Staff rating

4.2

Customer rating

4.0

(13)

Plans starting at $19.99

Download speeds up to 1200 Mbps

Go to provider

See all reviews

Staff rating

4.5

Customer rating

4.1

(419)

Plans starting at $55.00

Download speeds up to 5000Mbps

Go to provider

See all reviews

Staff rating

4.0

Customer rating

4.2

(5)

Plans starting at $59.95

Download speeds up to 100 Mbps

Go to provider

See all reviews

Check availability

See what providers service your area.

Staff rating

4.2

Astound Broadband offers very inexpensive internet at fast speeds

Top-notch customer service and shockingly low intro pricing make switching to one of Astound’s brands (Wave, RCN, Grande, or enTouch) an easy choice. Astound Broadband offers internet speeds varying from 300 Mbps to 1,500 Mbps. You can lock in a very low introductory rate for one to three years, starting at around $20 a month! Astound Broadband often offers extra perks when you sign up, like an Amazon gift card, a month of free service, and 50% off installation.

What we like

Award-winning service and speed
Low introductory prices
No contract required

What we dislike

Price increase after intro period

See full review

Savings tip: Astound Broadband often has sign-up promotions for first-time customers. Call to ask a rep about current deals and discounts.

Check deals

Staff rating

4.5

Incredible price for fast fiber internet

We're big fans of AT&T fiber internet for its fast speeds, reasonable prices, and great customer service. AT&T offers fantastic value: fast fiber internet speeds at reasonable prices, plus some of the best customer support in the business and rock-solid reliability. With no contracts, no data caps, and no monthly equipment fee, AT&T is one of the best home internet providers.

What we like

Competitive fiber plans
Solid customer support
Excellent reliability

What we dislike

Expensive installation fees
Few TV bundling options

See full review

Savings tip: AT&T often has sign-up promotions for first-time customers. Call to ask a rep about current deals and discounts.

Check deals

Staff rating

4.0

Earthlink offers amazing customer experience at slightly more cost

If you're willing to pay a little bit more for an exceptional customer experience, EarthLink may be the right choice for your Internet service. EarthLink is an interesting Internet provider. Instead of serving internet through its own infrastructure, it partners with other internet providers to repackage their service, acting as a go-between. This means slightly higher prices, but EarthLink's superior customer experience delivers true value and peace of mind.

What we like

Wide availability
Amazing customer service
No price hikes

What we dislike

Premium prices
Plans vary greatly by area

See full review

Savings tip: EarthLink often has sign-up promotions for first-time customers. Call to ask a rep about current deals and discounts.

Check deals

Value

4.5

Lock-in a low price for 1–3 years

Astound Broadband offers very inexpensive DSL, cable, and fiber internet plans with at least three plan options and no data caps in most areas. Nearly all plans are priced under $50 for the first year.

For many Astound Broadband internet plans, you can get speeds up to 300 Mbps for as low as $20 a month with a three-year price lock. For speeds up to 1,000 Mbps, you may be eligible to get a deal for $20 a month for six months, and then $55 a month with a three-year price lock. Even after price increases, that's a deal. National benchmarks for similar plans are in the $130 range, so you’ll be getting a great deal. (1)

You can make the most of Astound Broadband's internet offers in a few ways. One, sign up for Astound internet online. Astound Broadband offers some deals exclusively online. Two, sign up for autopay and e-billing with Astound. When you use an automatic bank account, you'll save the most. You'll save a little less when you use an automated credit or debit card. Three, look at current deals Astound is offering. You can often find offers that include an Amazon gift card, one month of free internet, or 50% off installation, depending on your eligibility.

Pricing details vary by location. Visit

Astound Broadband's website

or call 1-844-443-5172 to speak with a rep.

See pricing

Value

4.0

Fiber internet is an excellent deal

The AT&T fiber internet plans represent give you serious value for your money. The speeds are competitive, and the prices at any given tier are lower than nearly every other provider. One exception, Xfinity, offers slightly cheaper gig plans in some markets. Another, Google Fiber, offers $10 less on gigabit speeds. However, AT&T is more likely to be available in areas that have cable internet from Spectrum and Cox, and we think AT&T fiber is usually the better deal.

For the money with AT&T, you get outstanding download speeds and excellent upload speeds. And with unlimited data on fiber internet plans, you can actually use your gigabit connection without worry on speeds being throttled after you're over a data allotment.

