to the internet. These old copper phone lines cross almost every neighborhood in the country, making DSL extremely accessible, even in rural areas.

Unfortunately for DSL customers, copper is not the best material for transmitting internet service. While it works fine for voices, remember that this infrastructure was originally built for telephones, so it bottlenecks when transmitting larger and more complicated amounts of internet data.

The other problem facing DSL is your neighbors. If everyone on your street is sharing the same phone line, the service can get congested and slow down. Additionally, the farther you live down the line from the main hookup, the slower your service is due to signal degradation.

These problems have led to many internet companies announcing they're phasing out their DSL service. AT&T—one of the largest DSL providers left—will shut down its DSL service by the end of 2029.

How 5G home internet works

Unlike the wired connection of DSL, 5G internet is a broadband internet service that uses a wireless company's 5G network. These are the same high-speed 5G networks your smartphone uses when you connect to the internet on the go.

Like a smartphone mobile hotspot, a 5G home internet router wirelessly connects to a local 5G tower, then transmits the signal into your home as a Wi-Fi network. That said, 5G internet is a fixed wireless service, meaning it's linked to your specific, fixed address. Unlike your mobile hotspot, it can't be used anywhere else.

The downside of this service is that while 5G networks are steadily growing, they're not available everywhere yet. This is especially true in rural areas where DSL still has a stronger foothold. 5G home internet requires a strong enough network of 5G towers to support both wireless users and internet customers. Right now, those kinds of networks are mostly located in cities and suburbs.

5G internet vs DSL: Speeds

5G home internet is much faster than DSL.

5G home internet download speeds can reach up to 400Mbps
DSL speeds top out around 100Mbps, but average speeds are usually 25Mbps or less.

Once again, this comes down to the technology behind both connectivity types. 5G home internet is running on the fastest wireless networks currently available. While it still isn't as fast as a cable or fiber connection, it's still fast enough to handle virtually any internet task.

DSL is much slower, running on existing phone lines. In addition to issues with data bottlenecks, network congestion, and distance, aging phone lines are also causing slower speeds. As internet companies have pushed customers to switch to faster services, they've largely stopped updating landline networks. To put this into perspective, I had a DSL plan until 2022 because I lived in a rural area. My final average DSL speed before switching had slowed to 4Mbps.

Wondering what internet speed is right for you? Check out our internet speed guide to help you figure out how fast your current connection is and what speeds you actually need.

5G internet vs DSL: Pros and cons

Even though the competition between 5G home internet and DSL doesn't seem to be a fair fight, some customers may still need a DSL connection.

Take a look below to see the list of important pros and cons of each connection type.

DSL home internet

Widely available in rural areas
Low-cost plan options available
Bundle deals with home phone and cable TV
Can reach speeds of 100Mbps in select areas
Companies are slowly discontinuing service
Slow download speeds
Subject to network congestion

5G home internet

Fast download speeds
Easy installation
Widely available in areas with 5G coverage
Bundle with wireless service for extra discounts
Limited availability in rural areas
Service impacts from weather and network congestion

5G internet vs DSL: Installation Process

Both 5G home internet and DSL require a router and a Wi-Fi modem to deliver service to your home. Luckily, installation is generally easy for both internet types.

With 5G home internet, you simply plug in the gateway modem sent by your internet provider. It contains a SIM card that automatically connects to the 5G network as soon as you turn it on. There is no special dish or technician required.

The difficulty of your DSL installation depends on whether your home has a preexisting landline connection with your ISP. If you already have a home phone line with your internet company, you'll simply need to plug the modem into the phone jack. If your home has never had a landline, a technician will have to install one. There may also be fees associated with installing the new wired line.

5G home internet and DSL plans

Switching from DSL to 5G internet? It's a great time to make the change. The quality of DSL will only continue to decline as it's phased out. You can access faster speeds, lower latency, and higher bandwidth just by switching to 5G internet today.

