EarthLink Fiber Internet Review 2024

Vanessa Merrell
June 16, 2023
Review

Fiber 100

$59.95/mo.

for 12 mos.*

Download Speed 100 Mbps
Upload Speed 100 Mbps
Connect Up to 10 Devices

Fiber 500

$79.95/mo.

for 12 mos.*

Download Speed 500 Mbps
Upload Speed 500 Mbps
Unlimited Data

Fiber 1,000

$89.95/mo.

for 12 mos.*

Download Speed 1 Gbps
Upload Speed 1 Gbps
Connect Up to 15 Devices

Fiber 5,000

$189.95/mo.

for 12 mos.*

Download Speed 5 Gbps
Upload Speed 5 Gbps
Connect Unlimited Devices

The world of high-speed internet technology is changing every day. Currently, fiber internet providers are leading the tech revolution. This technology allows data transfer at the speed of light, providing speeds of up to 100 Gbps.

Earthlink Fiber Internet is leading the fiber-fast broadband revolution by offering equal upload and download speeds of up to 5,000 Mbps in 48 states of the USA.

In this comprehensive review, we will delve into the details of all the fiber internet plans provided by the company. We will discuss the pros and cons of EarthLink’s fiber internet service and compare them with competitors to help you decide if EarthLink is the right

Pros:

Fast internet with speeds of up to 5 Gbps.
Earthlink Fiber provides symmetrical internet speeds.
EarthLink offers unlimited data.
Speeds are perfect for streaming, gaming, and large downloads.
Static price for the first 12 months.
Nationwide coverage with reliable internet service providers.
Free $200 gift card

Cons:

All customers are required to sign a 12-month contract.
Internet speeds may vary depending on the location.
Some plans are not available in all areas.
Higher-tier plans can be expensive compared to other providers.

EarthLink Fiber Internet Plans

EarthLink’s fiber internet plans are designed to cater to a wide range of needs, from casual browsing to intensive online activities. Currently, all the Earthlink fiber plans are available with no data caps, providing unlimited data usage without throttling, which is a significant advantage for heavy internet users.

However, just like most other internet companies, EarthLink fiber plans come with a 12-month binding contract, and if you decide to terminate your contract early, you will have to pay a termination fine of $200.

While this may sound like a problem to some customers, the contracts have its benefits. For instance, it ensures price stability for a year and consistency in the service.

Another feature of all its fiber plans is that if you do not have a modem and a Wi-Fi router gateway, you can rent it from the company for a small fee of $14.95 per month.

Moreover, the company also provides free 30-day antivirus and cybersecurity features on all fiber plans. After the free trial, users can purchase the cybersecurity features through the EarthLink Protect and EarthLink Protect+ plans.

In addition, you will need to hire a technician from the company to install the necessary equipment at your home, which can take 1 to 3 hours.

Now, let’s look at all the EarthLink fiber plans so you have a better idea of which plan will be best suited for your needs.

Plans	Download Speed	Upload Speed	Price
Fiber 100	100 Mbps	100 Mbps	$59.95/mo.
Fiber 300	300 Mbps	300 Mbps	$69.95/mo.
Fiber 500	500 Mbps	500 Mbps	$79.95/mo.
Fiber 1,000	1,000 Mbps	1,000 Mbps	$89.95/mo.
Fiber 2,000	2,000 Mbps	2,000 Mbps	$129.95/mo.
Fiber 5,000	5,000 Mbps	5,000 Mbps	$189.95/mo.

Taxes and surcharges apply. The monthly internet fees are subject to change.

Fiber 100

The Fiber 100 is EarthLink’s entry-level plan. The plan provides symmetrical download and upload speeds of up to 100 Mbps. But as advertised by the company, this speed may vary from location to location. Your internet speed might be affected if you are in an area far from the EarthLink data centers.

It is an excellent choice for individuals or small families whose internet activities include browsing, email, and standard-definition streaming. This plan performs best when 5 or fewer devices are connected to the network.

The Fiber 100 plan ensures that basic online tasks are performed smoothly without interruption. This EarthLink fiber internet plan costs $59.95 per month.

Fiber 300

The Fiber 300 is the most popular internet plan among users. The EarthLink Fiber 300 plan steps up the game with 300 Mbps download and upload speeds. This plan is suitable for larger households or users with greater bandwidth needs.

In addition, users can connect up to 12 devices at a time without experiencing any performance issues. The Fiber 300 plan is perfect for streaming high-definition videos and movies without buffering, multiplayer gaming, and work-from-home setups with multiple devices connected simultaneously. The EarthLink Fiber 300 plan is available for just $69.95 per month.

Fiber 500

If you are a heavy internet user or want to use the internet in an office space, then the Fiber 500 plan is perfect. Users can get up to 500 Mbps of download and upload speed without data caps and throttling.

Multiple users can perform demanding online activities like ultra-HD streaming, competitive gaming, and extensive smart home connectivity. It can handle multiple devices and heavy applications without a hitch. However, like all other plans, the availability of this plan varies by location.

