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Centurylink vs. Lightcurve

Whether you’re researching Centurylink vs. Lightcurve 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.

Centurylink
Price: $50.00 - $75.00 / mo.
Speed: 10 - 8,000 Mbps
Internet Type: DSL and fiber
Rating (Reviews): (163)

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Lightcurve
Price: Unavailable, please see site for details
Speed: 10 - 2,000 Mbps
Internet Type: Cable, DSL, and fiber
Rating (Reviews): (7)

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Centurylink and Lightcurve compete directly in approximately 0.84% of their service areas, with Centurylink covering 40,883,758 people nationwide and Lightcurve serving 494,463. Centurylink primarily delivers internet through a DSL connection; Lightcurve specializes in cable connections. Jump directly to specific sections using the links below, or continue reading for our comprehensive comparison of Centurylink and Lightcurve's availability, speeds, pricing, and customer satisfaction.

Jump to: Availability | Speeds | Plans & Pricing | Customer Reviews | Fees

Centurylink vs. Lightcurve | Pros & Cons

Centurylink Logo

Pros:

  • Fast upload speeds
  • Up-front month-to-month pricing
  • No contracts required
  • Fiber service available

Cons:

  • Limited plan variety
  • Limited fiber availability
  • Installation fees apply

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Lightcurve Logo

Pros:

  • Fast upload speeds
  • Well-rated for affordability
  • Multiple connection options
  • Connects multiple devices simultaneously

Cons:

  • Limited service availability
  • Limited fiber availability
  • Higher speeds require premium pricing

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Centurylink vs. Lightcurve | Availability

Centurylink and Lightcurve 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 | Lightcurve Available | No Coverage

Centurylink currently offers internet service in 5,322 cities and 572 counties across 20 states, reaching approximately 40,883,758 residents. Their service area includes major markets like Phoenix, AZ; Minneapolis, MN; and Denver, CO. By comparison, Lightcurve serves 494,463 residents in 47 cities and 6 counties in 1 state, with a presence in population centers such as Seattle, WA; Tacoma, WA; and University Place, WA.

Centurylink has particularly strong coverage nationwide, where they serve 0 cities and 0 zip codes. Their Rural Coverage Ratio of 13 indicates they focuses heavily on urban areas, with limited service available in rural communities..

Lightcurve is prominent in State with service to 0 cities and 0 zip codes. With a Rural Coverage Ratio of 11, Lightcurve focuses heavily on urban areas, with limited service available in rural communities.

Internet availability can vary significantly even within specific cities and zip codes. For the most accurate information about Centurylink and Lightcurve at your location, use our address search tool:

Centurylink vs. Lightcurve | Speeds & Technology

Centurylink and Lightcurve utilize different network technologies to deliver internet service, resulting in varying speed capabilities across their service areas.

Across their service areas, Centurylink primarily delivers internet through DSL, available to 93.9% of their customers. They also offer fiber to 18.5% of their coverage area. Lightcurve relies on cable technology, which comprises 77.9% of their network, with DSL available in 20.1% of their service locations.

In terms of potential speeds across the country, Lightcurve offers higher overall speeds, with speeds for most covered areas averaging 926 Mbps compared to Centurylink's average speed of 238 Mbps. When examining their overlapping service areas, Lightcurve delivers faster speeds in 0.54% of locations where both providers operate, similar speeds in 14.31%, and slower speeds in 85.15%.

The availability of each provider's fastest technology varies significantly by location. Centurylink's premium Fiber service reaches 18.5% of their coverage area. Meanwhile, Lightcurve's top-tier Cable is available to 77.9% of their footprint. Even within the same technology type, speed offerings can vary based on local infrastructure investments.

Centurylink vs. Lightcurve | Plans & Pricing

Below are the current internet plans and pricing details for Centurylink, sourced directly from FCC-mandated machine-readable broadband labels to ensure transparency and accuracy. Unfortunately, Lightcurve has not complied with FCC requirements to provide their broadband label data, limiting transparency and the ability for consumers to make direct comparisons.

We've included the available Centurylink plan details below to help you understand their offerings while we await Lightcurve's compliance with federal transparency requirements.

