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Windstream vs. CenturyLink Internet Providers Compared
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Staff rating
4.0
Customers rating
3.8
Plans starting at: $39.99
Popular Package: Kinetic Fiber 8 Gig
Download speeds up to: 8 Gbps
Connection Types: Fiber & DSL
Windstream Staff Review
Kinetic by Windstream offers fast, reliable fiber and solid DSL
Kinetic currently provides fiber internet to about one-fifth of its customers and DSL internet to the rest [1]. Usually, that might be a recipe for customer dissatisfaction because of DSL’s lower speeds. But Kinetic’s DSL is faster than most, which allows the ISP to avoid some of the issues that other DSL providers face. While Kinetic’s fiber internet offerings still far outclass their DSL internet, they get good ratings for both. Like every other provider that offers DSL or fiber internet, Kinetic will give you much better prices for fiber than for DSL. Kinetic’s fiber internet will be a strong performer at good prices. But their fast DSL still won’t be as good as cable. You might want to pick Kinetic DSL if your only other choice is satellite or LTE, but not if you have a cable or fiber option instead from another ISP.PROS
- Fast fiber at decent prices
- No data caps, no contracts
- Kinetic is building out fiber quickly with massive broadband grants
CONS
- DSL is more expensive for slower speeds than fiber
- Extra fees for equipment rental and installation
- Fiber is not available to all customers at present
Top cities with availability
CenturyLink Staff Review
CenturyLink’s DSL internet has the limitations of an older technology
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. Customer satisfaction for CenturyLink is below average in many places. 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 $50/month 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 is available in 16 states since it sold half of its DSL network to Brightspeed in 2022. It has a very unusual coverage footprint: think of it as the Western half of the United States, minus California and 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
Top cities with availability
CenturyLink Pricing
CenturyLink DSL charges high prices for widely varying speeds
DSL is not one of the more consumer-friendly 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. DSL deals are what you have to take if there’s no better option in town. 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 $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, at least you won’t have unexpected data overage charges.
Windstream Reliability and Performance
Windstream unveils new 8-Gig access to claim largest 8-Gig provider title
Windstream recently announced that as of July 2023, the company will have 8-Gig internet speeds available to 400,000 households across their 18-state coverage area [1]. 8-Gig internet speeds are at the fastest end of residential internet speeds, and with this achievement, Windstream is making its bid to win some of the internet speed wars. The question is who exactly needs 8 Gigs of symmetrical internet speed. At the moment, 8 Gigs is excessive speed for most residential internet users. 1 Gig will more than supply all the bandwidth that most homes need. Even very large households with multiple devices all streaming or gaming simultaneously don’t usually need more than 1 Gig, thanks to the symmetrical speeds of fiber internet. Even half of 1 Gig (500 Mbps) is usually capable of supporting a five- or six-person home and all the devices in it. For now, then, 8 Gigs may not be a speed that gets a lot of takers. But in the future, as virtual reality (VR) and assisted reality (AR) become more common, that massive bandwidth may be more useful. DSL performance will vary as it always does by location. But Kinetic’s DSL speeds reach the FCC’s standard for high-speed internet (25 Mbps/3 Mbps) for over 85% of its customers [3]. That speed is better than the average speed of broadband for DSL providers.
CenturyLink 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. In some things, age is good. Age brings wisdom to people, depth to a wine, and richness to cheese. But in internet technology, age is usually a negative, and especially when it comes to internet speed. 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, 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 such as the 28% of customers who will get 100 Mbps download, and that 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.
Windstream Equipment, Installation and Bonus Features
Equipment fee is optional, but Kinetic activation fee is required
Kinetic charges about $10 a month to rent a Kinetic gateway (modem/router combo). You can also use your own modem/router. If you buy your own, though, you will need to make sure it is compatible. ISPs also do not provide tech support for customers’ personal modems and routers. Kinetic also offers a Wi-Fi management tool for their own gateway that will allow you to change your settings without all the hassle of logging in to your router online. The activation fee is $60 most of the time when you have to pay it. However, many times, you will get a credit for online orders or other promotions that will offset the fee. The website’s small print reveals that for some DSL “extended installations,” you may need to pay a $750 advance fee to proceed with the extended copper line burial. We assume this is not common. While you might choose to pay that high fee in some cases to get wired internet service, you certainly would have to consider your other options as well.
CenturyLink 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.
