Most users should go for AT&T Internet due to its better value for the money and wider availability—but there are some exceptions.
AT&T Internet vs. EarthLink: Which Internet Provider Is Worth Your Money?
Speed and reliability
4.0 / 5
Dollar value
3.8 / 5
Customer experience
4.0 / 5
Speed and reliability
3.0 / 5
Dollar value
3.5 / 5
Customer experience
3.0 / 5
9 min readEarthLink and AT&T both have a lot to offer, but AT&T is the clear winner for the vast majority of users. AT&T is considered to be one of the best internet providers thanks to its excellent fiber connectivity that delivers superfast speeds and a high level of reliability. EarthLink also offers fiber plans, though, and in some cases they deliver similar fiber speeds at a lower price.
Very few people have access to two fiber providers at once, so if you’re looking for fiber, you may really only have one option. That said, AT&T and EarthLink also offer non-fiber plans, with AT&T offering a new fixed wireless option and EarthLink still relying on older DSL connectivity.
Considering the fact that both of these providers offer solid options, if you have access to both, you may be wondering which is right for your needs. Read on for our full comparison between AT&T Internet and EarthLink.
“AT&T’s fiber network is fast and reliable.” —Lauren Hannula
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AT&T Internet vs. EarthLink: Plans, pricing, and speed
| Provider |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month |
$55-$245
|
$39.95-$189.95
|
| Download speeds | 100-5000 Mbps | 18-5000 Mbps |
| Upload speeds | 100-5000 Mbps | 1-5000 Mbps |
| Details | View Plans | View Plans |
Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change. Data verified as of the article's publication date.
“EarthLink's dependable service has kept me loyal.” —Kasandra Grant
AT&T Internet vs. EarthLink: Fees for modem and installation
AT&T is mostly reliant on fiber for its internet plans, and those fiber plans range from $55 per month for 300Mbps symmetrical speeds to $245 a month for 5,000Mbps. AT&T also offers a fixed wireless 5G internet plan called AT&T Internet Air. We’re not going to focus much on that in this guide, considering it’s not that widely available just yet—but it’s still worth mentioning. AT&T Internet Air comes at $60 per month and delivers speeds of up to 225Mbps.
EarthLink has fiber plans too, but they don’t make up the majority of its plans. In many areas, EarthLink still relies heavily on older DSL connectivity. And its DSL plans offer speeds of between 18Mbps and 75Mbps with prices generally sitting at $65. The speeds on offer to you will largely depend on what’s available in your area. EarthLink’s fiber plans are much more compelling. EarthLink fiber pricing also varies depending on your location. Plans start at around $50 for 300Mbps symmetrical speeds and range up to $190 for 5,000Mbps. If you have access to EarthLink Fiber, your entry-level plan may be the EarthLink Fiber 100 plan, which is $40 for 100Mbps.
What makes this review legit?
Our fact-based research process centers on interviews with internet customers across the country, helping us understand how internet services hold up against diverse needs and challenges.
To put together this review, we looked at results from our speed test, pulled data from customer satisfaction surveys, and pored over the fine print to compare prices and speeds between the two providers. To flesh out our analysis, we also interviewed AT&T Internet and EarthLink customers to get their firsthand insights. We let their experiences guide our research and shape our conclusions. We also speak with ISP spokespeople and industry experts to get insights into connection types, speed capabilities, and other technical issues related to internet service.
The matchup: How we rate AT&T Internet vs. EarthLink
For all our internet reviews, we give a rating based on three main criteria—speed and reliability, dollar value, and customer experience—which we then average to make an overall score.
Here, we compare those ratings face to face. We then offer some analysis and context for important factors to keep in mind.
Want to know more? Read our full-length AT&T Internet review and EarthLink review.
