CenturyLink’s fiber plans and customer service are great, but Optimum’s cable plans are much faster in many areas.
Optimum vs. CenturyLink: Which One Is Worth Your Money?
Better speed
Overall Quality ⁃ 2.5/5
3.0/5 - Speed and reliability
3.0/5 - Dollar value
1.5/5 - Customer experience
Better customer service
Overall Quality ⁃ 3.7/5
3.5/5 - Speed and reliability
3.8/5 - Dollar value
3.8/5 - Customer experience 
8 min readCenturyLink and Optimum both offer a mix of different kinds of internet service. Much of CenturyLink’s service is still reliant on old DSL network infrastructure. DSL plans from CenturyLink are reasonably priced, but not very fast.
Meanwhile, Optimum’s service uses mostly cable internet infrastructure. Cable internet is faster than DSL, but it’s still not as fast or reliable as fiber.
Both companies are currently expanding their fiber internet networks. But right now fiber plans from CenturyLink, and its sister company Quantum Fiber, are a better deal (and more widely available).
“It’s an extremely good deal for very high speed.” —Bruce, a CenturyLink fiber customer in Hurricane, Utah
So, which is the better provider? In short, it depends on where you live. If you’re in an area where both companies offer fiber internet, then CenturyLink is the way to go because it’s more affordable and has better customer satisfaction. But, if you’re choosing between CenturyLink’s outdated DSL plans and Optimum’s cable plans, then we recommend going with Optimum.
Read on to get all the important details about both companies, including prices, availability, customer service rankings, and more.
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Want to know if Optimum or CenturyLink are available where you live? Run a search with your zip code below to find out.
Optimum vs. CenturyLink: Plans, pricing, and speed
| Provider | | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month |
$35-$280
|
$50-$75
|
| Download speeds | 300-8000 Mbps | 80-940 Mbps |
| Upload speeds | 20-8000 Mbps | 10-940 Mbps |
| Details | View Optimum Plans | View CenturyLink Plans |
Data as of 04/05/2023. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
Optimum has three tiers of cable internet service—300Mbps, 500Mbps, and 1Gbps—and even more options for fiber plans (if you’re in an area with fiber). The company’s plans go all the way up to 8,000Mbps! For those who want to shell out over $200 a month, that’s enough bandwidth for an entire apartment building to share.
All Optimum’s plans come with unlimited data and no contract, meaning you can cancel anytime without any penalty.
CenturyLink’s plan lineup is generally more limited (and geographically specific). In places where CenturyLink has DSL service, there’s usually only one option that ranges in speed from 40–140Mbps and costs $55 a month. In places where CenturyLink has fiber infrastructure, it offers two plans: 500Mbps and 940Mbps, which cost $50 and $75 a month respectively.
Quantum Fiber vs. CenturyLink
As we mentioned above, Quantum Fiber and CenturyLink are both owned by the same company called Lumen. It looks like Lumen is gradually rebranding CenturyLink’s fiber-optic internet service as Quantum.
“Going forward, all new fiber-enabled locations will be Quantum Fiber,” says Courtney Morton, a spokesperson for Lumen. “The CenturyLink brand will continue to deliver high-quality internet and voice services over our reliable copper network.”
When it comes to choosing which company has better plans for you, a lot depend on where you’re located. If you're in a place where CenturyLink has Quantum Fiber branded plans, then you can get a good deal on superfast speeds. But, if you’re in an area where there’s only DSL service, you probably want to go with Optimum. Not only is it faster than CenturyLink DSL, it’s likely cheaper too (especially when you factor in the free modem/gateway rental).
“The speed is fast and fairly reliable.” —Rob, a public telecom worker and Quantum Fiber customer in the Pacific Northwest
Optimum vs. CenturyLink: Fees for modem and installation
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 Optimum and CenturyLink 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 Optimum vs. CenturyLink
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 Optimum Internet review and CenturyLink Internet review.
Speed and reliability
Optimum: 3.0/5.0 | CenturyLink: 3.5/5.0
First of all, we should say that the scores in this category don’t totally encapsulate the overall performance of Optimum and CenturyLink. While CenturyLink scores higher with 3.5/5, that’s only true in areas where fiber is available. Everywhere else, Optimum is definitely better when it comes to speed and reliability.
In fact, Optimum makes the list of Review.org’s fastest internet providers. The company’s fiber internet speeds go all the way up to 8,000Mbps. But even standard Optimum cable plans can get speeds up to 1 Gig, which is plenty for remote workers, serious gamers, and big families that want to stream HD video on seven different devices at once.
Okay, so we’ve been dishing on CenturyLink DSL this whole article. But what’s so bad about it? Normally, DSL service tops out at 100Mbps, which is not fast enough for many medium or large families with lots of devices. Technically, CenturyLink can use a technology called “pair bonding” to boost speeds up to 140 Mbps, but our own proprietary speed data shows that the CenturyLink customers actually experience an average download speed of just 54.83Mbps.
Fiber is another story. As Cai Crawford, a customer (and Reviews.org staffer) from South Jordan, Utah, says, “CenturyLink has been reliable and affordable and offers enough speed for the average household.”
Dollar value
Optimum: 3.0/5.0 | CenturyLink: 3.8/5.0
Once again, we need to put a little caveat about this dollar value section: It all depends on where you live and what kind of internet service you’re signing up for. While CenturyLink’s overall dollar value is great in areas with fiber service, its DSL service really doesn’t give you much bang for your buck.
