The Internet has become a significant aspect of our life. Reliable internet is one of the fundamentals, making everyone’s lives easier, whether it’s people working from home or students who have to meet deadlines. Therefore, it is necessary to consider all the available options before choosing an internet service provider.
If your choice comes down to EarthLink vs. AT&T, you can read this article to understand them better. We have provided information about each provider to help you make your decision. Both AT&T and EarthLink are top ISPs with a wide coverage area. So what makes them different? Is EarthLink better than AT&T? Read our EarthLink vs. AT&T overview and decide for yourself.
AT&T
AT&T is a telecommunication giant in the US known for its comprehensive fiber coverage. It is one of the best internet providers in the USA. The company provides various services like home internet and mobile phone service and uses the latest technology to deliver excellent value.
Pros
- No contracts
- Variety of plans
- High-speed fiber intern
Cons
- Limited availability
- Data caps on hybrid and fixed wireless plans
EarthLink
Based in Atlanta, EarthLink is a large telecommunication company. It offers several services like home internet, mobile phone, and business telecom service. You can find EarthLink Internet Plans in almost all states.
Pros
- Unlimited data
- Nationwide availability
Cons
- Enforces contracts
- Expensive plans
- Limited fiber availability
Key Differences – EarthLink vs AT&T
| Features | EarthLink | AT&T |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $54.95/mo. | $55/mo. |
| Max Speed | Up to 5 Gbps | Up to 5 Gbps |
| Internet Type | Fiber / DSL / Wireless | Fiber / IPBB |
| Bundle Deals | Yes | Yes |
| Contracts | Required | None |
| Coverage Area | 48 States | 48 states |
Both AT&T and EarthLink provide services by using multiple technologies. EarthLink provides DSL, fiber, and fixed wireless services. While fiber internet is fast and reliable, it is only available in a few areas. And although DSL has slower internet speeds, it is most widely available within its service areas.
While AT&T also provides fiber and fixed wireless internet services, it uses a DSL/fiber hybrid approach to provide internet service to most customers. Both providers offer fixed wireless internet in areas that lack wired internet infrastructure.
Plans & Pricing
AT&T and EarthLink provide various packages that vary depending on your location. DSL internet covers most of their footprint, while fiber and fixed wireless internet are limited to specific localities.
EarthLink
Since EarthLink uses a variety of networks to deliver its services, its plans and speeds vary with the location. EarthLink offers a variety of internet plans, including multi-gigabit options like AT&T. Its fiber internet plans are more expensive than AT&T’s because it doesn’t provide introductory prices. The good thing is you don’t have to worry about annual price hikes. Here are some standard DSL and fiber-optic plans by EarthLink.
| EarthLink Internet Plans | ||
| Fiber Internet Plans | ||
| Plan | Price | Download Speed |
| Fiber 100 | $59.95/mo. | 100 Mbps |
| Fiber 300 | $69.95/mo. | 300 Mbps |
| Fiber 500 | $79.95/mo. | 500 Mbps |
| Fiber 1,000 | $89.95/mo. | 1,000 Mbps |
| Fiber 2,000 | $129.95/mo. | 2,000 Mbps |
| Fiber 5,000 | $189.95/mo. | 5,000 Mbps |
| DSL Internet Plans | ||
| Plan | Price | Download Speed |
| DSL 12 | $54.95/mo | 12 Mbps |
| DSL 24 | $59.95/mo. | 24 Mbps |
| DSL 45 | $64.95/mo. | 45 Mbps |
| DSL 75 | $69.95/mo. | 75 Mbps |
| Wireless Internet Plans | ||
| Plan | Price | Download Speed |
| 100 GB Wireless | $59.95/mo. | 100 Mbps |
| 150 GB Wireless | $84.95/mo. | 100 Mbps |
| 200 GB Wireless | $109.95/mo. | 100 Mbps |
| 300 GB Wireless | $159.95/mo. | 100 Mbps |
EarthLink Plans Start as low as $29.95/mo.
