EarthLink Reviews: EarthLink Fiber Internet Reviews 2025

The internet has become more important for us than even electricity. Most people can’t even imagine their lives without it, and without a reliable internet service, we will be pushed into the stone age. Fiber optic is currently the best form of internet and provides exceptional speeds and reliability.

According to a report published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, fiber subscriptions have skyrocketed by 56% in just 3 years and fiber optic connections make up a whopping 41% of all fixed broadband subscriptions globally. But how do you choose the right internet provider?

EarthLink has emerged as a significant player in the fiber internet landscape. In this EarthLink reviews blog, we will discuss in detail EarthLink plans, pricing, and overall service quality. In our EarthLink fiber internet review, we will also compare the Fiber plans with other competitors and evaluate why the company has maintained its reputation as one of the best ISPs in the USA.

EarthLink Reviews: A Brief Rundown of The Company 

EarthLink has been a familiar name in the internet service industry since its inception in 1994. Over the years, it has evolved from a dial-up service to a modern fiber internet provider. However, recently in 2019, the company was acquired by Thrive Capital.

Today, EarthLink stands out for its commitment to straightforward pricing and customer-centric policies. It operates across 48 states, leveraging partnerships with major ISPs like AT&T, CenturyLink, Frontier, Verizon, and Viasat to deliver its services. These partnerships are the reason behind the vast coverage of the company. With the help of the infrastructure of other companies, EarthLink successfully provides its services to 78% of contiguous American households. 

In our EarthLink reviews blog, our experts will discuss everything about the Earthlink fiber plans, so you can decide whether it is the right ISP for you or not. But before moving on to the details of Earthlink internet services, here is a quick look at some pros and cons.

Pros:

• Most plans come with no data caps
• Wide coverage area across 48 states
• No price increase after 12 months
• Excellent customer rating

Cons:

• Higher cost compared to some competitors
• Speed and fiber availability vary by location
  

EarthLink Fiber Internet Reviews: All Plan Details

EarthLink offers a range of fiber internet plans, each designed to cater to different user needs. Currently, all the Earthlink fiber plans are available with no data caps, providing unlimited data usage without throttling. This might not sound much, but it is a significant advantage over other competitors that offer limited data. 

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.

EarthLink does not display the prices for individual plans on their website. To look up the recent prices you must call their online representative. However, we have simplified this for you in our Earthlink fiber internet review blog.  Let’s discuss the pricing structure of each plan ranging from 100 Mbps to 5000 Mbps. 

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. 

Currently, this plan is available for just $59.95/month. 

Fiber 300:

In our EarthLink fiber internet review, our team of experts has found the 300 Mbps plan to be the most popular among customers. 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.

For a limited time, EarthLink customers can get the Fiber 300 plan for $54.95 instead of the regular $69.95. 

Fiber 500:

For users who require high-speed service plans for heavy internet usage, 4K streaming, and multiple devices, the 500 Mbps internet is perfect. This plan is also a great choice for small office spaces. However, like all other plans, the availability of this plan varies by location. 

The 500 Mbps plan is available to customers at a price of $79.95/mo. 

Fiber 1 Gig:

As one of the largest internet service providers in the country, EarthLink also offer gigabit plans to both residential and business customers. Fiber 1 Gig is a dream come true for serious gamers. It eliminates any worries about lag, buffering, or slow downloads. Play, stream, and download simultaneously without compromise.

With this speed, you can easily download an HD movie in just 3 to 4 seconds and a 4k movie in less than 20 seconds. Sounds like a dream right? The plan delivers optimal performance with up to 15 devices connected at once. 

You can get this plan for $89.95/mo. However, according to our review of multiple competitors, this price is a little higher than other competitors. 

Fiber 2 Gig:

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 5 Gig:

The last plan on our EarthLink reviews blog is the 5 Gig or 5 Gbps plan. 

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. 

