Source: CNET analysis of provider data
CenturyLink keeps its Simply Unlimited internet plans (DSL internet, or "digital subscriber line") fairly simple: You pay $55 monthly for whatever speeds you can get at your location. All plans include unlimited data and there's no term commitment.
DSL is an internet connection type that runs on copper phone lines. It provides a faster connection the closer you are to a hub. That's why some customers might get maximum downloads of 15 megabits per second, while others might experience a comparatively speedy 140Mbps. It all depends on your location.
DSL is usually most appropriate for rural communities (areas that might not have cable or fiber internet options available), where pricey satellite internet is the main competition. So, any Simply Unlimited plan that gets you 100-140Mbps at your address is fairly decent. That's 39 to 55 cents per Mbps, a solid value for a DSL connection.
How many members of your household use the internet?
You can find CenturyLink home internet service in 17 states across the US. Check out the list below:
CenturyLink offers you the best speed available at your address. That's unusual among ISPs, who offer three to five plans at most addresses, but not uncommon for DSL service.
As to the value of the plans offered by CenturyLink, the average cost per Mbps for the DSL plans is $1, which is a highly competitive rate for that particular connection type. By comparison, the average price per Mbps of the DSL plans offered by AT&T, Frontier and Kinetic by Windstream is $1.29. I should note that I'm comparing the regular rates, not promo costs, because CenturyLink doesn't do promo pricing. The price you get at the start is the price you'll have after your first year.
It's not breaking news to say that DSL lags well behind fiber and cable for speeds and performance.
For example, over at the speed-testing website Ookla, a Speedtest Intelligence metric tracks the fastest ISPs based on median download speeds; its latest 2024 Speedtest doesn't include CenturyLink in the top seven fastest ISPs at all. The last time it included CenturyLink in its rankings, it came in seventh place behind Spectrum, Cox, Xfinity, Verizon, Optimum and AT&T Internet. That might not seem bad, but the six providers above it averaged approximately 170Mbps. CenturyLink rang in with a paltry 41Mbps, in comparison.
CenturyLink requires monthly prepayment to offer you its competitive prices and no-term agreements. But this also means no credit checks. Here are a few more details to consider when evaluating CenturyLink's internet service.
Like many other ISPs -- including Spectrum, Verizon and Xfinity -- CenturyLink allows you to avoid a modem or router rental by using your own device. You can check the list of CenturyLink-compatible devices, but if you decide to go with your own gear, you won't be eligible for CenturyLink's free 24/7 tech support.
Going with CenturyLink's equipment will add $15 a month to your bill, but you can also purchase the equipment for $200. That may seem like a daunting upfront cost, but if you foresee having the service for more than a year, you'll save money in the long run.
While there's no charge for self-installation, not all addresses are eligible for that option. If you opt to self-install, the fee costs $25. Professional installation may cost between $99 to $149 depending on your location.
If you wanted to avoid paying the additional monthly equipment fee, you could buy the CenturyLink modem for a one-time fee of up to $200.
To its credit, CenturyLink has provided unlimited data for its DSL plans for quite some time. While that should be the norm, it's not. So, it's worth calling out that you won't need to monitor your data usage or worry about gobbling up too many gigabytes before your billing cycle ends.
CenturyLink saw a mix of good and bad with the 2024 American Customer Satisfaction Index survey. It did quite well on the fiber side, notching a score of 76 out of 100 points, which was pretty good and on par with scores from Frontier Fiber and Google Fiber. On the other hand, CenturyLink's DSL didn't impress consumers much. It landed fourth from the bottom, with 62 points, which was only better than Mediacom,Frontier and Kinetic.
For the 2022 J.D. Power US Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study, CenturyLink scored 709 on a 1,000-point scale in the North Central region and 687 in the West. Those scores were below the industry average for the West region, but above the North Central region's mark. On the plus side, J.D. Power positioned CenturyLink above WOW, Xfinity, Spectrum, Mediacom, Cox and Frontier in the North Central region. Like the ACSI data, it suggests that CenturyLink is a solid but unspectacular, middle-of-the-pack performer regarding customer satisfaction.
CenturyLink scores top points for its affordable, high-speed Quantum Fiber product. But some of that enthusiasm is dulled when you focus solely on the DSL plans. If your address can get downloads between 100-140Mbps, it's a good deal. However, in many locations, those speeds don't even reach the broadband minimum of 100Mbps download. As you'll often hear from us, the true worth of a service will depend significantly on your address and which provider plans are available in your area, and CenturyLink is no exception.
What is CenturyLink Price for Life internet?
The CenturyLink Price for Life internet deal is available only on Quantum Fiber's plans. It's no longer available to new CenturyLink customers. Customers who signed the Price for Life with CenturyLink still have it, but be aware that any change to your account -- including switching speed tiers, moving to a different address, etc. -- will nullify your previous agreement.
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How do I get in touch with CenturyLink customer service?
Does CenturyLink internet offer any deals or promotions?
CenturyLink isn't big on running short-term promotions and deals. Customers can get additional savings by ordering online -- including, in some cases, free modem purchase and tech install -- and by choosing paperless billing and prepay options.
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Is there a CenturyLink data cap?
For the most part, no. CenturyLink DSL service features unlimited data. However, some existing customers may still be tethered to previous data cap limitations.
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What is Lumen Technologies and did CenturyLink buy it?
Lumen Technologies wasn't an acquisition but a rebranding of CenturyLink that occurred in September 2020. Most home internet customers will still see the CenturyLink brand for their services.
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Source: cnet.com