AT&T
Although AT&T offers various plans, its fiber-optic options’ real value lies. It primarily provides three fiber internet plans to most of its fiber-optic footprint, Internet 300, Internet 500, and Internet 1000, and its multi-gigabit plans are available in only a few cities.
AT&T offers hybrid DSL/Fiber plans to the majority of its customers. However, they are much slower and include data caps. Additionally, AT&T internet plans have a fixed wireless internet plan for areas that lack physical infrastructure.
| Plan | Starting Price | Download Speed | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Internet 50 | $55/mo. | 50 Mbps | IPBB |
| AT&T Internet 100 | $55/mo. | 100 Mbps | IPBB |
| AT&T Internet 300 | $55/mo. | 300 Mbps | Fiber |
| AT&T Internet 500 | $65/mo. | 500 Mbps | Fiber |
| AT&T Internet 1000 | $80/mo. | 1000 Mbps | Fiber |
| AT&T Internet 2000 | $110/mo. | 2000 Mbps | Fiber |
| AT&T Internet 5000 | $180/mo. | 5000 Mbps | Fiber |
Limited Time Deals on AT&T Internet Ending Soon!
Equipment Fees
AT&T is the clear winner as it includes the equipment rental fee in your monthly internet bill. Hence you don’t have to pay an additional fee for your equipment.
EarthLink charges a monthly $10 for their equipment. It also allows you to buy the equipment at an upfront price of $75. So, if you plan to stay with this provider for a long time, you can save money by buying your equipment.
Installation Fees
AT&T charges a higher price for professional installation than EarthLink. You have to pay $99 for in-home installation. Its self-installation option is also not available at every location. You have to check whether you qualify for their self-install kit.
Whereas, EarthLink’s installation prices are somewhat confusing because it doesn’t install the equipment. Instead, it partners with other ISPs to complete the installation. It charges customers a one-time installation fee of $40 to $80.
Speed
AT&T offers slightly higher internet speeds with its DSL/Fiber hybrid plans ranging from 10 to 100 Mbps, and EarthLink‘s DSL plans offer internet speeds up to 75 Mbps. While their DSL internet plans are more widely available, they are much slower than fiber internet. Both AT&T and EarthLink offer similar fiber internet speeds up to 5000 Mbps.
Data Caps
The best perk of EarthLink internet is unlimited data with every plan. Hence, you don’t have to keep an eye on your data usage or worry about paying overage fees.
On the other hand, while AT&T offers unlimited data with its fiber internet plans, it enforces data caps on its hybrid and fixed wireless internet services. Its hybrid internet plans from 0.8 to 75 Mbps have a data cap of 1TB, requiring you to pay $10 for every additional 50 GB of data once you exceed that limit.
Availability
EarthLink has better availability as it uses other ISPs’ infrastructure to deliver its services. Hence you can find it in 48 states. On the other hand, AT&T also has one of the largest networks in the US and provides better fiber internet coverage. It mainly covers the Southeastern US, some Great Lakes states, California and Nevada.
Contracts
AT&T is the clear winner in this category as it doesn’t enforce a contract. Hence, you don’t have to worry about the ETF if you want to switch to another provider.
While EarthLink’s wireless internet plans are contract-free, its fiber and DSL plans come with a 12-month contract. The provider charges an ETF of up to $200 if you break their contract.
Customer Service
AT&T and EarthLink are known for their remarkable customer service. While customer satisfaction outlets like ACSI and J.D. Power don’t include EarthLink in their reports, the Better Business Bureau gives it a higher customer rating.
On the other hand, AT&T showed remarkable results in J.D. Power’s Satisfaction Study, grabbing the top spot in North Central and South regions with an average score of 738/1000. It also scored well in the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s latest report, 69/100, which is well above the industry average.
Final Words
AT&T and EarthLink are premium internet providers in the US. Known for their nationwide coverage, you can find them in most states. And while they both offer multiple technologies, their fiber internet plans deliver excellent value. While AT&T offers cheaper fiber internet plans with numerous perks, EarthLink offers plans at standard prices with top-notch customer service. We have provided a detailed comparison of both providers to help you narrow down the most suitable option between EarthLink vs. AT&T.
