EarthLink vs AT&T Internet Plans & Fees 2021

Interested in swapping internet providers, but don’t know whether to do 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.

EarthLink

• Best internet protection
• Unlimited data included
• No credit checks

Check Availability

AT&T

• Variety of plans
• Wide availability
• Fiber internet speeds

Check Availability

Overview

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 does 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 HyperLink^TM 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 EarthLink area.

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.

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.

We recommend entering your zip code below to know for sure what’s available near you.

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 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.

To shop internet providers near you, enter your zip code below.