EarthLink Internet Deals Overview
As the nation’s largest DSL provider and second largest fiber provider by coverage area, EarthLink is a national internet powerhouse that supplies a variety of internet plans and speeds with no data cap restrictions. The United States’ hunger for faster internet has been met by a rapid expansion of fiber availability by EarthLink.
Comparing EarthLink Internet Plans
Below are a few important factors to keep in mind when combing through the various EarthLink deals to find an internet plan that’s right for you.
- Consider how much internet speed and data allowance you’ll need. If you are a light internet user, you can save yourself a lot of money every year by choosing an internet plan with speeds that adheres to your frequent internet activities.
- Compare final prices, not just the promotional rates being offered. Some customers get caught up with promotional rates. EarthLink offers some plans with a three-month promotional rate that can increase significantly once the promotion is over. Also,equipment fees will further increase your monthly rate.
- Thoroughly review your contract before committing to a plan. Many potential fees—early termination fees, installation costs, equipment rental fees—are hidden in the fine print of your agreement.
What EarthLink Plans are available in my area?
In general, EarthLink has wide coverage across the Eastern and Southern United States, with some availability in western states like California and Nevada.
Which EarthLink plan is best for me?
EarthLink offers a number of internet plans for all types of DSL and fiber internet users. There is a significant price difference and speed range between EarthLink’s DSL plans and their fiber plans—labeled as HyperLink. Deciphering what type of internet user you are (a light, moderate or power user) will help you discover your speed requirements and ideal internet plan. From there, check to see which EarthLink internet plans are available in your area.
Connection type is one of the two most important metrics when measuring the value of an internet plan; the other is internet speed. EarthLink’s DSL plans offer speeds up to 50 Mbps while their HyperLink plans supply speeds as fast as 1000 Mbps.
More often than not, DSL connections cannot match the speeds that fiber can offer. Also, fiber internet offers mirrored upload/download speeds, while DSL upload speeds are considerably slower than its download speeds. This is especially important to consider for customers who frequently use the internet to play competitive online games or have a designated home office that views and sends large files.
Which EarthLink packages are fast enough for your household?
Deciding which internet package is best for your household boils down to knowing how many people/devices are actively online and how the internet is being used.
EarthLink DSL plans cater to light internet users and/or small households with speeds ranging from 3-15 Mbps. A 1-2 person household with internet users that casually browse the web, periodically watch YouTube videos, or shop online, would fare well with the DSL connection EarthLink offers. However, EarthLink’s HyperLink plans—speeds ranging from 50-1000 Mbps—are highly recommended for a 3-4 person household with moderate-to-power internet users or multiple smart home devices for efficient internet usage.
Gamers Should Select EarthLink HyperLink Plans Above 100 Mbps
When it comes to online gaming, EarthLink’s DSL plans won’t cut it. A fast upload speed is essential if you want to avoid connection issues. EarthLink’s HyperLink plans have mirrored upload and download speeds which ensures that you won’t freeze in front of an enemy or cause your entire lobby to timeout during a gaming sesion.
Often, online gaming lobbies host a large number of players who are connected by the same server. The more people there are, the more speed you’ll need to avoid lagging, especially if you’re the host. As a host, you’re essentially sharing your bandwidth with other players. That means you need to be conscious of how many people in your household are online and how many people are in your lobby. While 100 Mbps is ideal for households with 4-5 frequent internet users, it may not be fast enough to have a lag-less connection for a household and an online lobby simultaneously.
EarthLink Contracts and Early Termination Fees
Unlike some other large internet providers, EarthLink does not offer contract-free internet plans.
Generally, EarthLink offers 1-year contracts with early termination fees that can cost up to $90 for their DSL plans or $200 for their HyperLink plans.
Promotional vs. Final Pricing for EarthLink Offers
The monthly price you see with EarthLink is rarely the final rate you will end up paying when the year ends. Many EarthLink services feature a promotional pricing period that can last anywhere from three months to a year.
On average, your monthly rate can go up $25-30 per month after the promotional period ends.
This is common among almost all internet providers. It’s possible to continue receiving promotional prices by calling before the end of your promotional period or switching to a new plan when your contract ends.
EarthLink Installation Fees
EarthLink, like most providers, charges a one-time installation fee. EarthLink offers the option to self-install your internet service for $19.95 with any of their DSL internet packages. However, if you opt for a HyperLink plan, professional installation is required and costs $69.95.
EarthLink Equipment
For a modem and router rental, EarthLink charges an additional $6.95/month. It’s possible to avoid the equipment fee if you purchase your own equipment. Before doing so, be sure to check if the modem and router you plan to buy is compatible with your EarthLink plan. Purchasing your own equipment will help you avoid the monthly equipment fee and save money if you stay with EarthLink long-term.
If you decide to rent equipment with EarthLink, the provider will send you a router and modem with Wi-Fi capabilities to connect your home.
To briefly explain the difference between a modem and router, all you need to know is that the router creates the network between your devices and the modem connects that network to the internet. In the past few years, providers have started offering a ‘gateway’ which is a router and modem in one device.
The Fastest Ways to Lower Your EarthLink Pricing
If you want to find a fast way to lower your overall bill with EarthLink, you can do one (or all) of the following suggestions:
- Purchase your own equipment
- Switch to a cheaper internet plan
- Opt to self-install to avoid the cost of professional installation
EarthLink’s pricing is pretty straightforward and there aren’t a lot of flashy add-ons to get wrapped into. They offer no-nonsense internet plans and won’t try to sell you phone service, TV, or a home security system.