Which is better, CenturyLink or Highland Telephone Cooperative?

Highland Telephone Cooperative is better rated where you can get it, but CenturyLink reaches 590 times as many people, so at most addresses CenturyLink is the one on offer (and it is faster). They do not serve the same areas, so you will not usually choose between them.

FasterCenturyLinkTop speed 8,000 Mbps vs 1,000 Mbps.

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

Better ratedHighland Telephone Cooperative4.4 of 5 from 5 reviews, vs 3.2 from 181.

Available to more peopleCenturyLink39.8 million people in 20 states, vs 67,411 in 3 states.

CenturyLink
Price: $55.00 - $75.00 / mo.
Speed: 10 - 8,000 Mbps
Internet Type: DSL and fiber
Rating (Reviews): (183)
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Highland Telephone Cooperative
Price: Unavailable, please see site for details
Speed: 1,000 Mbps
Internet Type: Fiber and DSL
Rating (Reviews): (5)
View Plans

CenturyLink vs. Highland Telephone Cooperative at a glance

Measure	CenturyLink	Highland Telephone Cooperative
Available to	39.8 million people in 20 states	67,411 people in 3 states
Main technology	DSL 96%, fiber 19%	Fiber 100%
Top download speed filed with the FCC	8,000 Mbps	1,000 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)	4.4 of 5 (5 reviews)
Rated for speed	3.2 of 5	4.2 of 5
Rated for price	3.4 of 5	3.8 of 5

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 Highland Telephone Cooperative are available

CenturyLink and Highland Telephone Cooperative 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.

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. By comparison, Highland Telephone Cooperative serves 67,411 residents in 97 cities and 10 counties in 3 states, with a presence in population centers such as Knoxville, TN; Oneida, TN; and Wartburg, TN.

Each provider’s own page has its full coverage map, county by county: CenturyLink coverage map and Highland Telephone Cooperative coverage map.

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

CenturyLink vs. Highland Telephone Cooperative Speeds and Technology

CenturyLink and Highland Telephone Cooperative 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, Highland Telephone Cooperative offers higher overall speeds, with speeds for most covered areas averaging 1,000 Mbps compared to CenturyLink’s average speed of 237 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, Highland Telephone Cooperative’s top-tier Fiber 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. Highland Telephone Cooperative 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, Highland Telephone Cooperative 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 Highland Telephone Cooperative, 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.

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. Highland Telephone Cooperative Customer Ratings and Reviews

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

When comparing customer satisfaction, CenturyLink earns an overall rating of 3.23 / 5 stars from 183 customer reviews, while Highland Telephone Cooperative maintains a 4.40 / 5 rating from 5 reviews. Highland Telephone Cooperative outperforms CenturyLink by 1.2 points in overall satisfaction. CenturyLink’s best-rated service is their Fiber offering at 3.81 / 5 stars, compared to Highland Telephone Cooperative’s highest-rated service, Fiber, at 4.40 / 5 stars.

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. Highland Telephone Cooperative 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"

Highland Telephone Cooperative

Too few written reviews to sum up yet (3); these lines come from our data.

Pros

• Mostly fiber: 100% of the homes it serves, vs 19% for CenturyLink.
• Rated higher by customers: 4.4 vs 3.2 out of 5.

Cons

• Data caps on some plans.

CenturyLink vs. Highland Telephone Cooperative Top Cities

CenturyLink serves 5,326 cities while Highland Telephone Cooperative is available in 97 cities nationwide. The tables below highlight their largest markets and areas where customers can choose between both providers.