GFiber vs. CenturyLink Fiber: Which Internet Provider Is Best for You?
Which fiber plan offers the most value for your household?
Apr 13, 2026 | Share 
Provider Comparisons (Versus)
-
Best speeds
- Starting price: $70/mo.*
- Maximum speed: 8,000Mbps (8Gbps)
- Internet type: Fiber
- Data cap: No data cap
- Contract: No contract
-
Best Availability
- Starting price: $50/mo.*
- Maximum speed:940Mbps
- Internet type: Fiber
- Data cap: No data cap
- Contract: No contract
* Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See GFiber disclaimers | See Centurylink disclaimers.
Compare GFiber and CenturyLink head to head
GFiber set the bar for fiber-to-the-home internet service, offering some of the fastest home internet speeds available in the US. CenturyLink was one of the biggest DSL providers in the country, but it has embraced the shift to fiber and, along with GFiber, is leading the way in providing affordable fiber options.
Pros and cons: GFiber vs. CenturyLink
Pros:
- Gigabit and multigigabit speeds (1,000–8,000Mbps)
- No hidden fees
Cons:
-
- Limited availability
Pros:
- Up to 940Mbps fiber speeds
Cons:
- Limited fiber availability
- Additional equipment fees
Plans and pricing: GFiber vs. CenturyLink
GFiber offers gigabit and multigigabit fiber internet connections at a reasonable price, with CenturyLink’s Simply Unlimited Fiber Internet up to 940Mbps plan tying for the low price. CenturyLink also offers slower DSL plans if you don’t want to pay for gigabit speeds, but it lacks a multigigabit option like GFiber’s.
GFiber plans and pricing
| Package | Price* | Speed | Order online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core 1 Gig | $70/mo. | 1,000Mbps (1Gbps) | View Plan |
| Home 3 Gig | $100/mo. | 3,000Mbps (3Gbps) | View Plan |
| Edge 8 Gig | $150/mo. | 8,000Mbps (8Gbps) | View Plan |
| GFiber 1 Gig | $70/mo. | 1,000Mbps (1Gbps) | View Plan |
| GFiber 2 Gig | $100/mo. | 2,000Mbps (2Gbps) | View Plan |
| GFiber 5 Gig | $125/mo. | 5,000Mbps (5Gbps) | View Plan |
| GFiber 8 Gig | $150/mo. | 8,000Mbps (8Gbps) | View Plan |
* Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read disclaimers.
GFiber provides a lot of speed for a good price, something that customers who need a fast connection can appreciate. It’s a relatively small internet service provider (ISP), but it’s had a huge influence on home internet, popularizing fiber-optic internet as a practical option.1 It lacks the slower, budget plans that most ISPs offer, but it still has one of the most affordable gigabit plans around.
CenturyLink plans and pricing
| Package | Price* | Speed | Order online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simply Unlimited Fiber Internet up to 500 Mbps | $50/mo.* | Up to 500 Mbps | |
| Simply Unlimited Fiber Internet up to 940 Mbps | $75/mo.* | Up to 940 Mbps |
* Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read disclaimers.
CenturyLink offers just two plans, its reasonably priced up to 500Mbps plan and an up to 940Mbps plan. As with GFiber, its biggest disadvantage is simply its limited availability, especially compared to CenturyLink’s existing DSL network. Fortunately, CenturyLink has invested heavily in expanding its fiber network, so hopefully its DSL customers won’t have to wait too long for fiber in their neighborhoods.
