CenturyLink vs. Always ON

Which is better where you live? Coverage, speed, price and customer ratings, side by side

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Whether you’re researching CenturyLink vs. Always ON internet service at your current address, comparing internet options for potential locations, or just researching alternatives, this detailed comparison will help you understand which provider best suits you.

Maintained by:Carson WardData & methodology:Wes WardLast updated:October 24, 2026November 4, 2026

Which is better, CenturyLink or Always ON?

CenturyLink is faster and available to more people. Where both are offered (about 80,413 people), CenturyLink has the faster top speed for 57% of homes.

FasterCenturyLinkTop speed 8,000 Mbps vs 100 Mbps; faster for 57% of homes where both are offered.

Cheaper to startToo close to callWe do not list plans for both yet.

Better ratedToo close to callToo few reviews to compare yet (181 and 0).

Available to more peopleCenturyLink39.8 million people in 20 states, vs 83,520 in 1 state.

CenturyLink

Price: $55.00 - $75.00 / mo.
Speed: 10 - 8,000 Mbps
Internet Type: DSL and fiber
Rating (Reviews): (183)
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Always ON

Price: Unavailable, please see site for details
Speed: 100 Mbps
Internet Type: Fixed wireless
Rating (Reviews): (0)
View Plans

CenturyLink vs. Always ON at a glance

Measure	CenturyLink	Always ON
Available to	39.8 million people in 20 states	83,520 people in 1 state
Main technology	DSL 96%, fiber 19%	Fixed wireless 100%
Top download speed filed with the FCC	8,000 Mbps	100 Mbps
Fastest plan we list	940 Mbps down, 940 Mbps up	Not listed
Starting price	$55 a month	Not listed
Cheapest plan, first 2 years	$1,320 (100 Mbps plan)	Not listed
Customer rating	3.2 of 5 (181 reviews)	No reviews yet
Rated for speed	3.2 of 5	No reviews yet
Rated for price	3.4 of 5	No reviews yet
Where both are offered	About 80,413 people (96% of Always ON's area); CenturyLink is faster for 57% of them, the same top speed for 37%

Coverage and top speeds: FCC filings; plans and prices: our pricing table; ratings: verified customer reviews on ISP Reports. Check your address for what is offered at your home.

Where CenturyLink and Always ON are available

CenturyLink and Always ON have distinct coverage footprints across the United States. Our interactive map shows exactly where each provider offers service and where they overlap, helping you understand your options.

Both Providers Available | CenturyLink Available | Always ON Available | No Coverage

CenturyLink currently offers internet service in 5,326 cities and 574 counties across 20 states, reaching approximately 40,620,740 residents. Their service area includes major markets like Phoenix, AZ; Minneapolis, MN; and Denver, CO.

Each provider’s own page has its full coverage map, county by county: CenturyLink coverage map and Always ON coverage map.

Availability changes from one street to the next. Check your address to see whether CenturyLink, Always ON or both are offered at your home.

CenturyLink vs. Always ON Speeds and Technology

CenturyLink and Always ON utilize different network technologies to deliver internet service, resulting in varying speed capabilities across their service areas.

In terms of potential speeds across the country, CenturyLink offers higher overall speeds, with speeds for most covered areas averaging 237 Mbps compared to Always ON’s average speed of 100 Mbps.

The availability of each provider’s fastest technology varies significantly by location. CenturyLink’s premium Fiber service reaches 18.1% of their coverage area. Meanwhile, Always ON’s top-tier fixed wireless is available to 100.0% of their footprint. Even within the same technology type, speed offerings can vary based on local infrastructure investments.

CenturyLink vs. Always ON Plans and Prices

Below are the current internet plans and pricing details for CenturyLink, drawn from our independently maintained pricing database. The source and verification date for each provider's plans are noted beneath the table. Unfortunately, Always ON has not complied with FCC requirements to provide their broadband label data, limiting transparency and the ability for consumers to make direct comparisons.