EarthLink Reviews: Best Internet Plan Overall

This is a tough question to answer. Numerous factors determine the performance of a home internet plan, such as price, speed, availability, etc. However, our home internet experts at GetInternetDeals, rate the Fiber 300 Mbps as the best plan overall. 

This is because it provides the best combination of speed and affordability. This makes it perfect for use in both homes and small businesses. We rate this plan a 4 out of 5. 

EarthLink Internet Plans: Best Plan For Gaming

We know that gamers crave higher internet speeds. Although 300 Mbos is ample for any kind of gaming, we have chosen the 1 Gig plan as the best for gaming. This is because the 1 gig plan provides extremely low latency. Plus, the price difference between the 500 Mbps and 1 Gig is just $10. So, why not get the double speeds?

EarthLink Plans And Pricing: Additional Costs

While EarthLink’s base plan prices are transparent, it’s essential to consider additional costs that may impact your overall experience. Let’s explore these factors:

Installation Fee – Why You Have To Pay?

When setting up a new internet connection, an installation fee is standard practice. EarthLink charges an installation fee to cover the cost of sending technicians to your location, ensuring proper setup, and activating your service. While it may seem like an extra expense, professional installation ensures a smooth transition and minimizes any hiccups during the process. As of 2024, the company charges a one-time installation fee of $79.95. 

Contract Termination:

Unfortunately, one of the biggest downsides of EarthLink is its contract-based internet pricing. If you decide to terminate your contract before its completion, you will have to pay a cancellation fee of $200. 

Equipment Fee:

EarthLink provides a modem and router for your internet connection. However, this isn’t complimentary or included in your monthly bill. To get these devices from the company, you will have to pay a monthly equipment rent of $15.

EarthLink Reviews: Fiber Internet Coverage And Availability

Although EarthLink claims to provide internet service across the country in 48, states its fiber internet plans are available in selected metro areas. Most of the plans available are DSL or satellite internet. 

Earthlink fiber internet availability is often limited, and the service is absent in small towns and the countryside. Some of the biggest cities in which the service is available are the following:

You might be wondering, how you can check if the fiber optic network is available in your area. There are a lot of methods that you can use. However, our team of experts at GetInternetDeals suggests the following two methods:

1. Go to the official website of the Federal Communications Commission and navigate to the Fixed Broadband Deployment page. Simply, enter your address here, and all the internet plans and ISPs will be displayed to you.

2. Otherwise, you can go to EarthLinks official website and provide your home address. The company will show you all the plans available in your area.

How EarthLink Compares To Other Competitors?

In the competitive landscape of internet service providers, EarthLink holds its own with a unique approach. Here’s how it stacks up against other major ISPs like Spectrum, Xfinity, AT&T, and Frontier:

Pricing:

For low-speed plans, the pricing of EarthLink internet is higher than other companies. However, it offers unlimited data and prices that rarely increase, which can be a significant advantage for users tired of promotional gimmicks and unexpected price hikes.

Customer Service: 

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. 

So, AT&T, Frontier, and other companies are definitely better than EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction. 

Additional Perks:

While this is not a big factor to consider, it can still impact the decision of some customers. EarthLink like some other companies also offers gift cards to its customers on fiber plans. These gift cards can range from $100 to $200. 

The following table compares EarthLink internet with other internet providers.

If you are looking for a more detailed competitor comparison then take a look at our EarthLink Vs Spectrum and EarthLink Vs AT&T blogs.

Our Methodology For This EarthLink Fiber Internet Review

As we wrap up this EarthLink Fiber Internet review, it’s essential to understand the methodology behind our assessment. We gathered information from various sources, including EarthLink’s official website, customer reviews, and industry reports like J.D. Power and the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). 

For all our reviews, our team considers real-world experiences shared by EarthLink customers. Their feedback on installation, reliability, customer support, and overall satisfaction. We also compare each plan individually to other similar plans of other competitors to make a recommendation. 

Our goal is to provide an unbiased review that helps potential customers make informed decisions.