Deals and promotions: GFiber vs. CenturyLink
- Get gigabit speeds with no data caps and free installation from GFiber starting at $70 per month
- You and a friend can get a $50–$100 reward when you refer them to CenturyLink, plus a $10 donation to your choice of charity
- Get free installation and included Wi-Fi equipment when you sign up for a fiber internet plan from CenturyLink with 940Mbps speeds
- Get $20 off the monthly fee for Bark parental control software with your CenturyLink internet subscription
Extra fees: GFiber vs. CenturyLink
| Equipment Fee | Installation Fee | |
|---|---|---|
| GFiber | Free | Free |
| CenturyLink |
|
|
Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
One of the great things about GFiber is its lack of hidden fees and upfront costs. When you sign up, all your equipment is provided at no cost, along with professional installation. CenturyLink’s equipment and installation prices are affordable compared to other ISPs, but it’s hard to compete with free.
Internet types: GFiber vs. CenturyLink
| Internet type | Order online | |
|---|---|---|
| GFiber | Fiber | View Plans |
| CenturyLink | Fiber |
GFiber is exactly what its name implies. If you sign up for GFiber, you get a high-speed fiber connection. Most of CenturyLink’s coverage area offers only DSL plans, but it is rapidly expanding its fiber footprint to keep up with the changing internet landscape.
Data caps: GFiber vs. CenturyLink
| Data Cap | Order online | |
|---|---|---|
| GFiber | None | View Plans |
| CenturyLink | None |
Neither GFiber nor CenturyLink impose data caps on their customers, and we think that’s great. Data caps serve no purpose on modern wired networks other than to squeeze unexpected fees out of customers, so we’re pleased to see both these ISPs ditch them completely.
Contracts: GFiber vs. CenturyLink
| Contract length | Order online | |
|---|---|---|
| GFiber | No contract | View Plans |
| CenturyLink | No contract |
Contracts and early termination fees are another area where many ISPs get you, but thankfully you don’t have to worry about that with either GFiber or CenturyLink. Neither provider locks you into a long-term contract—another move that shows they’re confident in the quality of their product and don’t need to coerce their customers into sticking around.
Installation: GFiber vs. CenturyLink
| Installation options | Order online | |
|---|---|---|
| GFiber |
| View Plans |
| CenturyLink |
|
Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
GFiber offers free professional installation. CenturyLink has an option for free self-installation if your house is already wired, but it also offers professional installation for $99.00, which isn’t a terrible price.
Having personally had both providers’ fiber connections installed in my home, I can say that, while the CenturyLink installation was fine, GFiber did an amazing job. Every cable was neat, tidy, and firmly secured. The finished connection was just a clean wall jack with no mess to worry about. While home fiber is becoming the norm, rather than a luxury, GFiber’s quality still lives up to the hype it had a decade ago.
Availability: GFiber vs. CenturyLink
The biggest drawback to both providers is limited fiber availability. Although GFiber is slowly rolling out in more cities, CenturyLink definitely has more momentum. If you live in an area with access to CenturyLink’s DSL network, it’s a good bet that fiber is coming your way eventually. You also have CenturyLink’s DSL as a stopgap, but there are likely other ISPs offering faster speeds in your area as well.
Final call: GFiber vs. CenturyLink
GFiber and CenturyLink are easily two of the best and most affordable fiber providers in the country, but GFiber is definitely the better choice for most people, if you can get it. With a basic fiber plan on par with GFiber, CenturyLink is about as close as you can get if you don’t live in a GFiber city, but don’t forget to consider equipment fees when considering the pros and cons.
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 GFiber and CenturyLink
Disclaimers
GFiber plans
Core 1 Gig | Home 3 Gig | Edge 8 Gig — N/A
1 Gig | 2 Gig — Plus taxes and fees. Upload/download speed and device streaming claims are based on maximum wired speeds. Actual Internet speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on factors such as hardware and software limitations, latency, packet loss, etc.
5 Gig | 8 Gig — Available in select markets only. Plus taxes and fees. Upload/download speed and device streaming claims are based on maximum wired speeds. Actual Internet speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on factors such as hardware and software limitations, latency, packet loss, etc.
CenturyLink fiber plans
All fiber plans — Limited availability. Service and rate in select locations only. Paperless billing required. Taxes and fees apply.
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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