CenturyLink internet review: Cost, coverage and customer experience guide

CenturyLink at a glance

Although it doesn’t make our list of best internet service providers, CenturyLink has roots dating back to 1930. In 2020, the company rebranded as Lumen Technologies, although it continues to advertise its internet services under the CenturyLink name. The company is based in Monroe, Louisiana.

Fast facts

What we like

I like CenturyLink’s straightforward and affordable pricing, particularly its “price for life” guarantee with fiber plans. Unlike other internet service providers (ISPs), which offer promotional pricing that increases significantly after the initial contract period, CenturyLink keeps its rates consistent.

Its DSL internet service is a cost-effective option for rural areas, offering more affordable prices than satellite providers, no data caps, no contracts and month-to-month billing.

What we don’t like

CenturyLink has limited availability. It services customers in only 17 states, and fiber plans are available in 17 cities. DSL speeds vary widely by location and often fall below the FCC’s recommended minimum of 100 Mbps. For example, an address I tested in Colorado only offered speeds up to 3 Mbps, making it necessary to choose another provider.

CenturyLink pros and cons

CenturyLink can be an attractive ISP option for people who live in areas where fiber is available. Its fiber plans have a “price for life” guarantee and are more affordable than other ISPs’ offerings. However, some customers have noticed price increases despite these promises, and in July 2024, CenturyLink was sued by an Oregon customer because they did not honor this guarantee.

DSL plans are also a wise choice for residents in rural areas because plans are often more affordable than those of satellite internet providers. DLS plans also provide unlimited data with no contracts. However, CenturyLink’s DSL internet speeds vary by location. While there are no installation fees for fiber plans, the fee for DSL is up to $149.

Pros

Cons

How much does CenturyLink cost?

CenturyLink provides transparent internet plan pricing, the costs of which depend on whether you want DSL or fiber-optic service. Unlike other ISPs that deliver promotional pricing for a couple of months or a year before increasing rates, CenturyLink offers their fiber customers a “price-for-life” guarantee. You will pay the same monthly amount as long as you keep the service.

The company debuted the “price for life” guarantee in 2017. However, as of 2023, some customers reported CenturyLink didn’t honor a price-for-life deal and raised rates by $10 per month, leading to a class-action lawsuit against the company.

CenturyLink has no contracts and offers month-to-month billing. One DSL plan, Simply Unlimited, has max speeds of up to 100 Mbps and costs $55 per month. Fiber plans have two options based on speed: one plan with speeds up to 500 Mbps costs $50 monthly, while its fastest plan, with speeds up to 940 Mbps, is $75 monthly.

While CenturyLink has no data caps and offers unlimited data, it does have added fees. For DSL plans, the equipment rental is up to $15 per month. You can also buy the equipment for up to $200. You also have the option to use your equipment.

A one-time installation fee may apply, depending on the network technology at your location. The standard installation fee costs up to $25 and CenturyLink prices a technician installation fee up to $149. However, if you choose a fiber plan, there are no equipment or installation fees.

Savings and discounts

While CenturyLink doesn’t offer a promotional rate-lock length for its plans, its fiber plans come with the “price for life” guarantee.

If you need a landline phone, TV service or both, bundling with CenturyLink may save you money. If you bundle Simply Unlimited Internet with Simply Unlimited Phone, the plan starts at $95 monthly. If you bundle Fiber Internet with Simply Unlimited Phone, the plan begins at $115 monthly.

You can also bundle your internet with a TV service — either Dish TV or DirecTV. To get an accurate monthly price, you’ll need to contact CenturyLink’s customer service. The price depends on the TV plan you choose.

I obtained a sample quote from customer service for an internet and TV bundle for an address in Denver, Colorado. A fiber internet service with speeds up to 940 Mbps was priced at $75 per month with the “price for life” guarantee and a DirecTV service with 105+ Channels. The full quote was $174.99 per month.

Without the bundle, DirecTV’s regular price is $139 per month, while the promotional price is $84.99 per month with a 24-month price guarantee. Note that the TV service comes with a 24-month agreement, including an early termination fee of $20 for each remaining month of the agreement, plus a $15 monthly advanced receiver service fee.

You also have an option to bundle all three services — internet, TV and phone — but you will have to call CenturyLink for a quote.

What plans and services does CenturyLink offer?

CenturyLink has two types of connections — DSL or fiber-optic. With both connections, no plans have contracts or data caps. But installation and equipment fees apply to DSL plans.

The DSL plan, called Simply Unlimited, provides maximum download speeds of up to 100 Mbps. Know that the actual DSL speeds vary greatly by location, and some speeds may fall well below the FCC’s recommended broadband speeds of 100 Mbps.