Speed and reliability
AT&T Internet: 4.0/5.0 | EarthLink: 3.0/5.0
If you focus on fiber alone, AT&T and EarthLink actually offer similar options. AT&T fiber plans start at 300Mbps download speeds, ranging up to 5,000Mbps. Depending on your region, this could be true for EarthLink too, though in some areas EarthLink does have a 100Mbps fiber plan. Both offer a good selection of fiber plans with a range of different speeds and at better prices than most cable providers. Fiber is also more reliable and, as mentioned, generally offers upload speeds that are just as fast as download speeds, which is helpful for those who want to upload videos or livestream.
But of course, there is a good reason why EarthLink scores lower here. EarthLink still relies heavily on DSL connectivity in many areas. In some cases, that DSL connectivity could be incredibly slow. In HighSpeedInternet.com’s customer satisfaction survey, EarthLink gets below-average scores for overall internet speeds. And that’s likely largely due to its DSL plans. AT&T fares much better, scoring above average in both speed and reliability. EarthLink came last in reliability.
If you have access to either provider’s fiber internet, they likely offer similar value and reliability. But both speed and reliability take a major hit if you go for a DSL plan.
Dollar value
AT&T Internet: 3.8/5.0 | EarthLink: 3.5/5.0
AT&T and EarthLink are relatively close in dollar value, but EarthLink once again falls behind largely due to its DSL connectivity, which comes at a high price for slow speeds. But EarthLink arguably offers better value for fiber. AT&T’s 300Mbps fiber plan costs $55 per month, which is higher than EarthLink’s $50 per month plan with the same speeds. Go all the way up to 5Gbps, and you pay $245 per month on AT&T and only $190 per month with EarthLink.
Both providers charge additional fees, though. On AT&T, you have to pay $10 per month for a modem/router rental, which is a little lower than EarthLink’s $14.95 per month fee—that $5 difference closes the gap in price if you go for the lowest-end 300Mbps plan. Both providers also charge for activation and professional installation, though AT&T does charge more. And if you cancel your plan early, you have to pay for it on both AT&T and EarthLink, which could cost more on EarthLink.
Basically, if you go for DSL, you’re getting relatively bad value. But if you have access to a fiber plan, EarthLink’s fiber offers slightly better value than AT&T’s.
Customer experience
AT&T Internet: 4.0/5.0 | EarthLink: 3.0/5.0
For the most part, AT&T seems to offer a better overall customer experience than EarthLink. In fact, AT&T is ahead of most of the competition, and in HighSpeedInternet.com’s customer satisfaction survey, AT&T came in fourth behind T-Mobile, Verizon, and Xfinity. EarthLink, on the other hand, came in dead last, though it’s important to note that this is a general survey that would have included EarthLink DSL customers.
The American Customer Satisfaction Index ranks AT&T highly as well. Among fiber providers, AT&T got top marks, beating out every other provider. To be fair, EarthLink wasn’t included in this study as a smaller provider, so it’s impossible to know where it would have ranked, but if we had to guess, we assume it wouldn’t reach the heights of AT&T. We spoke to a number of both AT&T and EarthLink customers. And generally speaking, AT&T customers had nothing but good things to say about their service. They didn’t always rate AT&T’s customer service highly, but they did find that their internet connectivity was high quality and reliable. EarthLink customers we spoke to were largely disappointed, especially those with DSL plans.
It’s impossible to know how EarthLink would have fared in these surveys if only its fiber options were considered. That said, we can safely say that AT&T Internet as a whole offers a better overall customer experience than EarthLink.
Overall quality: Which internet provider should you pick?
So, which provider should you pick: AT&T or EarthLink? Ultimately, you should pick whichever provider offers fiber in your area. AT&T is a little more expensive for similarly fast plans, but as a whole, it offers a better customer experience and higher level of reliability. That said, if you do have access to EarthLink fiber in your area, while you may not love its customer service, you can feel good about the fast speeds it offers.
AT&T Internet vs. EarthLink: What deals and promotions can you get?
