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Plans starting at: $50
Popular Package: CenturyLink internet - Up to 940Mbps.
Download speeds up to: 940 Mbps
Connection Types: Fiber & DSL
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1-833-943-6858
Plans starting at: $40
Popular Package: 1 Gig Fiber Internet
Download speeds up to: 1 Gbps
Connection Types: Fiber & Cable
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1-833-337-0356CenturyLink Staff rating
CenturyLink’s DSL internet has wide coverage but slower speeds
CenturyLink is a DSL internet provider owned by a parent company known as Lumen Technologies. Lumen is the seventh-largest ISP in the U.S., based on its combined internet service in both DSL and fiber. Lumen serves a total of about 3 million customers [1]. CenturyLink is the DSL brand owned by Lumen. The fiber brand of Lumen is now known as Quantum Fiber. This review will focus on the CenturyLink DSL half of the Lumen brand. We will cover Quantum Fiber in a separate review, because the two brands provide very different technologies. If your only available internet is CenturyLink, your DSL connection is likely to be slower than if you have cable or fiber. DSL speed can vary widely depending on your neighborhood and even on the wiring in your home. But CenturyLink, like most DSL companies, will charge you the same price for a slow 10 Mbps download speed as for 100 Mbps download speed. It’s luck of the draw, with no price break for slower service. DSL customers just aren’t getting the same kind of value that fiber customers are getting. And that’s one probable reason that Lumen separated its two brands. Now, it should be easy to tell what you’re getting – mostly. CenturyLink is DSL, and Quantum Fiber is all-fiber. On websites that still mix the two names, though, the speeds of each plan will often be a giveaway. CenturyLink sold half of its DSL network to Brightspeed in 2022. CenturyLink now has a very unusual coverage footprint: think of it as the Western half of the United States, minus California, plus Florida.PROS
Consistent prices with no built-in price hikes No data caps for DSL plans DSL is sometimes faster than satellite or fixed wireless, depending on the location
Cons
DSL offers little speed for the money compared to fiber or cable DSL speeds vary widely and are sometimes below broadband speed Customer service gets poor reviews from many customers
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1-833-943-6858Optimum Staff rating
Optimum features good speeds but poor customer satisfaction scores
Optimum is a major national cable internet provider. Most of Optimum’s 4.3 million subscribers receive cable internet service. But the ISP is also adding some all-fiber connections in select markets. Optimum is the internet brand name of Altice USA, which rolled the company formerly called Suddenlink into the Optimum brand in 2022 [1]. Altice/Optimum is the 6th-largest ISP in the nation [2]. Optimum seems to check off all the right boxes for many of its offerings. You will have no data caps and no required contracts with Optimum internet plans. You will also get free equipment rental included with your monthly plan price. And Optimum’s prices are good (at least while the promotions last). So why are Optimum’s national customer satisfaction scores so low? We’ll check into that as we give you an overview of what to expect from an Optimum internet connection.PROS
Gigabit download speeds No data caps or contracts 2-year price guarantee
Cons
Poor customer satisfaction scores Slower upload speeds for cable than all-fiber Price hikes after promo rates
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1-833-337-0356CenturyLink Pricing
CenturyLink DSL charges high prices for widely varying speeds
DSL is not one of the faster internet technologies on the market. Usually, DSL customers sign up for their plans because there is no cable or fiber internet in their areas. And that can be a valid choice if DSL will give you better performance than satellite internet, though you have to evaluate that on a case-by-case basis. Many times, DSL plans are good options for customers in rural areas. CenturyLink plans are no exception to the general qualities of DSL. You will generally pay around $50 for your DSL package, whether you get 10 Mbps download speed or whether you are lucky enough to get 100 Mbps download speed (very unusual for DSL and true for only 28% of CenturyLink DSL customers) [2]. In better news, CenturyLink’s DSL plans are free of data caps. So, despite the fact that CenturyLink’s DSL prices are high for the speeds, at least you won’t have unexpected data overage charges.Call today & find the best CenturyLink internet deals
1-833-943-6858Optimum Pricing
Good initial prices followed by price hikes
