The internet is a crucial link to global information. Every industry relies on it, and given how much time you spend online, the provider you choose for your home or place of work can drastically impact your life. Many companies in the market offer internet deals, but it is challenging to single out the best provider for your home internet as their offerings nearly look identical.
This CenturyLink vs Suddenlink faceoff can help you understand all the subtle distinctions and similar features among these widely available and affordable internet providers. Before you read the in-depth comparison, you should know that Suddenlink is now known as Optimum.
CenturyLink
Lumen Technologies (formerly known as CenturyLink) is a telecommunications and technology firm with origins dating back to 1930. While it provides a wide range of services worldwide, it is primarily known in the United States for its high-speed internet, TV, and phone services. The company markets its broadband under different names for different customers, but its DSL internet is still sold under the CenturyLink brand.
Because of its reputation for offering high-quality connections in rural areas, US News ranked CenturyLink first in their Best DSL Internet Service Providers of 2023 ratings and eighth in their Best Internet Services Providers of 2023 category.
Pros
- Unlimited data
- Consistent price for a long time
- Contract-free service
Cons
- Slow DSL speeds
- Limited plans
Suddenlink
Owned by Altice USA, Inc., Suddenlink is now known as Optimum. The provider was the seventh-largest cable internet provider in the country before Altice acquired it. Altice became the parent company of Optimum in 2016 after obtaining Cablevision Systems Corporation. The corporation officially merged Suddenlink into Optimum in August 2022 after announcing rebranding it earlier this year. Therefore, we will be comparing CenturyLink with Optimum.
The rebranding expanded Optimum’s coverage area, making it the fourth-largest American cable internet provider. Today, it offers fiber internet connection to 1.6 million people in addition to several other services, such as TV and home phone.
Pros
- Includes equipment at no additional cost
- Unlimited data
- No contracts
Cons
- Price increases after 12 months
Internet Service Comparison – CenturyLink vs Optimum Internet
| Features | CenturyLink | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| Internet Plans | 1 | 5 |
| Price Range | $55.00/mo. | $40.00/month – $280.00/month |
| Speed Range | Up to 100 Mbps | 300 Mbps – 8000 Mbps |
| Internet Type | DSL | Cable, Fiber |
| Availability | 16 states | 21 states |
| Data Caps | None | None |
| Bundle Deals | Yes | Yes |
| Contracts | None | None |
| Equipment Fee | $15.00/mo. | None |
| Installation Fee | Professional: Up to $129.00 | $100.00 (Free on online orders) |
| Standard: $15.00 |
CenturyLink and Optimum often overlap in some regions and are top-notch internet service providers, but with significant differences. CenturyLink primarily offers DSL broadband, which is more reliable than most but tends to have slower speeds. Optimum, on the other hand, specializes in cable and fiber internet, delivering faster and more consistent speeds. Optimum also has broader market coverage, serving 21 states. These providers also have different pricing, latency rates, and policies. Where Optimum is a go-to choice for high-speed internet, CenturyLink is a reliable option in rural areas. Your choice should align with your specific needs and location.
This CenturyLink vs Suddenlink (now known as Optimum) comparison will examine several elements of each company and highlight the significant differences to help you make an informed choice for your home internet.
CenturyLink and Optimum’s internet plans differ significantly in terms of pricing and internet speeds. While Optimum’s starting plan may seem cheaper than CenturyLink’s DSL service, its fiber internet service is more expensive. Let’s explore their plans in detail.
Internet Plans
CenturyLink
CenturyLink does not provide as many options as Optimum, but its offering holds long-term value. CenturyLink’s DSL service has one fixed price tag, with the actual speed depending on your address and proximity to the central infrastructure.
To summarize, CenturyLink offers straightforward, contract-free internet service at a consistent price, providing unlimited data without relying on short-term promotional discounts.
| Plan | Price | Speed | Data Caps | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simply Unlimited Internet | $55.00/ mo. | Up to 100 Mbps | None | Call Now! |
**Speed varies per location and some areas can get up to 140 Mbps.
***Paperless billing is required. Additional taxes, fees & surcharges apply.
Optimum
In contrast, you get an array of cable and fiber internet plans from Optimum at market-competitive introductory rates. The matching cost of Optimum’s cable and fiber services sets it apart from other providers. However, the availability and speeds can vary with your address, and most customers only have access to three internet options from Optimum. Unlike CenturyLink, Optimum gives you a discount on internet plans when you bundle them with its mobile service.