Both AT&T and EarthLink offer some deals and promotions, including those designed to make switching to them a little easier. Both providers give you prepaid gift cards for switching from another provider, though EarthLink’s deal is a little better than AT&T’s. In either case, however, these gift cards can help soften the blow of any cancellation fees that you have to pay your previous provider.
Get a $150 Visa gift card
Switch to AT&T Fiber and get a $150 Visa gift card to cover any contract or cancellation fees.
Get up to a $200 MasterCard
Enroll in EarthLink Fiber to get up to $200 in a prepaid MasterCard when you sign up.
AT&T Internet add-ons and perks
Download the app for your Wi-Fi equipment
Add AT&T ActiveArmor to your monthly AT&T Fiber bill
Sign up for DirecTV on the AT&T website
EarthLink add-ons and perks
Call EarthLink to get set up
Call EarthLink to get set up
Call EarthLink to get set up
AT&T Internet vs. EarthLink: What do customers think?
For the most part, AT&T customers love their internet service. We spoke to four different AT&T customers, and three of them had almost nothing bad to say about the provider.
Retired healthcare administrator Jane Collins has tried three internet providers in her area and says that AT&T is the best of them. “I would say their internet is reliable. It’s been relatively trouble free,” she says. “The pricing has been stable.”
Danny Flanagan, a customer in Ohio, says that everything about AT&T internet is “fantastic.” So much so that Flanagan says he’ll be switching to AT&T Mobile, thanks to the great experience he had with AT&T Internet.
Not everything is positive, though. Hayden, a customer in Oak Park, Illinois, says that AT&T is better than his previous provider, Xfinity. However, he has experienced frustrations with a Wi-Fi extender that he says regularly needs technical attention.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a good deal, but it’s comparable to the other ISPs I’ve used,” he says, calling it “better than the alternative in this town.”
While not every single thing we heard about AT&T Internet was positive, the majority of it was, and customers generally find that it’s reliable and offers good customer service.
“Fantastic service and experience.” —Danny Flanagan
EarthLink customers aren’t quite as positive about their service as AT&T customers. We spoke to a series of EarthLink customers and found that EarthLink’s customer service was mediocre at best.
That said, not everyone had bad things to say about the provider. Cassandra Grant is a casino blogger and finds EarthLink to be an excellent choice for her online work. “There's a lot to like about EarthLink, but as an online casino player, the consistent speed and uptime are what set it apart,” she says.
Of course, other customers disagree. Jeannie K. in Blue Ridge, Virginia, is frustrated that EarthLink promised a DSL connection in an area that wasn’t able to receive it. Jeannie signed up for the service and contacted EarthLink several times in an effort to get her equipment removed and get a refund. “It turns out that our overhead telephone lines were no longer operational,” she says. “Shortly after, our telephone lines stopped working too.”
Another customer we talked to, Leslie Aromy in Waveland, Mississippi, had a frustrating experience. Aramee says that on her one day off, she couldn’t get in touch with EarthLink customer support about a series of issues that she was having with her internet.
“I qualified for the ACP discount,” Aromy says. “The first time [EarthLink] charged my bank, they didn’t charge me the right amount, so when I tried to call them, I couldn’t get in touch with a person who could actually help me.”
After spending months trying to disconnect the service and disputing charges, she’s still not sure if EarthLink will charge her more. “So I had to get a disconnect confirmation number. I go to my bank; they put a stop with automatic withdrawal on my account. Hopefully, at least if they do it again, I have the number so the bank can dispute it.”
“EarthLink was probably a good experience for some, but not for me.” —Jeannie K.
Want AT&T Internet or EarthLink? Find it in your area
If you have fiber internet in your area, you should sign up for whatever service offers that connectivity. You can get a better overall experience if it’s AT&T, but you may pay lower prices for EarthLink. Check out our tool below to find out which internet providers are available in your area.
See AT&T and EarthLink internet in your area by putting in your zip code.
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