EarthLink vs. Spectrum: Which Internet Provider is Best for You?
We compared these two widespread wired internet options.
Nov 5, 2024 | Share 
Provider Comparisons (Versus)
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Best Customer Satisfaction
- Customer rating: 3.3
- Price: $39.95–$189.95/mo.*
- Speed: 18–5,000 Mbps
- Internet type: Fiber, DSL
- Data cap: No cap
- Contract: 1 yr.
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Best prices
- Customer rating: 3.7
- Price: $25–$70/mo.†‡
- Speed: 50–1,000 Mbps(wireless speeds may vary)
- Internet type: Cable, fiber
- Data cap: No cap
- Contract: No contract
Data as of 11/05/2024. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Earthlink
- with a 12 month contract. Actual speeds may vary depending on the distance, line-quality, phone service provider, and number of devices used concurrently. All speeds not available in all areas. DSL and Fiber Plans require a 12 month contract and may have a cancellation fee to be determined upon cancellation
- Actual speeds may vary depending on the distance, line-quality, phone service provider, and number of devices used concurrently. All speeds not available in all areas. Exclusions like taxes & fees apply. Not available in all areas. Limited-time offer; subject to change.
- With the Work From Home Unlimited Plan, you’ll enjoy speeds up to 25 Mbps for the first 300 GB of data usage each month; speeds will reduce if usage exceeds 300 GB within that month.
‡Offer based on eligibility requirements. Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.
† Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Spectrum. Taxes and fees extra in select states. SPECTRUM INTERNET: Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit spectrum.net/modem. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.
Compare EarthLink and Spectrum head to head
Earthlink’s main focus is in its customer service. EarthLink plans generally cost more than Spectrum plans with similar speeds, so the question for EarthLink customers is whether they find the added support worth the extra cost. The benefits of this strategy have been shown in customer satisfaction surveys across multiple years, though Earthlink underperformed in customer satisfaction in 2023.
Both EarthLink and Spectrum offer wired internet connections to huge areas of the country. EarthLink offers fast and reliable fiber connections in some areas, though in others it offers only slower DSL plans. Spectrum splits the difference with cable internet, giving you a more consistent experience regardless of where you live within its coverage area.
Pros and cons: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
Pros:
- Great customer satisfaction
- Expansive coverage
- Fiber in some areas
Cons:
- Higher monthly cost
- Variable network quality
Pros:
- Rent-free modem, gateway, or SONU
- No data caps
- No contracts
Cons:
- Price hikes
- Limited fiber availability
Is EarthLink or Spectrum available where you live?
Enter your zip code below to see what services and plans are provided in your area.
Plans and pricing: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
Both EarthLink and Spectrum have large coverage areas and a decent range of speeds. They both offer speeds up to 1Gbps (1,000 Mbps), but both gigabit plans have their caveats. Although EarthLink has a larger coverage area, its gigabit fiber plan isn’t available in all areas. Spectrum uses a hybrid fiber-coax network, so you may get cable or fiber, depending on where you live. EarthLink is the only one of the two with multigigabit plans for those who want more speed than they could possibly use.
EarthLink plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Speed | Type | Shop plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Mbps Internet | $64.95/mo.* | 18 Mbps | DSL | Shop EarthLink Plans |
| 24 Mbps Internet | $64.95/mo.* | 24 Mbps | DSL | Shop EarthLink Plans |
| 45 Mbps Internet | $64.95/mo.* | 45 Mbps | DSL | Shop EarthLink Plans |
| 75 Mbps Internet | $64.95/mo.* | 75 Mbps | DSL | Shop EarthLink Plans |
| Fiber 100 | $39.95/mo.* | 100 Mbps | Fiber | Shop EarthLink Plans |
| Fiber 300 | $49.95/mo.* | 300 Mbps | Fiber | Shop EarthLink Plans |
| Fiber 500 | $64.95/mo.* | 500 Mbps | Fiber | Shop EarthLink Plans |
| Fiber 1 Gig | $74.95/mo.* | 1,000 Mbps | Fiber | Shop EarthLink Plans |
| Fiber 2 Gig | $119.95/mo.* | 2,000 Mbps | Fiber | Shop EarthLink Plans |
| Fiber 5 Gig | $189.95/mo.* | 5,000 Mbps | Fiber | Shop EarthLink Plans |
| 100 GB | $59.95/mo.† | Up to 100 Mbps | Fixed wireless | Shop EarthLink Plans |
| 150 GB | $84.95/mo.† | Up to 100 Mbps | Fixed wireless | Shop EarthLink Plans |
| 200 GB | $109.95/mo.† | Up to 100 Mbps | Fixed wireless | Shop EarthLink Plans |
| 300 GB | $159.95/mo.† | Up to 100 Mbps | Fixed wireless | Shop EarthLink Plans |
| WFH Unlimited GB | $79.95/mo.‡ | Up to 25 Mbps | Fixed wireless | 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 11/05/2024. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*with a 12 month contract. Actual speeds may vary depending on the distance, line-quality, phone service provider, and number of devices used concurrently. All speeds not available in all areas. DSL and Fiber Plans require a 12 month contract and may have a cancellation fee to be determined upon cancellation
†Actual speeds may vary depending on the distance, line-quality, phone service provider, and number of devices used concurrently. All speeds not available in all areas. Exclusions like taxes & fees apply. Not available in all areas. Limited-time offer; subject to change.
