CenturyLink Staff Review
$50 Lowest price
940 Mbps Highest Speed
CenturyLink internet - Up to 140Mbps. Popular Package
4.25 Customer Rating
3.3 Staff Rating
CenturyLink’s DSL internet has wide coverage but slower speeds
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. 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 price 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 sold half of its DSL network to Brightspeed in 2022. CenturyLink now has a very unusual coverage footprint: think of it as the Western half of the United States, minus California, 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 CenturyLink availability
Pasco
Albuquerque
Yuma
Las Vegas
Aurora
Chandler
Salt Lake City
Phoenix
North Las Vegas
Redmond
Centennial
Denver
Parker
Glendale
Portland
Clearfield
Eagle Mountain
Lehi
Saratoga Springs
Clinton
Sunset
West Point
Mesa
Bend
Alameda
Los Ranchos
Los Ranchos De Abq
Los Ranchos De Albuquerque
Village Of Los Ranchos
Tucson
Tempe
Call today & find the best CenturyLink internet deals
1-833-926-2709
Pricing
CenturyLink DSL charges high prices for widely varying speeds
DSL is not one of the faster 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. 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 around $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 for the speeds, at least you won’t have unexpected data overage charges.| Plan | Service Type | Download Speed | Monthly Price | ||||||||||||
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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. 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 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. 28% of CenturyLink customers will get 100 Mbps download, and that speed 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.Call today & find the best CenturyLink internet deals
1-833-926-2709Equipment, 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.Call today & find the best CenturyLink internet deals
1-833-926-2709Customer 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.FAQ's
To order or learn more, call the number on this page or visit BuyCenturyLink.com.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sources
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Top reviews
Mabel Flores
from Salt Lake City, on November 2024
Poor customer service and slow, unreliable internet.
Justin F
from Hoquiam, on October 2024
Worse service EVER! All day everyday the internet goes out.everytime the phone rings the internet goes out.
Caroline A
from Redmond, on October 2024
While the price is fixed and does not change every month like our last ISP (Comcast), the actual internet is spotty and weak. It is almost impossible to reach a human for customer service.
David Felts F
from Bastian, VA on August 2023
Love my internet
Tami Shrewsbury S
from Carlos, MN on August 2023
Service so far has been great
E n
from Labelle, FL on August 2023
nnnn
Keri J
from Des Moines, IA on August 2023
None
Terry Conyers C
from Shippensburg, PA on July 2023
Service is sometimes slow.
Jeffrey S
on July 2023
I have no issues with my provider
Don
from Columbia, MO on June 2023
Not a great experience being transferred around to multiple offshore partners who really did not have a lot of power to help with issues.
Kenneth Hall
from Littleton, CO on May 2023
Amelia Scott
from Rio Rancho, NM on May 2023
Matthew Turner
from Twin Falls, ID on May 2023
Lily Flores
from Wilson, NC on April 2023
Richard Baker
from The Bronx, NY on April 2023
Ellie Gray
from Boise, ID on April 2023
Victoria Nelson
from Pocatello, ID on April 2023
Timothy Baker
from Maple Grove, MN on March 2023
Scarlett Miller
from Bend, OR on March 2023
Elizabeth Parker
from Austin, AR on February 2023
Hazel Jackson
from Seattle, WA on February 2023
Aurora Turner
from Davenport, IA on January 2023
Violet Howard
from Nampa, ID on January 2023
Zoey Green
from Portland, OR on January 2023
Larry Davis
from Pleasantville, IA on November 2022
Ava Mitchell
from Beemer, NE on November 2022
Maya Cooper
from Kimberling City, MO on November 2022
Camila Cook
from Seattle, WA on November 2022
Samuel Hall
from Branson, MO on October 2022
Charlotte Carter
from Unknown, CO on October 2022
Grace Fisher
from Boise, ID on October 2022
Harper Garcia
