CenturyLink vs. Astound Broadband: Which Internet Provider Is Best for You?
We compare two major internet providers on price, contracts, and extra perks.
HighSpeedteck.com uses our proprietary data and expert insights to compare these internet service titans.
Best for variety

Type of service | DSL, Fiber |
Download speeds | 12–100 Mbps (DSL), 1,000 Mbps (Fiber) |
Price | $50.00–$65.00 per month |
Equipment fees | $9.99 per month |
Installation fee | $15.00–$99.00 |
Data caps | None |
Customer satisfaction | 3.5/5 |
Best for inexpensive fiber

Type of service | Cable |
Download speeds | 100–1,000 Mbps |
Price | $14.99–$49.99 per month |
Equipment fees | $4.95–$19.95 per month |
Installation fee | Varies |
Data caps | None |
Customer satisfaction | 3.7/5 |
*Pricing and speeds are current as of 9/19/17. Pricing and speeds are subject to change. Not all offers are available in all areas
Choose CenturyLink 1-Gig for the fastest internet speed. Get the 1-Gig plan if it’s available in your area. Cable and DSL just can’t beat the speed that fiber-based internet can provide.
Choose CenturyLink High-Speed Internet for easy installation and setup. CenturyLink High-Speed Internet may not offer the highest internet speed, but it does provide a quality installation and setup experience. Select this service if you want to set up your internet and Wi-Fi quickly and easily.
Choose Astound Broadband for reliability. Astound Broadband’s cable internet provides fast, reliable speed. Like all other cable internet providers, Astound Broadband uses fiber for its network backbone, but your home connection relies on the same lines used for cable TV. Astound Broadband is ideal if you can’t get fiber but you want speeds faster than DSL.
Find and compare CenturyLink and Astound Broadband plans in your area:

Pros:
- No data caps
- Fiber Gigabit plan
- No contracts
Cons:
- Inconsistent DSL speeds for same price
- Limited fiber availability

Pros:
- Excellent speeds
- Wide availability
- Cheap deals
Cons:
- Annual contracts
- Limited availability on fastest plans
Coverage area
CenturyLink serves many states, far eclipsing Astound Broadband’s coverage. To see which ISPs offer service in your local community, visit each provider’s availability map.
Deals and promotions: CenturyLink vs. Astound Broadband Powered by RCN
Bundling options
Most ISPs provide bundling options, and CenturyLink and Astound Broadband are no exceptions. Both providers offer bundles that include internet, telephone, and television.
Equipment
CenturyLink
CenturyLink offers customers a couple of modem-routers, with the product choice ultimately determined by service plan. CenturyLink generally relies on four brands: Actiontec, ZyXEL, Technicolor, and Westell. Customers can use their own modems and routers, too, as long as they’re compatible with CenturyLink’s network.
Learn to install your CenturyLink equipment here.
Astound Broadband
Astound Broadband provides four products, each featuring a monthly rental fee. The product customers receive depends upon the plan purchased. For example, its higher-speed plans require either a DOCSIS 3.0 or DOCSIS 3.1 modem and Wi-Fi router, and those devices can come in at $14.95 per month and higher.
Learn to install your Astound Broadband equipment here.