EarthLink vs. Spectrum: Which Internet Provider is Best for You?
We compared these two widespread wired internet options.
Nov 3, 2023 | Share 
Provider Comparisons (Versus)
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Best Customer Satisfaction
- Customer rating: 3.3
- Price: $49.95–$189.95/mo.*
- Speed: 10–5,000 Mbps
- Internet type: Fiber, DSL
- Data cap: None
- Contract: 1 yr.
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Best prices
- Customer rating: 3.7
- Price: $19.99–$89.99/mo.†
- Speed: 100–1,000 Mbps‡
- Internet type: Cable
- Data cap: None
- Contract: None
Data as of 01/05/2023. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*with a 12 month contract.
†Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Spectrum Internet ® promotion price is $49.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr. 1. Taxes, fees and surcharges extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra. General Terms: INTERNET: Speed based on wired connection and may vary by address. Wireless speeds may vary. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. Enter your address to determine availability. ©2021 Charter Communications.
‡ wireless speeds may vary.
Compare EarthLink and Spectrum head to head
Earthlink’s main focus is in its customer service. EarthLink plans generally cost more than Spectrum plans with similar speeds, so the question for EarthLink customers is whether they find the added support worth the extra cost. The benefits of this strategy have been shown in customer satisfaction surveys across multiple years, though Earthlink underperformed in customer satisfaction in 2023.
Both EarthLink and Spectrum offer wired internet connections to huge areas of the country. EarthLink offers fast and reliable fiber connections in some areas, though in others it offers only slower DSL plans. Spectrum splits the difference with cable internet, giving you a more consistent experience regardless of where you live within its coverage area.
Pros and cons: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
Pros:
- Great customer satisfaction
- Expansive coverage
- Fiber in some areas
Cons:
- Higher monthly cost
- Variable network quality
Pros:
- Free cable modem
- No data caps
- No contracts
Cons:
- Price hikes after 1 yr.
- No fiber options
Want to know if EarthLink or Spectrum are in your area? Take a look by typing in your zip code below.
Plans and pricing: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
Both EarthLink and Spectrum have large coverage areas and a decent range of speeds. They both offer speeds up to 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps), but both gigabit plans have their caveats. Although EarthLink has a larger coverage area, its gigabit fiber plan isn’t available in all areas. Spectrum’s entire network uses cable, including its gigabit plan. Earthlink also offers multigigabit plans for those who want more speed than they could possibly use.
EarthLink plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Speed | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| EarthLink 10-80 Mbps Internet (DSL) | $49.95/mo.-$69.95/mo.* | 10 Mbps-80 Mbps | View Plan |
| Fiber 500 | $79.95/mo.* | 500 Mbps | View Plan |
| Fiber 1 Gig | $89.95/mo.* | 1,000 Mbps | View Plan |
| Fiber 2 Gig | $129.95/mo.* | 2,000 Mbps | View Plan |
| Fiber 5 Gig | $189.95/mo.* | 5,000 Mbps | View Plan |
| EarthLink LTE Home 50 GB- 150 GB | $64.95/mo.-$149.95/mo. | Up to 100 Mbps | View Plan |
Data as of 01/05/2023. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*with a 12 month contract.
EarthLink is available in all 50 states. It rents space on other providers’ networks to reach its customers, which means the speed and reliability of its connections vary depending on location. The main value that EarthLink adds in this deal is its focus on customer support.
EarthLink’s fiber plans offer the best value for both speed and reliability. They start around the same price as its DSL plans but reach speeds around 100 times faster. EarthLink also offers plans with slower fiber speeds than most ISPs, which is handy if you like the reliability of fiber but don’t want to pay for gigabit speeds.
Spectrum plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Speed | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet® Assist | $19.99/mo.* | Up to 30Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | View Plan |
| Spectrum Internet® 100 Mbps | $29.99/mo.* | Up to 100Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | View Plan |
| Spectrum Internet® | $49.99/mo. for 12 mos.† | Up to 300 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | View Plan |
| Spectrum Internet® Ultra | $39.99-$69.99/mo. for 12 mos.† | Up to 500 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | View Plan |
| Spectrum Internet® Gig | $59.99-$89.99/mo. for 12 mos.† | Up to 1,000 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | View Plan |
Data as of 01/05/2023. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
* For 12 months when bundled. Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter.
† Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Spectrum Internet® Gig promotion price is $89.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr. 1. Taxes, fees and surcharges extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra.
Spectrum’s plans start out at 300 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary), which is faster than any of EarthLink’s DSL plans and some of its fiber plans. This makes even the cheapest Spectrum plan a decent speed for most internet activities.
If you need faster download speeds to meet your household needs, Spectrum offers gigabit speeds over its cable network.
Deals and promotions: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
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Extra fees: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
| Equipment Fee | Installation Fee | Other Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EarthLink |
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| Spectrum |
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EarthLink has low equipment rental fees, and gives you the option to buy. Spectrum offers a free cable modem or gateway but you pay $5 per month whether you have Spectrum’s gateway or a standalone router. You can get around the WiFi fee by purchasing your own router.
The other important fees to call out are the big (and possibly unexpected) ones. EarthLink requires a 12-month contract when you sign up, which comes with a hefty fee if you decide to cancel your service early.