Some legacy AT&T customers may have DSL internet from AT&T. The most affordable AT&T plan is about $50 per month, and this can either be basic DSL (speeds up to 75 Mbps) or the outstandding, fiber-based Internet 300. Availability of plans depends on your service area.

If you can get only AT&T fixed wireless, you may experience data caps and get 1 Mbps upload speeds. In this case, other internet providers might offer you better deals on DSL internet plans.

Pricing details vary by location. Visit

AT&T's website

or call 1-833-804-1770 to speak with a rep.

See pricing

Value

5.0

High value and superior customer experience

You often get what you pay for, and that's the case with EarthLink. Although EarthLink offers slightly higher pricing, you get value for your dollar, and you may even end up paying less than you would with competitors in the long-run.

There’s no getting around it: EarthLink's face-value prices are almost always higher than the competition. Although, depending on the area you're in, the difference can be as little as a few dollars per month. EarthLink's slightly elevated price tag equates to some of the best customer service from an internet provider.

EarthLink doesn’t actually have its own internet infrastructure. Instead, it partners with other local DSL and fiber internet providers, like AT&T and Frontier, and EarthLink uses their infrastructure. This costs EarthLink money, and some of this naturally gets passed down to customers. In return, you’re promised a superior customer experience.

The other reason that EarthLink may offer slightly higher prices: it skips the introductory promotional pricing most internet service providers advertise. For example, when AT&T or Spectrum quote you a price, it’s often for an introductory period of 12 or 24 months. After that introductory period, the price may increase (sometimes dramatically). EarthLink doesn’t do this, which is a plus in our book. It means that EarthLink pricing is straightforward, without any hidden fees, complicated pricing structures, or gimmicks. This also means EarthLink may end up being slightly less expensive in the long-run if you intend to keep it for a couple of years.

Pricing details vary by location. Visit

EarthLink's website

or call 1-833-804-4930 to speak with a rep.

See pricing

Performance

4.5

Award-winning speed

Astound Broadband is very fast. That said, as with most ISPs, you may not experience the speeds advertised for your plan because speeds fluctuate based on numerous conditions.

With Astound, the speed on your plan is the “average” that customers see, so your speeds will vary depending on the gear you’re using, time of day, how many devices are using your Wi-Fi, and more. If you see persistent speed issues, Astound encourages you to call customer service to get help figuring out the issue.

Available speeds vary by location. Call 1-844-443-5172 to speak with a Astound Broadband rep or

go to its website.

Performance

5.0

Fast, reliable speeds any time of day

AT&T claims 99% reliability (1) for its fiber internet service, and that’s astoundingly accurate in our experience. In fact, over several years of constant daily use in a packed house (two people working from home, two kids doing schoolwork, lots of streaming video and calls), we haven’t had a single major disruption. This is a huge victory compared to experiences I've had with other internet providers.

When you have reliable internet from AT&T, you don't even think about it. All your internet-based needs are met, without any friction or worry. AT&T internet speeds are consistent, with little variation based on the time of day, activity, or even the particular speed test used. Its median download speeds are slightly slower than its cable and fiber internet competitors, but only by a matter of milliseconds, which is hardly noticeable (2). This all adds up to a great experience where the service “just works,” and nobody ever really needs to wonder if they’ll be able to do what they need to do.

It's also worth mentioning that because AT&T fiber internet uses fiber-optic cables, upload speeds are equal to download speeds. That means you can upload huge files in seconds, video chat, live stream game play, and more without a hiccup. With many other internet providers, the download speeds are much slower than the download speed, so this is a huge benefit.

Available speeds vary by location. Call 1-833-804-1770 to speak with a AT&T rep or

go to its website.

Performance

4.0

Solid performance and fast speeds, but depends on area

EarthLink's performance is tough to rate. Because it is essentially reselling other providers’ services, the speed and reliability are highly dependent on which partners it uses in a given area.

That said, performance is generally good, and there are a wide range of high-speed internet plans available in most areas, so you can get exactly how much you need—up to 5 gigs in some places. Much of the service is fiber, which means performance is reliably consistent. Best of all, every plan has unlimited data, so whatever speed you opt for, you can use it without worry.

Available speeds vary by location. Call 1-833-804-4930 to speak with a EarthLink rep or

go to its website.

