EarthLink Review

Overview

EarthLink, established in the 1990s, holds the distinction of being the first ISP to introduce flat-rate plans. Over the years, the company has experienced substantial growth, serving a vast customer base exceeding 200 million. EarthLink extends its services across the nation, offering DSL and fiber options through an extensive network of partnerships. Renowned for its outstanding services, EarthLink has earned accolades for its award-winning customer support. Customers have the flexibility to select from a variety of plans to suit their specific needs.

Features and Services

EarthLink offers both DSL and fiber-optic internet options, extending its services to approximately 200 million customers nationwide. The DSL services are available in 36 states, with a particularly strong presence in California, New York, and Texas. The distribution of fiber internet is more selective, reaching 24.9 million customers. To provide a breakdown, EarthLink serves over 165.4 million customers with DSL internet and 24.9 million customers with fiber internet.

In addition to residential services, EarthLink offers internet tools tailored for businesses. Furthermore, the company provides a mobile app that allows users to handle various tasks, including emailing, managing contacts, controlling account settings, and checking the weather. While the app may not boast extravagant features, it is described as clean and efficient. For those who prefer managing tasks on their phones, the EarthLink app is considered a reliable and user-friendly option.

Plans and Pricing

While EarthLink’s pricing plans may be on the higher end, the company has amassed millions of customers nationwide, attesting to its established presence and quality service. EarthLink, with its extensive experience in the industry, is recognized for delivering internet services effectively. While customers may pay more compared to other providers, the trade-off is often considered worthwhile, given the better-quality service as indicated by customer ratings.

EarthLink offers a variety of plans, including lower-level options starting at 3 Mbps for $49.95. However, for many users, this lower threshold may not be sufficient, especially when considering that for just $10 more, one can access nearly nine times that amount of speed. It’s important to note that plans and pricing availability can vary depending on your location, as EarthLink partners with other ISPs to extend its serviceability and offer a wider range of options to customers.

A notable aspect of EarthLink’s pricing model is its stability — the pricing is relatively static and doesn’t increase after the first year, which is a departure from the common practice of some other ISPs. This provides customers with confidence that their current subscription costs will remain consistent for the foreseeable future.

However, it’s important to be aware of EarthLink’s cancellation policy, which can be described as “sticky.” Cancellation may incur a hefty fee, potentially refundable upon the return of equipment. It’s advisable for customers to carefully review and understand the cancellation terms before making a commitment.

Performance and Coverage

EarthLink is praised for providing consistent and reliable speeds that align with its advertising. However, the availability of the service is dependent on your geographic location. Depending on where you live, you may or may not have access to the specific speed you are seeking.

A notable advantage of EarthLink is the absence of service caps. Customers can enjoy unlimited data according to their chosen plan. This is significant, as many other services may throttle internet speeds after reaching a certain data threshold.

Hardware and Setup

EarthLink currently doesn’t have its own equipment, so customers have the option to either rent modems from the company or use their own if compatible. The rental fees for modems are noted to be cheaper compared to those of many other ISPs, which is a positive aspect for customers. As an additional point of interest, EarthLink is reportedly working on developing its own equipment in the coming years, potentially offering more options for users in the future.

It’s noted that EarthLink outsources its installation to partners, which might be a drawback for some customers. However, the professional installation cost of $79.95 is lower than the industry average, which typically sits at $99. Depending on your location, a self-installation kit may be available, although this option is not applicable for fiber HyperLink services.

On a positive note, EarthLink offers an easy-moving service, allowing customers to take their internet service with them when they relocate. This flexibility can be a convenient feature for those who are frequently on the move.

Customer Support

EarthLink is known for its outstanding customer service, featuring knowledgeable representatives empowered to make decisions for more efficient customer assistance. Customers can access support through live chat, phone, or by submitting a support ticket.

For anyone interested, here are the provided contact details:

Residential Internet Customer Support:

• Phone: 888-327-8454
• SMS Texting: 833-458-4360

Technical Support and Customer Service:

• 9AM to 10PM EST, Mondays to Sundays

Conclusion

EarthLink, a longstanding company with decades of experience, is widely recognized for its solid, reliable, and customer-friendly service, as attested by its extensive customer base. Offering both DSL and fiber plans, EarthLink, although priced higher than some competitors, compensates for this with a commitment to providing quality service. With coverage in almost every state, EarthLink presents a variety of plans to cater to a range of usage needs.