Kinetic Internet Review: Plans, Pricing, Speed and Availability

Unavailable in Provider unavailable in 90001

Kinetic home internet rating

How we calculated our rating

Pros

• Fast speeds for rural areas
• No data caps, no speed throttling, no contracts
• Fiber expansion in the works

Cons

• Speeds and pricing vary widely by location
• No security plan included
• Below average customer satisfaction

Kinetic by Windstream has a significant footprint in rural and suburban areas, with a fiber network and DSL. With either service type, plans are relatively cheap and speeds can be decent, depending on what's available at your address. Additionally, Kinetic plans offer unlimited data with no contract requirements, which is harder to come by in rural areas.

If the internet options in your area are between satellite and DSL internet from Kinetic, you can find better speeds and affordability from Kinetic. "Better than satellite" is about all that can be said about the DSL service. It isn't the fastest or most reliable internet type, and low customer satisfaction scores show DSL customers are not overly pleased with their connection.

As you get closer to the cities and suburbs where Kinetic's fiber-optic service is available, the fast speeds and low introductory pricing are much more enticing. Available plans will vary by location, and such areas typically come with more internet options, including a cable internet provider and perhaps another fiber-optic provider. In that case, you'll want to compare Kinetic closely with other available providers to determine the best internet provider for your needs.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Kinetic speeds vary by address

For DSL service, Kinetic High Speed Internet, it's probable that download speeds of less than the maximum (up to 200Mbps) are all that's available and may fall below what's considered broadband. Despite the slow speeds, the service still comes at the monthly rate of $40 across all DSL offerings. The good news is that, regardless of available speeds, Kinetic's DSL internet comes with a one-year price guarantee (after which it only increases by around $10 or so) and free equipment rental for the first year.

Available fiber speeds can also vary by market, mostly when it comes to the lowest speed tier. Some locations may see 100 or 200Mbps, but others may be eligible for up to 300Mbps for the same starting price. The 1Gbps plan is common in most areas, while select locations will also have the option of a 2Gbps plan. The fiber service introductory pricing is good for one or two years.

Kinetic equipment fees, data caps and contracts

At $11 per month, Kinetic's Wi-Fi equipment rental fee is lower than most. You also can use your own equipment and skip the monthly fee, but doing so may take a while to pay off and comes with sacrificing tech support's ability to troubleshoot Wi-Fi issues. Still, it's nice to have the option if you already own a compatible modem and router or prefer to use a top-of-the-line mesh Wi-Fi setup.

There are no data caps or contracts with Kinetic's fiber or DSL internet services. Installation (self or professional) is included, but new service comes with an activation fee of $60 which may be waived with your order.

Kinetic internet availability

Kinetic is available 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. Availability is particularly high in Georgia, Iowa and Kentucky, where coverage spans half the state or more. Availability in other states is slightly spottier. 

Despite the large coverage area spanning more than a third of US states, Kinetic is available to less than 3% of US households, according to the most recent Federal Communications Commission data. Such a large service area yet relatively small coverage percentage is an indicator of how reserved Kinetic Internet is for rural and suburban regions with low population density. For comparison, cable internet provider Cox Communications has a far smaller coverage area than Kinetic but is available to more than twice as many people since it operates primarily in metropolitan areas like San Diego, Phoenix and New Orleans.

Fiber has room to grow

Kinetic has a large DSL network, but there is an opportunity to expand its footprint as a fiber provider. That's not to say Windstream is neglecting the need for greater fiber coverage. Fiber expansion is currently in the works. 

A Windstream spokesperson tells CNET that the company is "currently involved in a multiyear $2 billion fiber investment and rollout across the 18-state footprint" and that "by 2027, 50% of the network will have fiber available." That seems like a long way off -- and for the rural residents waiting for it, it probably is -- but running fiber lines isn't easy or cheap, which is why fiber is primarily reserved for areas with higher population densities.

