Earthlink Internet Review: Plans, Prices, Availability

3.5 out of 5 overall

Fast internet starting at $54.90/month

• Fast fiber internet
• No price increases
• Strong rural coverage

View Plan & Pricing

EarthLink gives customers the chance to get internet service from AT&T Internet, CenturyLink, Frontier, and Viasat without directly dealing with their notoriously poor customer service. With unlimited data and prices that will not automatically increase after a year, EarthLink can be a fresh alternative to people frustrated with the country's large ISPs. However, its high plan prices can be a turnoff.

We’ll compare EarthLink’s prices, plan speeds, reliability, and connection types to the competitors it seeks to replace. Keep reading to learn more about EarthLink Internet and discover if it's the right provider for you.

EarthLink internet plans

Because EarthLink sells service on the networks of several different internet service providers, it has a wide variety of internet plans. Depending on your location, you may have access to EarthLink's fiber (EarthLink Hyperlink), DSL, satellite, or wireless internet. Speeds range from 15Mbps to 5,000Mbps, with the prices starting at $54.90 and generally increasing as maximum speeds increase. All of EarthLink's plans include unlimited data. 

EarthLink	EarthLink 500 Mbps Fiber 500/10 Mbps Unlimited Data $49.90/mo ($34.95 plan + $14.95 modem) for the first 3 months, then $54.95/month + $24.95 Upfront for the first 3 months, then $54.95/month View Plan	$49.90/mo ($34.95 plan + $14.95 modem) for the first 3 months, then $54.95/month + $24.95 Upfront for the first 3 months, then $54.95/month	View Plan
EarthLink	EarthLink Unlimited 5G Home Internet Mobile Broadband 425/15 Mbps Unlimited Data $74.90/mo ($59.95 plan + $14.95 modem) Available in select locations + $79.95 Upfront Available in select locations View Plan	$74.90/mo ($59.95 plan + $14.95 modem) Available in select locations + $79.95 Upfront Available in select locations	View Plan
EarthLink	EarthLink 5 Gbps Fiber 5000/20 Mbps Unlimited Data $164.90/mo ($149.95 plan + $14.95 modem) Available in select locations + $24.95 Upfront Available in select locations View Plan	$164.90/mo ($149.95 plan + $14.95 modem) Available in select locations + $24.95 Upfront Available in select locations	View Plan
EarthLink	EarthLink 1 Gbps Fiber 1000/20 Mbps Unlimited Data $59.90/mo ($44.95 plan + $14.95 modem) for the first 3 months, then $74.95/month + $24.95 Upfront for the first 3 months, then $74.95/month View Plan	$59.90/mo ($44.95 plan + $14.95 modem) for the first 3 months, then $74.95/month + $24.95 Upfront for the first 3 months, then $74.95/month	View Plan
EarthLink	EarthLink 100 Mbps Fiber 100/10 Mbps Unlimited Data $54.90/mo ($39.95 plan + $14.95 modem) Available in select locations + $24.95 Upfront Available in select locations View Plan	$54.90/mo ($39.95 plan + $14.95 modem) Available in select locations + $24.95 Upfront Available in select locations	View Plan

Sorted by popularity, based on user clicks from last 7 days

See More Plans ~ Last Updated 6/4/2026

Powered By

How WhistleOut Works

Where is Earthlink available? 

EarthLink has a presence in the entire continental United States. Its footprint is so big because it utilizes the networks of other established and large internet service providers. Basically, EarthLink didn't have to build out its own large network. 

Additionally, EarthLink's coverage is especially strong in rural areas where traditional wired internet does not reach. It partners with Viasat to provide satellite internet to customers in these areas, and it also sells wireless internet that uses cellular infrastructure. Use our zip checker below to determine if Earthlink is available in your neighborhood.

Does Earthlink have good customer service?

Internet providers aren't known for their great customer service. The nice thing about EarthLink is that it shields you from dealing with some of the most frustrating internet service providers while still getting you access to their networks. EarthLink's customer service might not be perfect, but it’s generally better than the big-name ISPs. 

Will Earthlink increase my bill?

Most ISPs advertise introductory rates that typically last 12 to 25 months. After the introductory period, the rate increases. Often, people sign on to a new internet plan without realizing that they will eventually have to pay higher prices. EarthLink does not have an introductory rate. While this means that its rates start high, they will not get any higher.

Why are Earthlink prices high?

Part of the reason EarthLink doesn't increase prices is that its prices are already high. Even factoring out the introductory rates you'd likely find by going directly with a big-name ISP, EarthLink's prices are still not competitive. Plans start at $55/month and go up to $205/month for their fastest plan. The main draw for joining EarthLink is to skip the poor customer service elsewhere. However, you'll have to pay for this advantage.