Equipment and installation

3.5

DIY or professional installation

You can rent a modem and one of two Wi-Fi routers from Astound, bringing your total monthly equipment costs between $17 and $27. For most people, the Whole Home Wi-Fi router option will be the right choice. It includes an eero mesh router and an extender, and you can add more extenders to ensure coverage throughout your entire home. This is a reliable Wi-Fi router that supports fast internet speeds, up to 1,500 Mbps!

You can get fancier equipment yourself, if you are a power internet user. Gamers and other heavy streamers can consider the Nighthawk Pro gaming router to reduce lag spikes and achieve more consistent speeds. This router can support speeds up to 5,400 Mbps! That's way more than what the typical household needs, but it's an option for tech heads and gamers.

To save money on equipment fees, you can use own gear or use Astound’s free self-setup option, which is available in most areas. Using DIY install, you'll pay just $10 to activate your service. Astound Broadband even offers detailed online instructions and videos to make it easy to DIY install. If you do want professional help or your home isn’t already properly wired, professional installation starts around $80, which is about average.

As an Amazon Associate, Switchful.com may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Equipment and installation options can vary widely depending on

Astound Broadband plans

available in your area.

View plans

Equipment and installation

4.0

Free equipment and free self-installs for fiber internet

It's very easy to install AT&T fiber internet. In fact, internet installation really doesn't get easier. You can choose between professional installation or self-install, which is really nice. Many other internet providers don't give you the option to choose your installation type yourself. You can choose a $99 professional installation by an AT&T technician or a DIY self-install kit.

If you can only get DSL with AT&T, the equipment is still free but you'll be charged a $49 activation fee. If you don't want to self-install, you can have a pro come out for an additional $99 and have them do everything for you.

If you're up for installing yourself, AT&T sends easy and clear instructions. Activation and configuration of your Wi-Fi network are handled through the simple AT&T Smart Home Manager app, so you don’t even need to log into the router settings page like with some other providers. It's a really seamless DIY install experience.

If you prefer to have your AT&T internet installed for you, it's a breeze. You can count on fast and friendly service. I've personally interacted with in-person AT&T on a couple of occasions, and I was very happy with the experience. Professional installation is nice when you don't have the time, energy, or confidence to install internet yourself. You'll feel like you're getting the royal treatment as you sit back, relax, and have it done for you.

The AT&T wireless gateway is really nice. Called AT&T Smart Wi-Fi, it’s super simple to set up, provides solid range, and looks sleek on a desk. Compared to the routers and gateways provided by some other providers, this one’s a breath of fresh air.

Equipment and installation options can vary widely depending on

AT&T plans

available in your area.

View plans

Equipment and Installation

2.5

Reasonably priced equipment, but varies by area

This is another category that’s tough to rate. Since EarthLink partners with other internet service providers (ISPs) to provide service, it doesn’t actually issue its own equipment. Instead, you’ll get equipment from whichever partner EarthLink uses in your area. The good news is that EarthLink does set the fees, and they’re reasonable: $9.95 per month.

It’s a similar story for installation—your service will be installed and set up by a rep from the partner company, not EarthLink itself. The installation fee is $79.95, which isn’t the highest we’ve seen. That said, we’d rather see installation included in the price, particularly since EarthLink’s overall prices tend to be on the high side. Self-install is available only in some service areas.

Equipment and installation options can vary widely depending on

EarthLink plans

available in your area.

View plans

Customer experience

4.5

Award-winning customer service

Astound has (sorry in advance) astounding customer service. This company won fifth place in PCMag's Reader's Choice award in 2022 (2), and before it consolidated them under the Astound brand, Grande, Wave, RCN, and WOW! were all recognized in 2021 (3) and we can see why Astound is a fan favorite. You don't have to sign a contract if you don't want to, your plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and if your technician is late for your appointment, Astound will pay you $20 for the inconvenience. Put it all together, and you get a top-notch customer experience.

Visit Astound Broadband's website

or call 1-844-443-5172 for more information on contracts and money-back guarantees.

Go to provider

Customer experience

5.0

Better customer service, with more options

Internet providers have traditionally had a terrible reputation for customer service, but AT&T scores above average with national rating organizations like the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). These ratings have improved over the last few years, which is encouraging.

AT&T offers several options for getting help:

Twitter
Facebook
Online chat (scroll all the way to the bottom)
Telephone support (800-288-2020)
Online support site

The support site also has lots of information available. It’s easy to use, and if you do need more help, the options involving service reps usually get a quick, friendly response. While it’s not perfect 100% of the time, AT&T customer support tends to be better than average.

