CenturyLink vs Suddenlink: Which Provider is Better for you?

Lauren Hannula Managing Editor

Updated 05 December 2018

In this Guide

Internet Speeds
Cost, Data and Value for Money
Availability
Customer Reviews
Bundle Packages
Winner: CenturyLink vs Suddenlink

Article Summary

CenturyLink and Suddenlink offer similar internet speeds and pricing, although Suddenlink boasts more plan options. CenturyLink sports better coverage in the U.S., and pricing that is locked in for the life of your plan. We compare CenturyLink versus Suddenlink when it comes to cost and value for money, speeds, coverage and availability, customer reviews, and bundle packages, to help you decide which provider is best for you.

CenturyLink vs Suddenlink

Provider	Speed	Cost	Coverage	Reviews	Bundles
CenturyLink	5	4	3	2.5	4	Go
Suddenlink	5	3	2	4	2.5	Go

CenturyLink vs Suddenlink: Internet Speeds

Winner: Suddenlink

Suddenlink and CenturyLink both offer internet speeds of up to 1Gbps via their fiber networks. 1Gbps is lightning fast and not every household will actually need speeds like this—but if you do, both carriers have it.

Suddenlink edges out CenturyLink in this category because of the other speed options offered. While CenturyLink's plans jump from a top speed of 1Gbps all the way down to 100Mbps, Suddenlink caters to those who want something in between. Suddenlink offers plans with speeds of 400Mbps and 200Mbps before jumping to 100Mbps speeds.

Since both providers offer the same top speeds, both on a fiber plan, we're crowning Suddenlink as the winner in this category. When it comes to the biggest variety in internet plan speeds, Suddenlink offer the widest range, even offering cable internet plans with speeds of just 1Mbps for the budget-conscious.

Cost, Data and Value for Money

Winner: CenturyLink

Monthly Cost

Suddenlink offers the lowest prices for their lower speed plans. However, when you take into consideration price hikes, CenturyLink may be your provider of choice.

CenturyLink's prices are guaranteed for life, whereas SuddenLink's pricing is only guaranteed for 12 months. After that, your monthly cost could increase quite a bit.

CenturyLink also offers a cheaper 1Gbps plan for those who need the fastest speeds, however it does come with a data cap of 1,000GB per month, whereas Suddenlink's 1Gbps plan gives you unlimited data.

Installation and Other Fees

Suddenlink offers slightly cheaper installation fees compared to CenturyLink—$40 vs $60 respectively. Both offer options to bring your own modem for free, or to rent one for just $10/month.

Data Allowance

The great thing about a lot of Suddenlink's internet plans is that they don't come with a data cap—you're free to use as much data as you like without paying any overage charges. The provider does offer some cheaper plans that have a data cap of 250GB, but there are plenty of unlimited data plans to choose from.

With unlimited data, comes higher pricing. You'll notice that Suddenlink's plans are generally more expensive than CenturyLink's—it's the data you're paying for. Suddenlink may be the way to go if you're a heavy internet user at home, however, for most of us CenturyLink's data caps of 1,000GB per month is more than enough.

Deals

Both CenturyLink and Suddenlink offer deals for new customers throughout the year. While CenturyLink offers its "Price for Life" deal, Suddenlink regularly offers to pay for your termination fees if you switch to them from your current provider.

Suddenlink also regularly offers free installation when you order online, saving you $40 in upfront costs.

Availability: CenturyLink vs Suddenlink

Winner: CenturyLink

In terms of availability, CenturyLink is the clear winner, offering services to 36 different states, compared to Suddenlink's 20 states. Centurylink has full coverage in well populated cities like Dallas, Oklahoma City, Sacramento and Omaha, while Suddenlink's coverage is a little underwhelming.

Customer Reviews: CenturyLink vs Suddenlink

Winner: Suddenlink

Both CenturyLink and Suddenlink have room for improvement when it comes to customer service. Both have their fair share of negative reviews, with Suddenlink customers commonly complaining about the regular price increases.

Suddenlink get mixed reviews on internet service reliability and customer service while CenturyLink tend to receive more negative reviews about both, although location seems to play a big factor in reliability. Both get about 2.5 out of 5 when it comes to customer reviews, although Suddenlink slightly edges out CenturyLink here.

Bundle Packages: CenturyLink vs Suddenlink

Winner: Suddenlink

Both Suddenlink and CenturyLink offer bundle packages for internet plus home phone and/or TV. Similarly with the internet plans, Suddenlink has more options when it comes to bundle plans.

