EarthLink vs AT&T Internet Plans & Fees 2022

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Interested in swapping internet providers, but don’t know whether to go with EarthLink or AT&T? Both offer a variety of internet plans and enough data usage for any lifestyle. However, there are a few key differences between them, like speeds and internet fees, that can make or break your decision. Follow along to discover which provider best suits your needs.
Overview
Provider | Internet Type | Download Speeds Up To* | Contracts | Extra Fees |
EarthLink | DSL & Fiber | 1000 Mbps | None | Equipment rental, ETF, Installation fee |
AT&T | DSL & Fiber | 1000 Mbps | 1-year & 2-year | Equipment rental, ETF, Installation fee, data overages |
Provider | EarthLink |
Internet Type | DSL & Fiber |
Download Speeds Up To* | 1000 Mbps |
Contracts | None |
Extra Fees | Equipment rental, ETF, Installation fee |
Provider | AT&T |
Internet Type | DSL & Fiber |
Download Speeds Up To* | 1000 Mbps |
Contracts | 1-year & 2-year |
Extra Fees | Equipment rental, ETF, Installation fee, data overages |
Comparing Internet Fees
When it comes to internet fees and plan features, no two internet providers are the same. Check out the top internet features of EarthLink and AT&T below to see what may be included in your initial, ongoing, and final billing statements.

Data Limits
EarthLink does not impose any hard data limits or slowdowns on its service whereas AT&T does place data limits on select internet plans. On its DSL plans, AT&T offers a 1 TB data allowance per month, and for most users, this is plenty of data to work with.
If a customer exceeds this limit, blocks of 50 GB will automatically be added to your bill for an extra fee of $10 each plus tax. Added charges will never exceed $100 per month, no matter how much data you use. Unlimited data can be purchased separately for an additional $30 per month or be automatically applied if you maintain a bundle of TV and internet on a combined bill.
Contracts & Termination Fees
EarthLink internet plans require a 12-month contract and an early termination fee (ETF) of up to $200. When your 12-month contract is up, you can lock in the same rate for another 12 months or opt to pay month-to-month: whatever works best for you. No credit checks are required.
In comparison, AT&T internet plans do not require annual contracts, but it does give customers the option to lock in pricing with either a one or two-year contract. If you end your service before your agreement expires, you may have to pay an ETF of up to $180 for 1-year contract or $360 for a 2-year contract ($15 for every month left on your contract).
Installation Fees
Both providers offer professional installations. EarthLink charges a one-time fee of $79.95 while AT&T charges a one-time fee of $99.99. AT&T is a little more expensive, but they earn back brownie points for offering online ordering.
Equipment Rentals
When it comes to renting your internet modem or router, AT&T and EarthLink are pretty evenly matched. AT&T charges a monthly equipment fee of $10, and EarthLink charges $9.95. If you prefer to save money by using your own equipment, both AT&T and EarthLink have no problem with it.
EarthLink Internet Plans
Below we list a handful of EarthLink HyperLinkTM Internet plans. Speeds and pricing will vary by your physical location, but this will give you an idea of what speeds are available if you live in an area where EarthLink internet is available.
EarthLink Internet Plans | Download Speed Up To* | Upload Speed Up To* | Starting Price* |
HyperLink 30Mb | 30 Mbps | 1.5 Mbps | $59.95/mo. |
HyperLink 50Mb | 50 Mbps | 50 Mbps | $49.95/mo. |
HyperLink 80Mb | 80 Mbps | 40 Mbps | $69.95/mo. |
HyperLink 140Mb | 140 Mbps | 100 Mbps | $79.95/mo. |
HyperLink 500Mb | 500 Mbps | 200 Mbps | $89.95/mo. |
HyperLink 1 Gbps | 1000 Mbps | 1000 Mbps | $99.95/mo. |
EarthLink Internet Plans | HyperLink 30Mb |
Download Speed Up To* | 30 Mbps |
Upload Speed Up To* | 1.5 Mbps |
Starting Price* | $59.95/mo. |
EarthLink Internet Plans | HyperLink 50Mb |
Download Speed Up To* | 50 Mbps |
Upload Speed Up To* | 50 Mbps |
Starting Price* | $49.95/mo. |
EarthLink Internet Plans | HyperLink 80Mb |
Download Speed Up To* | 80 Mbps |
Upload Speed Up To* | 40 Mbps |
Starting Price* | $69.95/mo. |
EarthLink Internet Plans | HyperLink 140Mb |
Download Speed Up To* | 140 Mbps |
Upload Speed Up To* | 100 Mbps |
Starting Price* | $79.95/mo. |
EarthLink Internet Plans | HyperLink 500Mb |
Download Speed Up To* | 500 Mbps |
Upload Speed Up To* | 200 Mbps |
Starting Price* | $89.95/mo. |
EarthLink Internet Plans | HyperLink 1 Gbps |
Download Speed Up To* | 1000 Mbps |
Upload Speed Up To* | 1000 Mbps |
Starting Price* | $99.95/mo. |
AT&T Internet Plans
Below we list a range of AT&T internet plans to give you an idea of what it offers. Note that speeds, pricing, and availability all depend on your physical location.