Fiber 1000

It is among the EarthLink fiber plans offering the fastest speeds. As evident from the name, the plan offers symmetric download and upload speeds of 1 Gbps. This gigabit plan is tailored for tech enthusiasts, offices, and large households. The plan delivers optimal performance with up to 15 devices connected at once.

The Fiber 1,000 plan is perfect for 4K streaming, lightning-fast downloads, and robust performance for all online activities, including virtual reality applications. You can get this plan for $89.95, which is quite reasonable compared to other competitors.

Fiber 2000

If the Fiber 1000 plan is not enough for you and you still have an appetite for faster speeds or want a reliable connection for your business, then the EarthLink Fiber 2000 plan might be a good choice. The company is currently offering this package in selected areas for $129.95 per month.

Like other fiber internet plans, this plan also comes with unlimited data, meaning you can use as much data as you want without worrying about the overage charges. However, users must sign a 1-year contract with the company.

Fiber 5000

At the pinnacle of EarthLink’s offerings is the Fiber 5000 plan, boasting an impressive 5,000 Mbps. This plan is purpose-built for large businesses, power users, and tech-heavy environments where the fastest possible internet speeds are necessary.

With the 5 Gig plan, users can connect virtually unlimited devices to the network without disruption in the performance. The Fiber 5000 plan is offered for $189.95 per month. It might seem like a lot, but compared to other providers, it is affordable.

Installation & Additional Fee

Choosing EarthLink Fiber Internet means opting for a superior online experience. However, this exceptional internet reliability comes with additional costs that users should be aware of before buying any plan.

One of these costs is the installation fee. EarthLink typically charges a one-time installation fee of around $79.95, including the cost of a professional technician visiting your home to ensure the fiber connection is set up correctly and optimally.

Another important thing that users might be aware of is the equipment fee. Even if you have your router and modem, Earthlink will charge you about $15 per month as equipment rental.

Best Modem for EarthLink Fiber

When it comes to maximizing the performance of your EarthLink Fiber Internet plan, a compatible EarthLink fiber modem is crucial.

You don’t have to worry about the modems or routers as they are usually rented by the company. However, it is important to know the basic features required to support the fiber connections, in case you want to buy a third-party device.

When selecting a modem for your plan, ensure that the device supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. If you have the Earthlink Fiber 5000 plan, you will need a modem/router combo with a very high throughput.

A preferred choice might be the Asus RT-AC5300. It can handle both slow and fast 5 Gig speeds.

EarthLink Fiber Internet Availability & Coverage Map

Although EarthLink claims to provide internet service across the country, its fiber internet plans are available in selected metro areas. Earthlink fiber internet availability is often limited, and the service is absent in small towns and the countryside.

Some of the top cities in which you can get the fiber plans are in the table below:

Top 10 Cities for EarthLink Fiber Internet
Atlanta	Pittsburg
Austin	Salt Lake City
Charlotte	San Antonio
Kansas City	Seattle
Las Vegas	Tulsa

EarthLink Fiber vs Competitors

When comparing EarthLink’s fiber internet service to its competitors, several factors come into play. EarthLink prides itself on offering a straightforward approach to internet service, with no data caps and transparent pricing.

However, companies like Google Fiber and Verizon Fios are also strong contenders in the market, providing similar high-speed fiber options with their own advantages. Let’s look at some of the stats from these competitors and compare them with EarthLink.

Fiber Internet Provider	Price Range	Upload Speed	Download Speed
EarthLink	$59.95 – $189.95	100 Mbps – 5 Gbps	100 Mbps – 5 Gbps
AT&T	$55.00 – $250.00	300 Mbps – 5 Gbps	300 Mbps – 5 Gbps
Kinetic Fiber	$39.99 – $299.99	300 Mbps – 8 Gbps	300 Mbps – 8 Gbps
Frontier	$44.99 – $154.99	500 Mbps – 5 Gbps	500 Mbps – 5 Gbps

Taxes and surcharges apply.
The monthly internet fees are subject to change.
Availability of the plans and services may vary based on your location within the country.

EarthLink Customer Service Review

A company can claim all the best things about its services, but it does not count until the customers are satisfied. When it comes to internet service providers, customer service can be the deciding factor for many users.

We have found mixed reviews for EarthLink fiber internet. The two biggest rating platforms for internet service providers – the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) and J.D. Power, have not ranked EarthLink. However, another platform, Better Business Bureau, has given Earthlink 1.05/5 and an A+ rating. It shows that despite poor ratings, customers are still satisfied with the service.

Final Word – Is Earthlink Fiber Good?

So, does EarthLink Fiber Internet qualify as a good internet service provider? Well, the answer is YES! The company’s fiber plans are praised for their straightforward pricing and the absence of data caps, which is a significant plus for users with high data demands.

While it may not be the cheapest option on the market, its high-speed plans and reliable customer service make it a worthy contender in the broadband space.