Cable internet is the chief type of connection that Optimum provides its customers. Because of improvements to cable internet technology, you can get gigabit download speeds from many cable internet companies like Optimum. You just won’t get the same upload speeds from cable as you will from an all-fiber connection [3]. Whether you get the usual cable service or all-fiber, you will get good prices from Optimum, and those prices will be locked for 2 years. Here’s an example. You’ll pay $40/month for Optimum’s first tier plan, which is up to 300. That is a good price for these speeds. The catch is that after those two years, standard prices will take effect, which will spike your bill higher. That may be why Optimum is seeing year-over-year declines in its cable customers [4]. The price hikes may be pushing people to other options at the end of their two-year promotion.Call today & find the best Optimum internet deals
1-833-337-0356CenturyLink Reliability and Performance
“But it was so fast in the ‘90s!” DSL shows its age in many locations
CenturyLink DSL uses one of the oldest internet technologies: copper cables originally designed as telephone wire. Only 65% of CenturyLink’s DSL achieves speeds over 25 Mbps, or what the FCC calls “high-speed” internet. 85% of the CenturyLink DSL network is above 10 Mbps. That means a good 15% of CenturyLink’s DSL customers have very slow connections below 10 Mbps [3]. If DSL gives you under 10 Mbps download speed and only 1 Mbps upload speed, you won’t be able to play real-time games online with any kind of reliability. You may also experience glitching if multiple people stream or videoconference at the same time. To be fair, some DSL connections will give you faster speeds. 28% of CenturyLink customers will get 100 Mbps download, and that speed will considerably improve your performance. But if you are considering ordering CenturyLink DSL, make sure you know what your other options are. You can test your actual speed here to see what kind of performance your current internet connection is giving you.Call today & find the best CenturyLink internet deals
1-833-943-6858Optimum Reliability and Performance
Cable and fiber both provide fast download speeds, but cable's upload speeds are slower
With hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) technology, Optimum gives its cable customers gigabit download speeds but much slower upload speeds. That’s typical for cable internet service. Optimum is comparable to other major cable internet providers such as Spectrum and Xfinity, offering upload speeds at a maximum of around 35-50 Mbps. Optimum differs from the cable internet competition because it is also launching into the all-fiber internet market. Optimum’s current fiber internet customer base is small but has doubled in the last couple of years from around 100,000 to over 200,000 subscribers [4]. By 2025, Optimum plans to create over 6.5 million fiber passings [5]. Fiber internet’s most striking advantage over cable internet is that fiber offers symmetrical upload and download speeds. This is a game-changer for online gaming, videoconferencing, and large homes with multiple devices. When Altice merged Suddenlink under the Optimum brand, the company had two distinct “footprints” left from where the old Optimum and Suddenlink coverage had existed. Suddenlink’s coverage area had been primarily in the South and West. Optimum was strong in the Northeast, and particularly in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Now, the fiber buildout is fastest in that tristate area [1]. Your chances of getting fiber internet from Optimum in the next year or two will be better if you live in the tri-state area.Call today & find the best Optimum internet deals
1-833-337-0356CenturyLink Equipment, Installation and Bonus Features
Option to use your own modem/router or self-install your connection
With the CenturyLink DSL plan, there’s a $15 a month modem/router rental fee, which is on the high end of equipment fees. You can avoid the modem/router fee by buying your own. And that might not be a bad plan, given that you will make up the price of a typical modem/router in a year or less. You may have to pay for a professional installation, which is usually a one-time fee of $99. Fortunately, in many places you may also have the option to self-install for $15. It depends whether there is still a working CenturyLink DSL connection in your home.Call today & find the best CenturyLink internet deals
1-833-943-6858Optimum Equipment, Installation and Bonus Features
No equipment rental fees, free installation with Optimum plans
Optimum will provide your modem/router as part of your monthly plan fee, with no extra rental charge. If you have a compatible cable plan, you may even get a Wi-Fi 6 router, which will give you higher speeds for multiple devices than Wi-Fi 5. Fiber internet plans from Optimum will often include the Wi-Fi 6 gateway as well. If you would rather use your own modem and router, Optimum will allow it. Just be sure to check for compatibility with their specs. Standard installation is free with Optimum plans.Call today & find the best Optimum internet deals
1-833-337-0356CenturyLink Experience & Support
CenturyLink runs below average in some satisfaction rankings