Is Earthlink reliable?

Although EarthLink piggybacks off well-established networks, it is known for having higher-than-average downtime. This downtime could be the result of network owners prioritizing their direct customers over those signed on with EarthLink. No matter the cause, you should be aware that you could see a service disturbance here and there while with EarthLink. 

Does Earthlink charge for equipment or any other hidden charges?

Earthlink actually does not provide its own equipment. Instead, its partners who install the internet for you will either sell or rent out equipment for you. You can expect to pay $6.95/month.

As for any other extra fees, Earthlinks prices are pretty straightforward and you shouldn't be paying for anything surprising.

EarthLink internet coverage

EarthLink does not have every inch of the continental U.S. covered—and there’s no service at all in Alaska or Hawaii—but its fiber, DSL, satellite, and wireless internet are still widely available. Satellite and wireless are best in areas where fiber or DSL are unavailable. 

Altogether, EarthLink covers about 70% of the country's population, but a lot of that coverage is achieved through its partnership with the satellite internet provider Viasat. While satellite can cover much more ground than wired connections, its price, poor latency, and unreliability make it a last resort for internet when other types of connections are unavailable. Use our internet search tool to see if Earthlink is the best choice of internet in your area or if an alternative might be best. 

EarthLink internet vs. competitors

Comparing EarthLink to other ISPs is tricky because its competitors own the networks it uses a lot of time. Still, when you are shopping for internet, it's important to see what is available and compare options to get the right plan for your needs. Here we'll compare EarthLink with two of the biggest internet providers. 

EarthLink vs. AT&T Internet

Earthlink's starting price for 15Mbps internet is lower than AT&T's starting price. However,  looking at plans with faster speeds, EarthLink's prices leapfrog over AT&T's offerings, and the gap increases as speeds climb. AT&T's fiber is also much more affordable than EarthLink's. You are probably better off going with AT&T unless you’re still recovering from a bad customer service experience with Big Blue. In that case, EarthLink could be the choice for you. 

EarthLink

3.5 out of 5 overall

---

• Strong availability
• Good customer service
• High prices

AT&T Internet

4.5 out of 5 overall

---

• Best coverage
• Competitive fiber prices
• High DSL prices

EarthLink Internet vs. Xfinity

Xfinity is another one of the country's largest internet service providers. It primarily sells cable internet but also offers fiber internet in select locations. Xfinity's starting price of $40 is significantly lower than EarthLink's. Unfortunately, Xfinity's rates will increase after a year of service; however, even after the price hike, Xfinity's prices are generally lower than EarthLink's. Xfinity is also known for having poor customer service. For many, not having to deal with Xfinity is worth the extra costs associated with EarthLink. Still, we think Xfinity is likely the better choice for most despite the customer service concerns. 

EarthLink

3.5 out of 5 overall

---

• Strong availability
• Good customer service
• High prices

Xfinity

4 out of 5 overall

---

• Good coverage
• Budget prices available
• Poor customer service

Recap: Is EarthLink internet right for you?

EarthLink is a strong option, but keep in mind that you'll have to pay for its benefits. If saving money is your priority, EarthLink is probably not the right ISP for you. EarthLink's prices are among the highest for broadband internet. On the other hand, if you are tired of the poor customer service associated with most internet providers, EarthLink could be a breath of fresh air. You might also like that EarthLink's prices are transparent, and you will not see big price hikes after a year of service. Plus, all of EarthLink's plans include unlimited data, so choosing a plan is easy. 

EarthLink Internet: Frequently asked questions

Is EarthLink a good internet provider?

What kind of internet is EarthLink?

Is EarthLink still available? 

Is EarthLink owned by AT&T?

AT&T Internet Review

Spectrum Review

Google Fi Review

Angelo Ilumba

Senior Writer

Angelo is a highly experienced writer for WhistleOut, specializing in unraveling the complexities of the mobile and tech world so that readers can easily understand what is relevant to them. Angelo has been featured on several publications such as MoneyTalksNews, Yahoo Finance, NPR and more.

Read full bio

Find a better internet plan

Enter your address to find the best internet providers available in your area.

Powered By

Any Speed 0-5 Mbps 6-30 Mbps 31-60 Mbps 61-100 Mbps 101-300 Mbps 301-500 Mbps 501-1000 Mbps 1001 Mbps+

Search 48 Providers

Checking prices and plans

Powered By Comparisons Powered By

How WhistleOut Works