Centurylink Internet Plans & Pricing

PlanMonthly PriceTypical Download SpeedTypical Upload SpeedConnection Type
Fiber Internet 500$50.00500 Mbps500 MbpsFiber
Simply Unlimited Internet$55.00100 Mbps20 MbpsDSL
Fiber Gigabit$75.00940 Mbps940​ MbpsFiber

Note: These provider-reported typical speeds reflect plan-specific expectations, while speed metrics elsewhere on our site measure maximum available performance across areas.

Centurylink Plans

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. Lightcurve | Customer Ratings & Reviews

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

When comparing customer satisfaction, Centurylink earns an overall rating of 3.31 / 5 stars from 163 customer reviews, while Lightcurve maintains a 3.57 / 5 rating from 7 reviews. Lightcurve outperforms Centurylink by 0.26 points in overall satisfaction. Centurylink's best-rated service is their fiber offering at 3.84 / 5 stars, compared to Lightcurve's highest-rated service, fiber, at 5.00 / 5 stars.

Centurylink Ratings & Reviews

Connection

Customer Rating

Fiber

Fiber: 3.84 of 5 stars

58

Cable

Cable: 3.00 of 5 stars

5

DSL

DSL: 3.01 of 5 stars

90

Fixed Wireless

Fixed Wireless: 2.75 of 5 stars

4

Centurylink has an overall rating of 3.31 out of 5, with a total of 163 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 (55% of reviews) averages 3.01 / 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.

Lightcurve Ratings & Reviews

Connection

Customer Rating

Fiber

Fiber: 5.00 of 5 stars

1

Cable

Cable: 3.33 of 5 stars

6

Lightcurve has an overall rating of 3.57 out of 5, with a total of 7 reviews and ratings across the United States. Their overall satisfaction score places them slightly higher than other internet providers nationwide.

Looking deeper into Lightcurve's ratings, their cable service (86% of reviews) averages 3.33 / 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 Lightcurve Internet Reviews page.

Centurylink vs. Lightcurve | Fees & 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.

Lightcurve 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 Lightcurve directly or reviewing their terms of service documentation.

Centurylink Service

Fee

Facility Relocation (CTL) Fee

Up to $1.50

Modem lease (optional)

$15-17

Lightcurve Service

Fee

Not Provided by Lightcurve

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. Lightcurve | Top Cities

Centurylink serves 5,322 cities while Lightcurve is available in 47 cities nationwide. The tables below highlight their largest markets and areas where customers can choose between both providers.

Centurylink Cities

Phoenix, AZ
  • Availability: 92.50%
  • Avg. Download Speed: 218 Mbps
Minneapolis, MN
  • Availability: 79.41%
  • Avg. Download Speed: 329 Mbps
Denver, CO
  • Availability: 95.57%
  • Avg. Download Speed: 420 Mbps
Seattle, WA
  • Availability: 62.48%
  • Avg. Download Speed: 429 Mbps
Las Vegas, NV
  • Availability: 93.41%
  • Avg. Download Speed: 299 Mbps

Overlapping Cities

Seattle, WA
  • Centurylink Avg. Speed: 429 Mbps
  • Lightcurve Avg. Speed: 1,094 Mbps
Tacoma, WA
  • Centurylink Avg. Speed: 514 Mbps
  • Lightcurve Avg. Speed: 1,177 Mbps
University Place, WA
  • Centurylink Avg. Speed: 233 Mbps
  • Lightcurve Avg. Speed: 1,000 Mbps
South Hill, WA
  • Centurylink Avg. Speed: 173 Mbps
  • Lightcurve Avg. Speed: 1,000 Mbps
Lakewood, WA
  • Centurylink Avg. Speed: 378 Mbps
  • Lightcurve Avg. Speed: 1,000 Mbps

Lightcurve Cities

Seattle, WA
  • Availability: 9.98%
  • Avg. Download Speed: 1,080 Mbps
Tacoma, WA
  • Availability: 90.92%
  • Avg. Download Speed: 1,173 Mbps
University Place, WA
  • Availability: 95.87%
  • Avg. Download Speed: 1,000 Mbps
South Hill, WA
  • Availability: 37.97%
  • Avg. Download Speed: 1,000 Mbps
Yelm, WA
  • Availability: 99.52%
  • Avg. Download Speed: 241 Mbps