CenturyLink’s customer satisfaction rankings vary widely by region on the J.D. Power survey [3]. In the North Central region, CenturyLink ranks above average. In the West, CenturyLink ranks slightly below average, and in the South, CenturyLink is second from last in customer satisfaction. The North Central and West regions where CenturyLink/Quantum Fiber rank higher are also the regions in which Quantum Fiber provides most of its fiber access. The South only includes one state with fiber internet coverage, which means most of that low customer satisfaction rating is based on CenturyLink’s DSL. The American Customer Satisfaction Index confirms that split in results by dividing “CenturyLink” specifically into fiber and DSL. Fiber ranks 16 points higher than the DSL service [4]. For CenturyLink and Quantum Fiber, these customer satisfaction rankings tell the story clearly. CenturyLink’s DSL service is not as likely to please you. However, be aware that there is a certain amount of online cross-marketing between the two companies. So, if CenturyLink says they are able to sell you “fiber” as they seem to imply on their homepage, all that means is that they’re going to send you to a Quantum Fiber plan if your address has fiber availability.Call today & find the best CenturyLink internet deals
1-833-943-6858Optimum Experience & Support
Optimum customer satisfaction: the big question mark
With so many seemingly good points to its service and pricing, why has Optimum’s customer satisfaction scored significantly below average according to J.D. Power? [6] A random sampling of online user reviews seems to indicate two major complaints. The first is outages and failure of technical response. The second is a more general dissatisfaction with the phone system, being transferred around to different departments, and getting contradictory responses from different phone reps when trying to solve billing issues. Because this is a fairly even distribution of complaints, it’s likely that Optimum is just not quick enough in responding to customer concerns, whether they be technical or billing-related. We can’t know the reason for this dysfunction. Often, these kinds of responsiveness issues happen when companies are understaffed or have high staff turnover in their customer service. But until Optimum gets better ratings, we have to give them only 3 stars for customer satisfaction.Call today & find the best Optimum internet deals
1-833-337-0356CenturyLink FAQ's
To order or learn more, call the number on this page or visit BuyCenturyLink.com.
CenturyLink internet is an affordable DSL home internet service that offers unlimited data. It allows you to work from home, shop online, connect multiple users and devices, and stream movies. There is no annual contract, and the service is available in various speed options.
Internet availability may vary depending on your location. To check if CenturyLink internet is available in your area, enter your zip code here at CompareInternet.com. We’ll give you a complete list of providers available in your area.
CenturyLink offers either professional installation or self-installation for your internet service. Professional installation will carry a higher one-time fee but will be guaranteed to fix any issues as soon as possible. Self-installation will be less expensive and not too complicated with their self-install kit.
Yes, CenturyLink allows you to connect multiple users and devices simultaneously. Whether it's for work, school, or entertainment purposes, you can connect and use multiple devices on the same internet connection. Fiber will give you higher speeds than DSL that may work better for multiple devices.
Yes, CenturyLink provides Wi-Fi service. With Wi-Fi, you can enjoy wireless connectivity in your home, allowing you to connect your devices without the need for wired connections. The maximum internet speed available for Wi-Fi may vary depending on your location and your internet plan.
Call today & find the best CenturyLink internet deals
1-833-943-6858Optimum FAQ's
To order or learn more, call the number on this page or visit OptimumSavings.com.
No, Optimum does not impose data caps on any of its internet plans. You will have unlimited data on both cable internet and fiber internet plans from Optimum.
Optimum offers a free internet speed upgrade service to loyal customers, providing faster speeds and better value without changing the current price.
Optimum provides two options for renting a modem: one includes tech support and equipment replacement, while the other option is for purchasing a compatible modem.
To explore different speed options for your Optimum Internet service, you can enter your zip code here at CompareInternet.com to see what plans are available in your area.
Optimum offers savings on monthly bills through their Internet + Mobile Savings program, allowing customers to save up to $30/month by combining Optimum Internet and Optimum Mobile services.
Only Optimum Mobile and Optimum Internet customers are eligible for the Internet + Mobile Savings program offered by Optimum.
Call today & find the best Optimum internet deals
1-833-337-0356CenturyLink Sources
[1] Dgtlinfra.com. "Top 125 Internet Providers in the U.S.'' [2] FCC Broadband Map [3] J.D. Power. "2022 U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study." [4] American Customer Satisfaction Index. "Internet Service Providers."
