EarthLink
available in 
Price:
$39.95–$149.95/mo.*
Speeds:
18–5,000Mbps
Data cap:
Fiber, DSL: No cap
Fixed wireless: 50–150GB
User Rating (110)◊
◊ Provider star ratings are based on user reviews and our independent customer satisfaction survey.
* Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See disclaimers.
My EarthLink Internet review
May 11, 2026 | Share
EarthLink’s unconventional business model is unique among internet providers. Instead of building its own infrastructure by burying cables, constructing broadcast towers, or launching satellites, EarthLink rents space on other internet service providers’ (ISP’s) networks. That gives EarthLink nationwide reach and allows the company to focus all its efforts on providing the best customer experience around.
Pros
Highly rated customer support
Expansive coverage area
Cons
1-year contracts
Higher monthly cost
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In this review:
Plans and pricing | Speed and data caps | Fees | Installation, equipment, and contracts | Customer ratings | EarthLink vs. the competition | Bottom line | FAQ
In this review:
Compare EarthLink internet plans and pricing
| Get the plan | Your starting price* | Download speed | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Mbps Internet | $64.95/mo. | 18Mbps | DSL |
| 24 Mbps Internet | $64.95/mo. | 24Mbps | DSL |
| 45 Mbps Internet | $64.95/mo. | 45Mbps | DSL |
| 75 Mbps Internet | $64.95/mo. | 75Mbps | DSL |
| Fiber 100 | $39.95/mo. | 100Mbps | Fiber |
| Fiber 300 | $49.95/mo. | 300Mbps | Fiber |
| Fiber 500 | $69.95/mo. | 500Mbps | Fiber |
| Fiber 1 Gig | $79.95/mo. | 1,000Mbps | Fiber |
| Fiber 2 Gig | $109.95/mo. | 2,000Mbps | Fiber |
| Fiber 5 Gig | $149.95/mo. | 5,000Mbps | Fiber |
| 100 GB | $59.95/mo. | Up to 100Mbps | Fixed wireless |
| 150 GB | $84.95/mo. | Up to 100Mbps | Fixed wireless |
| 200 GB | $109.95/mo. | Up to 100Mbps | Fixed wireless |
| 300 GB | $159.95/mo. | Up to 100Mbps | Fixed wireless |
| WFH Unlimited GB | $79.95/mo. | Up to 25Mbps | Fixed wireless |
| Unlimited 5G Home Internet | $79.95/mo. | Up to 100Mbps | Fixed wireless |
* Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See disclaimers.
EarthLink Internet: Our favorite plan
EarthLink 1 Gig Internet is my pick as the best EarthLink plan you can get. It’s similar in price to other gigabit fiber plans but comes with EarthLink’s highly rated customer service.
EarthLink offers service in all 50 states using other ISPs ‘ networks. Because it uses different networks, EarthLink’s connection speeds and reliability vary by location. Fortunately, EarthLink’s focus on customer service makes it easy to get outages and other issues resolved quickly.
Although speed is what most people think of when they think about fiber internet, fiber-optic internet connections are also incredibly reliable. Plans like EarthLink 100 Mbps Internet are great if you want fiber reliability without paying for speed you don’t use.
EarthLink speeds: What’s best for you?
EarthLink has a huge variety of plans, which means you can save a bit of money if you know how much speed you need. EarthLink fiber plans, which range from 100 Mbps to 5 Gbps, offer the best value for speed and reliability.
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EarthLink Internet: Data caps and overage fees
EarthLink’s DSL and fiber plans don’t have data caps. That’s a big selling point in my book.
EarthLink’s fixed wireless plans have data limits. They’re comparable in size to those you’d find in other wireless connections, like satellite internet.
EarthLink ongoing deals and promotions + bundles
EarthLink Internet: Notable fees
| Cost | |
|---|---|
| Equipment Fee | $12.95/mo. |
| Installation Fee | $79.95 professional installation (for fiber and DSL) |
| Activation Fee | $79.95 (for fixed wireless) |
| Other Fees | Up to $200.00 early termination fee |
Most of EarthLink’s fees are reasonable, but it enforces a hefty early termination fee on all its standard plans if you cancel service before the end of your 1-year contract. If you plan on moving in the next 12 months, you might consider a more temporary solution.
EarthLink Internet: Installation, equipment, and contracts
EarthLink doesn’t give a self-installation option for fiber or DSL, but it manages to keep installation and equipment costs fairly low.
Earthlink’s fixed wireless plans do have self-installation with a $79.95 activation fee.
EarthLink installation and equipment
EarthLink offers professional installation at a pretty reasonable price. The installation experience varies somewhat by area—like most things with EarthLink—but the ISP’s customer service ensures that most people end up very satisfied with the process.