If you represent Always ON, getting listed is simple: publish your machine-readable broadband label file, or send your current plan lineup through our contact page, and your plans will appear here shortly after verification.

CenturyLink Internet Plans & Pricing

Plan	Monthly Price	Typical Download Speed	Typical Upload Speed	Connection Type
Simply Unlimited Internet	$55.00	100 Mbps	Not listed	DSL
Fiber Internet	$75.00	940 Mbps	940 Mbps	Fiber

Sourced from pricing published on CenturyLink's official website, last verified June 2026. These provider-reported typical speeds reflect plan-specific expectations, while speed metrics elsewhere on our site measure maximum available performance across areas. Pricing is subject to change and may not be available in all areas.

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Most households with 3-5 users need download speeds of at least 100 Mbps for smooth streaming, video conferencing, and everyday internet usage. Larger households or those with heavy users (gamers, 4K streamers, or remote workers) should consider plans with speeds of 300 Mbps or more for optimal performance.

Any prices listed are the base service rates and may not include additional charges such as equipment fees, installation costs, or other service-related expenses. For a comprehensive view of all potential charges, refer to our Fees & Details section below.

CenturyLink vs. Always ON Customer Ratings and Reviews

Compare how real customers rate CenturyLink and Always ON based on our comprehensive database of verified customer reviews across all service types.

CenturyLink Ratings & Reviews

Connection

Customer Rating

Fiber

(62)

DSL

(120)

CenturyLink has an overall rating of 3.23 out of 5, with a total of 183 reviews and ratings across the United States. Their overall satisfaction score places them about on par with other internet providers nationwide.

Looking deeper into CenturyLink’s ratings, their DSL service (66% of reviews) averages 2.95 / 5 stars, higher than their overall company rating. This similarity suggests that customers tend to have consistent experiences across their different service offerings, an important consideration for customers evaluating different service options from this provider.

For detailed reviews, visit our CenturyLink Internet Reviews page.

CenturyLink vs. Always ON Fees and Details

Beyond advertised monthly rates, additional fees and service details significantly impact your total internet costs. The tables below outline equipment charges, installation fees, contract terms, data caps, and other important factors to consider when comparing these providers. Understanding these details helps you avoid unexpected costs and choose the plan that offers the best overall value.

Always ON has not provided standardized fee information through their FCC broadband label data. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to assess their true service costs beyond advertised rates. For current fee information, we recommend contacting Always ON directly or reviewing their terms of service documentation.

CenturyLink Service

Fee

Not Provided by CenturyLink

Always ON Service

Fee

Not Provided by Always ON

Fees vary by plan and location. The fees shown apply to most plans; check with the provider for costs specific to your plan.

When comparing internet providers, remember that advertised prices rarely tell the complete story. Equipment fees alone can add $10-15 per month to your bill, while installation charges, early termination fees, and data overage penalties can significantly increase your total cost of service. Consider these additional costs alongside monthly rates when determining which provider offers the better value for your specific needs.

CenturyLink vs. Always ON Pros and Cons

CenturyLink

From 99 written customer reviews on ISP Reports and our plan data.

Pros

Good value: praised in 30 of 99 written reviews (8 call it overpriced). "I find the price is good compared to other options"
No contract hassles: praised in 5 of 99 written reviews. "on no contract deal"

Cons

Slower than promised: a complaint in 40 of 99 written reviews (22 call it fast). "slow speed, probably throttled"
Outages and drops: a complaint in 39 of 99 written reviews (25 call it reliable). "we had an internet outage"
Poor customer service: a complaint in 24 of 99 written reviews (9 praise the service). "Century Link customer service is terrible"

Always ON

No written reviews yet; these lines come from our data.

Pros

Cons

CenturyLink vs. Always ON Top Cities

CenturyLink serves 5,326 cities while Always ON is available in 14 cities nationwide. The tables below highlight their largest markets and areas where customers can choose between both providers.