Overall, Optimum offers better internet speeds, but they are comparatively more expensive than CenturyLink due to high price hikes. Moreover, while Optimum cable plans are available to everyone in its coverage area, its fiber internet plans are only accessible to a few locations. The best part? All Optimum plans are contract-free and provide unlimited data.
| Plan | Starting Price | Internet Speed | Internet Type | Contact Optimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optimum 300 | $40.00/mo. | 300 Mbps | Cable, Fiber | Call Now |
| Optimum 500 | $60.00/mo. | 500 Mbps | Cable, Fiber | Call Now |
| Optimum 1 Gig | $80.00/mo. | 1000 Mbps | Cable, Fiber | Call Now |
| Optimum Fiber 2 Gig | $100.00/mo.** | 2000 Mbps | Fiber | Call Now |
| Optimum Fiber 5 Gig | $280.00/mo. | 8000 Mbps | Fiber | Call Now |
**New low price (subject to change)
***All speeds are not available at every address. Actual speeds, including over WiFi, are not guaranteed.
Internet Speed
Both providers offer broadband through different networks, resulting in significant variations in speed ranges. CenturyLink’s DSL internet service typically provides slower upload and download speeds than Optimum’s cable and fiber internet plans. For instance, while CenturyLink offers a download speed of 140 Mbps in some areas, Optimum can provide up to 8000 Mbps connection. This means that CenturyLink’s maximum download speed is approximately 57.14 times slower than Optimum.
Although some argue that Optimum’s multi-gigabit options are only available in specific locations, it is worth noting that Optimum still provides gigabit internet connections to all customers within its coverage area, making it the better choice for those with high internet usage needs. To sum up, Optimum’s cable and fiber technologies deliver faster and more consistent speeds, making it the preferred provider for those seeking high-speed connectivity over CenturyLink.
| Internet Speeds | CenturyLink | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| Download Speed Range | DSL: 20 Mbps – 140 Mbps | Cable: 300 Mbps – 1000 Mbps |
| Fiber: 300 Mbps – 8000 Mbps | ||
| Upload Speed Range | 2 Mbps – 12 Mbps | Cable: 35 Mbps – 50 Mbps |
| Fiber: 300 Mbps – 8000 Mbps |
Bundle Deals
You can save money on your internet and entertainment services through the convenience of bundling. Let’s compare the bundles of both providers to see which company offers better deals.
CenturyLink
Contrary to Optimum, CenturyLink doesn’t actually provide internet and TV bundles; instead, you can combine its internet plans with the DIRECTV and DISHTV offerings. There are no special discounts, and you are required to pay the total price for both services. Here are some examples of these packages.
| Deal | Starting Price | TV Channels | Home Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simply Unlimited Internet + Home Phone | $95.00/mo. | – | Unlimited local & long distance calling |
| Simply Unlimited Internet + DirecTV | $119.99/mo. | More than 150 channels | – |
| Simply Unlimited Internet + DirecTV Stream | $119.99/mo. | More than 150 channels | – |
| Simply Unlimited Internet + DISH | $134.99/mo. | More than 190 TV channels | – |
**Paperless billing is required. Additional taxes, fees & surcharges apply.
***2-year contract on DirecTV and DISH packages
Optimum
In comparison, Optimum has its own TV service and gives you a discount when you combine its internet TV plans. You can also save money on Optimum’s internet and cell phone bundles and stay on top of your connectivity game. Here are some top bundles from Optimum.
| Package | Starting Price | Channel Count | Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimum 300 + Basic TV | $70.00/mo. | 50+ | – |
| Optimum 300 + Core TV | $125.00/month | 220+ | – |
| Optimum 500 + Select TV | $165.00/mo. | 340+ | – |
| Optimum 1 Gig + Core TV + Mobile Unlimited | $175.00/month | 220+ | – Unlimited talk, text & data- 5 GB Mobile Hotspot |
**Pricing, offers, and terms subject to change and discontinuance without notice.
Additional Costs
Additional costs impact your monthly bill. Therefore, before subscribing to a plan, you should be aware of all the extra charges associated with it. Nearly every internet service comes with a one-time installation and monthly equipment rental fee. In light of this, how does CenturyLink stack up against Optimum?
