| Comparison Feature |
AT&T Internet |
EarthLink Internet |
| Service Footprint |
21 States (Primary regional network) |
All 50 States (Nationwide wholesale aggregator) |
| Primary Connection Types |
Pure Fiber (FTTH), 5G Internet Air, IPBB |
Pure Fiber, DSL, Fixed Wireless, Satellite |
| Starting Fiber Price (AutoPay) |
$55.00/mo (Fiber 300) |
$39.95–$59.95/mo (Introductory Fiber 100/300) |
| Download Speeds |
300 Mbps – 5,000 Mbps (5 Gig) |
100 Mbps – 5,000 Mbps (5 Gig) |
| Upload Speeds |
300 Mbps – 5,000 Mbps (Symmetrical) |
100 Mbps – 5,000 Mbps (Symmetrical on Fiber) |
| Data Allowance |
Unlimited Data on Fiber / Internet Air |
Unlimited Data on all Fiber/DSL plans |
| Wi-Fi Equipment Cost |
$0.00/mo (Included with Fiber) |
$14.95/mo (Rental) or $74.95 to purchase |
| Service Contract Required? |
No Contracts (Month-to-month) |
12-Month Agreement (Up to $200 ETF) |
| Professional Install Fee |
$99.00 (Free standard self-install) |
$19.95–$79.95 (Varies by plan) |
| Mobile Bundle Perks |
Save 20% on Home Internet |
No native cellular mobile network |
| Best For |
Lower overall costs, $0 equipment, mobile bundling |
Broad availability, dedicated human phone support |
1. Network Infrastructure: Builder vs. Reseller
AT&T Builds and Owns the Lines: AT&T operates its own tier-1 telecommunications network, running high-speed fiber-optic cabling and mid-band 5G cellular infrastructure across 21 primary states.
EarthLink Wholesale Network Capacity: EarthLink owns very little physical transmission wiring. Instead, it leases network capacity from major infrastructure owners—primarily AT&T, Frontier, CenturyLink/Brightspeed, and Viasat.
The Performance Reality: If you order EarthLink Fiber in an AT&T territory, a technician will connect you to an AT&T fiber optical terminal. Network performance, speeds, and ping are nearly identical, but your monthly billing and customer service route through EarthLink.
2. Fiber Plans & Pricing: Real Costs with Hardware Included
While introductory sticker prices appear close, equipment fees create a large gap in overall monthly expenses:
| Speed Tier |
AT&T Fiber (Total Monthly Cost) |
EarthLink Fiber (Total with $14.95 Modem Fee) |
| 100 Mbps Fiber |
N/A (Starts at 300 Mbps) |
~$54.90/mo ($39.95 base + $14.95 modem) |
| 300 Mbps Fiber |
$55.00/mo ($0 hardware fee) |
~$69.90/mo ($54.95 base + $14.95 modem) |
| 500 Mbps Fiber |
$65.00/mo ($0 hardware fee) |
~$79.90/mo ($64.95 base + $14.95 modem) |
| 1 Gig (1,000 Mbps) |
$80.00–$85.00/mo ($0 hardware fee) |
~$94.90–$104.90/mo ($79.95+ base + $14.95 modem) |
| 5 Gig (5,000 Mbps) |
$225.00–$250.00/mo ($0 hardware fee) |
~$164.90–$264.90/mo (Select markets) |
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AT&T All-Inclusive Pricing: AT&T provides its Wi-Fi gateway (BGW320) for $0/mo, meaning the advertised monthly rate is what you pay.
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EarthLink Equipment Add-On: EarthLink adds a mandatory $14.95/mo modem rental fee, increasing the true annual cost by nearly $180/year.
3. Contracts, Early Termination Fees & Data Caps
Contracts & Cancellation:
AT&T: 100% contract-free for residential broadband. You can cancel at any time with zero early termination penalties.
EarthLink: Requires a 12-month service contract. Canceling before your 1-year agreement ends triggers an early termination fee of up to $200.
Data Caps:
AT&T: Unlimited data on all Fiber tiers and Internet Air. (Legacy copper/DSL plans maintain a 1.5 TB cap).
EarthLink: Zero data caps and no throttling thresholds on any fiber or wired DSL tier.
4. Customer Support & Add-On Services
EarthLink Customer Support Edge: EarthLink’s primary selling proposition is high-touch customer care. It offers dedicated domestic call support lines, remote device troubleshooting via the EarthLink EasyTech app ($9.95/mo), and integrated cybersecurity tools (EarthLink Protect+ and Guardian).
AT&T Mobile Ecosystem: AT&T offers unmatched bundling power through its wireless division. Pairing AT&T Fiber with an eligible postpaid unlimited cellular line saves 20% each month on home internet ($11.00 to $50.00/mo in savings). EarthLink does not operate a cellular network.
5. Pros and Cons Summary
AT&T Internet
Pros: $0 equipment fees, no annual contracts, lower monthly total, 20% wireless bundle discount, and Visa reward cards on signup.
Cons: Fiber footprint limited to 21 states; DSL fallback speeds are slow in non-fiber zones.
EarthLink Internet
Pros: Available nationwide across all 50 states via partner leasing, unlimited data on all plans, and responsive technical customer support.
Cons: $14.95/mo equipment rental fee, mandatory 12-month contracts with $200 cancellation penalties, and higher overall cost for identical fiber lines.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does EarthLink use AT&T fiber lines?
Yes. In many markets within AT&T's 21-state territory, EarthLink leases bandwidth directly from AT&T's physical fiber-optic lines to deliver service to homes.
Is AT&T cheaper than EarthLink?
Yes. When factoring in EarthLink's $14.95/mo modem rental fee, AT&T Fiber is typically $15.00 to $25.00 cheaper per month for the exact same speed tiers.
Does AT&T charge an early cancellation fee?
No. AT&T residential internet plans operate on a month-to-month basis with zero contracts or early termination fees. EarthLink requires a 12-month contract with termination fees up to $200.