‡With the Work From Home Unlimited Plan, you’ll enjoy speeds up to 25 Mbps for the first 300 GB of data usage each month; speeds will reduce if usage exceeds 300 GB within that month.
EarthLink is available in all 50 states. It rents space on other providers’ networks to reach its customers, which means the speed and reliability of its connections vary depending on location. The main value that EarthLink adds in this deal is its focus on customer support.
EarthLink’s fiber plans offer the best value for both speed and reliability. They start around the same price as its DSL plans but reach speeds around 100 times faster. EarthLink also offers plans with slower fiber speeds than most ISPs, which is handy if you like the reliability of fiber but don’t want to pay for gigabit speeds.
Spectrum plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Speed | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Assist | $25/mo.* for qualifying households | Up to 50Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | View Plan |
| Internet Advantage | $30/mo.* for 12 mos. for qualifying households | Up to 100Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | View Plan |
| Internet Premier | $60/mo.† for 12 mos. | Up to 500Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | View Plan |
| Internet Gig | $70/mo.† for 12 mos. | Up to 1,000Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | View Plan |
* Availability based on eligibility and location
† Includes Spectrum Advanced WiFi
Spectrum’s plans start at 50Mbps (wireless speeds may vary), which is faster than most of EarthLink’s DSL plans. This makes even the cheapest Spectrum plan a decent speed for most internet activities.
If you need faster download speeds to meet your household needs, Spectrum offers 500Mbps and 1,000Mbps speeds. Most of what Spectrum offers is cable internet, although Spectrum’s fiber-to-the-home service can be found in “green” markets, such as new neighborhoods not claimed by other fiber providers.
Spectrum’s Assist and Advantage plans are designed for low-income households. Visit Spectrum to see if you qualify.
Deals and promotions: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
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| Get a gift card worth up to $200 when you sign up for Earthlink fiber internet. Get the Deal |
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Get the Deal |
Extra fees: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
| Equipment Fee | Installation Fee | Other Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
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EarthLink has low equipment rental fees and gives you the option to buy. Spectrum offers a rent-free cable modem or gateway, but you pay $7 per month whether you have Spectrum’s gateway or a standalone router. You can get around the WiFi fee by purchasing your own standalone router or mesh system. Check out our guide about the best Wi-Fi routers to see what’s the best you can get based on our tests.
The other important fees to call out are the big (and possibly unexpected) ones. EarthLink requires a 12-month contract when you sign up, which comes with a hefty fee if you decide to cancel your service early.
Spectrum doesn’t require long-term contracts, and its fees are lower across the board. The price increases after the first 12 months, depending on the plan, which we don’t love, but in general, you’ll encounter fewer unexpected costs with Spectrum.
Customer ratings: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
| Overall | Speed | Price | Reliability | Customer Service | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 3.3/5 | 3.6/5 | 3.2/5 | 3.3/5 | 3.3/5 |
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| 3.7/5 | 3.9/5 | 3.3/5 | 3.7/5 | 3.7/5 |
EarthLink performed somewhat poorly in our 2023 customer satisfaction survey, taking last place overall.
Spectrum performed about average in our survey this year, coming in around the middle of the pack in most categories.
Looking for the best-rated provider you can get?
Enter your zip code below to see if EarthLink or Spectrum are in your area.