AT&T makes it easy to stay connected away from home, too. Subscribers get access to a nationwide network of free Wi-Fi hotspots. Since AT&T offers mobile phone service in addition to internet, you'll be able to log on in from almost anywhere.

Visit AT&T's website

or call 1-833-804-1770 for more information on contracts and money-back guarantees.

Go to provider

Customer Experience

4.5

EarthLink provides a surprisingly exceptional customer service.

Customer service is where EarthLink really shines. The company claims to prioritize customer service and experience, and users seem to agree. The company actually ranks first in some user-driven surveys of internet satisfaction, beating out providers like AT&T and Verizon, despite the slightly higher prices.

From a practical standpoint, it seems that EarthLink representatives are friendlier, more helpful, and more knowledgeable than those we’ve dealt with at other companies. However, we've seen reports that in some places, customer service is handled by the end provider instead, resulting in worse customer service.

Visit EarthLink's website

or call 1-833-804-4930 for more information on contracts and money-back guarantees.

Go to provider

Made up your mind?

Find out what providers are available near you.

Astound Broadband

4.0

(13)

5 Star

23%

4 Star

54%

3 Star

23%

2 Star

1 Star

Paulfrom Catasauqua, PA

Astound Broadband Customer for 4+ years

Reviewed on: 6-24-2022

I think they charge much too much for their dservice. Lower prices

Juliefrom Passaic, NJ

Astound Broadband Customer for 8+ years

Reviewed on: 6-24-2022

I hope the Internet speed is faster and the price is lower

Margaretfrom New York, NY

Astound Broadband Customer for 1+ years

Reviewed on: 6-17-2022

Astound 5G wifi have increased the speed from my previous internet. I was very happy with the promotion price at $39.99 but when my contract expired my payments doubled. With the spottiness and occasional dropped connections each month, I don't see the value I am paying for.

Lynfrom Somerville, MA

Astound Broadband Customer for 1+ years

Reviewed on: 6-17-2022

I am satisfied with my Astound (formally RCN) service. The signal is consistent. I have no suggestions for improvement.

AT&T

4.1

(419)

5 Star

40%

4 Star

40%

3 Star

14%

2 Star

1 Star

Lisafrom New Baltimore, MI

AT&T Customer for 4+ years

Reviewed on: 6-17-2022

The service is acceptable with very few outtages however it is a bit pricey

Anonymous

AT&T Customer for 8+ years

Reviewed on: 6-17-2022

It is ok, speed, reliability are ok

Christinefrom Houston, TX

AT&T Customer for 8+ years

Reviewed on: 6-17-2022

The internet service is generally reliable. The reliability has improved in recent years. The service when contacted is not good. The sales people, service people, and service techs do not communicate.

Kathleenfrom San Diego, CA

AT&T Customer for 1+ years

Reviewed on: 6-17-2022

Everyone can improve. My service is ok but the inconsisting of the pricing is terrible. Customer service is something else. Can never get anyone that you have talked to before

EarthLink

4.2

(5)

5 Star

40%

4 Star

40%

3 Star

20%

2 Star

1 Star

Marstonfrom Brooklyn , NY

EarthLink Customer for 4+ years

Reviewed on: 4-4-2023

Earthlink is good internet, but not better than anyone else. I haven't had problems, but I don't expect to have problems.

Jerryfrom Elkin, NC

EarthLink Customer for 8+ years

Reviewed on: 3-14-2023

Earthlink has been pretty good for what I use it for. It's a little expensive but not bad

J.J.from Dominguez, CA

EarthLink Customer for 1+ years

Reviewed on: 8-29-2022

been an ok provider so far. nothing outstanding, nothing to complain about.

Veronica from Macon, GA

EarthLink Customer for Less than a year

Reviewed on: 8-29-2022

Fast internet service, cloud storage

Providers near you

See all options in your area within seconds.

Endnotes and sources

“2022 Urban Rate Survey – Fixed Broadband Service,” FCC. Accessed 9 December 2022.
“Readers’ Choice 2022: Your Favorite ISPs for Any Type of Broadband,” PCMag. Accessed 9 December 2022.
“Readers’ Choice 2021: Internet Service Providers,” PCMag. Accessed 9 December 2022.

Endnotes and sources

(1) "Internet," AT&T. Accessed August 2, 2022.(2) "Fastest Providers," Speedtest.net. Accessed Dec. 9, 2022.

Endnotes and sources