Equipment Fee
While CenturyLink requires a $15 monthly rental fee, Optimum does not charge for its equipment. Also, bear in mind that CenturyLink does not cover this price in its previous Price for Life offer and that it can increase at any point while you are a subscriber.
| Provider | Equipment Fee |
|---|---|
| CenturyLink | $15.00/month |
| Optimum | Free |
Installation Fee
As for installation, both providers give you two options. While CenturyLink charges up to $129 for professional installation and $15 for standard installation, Optimum charges much less. While its standard installation is free on online orders, you can choose a professional to handle everything, including your Wi-Fi configuration, for a one-time fee of $100.
On the other hand, Optimum’s standard installation is free on online orders. However, you can choose a professional to handle everything, including your Wi-Fi configuration, for a one-time fee of $59, which is far less than CenturyLink.
| Provider | Installation Fee |
|---|---|
| CenturyLink | Standard Installation: $15.00 |
| Professional Installation: Up to $129.00 (Free in some areas) | |
| Optimum | Standard Installation: Free |
| Professional Installation: $100.00 |
Type of Internet
CenturyLink and Optimum offer services via different technologies. This not only impacts their availability, but also influences their pricing policies and internet speeds. CenturyLink primarily provides services via a DSL network, whereas Optimum mainly relies on cable technology. However, Optimum also has a significant fiber footprint, connecting 1.6 million households.
The use of fiber and cable networks makes Optimum a more attractive choice for high-demand users. But this doesn’t diminish CenturyLink’s appeal. Although DSL internet may be slower than other wired internet options, it remains a solid choice when your options are limited. Hence, CenturyLink maintains a good reputation among rural populations.
| Internet Type | |
| CenturyLink | Optimum |
| DSL | Cable, Fiber |
Customer Service
Unfortunately, both providers rank at the bottom of most customer satisfaction ratings. However, when compared to each other, CenturyLink has better customer service, outranking Optimum in the Non-fiber Internet Service Providers category of the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s 2023 report. Its score of 62, though an improvement from last year, still falls six points below the industry average. CenturyLink’s sluggish DSL service is the leading cause of unsatisfactory ratings.
On the other hand, Optimum’s customer satisfaction has been consistently declining, and the provider ranks at the bottom of the ACSI’s Non-Fiber Internet Service Providers category. Optimum’s poor performance is also evident in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study. The provider ranks last in the East with a score of 661 and third to last in the South with a score of 676. CenturyLink also did not show promising results, ranking last in the West with a 687 score, but it managed to snag the second position in the North Central region with a score of 709, eight points above the region average.
| ACSI Rankings | CenturyLink | Optimum | Industry Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 62 | 58 | 68 |
| 2022 | 60 | 59 | 64 |
| 2021 | 62 | 60 | 65 |
Coverage Area
The merger of Suddenlink with Optimum has expanded its coverage area, making it accessible in parts of 21 states. In contrast, CenturyLink’s coverage is now limited to 16 states after it sold its network assets in 20 states to Apollo Global Management. You can find CenturyLink in rural and suburban areas of the following states.
| CenturyLink Coverage | |
| Arizona | Nevada |
| Colorado | New Mexico |
| Florida | North Dakota |
| Idaho | Oregon |
| Iowa | South Dakota |
| Minnesota | Utah |
| Montana | Washington |
| Nebraska | Wyoming |
On the other hand, you can find Optimum in the large metro areas of the following 21 states.
| Optimum Coverage | ||
| Arizona | Louisiana | North Carolina |
| Arkansas | Mississippi | Ohio |
| California | Missouri | Oklahoma |
| Connecticut | Nevada | Pennsylvania |
| Idaho | New Jersey | Texas |
| Kansas | New Mexico | Virginia |
| Kentucky | New York | West Virginia |
Final Verdict
CenturyLink and Optimum are two well-recognized internet providers with solid reputations built over years of hard work. This comparison highlights their differences, demonstrating how they have little in common, except for some overlapping service areas. While Optimum excels in nearly every aspect, we commend CenturyLink for its straightforward pricing policy. However, its inconsistent and slow speeds are a primary concern. Despite this, it remains a reliable choice for rural areas. Optimum, on the other hand, is well-suited for heavy internet usage. Ultimately, the decision is in your hands. Carefully assess your requirements and internet usage to determine what’s best for your home.