At just $50 a month, CenturyLink's 500Mbps fiber plan is a particularly great deal. As Bruce, a fiber customer in Hurricane, Utah, told us in our standalone CenturyLink review, “It’s an extremely good deal for very high speed.” But CenturyLink DSL customers have to pay even more ($55 a month) for much slower and less consistent speeds.
Meanwhile, Optimum’s dollar value can seem great at first. The company’s promotional prices often beat out the competition. For example, when you first sign up for Optimum’s 300Mbps cable internet plan, it’s just $40 a month. But you have to watch out for price hikes. After the first 12 months of service, you usually get hit with a major bill increase. Your $40 plan could go all the way up to $70.
You might be able to keep your low promotional price with Optimum if you’re not afraid to sit on the phone with customer service for a while. A customer we spoke to for our Optimum Internet review, Josh Michael, told us that once he “got to somebody in the right role, they were perfectly happy to honor the promotional price.”
Customer experience
Optimum: 1.5/5.0 | CenturyLink: 3.8/5.0
CenturyLink’s customer service definitely has a better reputation than Optimum’s. Still, not everyone has had great experiences getting CenturyLink support.
Cai Crawford of South Jordan, Utah, explains his experience with CenturyLink’s fiber service: “They were not very responsive when I did have an issue.” he said. However, there were some other customers we interviewed who were less impressed with the service.
CenturyLink scores a 3.5 on HighSpeedInternet.com’s customer satisfaction survey, while Optimum comes in at just 3.3.
So what’s going on with Optimum’s customer satisfaction? It seems like the root of the issue is price hikes, outages, and slower speeds than advertised. Several customers say they have regular service outages, and one customer tells us they pay for a 500Mbps plan but usually get speeds that hover around just 80Mbps.
Overall quality: Which internet provider should you pick?
Optimum: 2.5/5.0 | CenturyLink: 3.7/5.0
When it comes to choosing between Optimum and CenturyLink internet, neither option is perfect. CenturyLink’s DSL service is slow and overpriced. Its fiber service is much better but only available in limited areas.
Meanwhile, Optimum’s cable internet plans offer faster speeds in a wider range of areas, but the prices go up after the first year, and many customers are frustrated with how the company treats them.
If you’re not liking what you see with Optimum and CenturyLink, then check out what other internet plans are available in your area. Just type your zip code in here!
Optimum vs. CenturyLink: What deals and promotions can you get?
Optimum may not have the best customer service, but the company does offer much better introductory deals than CenturyLink. While CenturyLink basically has no special treats for new customers, Optimum gives newbies hundreds of dollars in prepaid cards, huge discounts, and other perks.
One of the best ways to save with Optimum is to switch your mobile plan. Optimum Mobile is only for Optimum Internet customers and offers great prices on unlimited data plans. Plus, it uses T-Mobile’s super fast 4G and 5G networks!
Here’s a look at some of the other deals that Optimum and CenturyLink are running right now.
Optimum Internet add-ons and perks
Sign up for 1 Gig internet plan
Sign up for 300Mbps plan and mobile bundle.
Sign up for a 500Mbps or faster plan and mobile bundle.
Transfer up to 4 numbers on any Unlimited line and earn up to $100 per line via an Optimum Prepaid Mastercard®.
Optimum vs. CenturyLink: What do customers think?
Optimum customers aren’t happy with their lack of options and service disruptions
We interviewed several real Optimum customers in different parts of the country for our standalone Optimum Internet review. Overall, their experiences haven’t been particularly positive.
Geoffrey Turbeville, an Optimum cable customer who lives with his wife in Brooklyn, New York, says he's been an Optimum cable internet customer for six years—but only because “We really only have one option.”
This sentiment is also echoed by Luther Shoultz, a business executive in Freehold, New Jersey. He says “If there were multiple providers available, companies could really start on really making sure customers are happy instead of making promises they can’t keep.”
In neighborhoods where there are more options, Optimum seems to be more responsive. For example, Josh Michael, who has been with Optimum for eight years, tells us, “Once Verizon Fios came to my street, it changed things … Now I’m getting a good deal. Before I thought it was expensive.”
“I don’t like the speed and the irregularity of it. There are certain times Wi-Fi just drops out.” —Optimum customer Courtney Joan
CenturyLink customers like their service, even if they aren’t over the moon about it
Of the six customers we spoke to for our CenturyLink internet review, none of them were as frustrated as Optimum Customers. The vibes were generally positive. “I love that I've never had an issue with service,” says Reddit user FearthePack, who’s a Optimum fiber customer in the Minnesota metro area.
Meanwhile, Cai Crawford said that “It's hard to beat the price I have, and service is generally really good.” Though he has had some issues with service disruption when CenturyLink was working on its infrastructure in the area.
In general, it was the CenturyLink fiber (and Quantum Fiber) customers who seemed most happy with their service, as opposed to the DSL customers.
“They are faster, cheaper, and more reliable than my previous cable internet.” —Bruce of Hurricane, Utah, a CenturyLink fiber customer since 2019
Want Optimum or CenturyLink? Find it in your area
Optimum’s cable and fiber internet plans are incredibly fast. They’re ideal for big families, remote workers, serious gamers, and other heavy internet users. Just watch out for the price hikes after the first 12 months and for less-than-ideal customer service.
CenturyLink’s DSL plans are not a great option for those who want high-speed internet (though they might be your best bet in certain rural areas). But if you can get CenturyLink’s fiber internet service, it’s very fast and reliable. Plus, CenturyLink customers tend to be happy with their prices and their customer service.
Check out all of the plans that Optimum and CenturyLink offer in your area by entering your zip code here.
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