Updated October 17, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Budget Energie vs EarthLink
Where Budget Energie and EarthLink differ
| Compare |  Budget Energie |  EarthLink |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 1,000 | 5,000Higher |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 1,000 | 5,000Higher |
| Price from | €3.75 | $24.95 |
| Reference plan prices | 3GB: EUR 3.75 per month, 3GB, 24 months; 30GB: EUR 5.25 per month, 30GB, 24 months; Unlimited: EUR 10 per month, unlimited, 24 months | Fiber 100 Mbps: $24.95/mo, 100 Mbps, month-to-month / Fiber 1 Gig: price by address, 1000 Mbps, month-to-month / Fiber 5 Gigs: price by address, 5000 Mbps, month-to-month |
| Exit fee terms | 1 month notice; early termination costs charged on final bill | Early Termination Fee up to $400 if Term Plan ended early |
| Router | Nokia Beacon G3.1 or Draytek Vigor | Leased router $15.00 per month |
| Address checker | https://www.budgetthuis.nl/internet | https://earthlink.net/internet-near-me/ |
| Markets | NL | US |
| Setup fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Mid-contract price rises | Not confirmed | 12 months consistent rates then full-price plan |
| Data cap (GB) | Not confirmed | 15 to 300 |
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Key differences
- EarthLink scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.0.
- Top download speed (Mbps) is higher at EarthLink: 5,000 vs 1,000.
- Upload speed (Mbps) is higher at EarthLink: 5,000 vs 1,000.
- Support channels: only Budget Energie offers Email.
- Technology: only Budget Energie offers Fttc.
- Technology: only EarthLink offers 5G, Satellite.
- Contract length: only Budget Energie offers 12, 24.
- Contract length: only EarthLink offers 1.
- Markets: only Budget Energie offers NL.
- Markets: only EarthLink offers US.
Our verdict on each
Budget Energie
Budget Energie suits Dutch households that want electricity and gas from a single supplier and want to choose how the price moves. Its green tariff is backed by 100% renewable certificates, and the business has grown to 1,000,000 customers since it was founded in 2011.
EarthLink
EarthLink suits US households that want symmetrical fibre with no long minimum term, with upload speeds of 5,000 Mbps and plans listed at 1 month. The catch is what sits around the plan: Leased router $15.00 per month, plus data caps of 15 to 300 GB on the satellite tiers.
Score breakdown
| Area | Budget Energie | EarthLink |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.6Entry tier at $24.95 on 1 month terms keeps commitment low, though intro pricing gives way to the full-price plan. |
| Offer | 9.3fixed, variable and dynamic all available, electricity and gas on one account, fixed terms 12 and 36 months. | 9.4HigherSpeeds of 5,000 Mbps down and 5,000 Mbps up across fttp, 5G and satellite, with satellite data caps of 15 to 300 GB. |
| Trust | 8.4Registered in NL as Budget Thuis B.V., trading since 2011, with support on email, chat and phone. | Not confirmed |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | Budget Energie | EarthLink |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 1,000 | 5,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 1,000 | 5,000 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Budget Energie | EarthLink |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband providers | 5 of 124 | 27 of 124 |
| Full fibre providers | 4 of 107 | 14 of 107 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Budget Energie | EarthLink |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Netherlands | United States |
Additional countries for Budget Energie: 1. Additional countries for EarthLink: 1.
If neither fits
YouFibre has top download speed (mbps) at 8,000, against 1,000 for Budget Energie and 5,000 for EarthLink.
YouFibre reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Budget Energie | EarthLink |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Fttp, Fttc | Fttp, 5G, Satellite |
| Contract length | 12, 24 | 1 |
| Legal entity | Budget Thuis B.V. | EarthLink, LLC |
| Headquarters | Netherlands | United States |
| Founded | 2011 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Mobile plans
| Fact | Budget Energie | EarthLink |
|---|---|---|
| Seller type | Mvno | Not confirmed |
| Host network | KPN | Not confirmed |
| SIM-only | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Billing | Contract | Not confirmed |
| Unlimited plan price | €10 | Not confirmed |
| 5G | Yes | Not confirmed |
| EU roaming | Fair use | Not confirmed |
| Roaming countries | 43 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Budget Energie | EarthLink | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 1,000at the median | 5,000highest quarter | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 1,000above the median | 5,000highest quarter | 900 |
| Setup fee | €0below the median | Not confirmed | €27 |
| Data cap (GB) | Not confirmed | 15 to 300at the median | 15 |
Median across 116 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Budget Energie
Pros
- Tariff choice runs wide, with fixed, variable and dynamic under a single name.