Best TV and internet bundles
| Internet speed | TV channels | Price | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Premier + TV Select Signature | Up to 500Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | 150+ | $125/mo.† for 24 mos. | View Plans |
| Internet Gig + TV Select Plus | Up to 1,000Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | 160+ | $145/mo.† for 24 mos. | View Plans |
† This is a 24 month introductory rate and does not require a contract. The post-introductory rate is $75 and subject to change. Discount requires that Spectrum TV or Spectrum Mobile products in bundle are maintained. Modem and Advanced WiFi router included.
Spectrum gives you the option to mix and match any of its TV and internet plans, though you don’t get a reduced price for bundling these services together. If you were planning on getting cable one way or another, this does help simplify your monthly bills, which is a plus. Spectrum also offers mobile services to current Spectrum Internet customers.
EarthLink doesn’t offer TV or phone service.
Internet types: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
| Internet type | Details | |
|---|---|---|
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| Fiber, DSL | View Plans |
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| Cable, fiber | View Plans |
EarthLink uses DSL or fiber internet connection. All of its plans over 50Mbps use fiber. On the lower end, Earthlink offers speeds much lower than those offered by most fiber providers. Although fast download speed is the main selling point of a fiber internet plan, fiber has other advantages over other internet types as well, such as reliability. Not every area within EarthLink’s coverage area has access to fiber, which means that those in DSL-only areas don’t have many high-speed options.
Spectrum delivers internet service using a hybrid fiber-coax network. Its core network is all fiber, but the “last mile” connections to homes are cable or fiber, depending on where you live. Spectrum doesn’t install fiber-to-the-home service where it already has cable TV lines, so you’ll find its fiber internet in new neighborhoods. Spectrum offers download speeds that can match EarthLink’s top fiber plans.
Data caps: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
| Data Cap | Details | |
|---|---|---|
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| No cap | View Plans |
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| No cap | View Plans |
Neither EarthLink nor Spectrum place data caps on their plans, which we think is great. Nobody likes data caps, and for wired networks like cable and fiber, they’re completely unnecessary. In fact, according to our data cap survey, 75% of people said that they’d pay more for a plan without data caps.
Contracts: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
| Contract length | Details | |
|---|---|---|
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| 1 yr. | View Plans |
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| No contract | View Plans |
EarthLink requires a 12-month contract when you sign up. This is pretty standard for providers that require contracts, but it’s still a commitment. If you want to change internet providers before your contract term is up, early termination fees can cost up to $200, so it’s not something you should commit to lightly.
Spectrum has no long-term contracts. You can cancel your service at any time without getting hit by cancellation fees. We prefer no-contract plans. And fortunately, more and more providers are moving in this direction.
Installation: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
| Installation options | Details | |
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| View Plans |
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| View Plans |
Spectrum beats EarthLink in terms of installation costs, saving you money on professional installation as well as offering a self-installation option for some plans. Spectrum encourages self-installation since most customers already have cable TV lines entering the home, but pro installs are available upon request or when your home needs new internet service.
Availability: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
EarthLink is available throughout the US in all but the most rural areas, although its plans vary depending on area. Spectrum is also a nationwide brand but is most widespread along the East Coast, Midwest, South, and West Coast.
Ready to switch to EarthLink or Spectrum?
Enter your zip code below to see if EarthLink or Spectrum are available where you live.
Final call: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
Both EarthLink and Spectrum have a lot of features we really like, but if you’re in an area where EarthLink offers only DSL connections, we suggest going with Spectrum’s faster, more reliable cable plans.
View EarthLink PlansView Spectrum Plans
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.
More about EarthLink and Spectrum
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Author - Peter Christiansen
Peter Christiansen writes about telecom policy, communications infrastructure, satellite internet, and rural connectivity for HighSpeedInternet.com. Peter holds a PhD in communication from the University of Utah and has been working in tech for over 15 years as a computer programmer, game developer, filmmaker, and writer. His writing has been praised by outlets like Wired, Digital Humanities Now, and the New Statesman.
Editor - Rebecca Lee Armstrong
Rebecca Lee Armstrong has more than six years of experience writing about tech and the internet, with a specialty in hands-on testing. She started writing tech product and service reviews while finishing her BFA in creative writing at the University of Evansville and has found her niche writing about home networking, routers, and internet access at HighSpeedInternet.com. Her work has also been featured on Top Ten Reviews, MacSources, Windows Central, Android Central, Best Company, TechnoFAQ, and iMore.
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