EarthLink internet contracts
All EarthLink fiber and DSL plans come with a 1-year contract. This isn’t uncommon for an internet provider, but we definitely prefer the flexibility of no-contract plans.
See what other EarthLink customers are saying
We love to collect data. The more we can learn about customer experience, the more confident we can be in our recommendations. If you’re an EarthLink customer, we’d love to have you fill out our Customer Review form and let us know about your experience with EarthLink and check out what others have said, too.
EarthLink Internet: Customer ratings
| EarthLink rating* | Average rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.0 | 3.7 |
| Speed | 3.9 | 3.8 |
| Price | 3.8 | 3.3 |
| Reliability | 3.8 | 3.7 |
| Customer Service | 4.0 | 3.6 |
* Rating based on a five (5) point system used in our customer satisfaction survey. Higher is better.
EarthLink was the undisputed champion of our 2022 customer satisfaction survey, taking the top spot in both price and customer service. This is also the third year in a row EarthLink has taken the top spot. EarthLink clearly sets the standard for customer service in internet service providers.
One of the most notable results from the 2022 survey is that even in areas where EarthLink struggles, it still provides a great experience to its customers. Despite reporting more outages, EarthLink customers reported being more satisfied with the reliability of their connections than customers of other providers.
Earthlink prioritizes its customer service and it shows with their beating out all other national providers in this category. If you dread having to deal with your ISP’s customer service, EarthLink might be a welcome breath of fresh air.
While all EarthLink customers love their internet, fiber customers gave EarthLink especially high marks. If EarthLink offers fiber in your area, it’s definitely worth looking into.
Earthlink vs. the competition
| Provider | Starting price | Speed range | User rating* |
|---|---|---|---|
| EarthLink | $39.95/mo. Disclaimers | 18–5,000Mbps | 4.0 |
| AT&T | $55.00/mo. Disclaimers | 225–5,000Mbps | 3.7 |
| Xfinity | $40/mo. Disclaimers | 300–2,000Mbps | 3.7 |
* Rating based on a five (5) point system used in our customer satisfaction survey. Higher is better. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Since EarthLink uses its competition’s networks, it can’t offer higher speeds, but it can offer better customer service. Although EarthLink plans are generally more expensive than similar plans by nationwide providers like AT&T and Xfinity, 77% of EarthLink customers said that their speeds usually or always meet the speed that they were promised.
That EarthLink has some of the most satisfied and enthusiastic customers might seem contradictory. By the usual metrics for an internet connection, like speed, price, and reliability, EarthLink seems to lag behind other major providers. Nevertheless, EarthLink customers have better experiences with their internet than customers with other ISPs.
We love having fast connections, but many would rather settle for a bit less bandwidth, rather than having to spend hours on hold trying to fix a technical problem. EarthLink focuses on what actually provides a better experience to its customers, and it seems like that effort pays off.
Read our full reviews of EarthLink vs. its main internet competitors
Final call: Is EarthLink internet right for you?
If the main things you look for in an internet plan are download speed and price, you can probably find a better deal going with a more traditional ISP than EarthLink.
On the other hand, if you’ve had bad experiences with other providers and are looking for an internet provider that will be more responsive when problems arise, then EarthLink is just what you’re looking for. Because it’s so widespread, it can provide a welcome alternative in areas where customers have limited options for internet access. It also has no data caps, which keeps internet customers happy.
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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.
Plans disclaimers
EarthLink DSL plans
All DSL plans — 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
EarthLink fiber plans
All fiber plans — 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
EarthLink FW/5G plans
Unlimited 5G Home Internet — 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, taxes, fees, or modem service charges may apply. Not available in all areas. Limited-time offer; subject to change.
100 GB | 150 GB | 200 GB | 300 GB — 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.
WFH Unlimited GB — 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.
AT&T Fiber plans
Internet 100 — N/A
Internet 300 | Internet 500 | Internet 2000 | Internet 5000 — Price includes $10/mo. discount when you sign up for paperless billing and AutoPay with a debit card or bank account. Or $5/mo. with a credit card.
Internet 1000 — New AT&T Fiber customers will receive $15 off the monthly recurring charge for 12 mos on an AT&T Fiber plan (300Mbps or higher). $10/mo if enrolled in Autopay & paperless billing w/ your bank account or the AT&T Points Plus® Card from Citi. Discount reduced to $5/mo when enrolled with a debit card. No discount if enrolled with any other credit card.
Xfinity plans
300 Mbps — For 12 months, no term contract. Restrictions apply. Autopay w/ stored bank account and paperless billing req’d. Taxes and fees extra and subj. to change. Reduced speeds after 30 GB of usage/line. Data thresholds may vary.
All other plans — N/A