from Boise, ID on October 2022
Timothy Wright
from Sioux Falls, SD on October 2022
Hannah Hayes
from Nampa, ID on September 2022
Grace Jones
from Phoenix, AZ on August 2022
William Wright
from Boise, ID on August 2022
Camila Lopez
from Foley, AL on August 2022
Richard Smith
from Eugene, OR on July 2022
Mia Davis
from Seattle, WA on June 2022
Charles Turner
from Princeton, WI on June 2022
Layla Garcia
from Columbia, MO on May 2022
Emma Rodriguez
from Columbia, MO on May 2022
Lily Morris
from Las Vegas, NV on April 2022
Audrey Foster
from Albuquerque, NM on April 2022
Addison Johnson
from Caldwell, ID on April 2022
Samuel Smith
from Lovington, NM on April 2022
Daniel Perez
from Seattle, WA on March 2022
Edward Lewis
from Waterford, CT on February 2022
Douglas Martinez
from Eugene, OR on February 2022
Penelope Evans
from Unknown, LA on January 2022
Victoria White
from Meridian, ID on January 2022
Chloe Taylor
from Phoenix, AZ on January 2022
Emily Harris
from Omaha, NE on December 2021
Brian Smith
from Las Vegas, NV on December 2021
George Moore
from Meridian, ID on October 2021
Samuel Martinez
from Fargo, ND on October 2021
Lucy Mitchell
from Phoenix, AZ on October 2021
Matthew Davis
from Connelly Springs, NC on October 2021
Albert King
from Phoenix, AZ on September 2021
Stella Hughes
from Grants Pass, OR on August 2021
Penelope Parker
from Albuquerque, NM on August 2021
John Davis
from Spokane, WA on August 2021
Chloe Martin
from Denver, CO on August 2021
Mia Nelson
from Portland, OR on August 2021
Eleanor Lee
from Cedar Rapids, IA on August 2021
Riley Martinez
from Andalusia, AL on July 2021
Bella Cox
from Charlottesville, VA on July 2021
Scarlett Johnson
from Cabot, AR on July 2021
Mia Hall
from West Des Moines, IA on July 2021
Dennis Jackson
from Phoenix, AZ on June 2021
Brian Hill
from Roseville, MN on June 2021
Harper Edwards
from West Jordan, UT on June 2021
Emma Baker
from Knightdale, NC on June 2021
Cheryl Sadelson
from Englewood, CO on April 2021
Very happy with fiber optic - much faster and no issues with speed
Jamie Hitson
from Nampa, ID on April 2021
Th prceis not great bu I think in time the app b better
Sophia Ross
from Jamestown, ND on March 2021
Quinn Coleman
from Denver, CO on March 2021
Joseph Perez
from Minneapolis, MN on February 2021
Audrey Wilson
from Sioux Falls, SD on February 2021
Layla Williams
from Phoenix, AZ on February 2021
Sophia Clark
from Vancouver, WA on February 2021
Larry Robinson
from Salt Lake City, UT on December 2020
Ella Lewis
from Russellville, AR on December 2020
Zoey Thompson
from Albuquerque, NM on December 2020
Sophie Collins
from Albuquerque, NM on December 2020
Leah Diaz
from Elk Point, SD on November 2020
Evelyn Smith
from Samson, AL on November 2020
George Harris
from Omaha, NE on November 2020
Victoria Kelly
from Beaufort, SC on November 2020
Albert Harris
from Meridian, ID on September 2020
Lucy Young
from Phoenix, AZ on September 2020
Thomas Turner
from Plymouth, IN on September 2020
Penelope Martinez
from Nampa, ID on September 2020
Olivia Adams
from Perry, IA on August 2020
Lily King
from Bozeman, MT on August 2020
Robert Carter
from Burlington, IA on July 2020
Avery Lee
from Meridian, ID on July 2020
Patrick Turner
from Portland, OR on July 2020
Elizabeth Hernandez
from Jacksonville, FL on July 2020
Charlotte Phillips
from Kalispell, MT on July 2020
Everly Jones
from Idaho Falls, ID on July 2020
David Gonzalez
from Alexandria, VA on July 2020
Tamara Sabrina
from New York, NY on July 2020
good
Joseph Young
from East Newark, NJ on July 2020
Ava Bennett
from Portland, OR on June 2020
James Young
from Boise, ID on May 2020
Lindsay Doyle
from Crawfordville, FL on May 2020
they have been both fast and reliable.
Liliana Middleton
from Boise, ID on May 2020
Century Link offers good speed for a decent price. Some cities are better than others, and mine is pretty good. I have heard bad stories, but the ones here a good, for a good price.
Markus Buchanan
from Salt Lake City, UT on May 2020
Great service
Larry Villanueva
from Las Vegas, NV on May 2020
It literally took a year of calling them all the time to get a bill error fixed that was their fault.
Travis Mckay
from Chicago, IL on May 2020
Centurylink provides good, fast Internet to rural areas without throttling.
