CenturyLink review: Exceptional DSL with no contract required

CenturyLink features two claims to fame: a generous menu of superior-velocity possibilities, such as fiber gigabit, and the ability to lock in a small rate for existence. The two are excellent in the DSL environment. 

Even additional remarkable is the generous no-deal selection for all DSL speeds up to 100Mbps. Few vendors present such appealing superior-velocity options devoid of a motivation on your conclusion. 

To improved have an understanding of these offerings, we used above four months examining six well known options and comparing them throughout the four biggest DSL vendors. We observed a service that provides extremely superior speeds, though your practical experience will in the end depend on your connection and location.

Professionals:

• Very low-expense Fiber Gigabit program
• A extensive array of DSL speeds
• Value for existence on DSL options

Drawbacks:

• Confined bundling possibilities
• Mediocre client service ratings
• Very low client gratification scores

CenturyLink World wide web options and rates

Very low-expense value for existence options devoid of the deal.

Knowledge effective 02/05/20

* Offer availability depends on location, rates might fluctuate. For additional information on these plans click here to study additional from our partner site, Allconnect.

Fiber options, velocity and facts

CenturyLink provides a person fiber program: Fiber Gigabit. At a hugely competitive $sixty five for each thirty day period, this absolutely endless Fiber Gigabit program is a person of the cheapest gigabit provides we’ve witnessed on the marketplace. The catch? Compared with other CenturyLink options, Fiber Gigabit is not value-for-existence, which means it will maximize above time. 

Whilst CenturyLink would not supply any specifics close to the rate transform, most gigabit options — such as Verizon’s Fios Gigabit — get started close to $80, and we would not be stunned to see this service abide by match. 

Even with an eventual value hike, the setting up present will make this gigabit program a steal for much larger households looking to stream, game, and down load throughout dozens of gadgets.

DSL options, velocity, and facts

As considerably as DSL world-wide-web goes, CenturyLink provides an array of speeds ranging from one.5Mbps to 100Mbps. Although the vast majority of persons will practical experience to some degree slower speeds, among ten to 40Mbps, these virtually unlimited no-deal options are additional than plenty of for a family of consumers looking to surf the world-wide-web, watch films, and play game titles on line devoid of getting to endure very long load moments or worry about going above a facts cap.

Value for existence

CenturyLink provides a value lock on all speeds up to 100Mbps for as very long as you keep on being with them. This present is fairly significantly unmatched amid DSL vendors — and amid world-wide-web vendors in normal — and could be really precious if you are looking to hold your expenditures small for the very long haul.

Who is just about every program best for?

• one.5Mbps: Finest for a one consumer with one-2 gadgets
• 10Mbps: Best for a one consumer with 3-four gadgets
• 40Mbps: Best for two consumers consumer with up to 5 gadgets
• 60Mbps: Best for three consumers with up to 6 gadgets
• 100Mbps: Best for four consumers with up to 8 gadgets
• Fiber Gigabit: Best for 5+ consumers with ten+ gadgets

How speedy is CenturyLink World wide web?

In the FCC’s latest report, CenturyLink’s true speeds had been lagging behind its advertised speeds, with 80% of panelists only acquiring seventy seven.9% of their advertised down load velocity, well beneath other vendors like AT&T and Verizon. 

These conclusions align with the small Effectiveness and Reliability rating from J.D. Power’s Gratification Examine even so, it can be truly worth noting that the FCC only examined CenturyLink speeds up to 40Mbps in this report. Fiber-primarily based connections normally have a bigger regularity in velocity and effectiveness.

World wide web availability

Commonly readily available DSL options with a growing fiber network.

With availability across 35 states, CenturyLink delivers superior-velocity world-wide-web in all four significant areas of the U.S., with the biggest protection in the West. 

Whilst most CenturyLink prospects will be limited to a DSL connection, the corporation is doing work on growing the fiber network, which is at the moment limited to 18 cities. Use our zip tool to check out if your deal with is serviceable.

Other aspects to consider

Straightforward tools

Straightforward tools, with the ability to choose-out to prevent the month-to-month charge.

The variety of modem, and its expenditures, will depend on your velocity and connection variety, though most selection from $ten-fifteen for each thirty day period. 

To prevent shelling out $one hundred twenty for each year on tools expenses, we propose possibly getting the modem upfront ($100) or making use of your personal. The upfront expense might look like a great deal, but it will in the end preserve you hundreds of pounds after the to start with year. 

Must you opt for to choose-out of CenturyLink’s tools completely, make certain your router is suitable. If you only have a fiber-dedicated connection readily available, your outdated DSL modem might not be able to supply the speeds you happen to be paying out for.

Noteworthy expenses

• Tools lease charge: Up to $fifteen/mo.*
• Experienced set up charge: Up to $125*
• Self-set up charge: $50 shipping/managing*

*From time to time waived for on line orders

No Television set bundles

CenturyLink is really limited in its bundling possibilities, presenting only a person: world-wide-web and endless nationwide dwelling telephone. Presented that vendors like AT&T and Verizon present their personal Television set service, or at the extremely the very least, present some discount with partnered vendors, CenturyLink falls noticeably limited. 

Having said that, it can be not all poor information. With an world-wide-web connection and a suitable streaming product, CenturyLink consumers can glance into a person of the many TV streaming services that are normally much less expensive than conventional Television set offers. 

Mediocre client service ratings

Buyers of any telecom supplier know the industry’s client service could use some get the job done — such as CenturyLink. It really is gained small-to-middling opinions from prospects throughout evaluation web pages and in 3rd-social gathering surveys. 

ACSI’s 2019 report and recent J.D. Electric power rankings both position CenturyLink beneath other huge names like AT&T and Comcast Xfinity when it will come to client practical experience. If you worth client service above the value and velocity of your world-wide-web connection, you might want to glance in other places.