Spectrum doesn’t require long-term contracts and its fees are lower across the board. There are price increases after the first 12 months, which we don’t love, but in general you’ll be encountering fewer unexpected costs with Spectrum.
Customer ratings: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
| Overall | Speed | Price | Reliability | Customer Service | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EarthLink | 3.3/5 | 3.6/5 | 3.2/5 | 3.3/5 | 3.3/5 |
| Spectrum | 3.7/5 | 3.9/5 | 3.3/5 | 3.7/5 | 3.7/5 |
EarthLink performed somewhat poorly in our 2023 customer satisfaction survey, taking last place overall.
Spectrum performed about average in our survey this year, coming in around the middle of the pack in most categories.
Best TV and internet bundles
| Internet speed | TV channels | Price | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum® Internet Ultra + TV Select Signature* | Up to 500 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | 150+ | From $129.98/mo. for 12 mos.† | View Plans |
| Spectrum® Internet Gig + TV Select Signature* | Up to 1,000 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | 150+ | From $153.18/mo. for 12 mos.† | View Plans |
† Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter.
*Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Spectrum TV Select Signature promotion price is $59.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr 1. Taxes, fees, and surcharges (broadcast surcharge up to $23.20/mo) extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra. General Terms: TV: TV equipment required; charges may apply. Channel and HD programming availability based on level of service and location. Account credentials may be required to stream some TV content online. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. Enter your address to determine availability.
Spectrum gives you the option to mix and match any of its TV and internet plans, though you don’t get a reduced price for bundling these services together. If you were planning on getting cable one way or another, this does help simplify your monthly bills, which is a plus. Spectrum also offers mobile services to current Spectrum Internet customers.
EarthLink doesn’t offer TV or phone service.
Internet types: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
| Internet type | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| EarthLink | Fiber, DSL | View Plans |
| Spectrum | Cable | View Plans |
EarthLink uses DSL or fiber internet connection. All of its plans over 50 Mbps use fiber. On the lower end, Earthlink offers speeds much lower than those offered by most fiber providers. Although fast download speed is the main selling point of a fiber internet plan, fiber has other advantages over other internet types as well, such as reliability. Not every area within EarthLink’s coverage area has access to fiber, which means that those in DSL-only areas don’t have many high-speed options.
Spectrum delivers internet service via cable throughout its coverage area. Although not as fast or reliable as fiber, cable is still one of the most reliable types of internet connection, and Spectrum offers download speeds that can match EarthLink’s top fiber plans.
Data caps: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
| Data Cap | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| EarthLink | None | View Plans |
| Spectrum | None | View Plans |
Neither EarthLink nor Spectrum place data caps on their plans, which we think is great. Nobody likes data caps, and for wired networks like cable and fiber, they’re completely unnecessary. In fact, according to our data cap survey, 75% of people said that they’d pay more for a plan without data caps.
Contracts: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
| Contract length | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| EarthLink | 1 yr. | View Plans |
| Spectrum | None | View Plans |
EarthLink requires a 12-month contract when you sign up. This is pretty standard for providers that require contracts, but it’s still a commitment. If you want to change internet providers before your contract term is up, early termination fees can cost up to $200, so it’s not something you should commit to lightly.
Spectrum has no long-term contracts. You can cancel your service at any time without getting hit by cancellation fees. We prefer no-contract plans. And fortunately, more and more providers are moving in this direction.
Installation: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
| Installation options | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| EarthLink |
| View Plans |
| Spectrum |
| View Plans |
Spectrum beats out EarthLink in terms of installation costs, saving you money on professional installation as well as offering a self-installation option for some plans. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Spectrum is highly encouraging self-installation where possible.
Availability: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
EarthLink is available throughout the US in all but the most rural areas, although its plans vary depending on area. Spectrum is also a nationwide brand but is most widespread along the East Coast, Midwest, South, and West Coast.
Final call: EarthLink vs. Spectrum
Both EarthLink and Spectrum have a lot of features we really like, but if you’re in an area where EarthLink offers only DSL connections, we suggest going with Spectrum’s faster, more reliable cable plans.
View EarthLink PlansView Spectrum Plans
Methodology
Our HighSpeedInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on customer input from our annual customer satisfaction survey, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. To strengthen our research, we look closely at provider contracts to get hard-to-find information on price hikes, data caps, and extra fees, and we keep tabs on the latest news reports and online reviews. When applicable, we also rely on our personal experiences testing these services.
More about EarthLink and Spectrum
Author - Peter Christiansen
Peter Christiansen writes about satellite internet, rural connectivity, livestreaming, and parental controls for HighSpeedInternet.com. Peter holds a PhD in communication from the University of Utah and has been working in tech for over 15 years as a computer programmer, game developer, filmmaker, and writer. His writing has been praised by outlets like Wired, Digital Humanities Now, and the New Statesman.
Editor - Rebecca Lee Armstrong
Rebecca Lee Armstrong has more than six years of experience writing about tech and the internet, with a specialty in hands-on testing. She started writing tech product and service reviews while finishing her BFA in creative writing at the University of Evansville and has found her niche writing about home networking, routers, and internet access at HighSpeedInternet.com. Her work has also been featured on Top Ten Reviews, MacSources, Windows Central, Android Central, Best Company, TechnoFAQ, and iMore.
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