Windstream Customer Experience & Support
Kinetic by Windstream improves its customer experience
Kinetic scored just slightly lower than average for customer satisfaction on the 2022 J.D. Power Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study [4]. But the good news is that in 2022, Kinetic’s score absolutely soared compared to its performance in the previous two years of the survey. Kinetic’s 2022 score was 720, about 40 points above its 2020 and 2021 results [5]. Kinetic now ranks third in the South, behind only AT&T and Xfinity. This is great news for customers. It’s possible that some of this meteoric rise might be explained by fiber buildout. In general, fiber and cable providers rank highest in customer satisfaction, DSL follows, and satellite and fixed wireless service bring up the rear. So, it’s not completely surprising that Kinetic by Windstream would rise rapidly in the ratings as more of their customers begin to use fiber instead of DSL.
CenturyLink Customer 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.
Windstream FAQ's
Where can I order Kinetic by Windstream internet service?
To order or learn more, call the number on this page or visit WindstreamOffers.com.
Where is Kinetic by Windstream available?
You can get Kinetic fiber internet or DSL internet in 18 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas.
Does Kinetic by Windstream offer DSL internet service?
Yes, in addition to all-fiber service, Kinetic offers DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) internet service. DSL uses existing copper telephone lines to provide internet connectivity to customers.
Does Kinetic by Windstream have data caps on their internet plans?
No, Kinetic does not place data caps on their internet plans.
Can I use my own modem/router with Kinetic by Windstream service?
Yes, you can use your own modem and router. Just check in advance with Windstream to be sure your specs are compatible with your planned service.
Are Windstream and Kinetic the same thing?
Windstream is a large company, and Kinetic is the brand for Windstream’s high-speed internet service. When you are talking about internet service, Windstream and Kinetic could describe “the same thing” because Kinetic is a Windstream brand.
CenturyLinkFAQ's
Where can I order CenturyLink Internet?
To order or learn more, call the number on this page or visit BuyCenturyLink.com.
What is CenturyLink internet?
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.
Is CenturyLink available in my area?
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.
What is the installation process for CenturyLink internet?
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.
Can I connect multiple users and devices to CenturyLink DSL?
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.
Does CenturyLink offer Wi-Fi service?
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.
Windstream Sources
[1] FierceTelecom.com. "Windstream Claims to Be Largest 8-Gig Provider in U.S."
[2] Dgtlinfra.com. "Top 125 Internet Providers in the U.S."
[3]FCC.gov. "National Broadband Map."
[4] JDPower.com. "2022 U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study."
[5] JDPower.com. "2021 U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study."
Windstream Accolades
CenturyLink Accolades
Windstream Internet Plans
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Plan
|
Service Type
|
Download Speed
|
Monthly Price
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$100 rewards card 2 Gig
|
Fiber | Up to 2,000 Mbps |
Only $99.99
/mo. for 24 mos. /w AutoPay *Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
|
|
|
$100 rewards card 1 Gig
|
Fiber | Up to 1,000 Mbps |
Only $39.99
/mo. for 3 mos. /w AutoPay *Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
|
|
|
$100 rewards card 300 Mbps
|
Fiber | Up to 300 Mbps |
Only $39.99
/mo. for 12 mos. /w AutoPay *Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
|
|
| High Speed Internet | DSL | Up to 100 Mbps |
Only $40
/mo. for 12mos. *Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
|
CenturyLink Internet Plans
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Plan
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Service Type
|
Download Speed
|
Monthly Price
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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CenturyLink Internet - Up To 940Mbps.
Free Equipment! |
Fiber | Up to 940 Mbps |
Only $75
/mo. /w No Annual Contract. *Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
|
|
| CenturyLink Internet - Up To 500Mbps. | Fiber | Up to 500 Mbps |
Only $50
/mo. /w No Annual Contract. *Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
|
|
| CenturyLink Internet - Up To 140Mbps. | DSL | Up to 140 Mbps |
Only $55
/mo. /w No Annual Contract. *Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
|
|
| CenturyLink Internet - Up To 100Mbps. | DSL | Up to 100 Mbps |
Only $55
/mo. /w No Annual Contract. *Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
|
Customers Review
Representative on phone was very helpful and install went smoothly.
Michael B from Florahome, FL
December 2023
Service has been reliable in our rural area.
Lyndsey M from Chickamauga, GA
August 2023
.
Elias F from Dawsonville, GA
August 2023
Good service nice people, just slow in our area
Stetson M from Calvert City, KY
August 2023
Great service
Eli F from Dawsonville, GA
July 2023
Customers Review
Love my internet
David Felts F from Bastian, VA
August 2023
Service so far has been great
Tami Shrewsbury S from Carlos, MN
August 2023
nnnn
E n from Labelle, FL
August 2023
None
Keri J from Des Moines, IA
August 2023
Service is sometimes slow.
Terry Conyers C from Shippensburg, PA
July 2023
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