- Green power is 100% renewable, backed by certificates.
- Fixed terms run 12 and 36 months, so there is a date to plan around.
Cons
- The exit fee terms ask for notice, and early termination costs land on the final bill.
- Service is limited to NL, so it is not an option for a household outside the Netherlands.
- Electricity Ratings lists fixed, ev and time of use, adding electric vehicle and prepay tariffs that sit outside fixed, variable and dynamic.
EarthLink
Pros
- Upload of 5,000 Mbps matches download of 5,000 Mbps, and that pairing ranks 7 out of 46 compared brands.
- Rolling terms at 1 month mean little to serve out if you move home, unlike a fixed minimum term.
- The entry fibre tier sits at $24.95 a month on month-to-month terms, with the gigabit tiers priced by address.
Cons
- Hardware is a recurring extra: Leased router $15.00 per month sits on top of the plan price every month.
- The entry rate is introductory only: 12 months consistent rates then full-price plan.
- Satellite tiers are metered, with data limits of 15 to 300 GB for heavier users to watch.
Who each suits
Budget Energie
Who it suits
- Households that want power and gas under a single contract instead of juggling separate suppliers.
- Households that want a spread of tariff types, since Budget Energie lists fixed, variable and dynamic.
- People who prefer a phone line and chat to a single contact route, and who want dynamic and green options rather than the fixed, time of use and ev list at Endesa.
Who should look elsewhere
- Electricity Ratings, if you need an electric vehicle or prepay tariff, since fixed, ev and time of use runs wider than fixed, variable and dynamic.
- Endesa, if you only want fixed, time-of-use or electric vehicle pricing, because Endesa lists fixed, time of use and ev.
EarthLink
Who it suits
- Households in US on fibre who send large files, back up to the cloud or run video calls upstream.
- People who prefer short commitments, with plans listed at 1 month.
- Remote workers and creators who judge a connection on upload, since 5,000 Mbps upstream matches the download figure.
Who should look elsewhere
- Astound, if cable alongside fibre matters, since Astound lists cable and fttp while EarthLink's list is fttp, 5G and satellite.
- Kinetic, if you want a straightforward fibre-only supplier, since Kinetic lists fttp.
- Abissnet, if a single-technology provider suits you better, since Abissnet lists fttp and EarthLink carries a wider fttp, 5G and satellite range.
Country by country
| Country | Budget Energie | EarthLink |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Budget Energie
What tariff types does Budget Energie offer?+
Budget Energie sells fixed, variable and dynamic tariffs, so a household can choose between a price that holds for a set term and one that follows the market, plus a dynamic option and a green option. The spread means you can start on a fixed deal and change type at renewal without moving supplier, and it keeps the door open if your usage pattern changes.
How long are the fixed terms?+
Fixed terms run 12 and 36 months, which gives you a date to plan around. Take the shorter term if you expect prices to move your way and want the chance to switch sooner; take the longer term if you would rather not revisit the decision each year. The variable and dynamic tariffs carry no fixed end date.
EarthLink
How much does EarthLink broadband cost at the entry price?+
The entry fibre tier is $24.95 a month on month-to-month terms. The gigabit and multi-gigabit tiers above it are priced by address, so what you actually pay depends on the fibre available at your street. Get a quote for your address before putting it against other offers.
Does the entry price stay the same after the introductory period?+
Not necessarily. The published rate is introductory: 12 months consistent rates then full-price plan. The figure you sign up on is therefore not the figure you keep, and the full-price plan rate takes over once the consistent-rate period ends. Budget for a higher monthly amount beyond that point.
Other options to compare
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