Call today & find the best CenturyLink internet deals
1-833-943-6858Optimum Sources
[1] Wikipedia.com. "Suddenlink Communications."
[2] Dgtlinfra.com. "Top 125 Internet Providers in the U.S."
[3] Optimum.com. "Internet Packages Speed Details."
[4] AlticeUSA.com. "Altice USA Reports First Quarter 2023 Results."
[5] AlticeUSA.com. "Altice USA Announces Acceleration of Fiber Deployment Strategy."
[6] J.D. Power. "2023 U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study."
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1-833-337-0356CenturyLink Internet Plans
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1-833-943-6858Optimum Internet Plans
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1-833-337-0356CenturyLink Customers Review
Pricing
3.5
Reliability & Performance
3.0
Equipment, Installation & Features
3.5
Customer Experience & Support
3.0
Overall Rating
3.3
Veronica Perkins
from Gordo, AL on September 2025
So slow we can’t stream anything
Lisa S
from Casco, WI on August 2025
Absolutely crap. Slow, doesn’t want to work. Not reliable.
Sharon Tillman
from Loveland, CO on August 2025
They are saying we have to switch to Quantum Fiber which cost more and we aren't happy about that.
Presiliano P
from Albuquerque, NM on June 2025
Need faster internet and a lower price
Debbie B
from Rush City, MN on May 2025
They stated $65 lifetime monthly payment to me and all my neighbors when we all signed up at the same time 4 yrs ago. We have all had an increase to $80. Every time I talked to them I never get any resolution. Yesterday I talked with a supervisor and he was no help regarding a balance due on my account that I was never aware of. I pay my $80 every month on auto pay. I am now searching for another internet service. The customer service for a very good customer is horrible. I was told several times they were unable to assist in clearing up mistakes in a late payment fee that I didn't owe. I am going back to receiving a paper bill so I can keep track of what they are applying to my account.
Call today & find the best CenturyLink internet deals
1-833-943-6858Optimum Customers Review
Pricing
3.0
Reliability & Performance
4.0
Equipment, Installation & Features
4.0
Customer Experience & Support
3.0
Overall Rating
3.5
Catherine Pape
from Watertown, CT on August 2025
Last dec.switched to fiber and was told there was no price increase.
Went from under 200 to 282.
Also they keep charging me for three tvs and I only have 2.
Will not give me credit or change my bill.
Robert P
from Watertown, CT on August 2025
This is the worst internet company that I have rented from. The price points are at best on par with their competitors, and at worst, grossly overcharged. But the most significant concern with Optimum is their piss-poor customer service. If you ever have an issue with coverage or billing, prepare to navigate a Kafkaesque labyrinth of sleepy phone representatives, with the personalities of a baked potato from Applebees and the reasoning capabilities of a beta Chatbot. Optimum served its purpose... for one year. When I moved, I temporarily disconnected my Wifi service, intending to renew it in the new location. The company rep assured me that I could keep the same equipment and plan in the next apartment... only to get there and have Optimum tell me that I needed to upgrade to fiber. Well, not wanting to deal with the 100 dollar install fee and 20 dollar monthly price hike, I decided to switch to Verizon (a great decision by the way—I cut my bill in half, and could install the wifi gateway myself). A new Odyssey of phone calls with Optimum's "retention" team began. Let me save you the trouble: they will offer you competitive counteroffers, gift cards, credits, and other perks, but read the fine print, because the good stuff expires long before the price lock that they promise. At one point, I nearly thought they wouldn't actually let me leave. In short, it's a load of dug, and this is the type of company that needs to swindle and lie in order to stay afloat. Please, save yourself the money and gray hairs. Look elsewhere.
Douglas K
from Ozark, MO on August 2025
Run around every time you try to talk to someone. Too much money for basic internet
Amanda Hunter
from Boyce, LA on August 2025
They're not very willing to work with you on anything
Doreen Depalo
from Yonkers, NY on July 2025
Service is too expensive for just WI. Fi, i'm on the fixed income and low subsidy service does nothing but buffer all the time not worth the price
Call today & find the best Optimum internet deals
1-833-337-0356