Suppose Windstream runs fiber lines to 50% of its footprint. In that case, much of that will include rural and potentially underserved suburban areas, so kudos to Windstream for investing in fiber service where other providers have not, even if it takes more than a few years to do it.

Kinetic versus the competition

Kinetic has a higher speed potential than competing DSL providers. With a flat starting rate of $40 per month, Kinetic is also cheaper than many DSL providers. 

As a fiber provider, there isn't much to separate Kinetic from other fiber ISPs. Pricing is about the same, maybe a little cheaper with Kinetic in some areas. Speeds are about the same as well. 

It's unlikely you'll have the option of Kinetic and other DSL or fiber internet providers, so let's compare the two options you'll probably have: Kinetic DSL and satellite internet, or Kinetic fiber and cable internet. 

Kinetic DSL versus satellite internet

DSL is almost always the better option over satellite internet, so you'll definitely want to check out Kinetic before committing to satellite.

Kinetic will be cheaper and will probably deliver faster speeds than satellite, although some locations currently get Kinetic speeds in the 10Mbps to 20Mbps range, while Hughesnet, Viasat and Starlink can reach 100Mbps and higher.

You won't have to worry about data caps, at all, with Kinetic. Satellite internet providers like to advertise "unlimited data," but they may leverage priority data or soft data caps and slow your speeds -- intentionally or due to network congestion -- once the limit is reached. Additionally, satellite internet may come with high equipment fees and a two-year contract and a hefty early termination fee if you cancel before the two years are up. Kinetic does not lock you into a contract.

A DSL connection, while not perfect, will also offer greater reliability and lower latency than satellite internet. Rain and cloud cover won't disrupt your DSL service, and latency is low enough to support online gaming, two conveniences you shouldn't expect from satellite.

Kinetic fiber internet vs. cable internet

Like how DSL is preferable to satellite, fiber is often preferable to cable internet. You'll get symmetrical upload speeds with fiber internet and a more reliable connection than cable. Still, Kinetic versus cable could be a toss-up depending on which Kinetic plans are available at your address and which cable providers offer service in your area.

For those who need speed, Kinetic's gig service is priced lower than gig plans from most cable providers. Gig service from Kinetic could cost around $70 per month for the first year, then $95 per month thereafter. On the cable side, gig service could initially cost $80 to $110, then spike up to well over $120 after 12 months.

In most instances, I'd recommend Kinetic fiber over cable internet. It's probably going to be a bit cheaper and you'll get the luxury of symmetrical download and upload speeds. Be sure to do your due diligence. If Kinetic fiber service is available, definitely check it out, but also compare it with plans and pricing options from other providers in your area.

Kinetic customer satisfaction takes a turn

The American Customer Satisfaction Index began dividing fiber and non-fiber internet providers into separate categories in 2023, but this year's report is the first time the ACSI individually judged Kinetic's fiber and DSL services.

Fiber scored 72 out of 100. That's a two-point increase from the year prior when both Kinetic services were scored together. Still, the provider landed toward the bottom of the pack, lower than the industry average (76) and edging out only Optimum's score of 66.

As for a non-fiber provider (that would be the DSL service), Kinetic's score fell to an industry-low 56, a 20% decline year over year.

A slight drop is to be expected when you're separating fiber and non-fiber services for the first time. AT&T, CenturyLink and Frontier see similar disparities between their fiber and non-fiber scores, for example.

The decline is understandable, but a 14-point drop feels extreme. If it was the fiber service keeping the customer satisfaction scores afloat in recent years, I would have expected more than a two-point increase as a fiber provider.

The bottom line on Kinetic internet

Those in rural areas will find Kinetic DSL internet a better service and value than satellite. Kinetic fiber and cable internet are somewhat more closely matched, but Kinetic fiber will probably be the cheaper high-speed option as well. Kinetic pricing and available speeds vary widely by market, perhaps more so than any other major provider, so be sure to compare your options.

Kinetic internet FAQs