Windstream Internet Review: How Good Is It?

Chris Holmes Staff Writer

Updated 12 April 2019

In this Guide

Windstream Internet Speeds
Windstream Internet Prices
Windstream Internet Bundles
Windstream Customer Service
Windstream Internet Deals
How to Find Your Windstream Internet Plan
Windstream Internet: The Bottom Line

Article Summary

Windstream is a regional U.S. internet provider with service across 17 states
Windstream specializes in DSL and fiber internet plans
Windstream's plans start at 10 Mbps (DSL) and go all the way up 1 Gbps (fiber)
Windstream's plans are contract and data cap-free
Windstream offers a selection of double and triple play bundles

Windstream is a regional internet provider that specializes in DSL, with fiber service limited to select areas. The Little Rock, AR-based company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2019 (against their will), but this is apparently a reorganization measure and will have no impact on the company's internet subscribers.

Windstream offers two types of DSL internet plans, ADSL and VDSL, the latter of which is the faster of the two. All of Windstream's plans are contract and data cap-free and compare favorably to fellow DSL and fiber internet provider AT&T.

Windstream Internet Speeds

Windstream DSL Internet

DSL, short for Digital Subscriber Line, is a type of internet connection that transmits via a telephone network, at speeds that are much faster than dial-up connections. Windstream specializes in DSL internet plans, with speeds starting at 10 Mbps. They offer both ADSL and VDSL plans.

Windstream Fiber Internet

Windstream sells a 1 Gbps fiber internet plans in the very select areas they've laid the network (which they're continuing to expand). It's competitively priced at only $55/month.

Fiber internet is the fastest type of internet. Connections travel over cables containing thin optical fibers, so your internet literally travels at "the speed of light." To see if Windstream fiber is available where you live, punch your address into our internet search engine.

Windstream Internet Prices

Windstream's DSL plan prices are generally fairly cheap. The provider's 50 Mbps VDSL plan, for example, costs only $35/month; compare that to $50/month for a 50 Mbps VDSL plan from AT&T. The bummer with DSL plans is that they sometimes deliver slower than advertised speeds.

Windstream's fiber internet plans are similarly inexpensive, as their 1 Gbps Kinetic Gig plan costs only $55/month; that price is $15 less than a 1 Gbps plan from AT&T.

Keep in mind that much of this price-per-speed equation will come down to the kind of output you can actually get at your home. Just because you sign up for a 50 Mbps plan doesn't mean you'll necessarily be able to achieve such speeds at your house; it all depends on the condition of your local network.

Windstream Internet Bundles

Windstream offers several double and triple play internet bundles, priced according to internet speed and TV tier. Prices get rather expensive with premium Kinetic TV:

Windstream Internet Customer Service

Internet providers are among the most derided companies in the country, with customers complaining about everything from unexpected price jumps to slower-than-advertised speeds. Windstream is subject to these same complaints. However, their customer service department is generally regarded as solid, easier to deal with than some of the bigger internet providers.

Incidentally, if you need to contact Windstream customer service, here are their details (it's also on our Windstream customer service hub page):

Phone: (800) 347-1991
Windstream Support Page

How to Find Your Windstream Internet Plan

Our internet search engine makes it easy to discover which Windstream internet plans are offered in your specific area.

Simply head over to our internet hub, punch in your address, select your preferred speed, and press "search." On the resulting page you can browse through what's available, and filter by connection type. For a shortcut, simply enter your details in the field at the bottom of this page.

Windstream Internet: The Bottom Line

Bottom line: Windstream is a little big internet provider, with service across 17 states. Plans are priced cheaply but DSL plans are slow and subject to outages. The good thing about Windstream plans is that they are both contract and data cap free.

Pros

No contracts or monthly data caps
Good prices

Cons

Customers report service interruptions
Prices go up after a year

Chris Holmes

Staff Writer

Chris Holmes is a Contributing Writer for WhistleOut, where he covers the cell phone and internet industries. His work has been cited in publications like The Verge, The New York Times, and WIRED.

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