For example, an address that I tested in historic Leadville, Colorado, provided me with only one plan option, and that one had speeds up to only 3 Mbps. An address in the suburbs of Denver only provided max speeds up to 60 Mbps. You can check the speeds available at your address on CenturyLink’s website.

CenturyLink Internet services

CenturyLink add-ons and optional features

Personal TechPro

Personal TechPro is an optional feature for your CenturyLink plan. For $10 monthly, you get unlimited support for your connected devices, such as a desktop computer or laptop, phone, home security system, tablet and more. The Personal TechPro team can help you with almost anything, from setting up and connecting your devices to troubleshooting them.

TV

You have an option to add TV service to your plan — either Dish TV or DirecTV.

While you must call customer service to get an exact bundling quote, here are the prices for Dish TV plans with a 24-month price guarantee and agreement:

For DirecTV, there is also a 24-month price guarantee and commitment. The prices are:

Phone

You can buy a stand-alone home phone plan or bundle it with an internet service. However, according to a customer service agent I chatted with, phone service availability depends on your location. I could not obtain phone service for a specific address in Denver; I could only get fiber internet service.

If phone service is available at your address, current prices are:

Phone plans come with unlimited nationwide calling, Caller ID, three-way calling, call forwarding, voicemail and other features.

International calling is available at different rates depending on the country you’re calling, or you can add an international calling add-on, with the price varying by location. You can enter your ZIP code to check the rates on the provider’s website.

CenturyLink customer experience

I contacted CenturyLink customer service multiple times for various inquiries. Its live chat support is available 24/7. I used the live chat around 5 p.m. on a Monday to inquire about their available plans and add-on services. I was quickly connected to a representative and received a quote for a fiber internet plan with TV service.

Around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, I called customer service to clarify the provider’s terms for the price-for-life guarantee. There was no hold time, and the agent said their guarantee has always only been available for fiber customers. He also said that the customers who previously had a price-for-life guarantee were supposed to keep their original rate. However, an ongoing class-action lawsuit claims that some customers experienced $10 increases in their services despite the no-price-hike guarantee.

On Thursday, around 4:30 p.m., I used the live chat again to ask about international calling. I was promptly connected to an agent, but phone service was not available at the address I provided.

Overall, I was satisfied with the customer service experience as there was no hold time, the responses were fast and efficient, and the agents were friendly and knowledgeable.

Tech support is available 24/7 via live chat for customers. Phone support is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

However, CenturyLink has a poor customer service rating on Trustpilot — 1.1 out of 5 stars. Here is what customers said:

Other considerations about CenturyLink

Additional monthly fees

If you have a DSL plan, you can rent equipment for up to $15 monthly or purchase it for up to $200 per month. You also have an option to provide your own equipment.

Installation fees

A one-time installation fee may apply depending on the network technology at your location. The standard installation fee is up to $25 and the technician installation fee is up to $149. However, if you have one of the fiber plans, there are no equipment or installation fees.

Data caps

CenturyLink does not impose data caps and offers unlimited data.

How does CenturyLink compare with competitors?

CenturyLink’s DSL internet is a smart option for residents in rural communities who may not have cable or fiber available. Its main competition is pricier satellite internet providers, such as Hughesnet, Viasat and Starlink.

If CenturyLink provides speeds close to 100 Mbps at your address, that’s decent. However, CenturyLink’s speeds vary widely by location. If you’re getting significantly lower speeds, consider other providers.

CenturyLink’s DSL isn’t ideal for downloading large files or playing multiplayer online games. Instead, consider fixed wireless providers like Verizon 5G or T-Mobile Home Internet, which might better cater to your household’s needs.

However, if you live in one of the cities where CenturyLink’s fiber service is available, it’s a strong option because of the speeds it offers and its affordability — ranging from $50 to $75. In contrast, AT&T Fiber’s plan with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps, starts at $80 monthly.

CenturyLink Internet vs. competitors

Methodology

We evaluated 22 companies based on plan features, connection speeds, availability, customer service reputation, data privacy offerings and other areas to help you find the best internet service provider. We weighed several factors in each category to create an impartial star rating system. Companies that offered the most options, convenience and best speeds at the lowest prices scored the highest.

All our reviews are impartial and independently verified. We conducted extensive research, including in-depth analysis, comprehensive studies and interviews with industry experts on various broadband and internet companies.

Bottom line

If you live in one of the cities where CenturyLink’s fiber plans are available, its affordable prices and “price for life” guarantee might be a great fit for you. However, if fiber is not available, make sure to check what speeds are available at your address. If speeds are significantly below 100 Mbps, consider a satellite provider if you’re in a rural area or a fixed wireless provider for better performance. If cable or fiber internet is available, it will offer faster speeds.

FAQs