CenturyLink
available in 
- Price for Life guarantee*
- Internet speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
- Bundle options for internet and phone
- Available in 37 states
*Data current as of 6/21/19. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
CenturyLink pros and cons
One of the best things about CenturyLink internet service is that it offers a straightforward pricing model without the rate hikes you’ll get from other providers. CenturyLink calls that its Price for Life guarantee—and you don’t have to sign a contract to get it. So if you don’t want to shop around every few years for the latest deals on internet service, CenturyLink is a great choice.
On the other hand, CenturyLink’s lowest speed service (15 Mbps) is more expensive than you might find with other providers. We recommend CenturyLink to folks looking for mid- to high-speed plans, but if you’re looking for the cheapest internet, keep shopping.
Pros
- Price for Life guarantee*
- Contract-free options
- Bundle discounts
Cons
- No nationwide hotspots
- Installation fee
- Limited availability for fiber
*Data current as of 10/21/2019.
CenturyLink promotions and deals
CenturyLink’s most popular promotion is the Price for Life guarantee. Customers appreciate the no-nonsense appeal of a set rate that doesn’t double after the first year.
The Price for Life guaranteed rate is valid as long as you continue your current service without changes to your account, including downgrading your service, changing your address, or switching off your service.
CenturyLink internet, TV, and home phone services
Internet
- $49–$65/mo.
- 15 Mbps–940 Mbps
- DSL and fiber
Phone
- $45/mo.
- Unlimited nationwide
- Crystal clear voice quality
Data current as of 6/21/19. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
CenturyLink offers Double Play bundle options to keep you connected. Add a home phone line to your internet plan for an extra $40. Other CenturyLink internet deals vary by location.
CenturyLink internet
Our pick:
CenturyLink Price for Life up to 80 Mbps
Speeds up to
80
Mbps download
80
Mbps download
From
$4900/mo
Rate requires paperless billing and excludes taxes. Additional fees apply. Speeds may not be available in your area.
Customer speed experiences will vary, particularly when accessing the Internet wirelessly from various devices. Download speeds are typically up to 80 Mbps via a wired connection. Listed Internet speeds vary due to conditions outside of network control, including customer location, equipment, and access through a wireless connection, and are not guaranteed. See centurylink.com/InternetPolicy for additional network performance information. Service and offer are not available everywhere. Limited time offer. Residential customers only. Prepayment with a credit or debit card may apply. CenturyLink provided modem may be required for Internet; lease (up to $15/mo. fee) or a one-time purchase option (up to $150) is available. If customer subscribes to the Secure WiFi service, a $5/mo. fee will apply to a purchased modem. Self-installation, if available at customer’s location, may be selected; an up to $50 S&H fee applies to self-install modem lease/purchase. A professional technician installation fee of up to $125 may apply, if selected by customer or is required due to network technology at customer location. Month to month (sometimes referred to as “no contract”) service means no term commitment and may be cancelled at any time without an early termination fee but customer must accept High-Speed Internet Subscriber Agreement prior to using service (see centurylink.com/legal). Plan cannot be combined with other promotions. Customer must remain in good standing and offer terminates if customer changes their account in any manner, including change of address (even if plan is available), change to service, and service suspension (Vacation Program) or disconnection. Other than promotional rates, plans with monthly rates that don’t change, and monthly rates offered with a term commitment, your monthly rates for services, leased equipment, fees, or surcharges are not guaranteed and may increase during the time of your service. Additional restrictions may apply. CenturyLink may change, cancel, or substitute offers and services, or vary them by service area, at its sole discretion without notice. All products and services listed are governed by tariffs, terms of service, or terms and conditions posted at centurylink.com/terms. See www.centurylink.com/feesandtaxes for taxes.
The price difference between the 20 Mbps and 80 Mbps plans is just $10, and we think that’s $10 well spent. With 20 Mbps, you’ll run into issues if several people are trying to stream video or use the internet at the same time.
But 80 Mbps is powerful enough to keep 3 to 5 devices streaming and gaming at the same time. If it’s available in your area, we highly recommend you go for the 80 Mbps plan. You can stream Gravity Falls in one room, while someone else plays Apex Legends, and someone else binge watches Stranger Things.
Want to compare plans? Hop over to the CenturyLink Internet page for an in-depth take on all internet plans.
CenturyLink home phone
Our pick:
Unlimited Nationwide Calling
- $45/mo standalone (or $36 with Internet)
- Unlimited nationwide long-distance calling
From
$4500/mo
Rate excludes taxes and voice fees/surcharges.
Home Phone with Unlimited Nationwide Calling: Service applies to one residential phone line with direct-dial, local and nationwide long distance voice calling from home phone, including Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands; excludes commercial use, call center, data and facsimile services (including dial-up Internet connections, data services, and facsimile; each may be billed at $0.10 per minute), conference lines, directory and operator assistance, chat lines, pay-per-call, calling card use, or multi-housing units. Usage will be monitored for compliance and service may be suspended/terminated for non-compliance. If usage consistently exceeds 5,000 minutes/mo. customer may be moved to another plan. International calling billed separately.
CenturyLink home phone service delivers crystal clear voice quality, which can’t be said for VoIP or cellphones. You can keep in touch with family and friends all over the country with CenturyLink’s home phone plan.
It includes unlimited long-distance to US states, including Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands. A one-time installation fee may apply (depending on your location and whether your home is wired for home phone service).
For more information on features and services included in CenturyLink phone plans, view the CenturyLink phone page.
CenturyLink bundles
CenturyLink offers internet phone bundles.
See if CenturyLink is offered in your area.
CenturyLink fees and charges
One of the best things about CenturyLink is that there are no contracts—and that means no early termination fees (ETF). Most other internet providers require one- to two-year contracts (boo), and canceling service early can cost you a wad of cash (double boo).
CenturyLink one-time fees include installation fees ($50 to $125, depending on location) and equipment purchase costs (up to $150 for a CenturyLink modem). You can opt to rent your modem instead for $15 per month if you want to pay less upfront. Monthly fees and charges include taxes and government surcharges, which vary based on location.
Late fees also depend on your location and they’re affected by the number of services you have. A CenturyLink late fee could be anywhere from $5 up to a set percentage of your bill.
Learn more about CenturyLink.
Xfinity vs. CenturyLink
CenturyLink offers the most affordable 1 Gig plans, while Xfinity offers a better price on lower-speed plans plus free access to a powerful Wi-Fi network.
Cox vs CenturyLink
Compared to CenturyLink, Cox delivers better budget plans and consistent speed. If you want the most affordable 1 Gig plan, go for CenturyLink.
Spectrum vs. CenturyLink
Spectrum offers reliable speeds at a reasonable price. But if raw speed is your goal, get CenturyLink’s 1 Gig.
Our verdict
CenturyLink is best known for its Price for Life guarantee, which we think is pretty swell. We’ve never met anyone who looks forward to the end of an introductory rate so they can pay twice as much for the same service in the second year.
Another point in CenturyLink’s favor is that they don’t have contracts, so you can cancel anytime without paying fees. That’s what we call freedom. CenturyLink also has a wide variety of speeds to suit different needs, ranging from 15 Mbps to 1 gigabit (or close enough—it’s technically 940 Mbps).
But, as with all providers, not all speeds are available in all areas—especially the fastest ones. So, since CenturyLink’s pricing model gives you a way better deal on the higher-speed plans, you might be stuck with a lower-speed plan that offers a lower value.