Johnathan Solomon
from Killeen, TX on May 2020
It sometimes is slow
Tobias Singleton
from Rocky Mount, VA on May 2020
It works very well.
Mariam Hall
from Las Vegas, NV on May 2020
The speed is not as fast as advertised
Fabian Sheppard
from Denver, CO on May 2020
i think we need more people who are fair and not determine who bad and who deserves something need to stop
Jensen Horn
from Freeport, FL on May 2020
I think they misrepresent their speed when making a sale. Otherwise service and response time is fairly good; better than average.
Jordyn Snow
from Minneapolis, MN on May 2020
They have been good
Mariela Cooley
from Denver, CO on May 2020
i liked them
Briley Dyer
from Denver, CO on May 2020
none
Mariam Benjamin
from Chicago, IL on May 2020
Great company
Camden Dickerson
from Los Angeles, CA on May 2020
The are decent
Francesca Padilla
from Aurora, CO on May 2020
Good speed for being in a rural area surrounded by mountains and bordering national forest. You would think I couldn't get connection where I live but Iat least get DSL.
Keshawn Simmons
from Lady Lake, FL on May 2020
I think the price is a bite high for the amount of speed we have. 50.70 is our bill. Just for the internet. Other than that there is no issues.
Caylee Preston
from Foley, AL on May 2020
Not the best service slow some days no service we can’t get any one else in our area .we have had the service over 20 years
Chaya Salinas
from Killeen, TX on May 2020
Excellent customer service and good bundling prices. I have used this company for many years and have never had a serious problem.
Edgar Pollard
from Iowa, LA on May 2020
I believe that CenturyLink does not care very much about their customers. They are the only option, other than satellite internet, so they know we have no choice
Colten Kidd
from Monrovia, CA on May 2020
They are slow and don’t offer a higher speed in my area. It stops working frequently. Not too happy with it. Looking into switching to Comcast
Glenn Hicks
from Omaha, NE on May 2020
I haven't had any problems with century link except for buffering issues when I'm trying to stream off of services like Disney+ or Netflix
Turner Dunn
from Newville, PA on May 2020
I wish we were offered other options where we live. Its 2020 and living rural we still don't have what is normal in a town city in the way of cable and internet. Its spotty and the weather affects everything.
Lindsey Roy
from Bountiful, UT on May 2020
Great value and services. Have had no issues with speed or price. Fast internet service and quality work. We moved to a new city and wanted to o use CenturyLink because of their fast speed internet service and good prices. We have not been disappointed
Sergio Rhodes
from Boise, ID on May 2020
DSL with slow speeds and occasional outages the service is a bargain but not suitable for online gaming or online work.
Amelia Hill
from Twinsburg, OH on May 2020
Amelia Foster
from Seattle, WA on May 2020
Emily Lewis
from Mount Gilead, OH on May 2020
Emilia James
from Boise, ID on April 2020
Juliana Siska
from Denver, CO on April 2020
Quite good
Kathleen Haman
from Springfield, MA on April 2020
very intertested
Aria Jenkins
from Seattle, WA on March 2020
Abigail King
from Boise, ID on February 2020
Matthew Jackson
from Duluth, MN on February 2020
Michael Adams
from Sacramento, CA on February 2020
Dennis Clark
from Naples, FL on February 2020
Evelyn Gonzalez
from Ogden, KS on February 2020
David Harris
from Hayward, WI on January 2020
James King
from Boise, ID on January 2020
Harper Roberts
from West Jordan, UT on January 2020
Daniel Lee
from Twin Falls, ID on December 2019
Kenneth Baker
from New Bern, NC on November 2019
Scarlett Gonzalez
from Salt Lake City, UT on November 2019
Dennis Smith
from Fargo, ND on November 2019
Dennis Wright
from Oskaloosa, IA on October 2019
Layla Moore
from Omaha, NE on October 2019
Christopher Clark
from Nampa, ID on October 2019
Michael Robinson
from Albuquerque, NM on September 2019
William Hernandez
from Ankeny, IA on September 2019
Thomas Adams
from Albuquerque, NM on September 2019
Elizabeth Jackson
from Unknown, LA on September 2019
Richard Lewis
from Omaha, NE on August 2019
Grace Perez
from Lapwai, ID on August 2019
Abigail Hall
from Waukee, IA on August 2019
Daniel Hill
from Las Vegas, NV on August 2019
Riley Thomas
from Portland, OR on August 2019
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