You'll notice major improvements with a plan on a service like T-Mobile's 5G home internet vs. CenturyLink DSL. Plus, for carriers like T-Mobile, you can get a discount on your service if you bundle with a wireless plan, making the $35/month Rely plan one of the cheapest internet plans available.

On the other hand, DSL is still a major source of internet in rural areas that don't have 5G coverage. If you live in a place where 5G internet isn't available, we still don't recommend sticking with DSL. Instead, you should consider satellite internet. Providers like Starlink, Hughesnet, and Viasat offer service in the most remote locations in the nation. While these plans are likely more expensive than DSL, satellite internet is a much better experience for users.

To see what internet service is available in your area, simply type your address into our internet search engine, and we'll show you the best plans and providers you should consider switching to.

5G home internet plans

#1	T-Mobile	T-Mobile Rely Internet Mobile Broadband 318/50 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Switch to this Home Internet plan and get 1 month FREE + $100 back via a virtual prepaid Mastercard $50/mo 5 year price guarantee. With AutoPay. Guarantee exclusions like taxes and fees apply. + $35 Upfront 5 year price guarantee. With AutoPay. Guarantee exclusions like taxes and fees apply. View Plan	$50/mo 5 year price guarantee. With AutoPay. Guarantee exclusions like taxes and fees apply. + $35 Upfront 5 year price guarantee. With AutoPay. Guarantee exclusions like taxes and fees apply.	View Plan
#2	Verizon	Verizon myPlan + 5G Home Mobile Broadband 100/10 Mbps Unlimited Data $35/mo with AutoPay and any Verizon mobile phone plan with AutoPay and any Verizon mobile phone plan View Plan	$35/mo with AutoPay and any Verizon mobile phone plan with AutoPay and any Verizon mobile phone plan	View Plan
#3	Mint Mobile	Mint Mobile 12 Month Home MINTernet Mobile Broadband 415/55 Mbps Unlimited Data $40/mo $480.00 upfront payment for 12 months $480.00 upfront payment for 12 months View Plan	$40/mo $480.00 upfront payment for 12 months $480.00 upfront payment for 12 months	View Plan
#4	NOW	NOW 100/10 Mbps Mobile Broadband 100/10 Mbps Unlimited Data $30/mo View Plan	$30/mo	View Plan
#5	AT&T	AT&T Internet Air Mobile Broadband 150/20 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Get $12 per month savings off your internet bill for the first 12 months $48/mo Paperless billing required. Plus taxes & fees. Limited availability. May not be available in your area. Paperless billing required. Plus taxes & fees. Limited availability. May not be available in your area. View Plan	$48/mo Paperless billing required. Plus taxes & fees. Limited availability. May not be available in your area. Paperless billing required. Plus taxes & fees. Limited availability. May not be available in your area.	View Plan

DSL internet plans

Simply Unlimited 140 Mbps

VDSL 140/20 Mbps
Unlimited Data

$55/mo

Available in select locations. Paperless billing required.

View Plan

$55/mo

Available in select locations. Paperless billing required.

View Plan

5G internet vs. DSL: FAQs

Is 5G home internet more reliable than DSL?

Yes, 5G home internet is more reliable than DSL, offering faster speeds, lower latency, and higher bandwidth.

Can I keep my landline if I switch to 5G?

Yes, you can keep your landline if you switch to 5G internet. They are two different services.

Do I need a phone line for 5G internet?

No, you do not need a physical phone line for 5G internet. Instead, it uses a wireless connection that pings to local 5G phone towers.

When is DSL being shut down?

AT&T plans to shut down its DSL networks by the end of 2029, and many other providers are following a similar timeline. However, the exact date depends on your specific internet provider and location.

Max McCaskill

Sr. Staff Writer

Max is a Senior Staff Writer at WhistleOut, specializing in mobile plans, operating systems, and carrier news. He regularly tests and reviews dozens of phone plans firsthand, evaluating real-world data speeds, coverage reliability, and plan features. He's been featured in publications such as Yahoo Finance, AARP, AP News, and GoBankingRates.

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