Is CenturyLink Internet Service Any Good?

Centurylink is a popular internet service provider that has been in the telecommunications business for almost a century. If you're looking for an internet service provider, you may be wondering if Centurylink is any good. Read on to find out.

Centurylink's Plan Options

Centurylink offers two simple service plans. The cheapest is the DSL plan, with a speed of up to 100 Mbps and a 1 TB data cap. The price for this plan is $50 per month, with another $15 per month to rent the modem. You may be able to use your own modem if Centurylink approves it. You can also purchase the modem upfront for $200 instead of renting it. This plan comes with a rate lock, meaning that your rate will never be raised, no matter how long you have the service.

The second service plan is for fiber optic internet service, with speeds up to 940 Mbps and no data cap. The price for this plan is $65 per month. This plan does not come with a rate lock guarantee. The latency for fiber-optic service is 36 ms, which is acceptable for gaming but a little higher than other services.

Both plans do not require you to sign a contract and both are priced a little higher than average for comparable plans from other internet service providers.

Centurylink Availability

The DSL plan is available in 36 states, including many rural locations. The fiber optic plan availability is much more limited, available in only 19 cities.

Centurylink Fees

On the negative side, Centurylink has one of the highest installation fees in the business. On the positive side, the company has fewer fees than almost any other ISP.

Centurylink Extras

Both plans come with the Secure Wi-Fi Service, which helps secure devices on your home network from hackers, malicious websites, and other cyber threats. You can also manage your networked devices and set parental controls with the My Centurylink app. Bundling options are available for internet and phone, but not for internet and TV.

Centurylink Customer Service

Customers consistently rate Centurylink's customer service as below average, according to J.D. Power's ISP customer satisfaction study. Common complaints include exceptionally long hold times and repeatedly being transferred to different customer service representatives who then have to have everything explained to them again.

The Takeaway

Centurylink is probably a good bet for people who want to use the service for the long term but don't want to be locked into a contract. It's also a good choice for people who live in rural areas without a lot of other internet options. If you live in an area where the fiber optic plan is offered, it's a good choice for gamers. It's a particularly good choice if having a reliable rate without surprise fees is important to you. If you're looking for the lowest rate, though, you'll probably find better options. Finally, the company only guarantees "up to" 100 Mbps and 940 Mbps. In other words, if you live in an area with poor infrastructure, you might not get anywhere near those speeds.