AT&T Internet Plan | Download Speed Up To* | Upload Speed Up To* | Starting Price* |
Internet 25 | 25 Mbps | 5 Mbps | $45/mo. |
Internet 50 | 50 Mbps | 10 Mbps | $45/mo. |
Internet 100 | 100 Mbps | 100 Mbps | $35/mo. |
Internet 300 | 300 Mbps | 300 Mbps | $35/mo. |
Internet 500 | 500 Mbps | 500 Mbps | $45/mo. |
Internet 1000 | 1000 Mbps | 1000 Mbps | $60/mo. |
AT&T Internet Plan | Internet 25 |
Download Speed Up To* | 25 Mbps |
Upload Speed Up To* | 5 Mbps |
Starting Price* | $45/mo. |
AT&T Internet Plan | Internet 50 |
Download Speed Up To* | 50 Mbps |
Upload Speed Up To* | 10 Mbps |
Starting Price* | $45/mo. |
AT&T Internet Plan | Internet 100 |
Download Speed Up To* | 100 Mbps |
Upload Speed Up To* | 100 Mbps |
Starting Price* | $35/mo. |
AT&T Internet Plan | Internet 300 |
Download Speed Up To* | 300 Mbps |
Upload Speed Up To* | 300 Mbps |
Starting Price* | $35/mo. |
AT&T Internet Plan | Internet 500 |
Download Speed Up To* | 500 Mbps |
Upload Speed Up To* | 500 Mbps |
Starting Price* | $45/mo. |
AT&T Internet Plan | Internet 1000 |
Download Speed Up To* | 1000 Mbps |
Upload Speed Up To* | 1000 Mbps |
Starting Price* | $60/mo. |
Availability
Your choice as a customer really comes down to where you live. Internet service providers have networks spread across the US, and no two ISPs offer the same coverage. Check out AT&T and EarthLink’s availability below to learn more.
AT&T
Currently, AT&T offers service in over 20 states, making it one of the largest providers in the United States. If you live in Indiana or New Jersey where their coverage is greatest, you’re likely to find and enjoy the most options. In addition, customers also get access to more than 30,000 free WiFi hotspots.
Earthlink
EarthLink serves over 35 states, making it one of the largest DSL providers in the US. It doesn’t offer any free WiFi hotspots, but it does have decent coverage in states like California, New Mexico, and Texas.
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Recap
AT&T offers more affordable internet plans. However, EarthLink offers slightly better options related to internet fees. Based on their offerings, check out which lifestyles each provider pairs best with.
Budget Shopper
If you’re shopping on a budget, AT&T offers some of the cheapest internet plans we’ve seen. AT&T plans are anywhere from $5 to $40 cheaper than EarthLink plans depending on which one you choose, and it offers 1-year and 2-year price locks.
Heavy User
Both internet service providers offer similar download speeds, yet AT&T offers faster upload speeds on its top fiber plans. If you require fast speeds to upload large files for things like remote work and content creation, we recommend choosing a plan with generous upload speeds.
Single-Person Household
While AT&T offers faster speeds on select plans, not all users need that much bandwidth. If you live in a single-person household or only occasionally use the internet for things like checking emails or browsing the web, EarthLink may be a better fit for you. Its 50 Mbps for under $50 is the perfect plan for someone with this type of lifestyle.
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