One of the main differences between the bundle packages of these internet providers is their TV options. Suddenlink generally offers more channels than the TV bundles that CenturyLink offers. Another reason whyCenturyLink bundle plans also require you sign up for a 24 month contract, a requirement that Suddenlink doesn't require.

Winner: CenturyLink vs Suddenlink

CenturyLink

Although Suddenlink was the winner in the majority of categories above, we're going to give it to CenturyLink this time. CenturyLink's locked pricing is one of the main reasons for this, as well as its more robust coverage across the country.

Although CenturyLink's internet plans have a data cap of 1,000GB each month, this is more than enough for most of us. According to OpenVault, the average U.S. household only uses about 226GB each month. These are the reasons we've chosen CenturyLink as the winner.

If you want to do some comparing on your own, see for yourself how Suddenlink's plans compare to CenturyLink's internet plans below.

CenturyLink Internet Plans

#1	CenturyLink	CenturyLink Simply Unlimited 140 Mbps VDSL 140/20 Mbps Unlimited Data $55/mo Available in select locations. Paperless billing required. Available in select locations. Paperless billing required. View Plan	$55/mo Available in select locations. Paperless billing required. Available in select locations. Paperless billing required.	View Plan
#2	CenturyLink	CenturyLink Simply Unlimited 100 Mbps VDSL 100/10 Mbps Unlimited Data $55/mo Available in select locations. Paperless billing required. Available in select locations. Paperless billing required. View Plan	$55/mo Available in select locations. Paperless billing required. Available in select locations. Paperless billing required.	View Plan
#3	CenturyLink	CenturyLink Simply Unlimited 80 Mbps VDSL 80/10 Mbps Unlimited Data $55/mo Available in select locations. Paperless billing required. + $149 Upfront Available in select locations. Paperless billing required. View Plan	$55/mo Available in select locations. Paperless billing required. + $149 Upfront Available in select locations. Paperless billing required.	View Plan
#4	CenturyLink	CenturyLink Simply Unlimited 60 Mbps VDSL 60/5 Mbps Unlimited Data $55/mo Available in select locations. Paperless billing required. + $149 Upfront Available in select locations. Paperless billing required. View Plan	$55/mo Available in select locations. Paperless billing required. + $149 Upfront Available in select locations. Paperless billing required.	View Plan
#5	CenturyLink	CenturyLink Simply Unlimited 40 Mbps VDSL 40/3 Mbps Unlimited Data $55/mo Available in select locations. Paperless billing required. + $25 Upfront Available in select locations. Paperless billing required. View Plan	$55/mo Available in select locations. Paperless billing required. + $25 Upfront Available in select locations. Paperless billing required.	View Plan

Suddenlink Internet Plans

#1	WOW!	WOW! Internet 300 Cable 300/20 Mbps Unlimited Data $20/mo with AutoPay + $10 Upfront with AutoPay View Plan	$20/mo with AutoPay + $10 Upfront with AutoPay	View Plan
#2	Breezeline	Breezeline Internet 100 Cable 100/10 Mbps Unlimited Data $20/mo for 24 months then $45.00/month. Includes $10/mo EcoSave/ AutoPay discount. for 24 months then $45.00/month. Includes $10/mo EcoSave/ AutoPay discount. View Plan	$20/mo for 24 months then $45.00/month. Includes $10/mo EcoSave/ AutoPay discount. for 24 months then $45.00/month. Includes $10/mo EcoSave/ AutoPay discount.	View Plan
#3	Kinetic	Kinetic 100 Mbps Fiber 100/100 Mbps Unlimited Data $24.99/mo for 12 months. This advertised price includes a $5.00 credit for AutoPay enrollment. for 12 months. This advertised price includes a $5.00 credit for AutoPay enrollment. View Plan	$24.99/mo for 12 months. This advertised price includes a $5.00 credit for AutoPay enrollment. for 12 months. This advertised price includes a $5.00 credit for AutoPay enrollment.	View Plan
#4	Optimum	Optimum 300 Mbps Internet Cable 300/300 Mbps Unlimited Data $25/mo with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. View Plan	$25/mo with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas.	View Plan
#5	Optimum	Optimum 300 Mbps Internet Cable 300/300 Mbps Unlimited Data $25/mo with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. View Plan	$25/mo with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas.	View Plan

Lauren Hannula

Managing Editor

Lauren is WhistleOut's Managing Editor. With over 14 years of digital writing and publishing experience, she's developed a passion for breaking down overly complex topics to offer easy, affordable solutions that help make the most of the tech you already have in your pocket. Her work has appeared in industry stalwarts such as CNET, Yahoo! News, and Forbes.

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