Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
EarthLink vs Homefi
EarthLink vs Homefi: the differences
| Compare |  EarthLink | Homefi ReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000Higher | 400 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000Higher | 10 to 20 |
| Price from | $24.95Lower | $50 |
| Reference plan prices | 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 | Hotspot 50GB: $50/mo, 20-35 Mbps, no contract | Hotspot Pro 800GB: $135/mo, 20-35 Mbps, no contract | Infinity 5G Unlimited: $70/mo, up to 400 Mbps, no contract |
| Exit fee terms | Early Termination Fee up to $400 if Term Plan ended early | Cancel anytime; $25 restock fee; $130-$300 recovery fee if device not returned |
| Router | Leased router $15.00 per month | Rental $10/mo plus $3.50 service fee; return router on cancel |
| Data cap (GB) | 15 to 300 | 50 to 800 |
| Mid-contract price rises | 12 months consistent rates then full-price plan | Not confirmed |
| Address checker | https://earthlink.net/internet-near-me/ | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Markets (US).
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Key differences
- EarthLink scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.4.
- Top download speed (Mbps) is higher at EarthLink: 5,000 vs 400.
- Upload speed (Mbps) is higher at EarthLink: 5,000 vs 10 to 20.
- Price from is lower at EarthLink: $24.95 vs $50.
- Technology: only EarthLink offers Fttp, Satellite.
- Technology: only Homefi offers Fwa.
Our verdict on each
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.
Homefi
Homefi suits households in US that cannot get a wired line and want broadband on rolling terms, with Infinity 5G Unlimited reaching 400 Mbps and the Hotspot plans capped at 50 to 800 GB. The catch is upload speed, the rented router, and the charges that follow if it is not returned.
Score breakdown
| Area | EarthLink | Homefi |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6HigherEntry tier at $24.95 on 1 month terms keeps commitment low, though intro pricing gives way to the full-price plan. | 8.1Entry pricing of $50 a month, and the only contract length on offer is 1 month, so nothing locks you in. |
| Offer | 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. | 8.6Capped tiers stop at 50 to 800 GB, the quickest plan reaches 400 Mbps, and support covers chat, phone and help centre. |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | EarthLink | Homefi |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000 | 400 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000 | 10 to 20 |
| Price from | $24.95 | $50 |
How they place
| Ranking | EarthLink | Homefi |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband providers | 27 of 124 | 12 of 124 |
| Broadband without a long contract | 7 of 46 | 6 of 46 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | EarthLink | Homefi |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Fttp, 5G, Satellite | 5G, Fwa |
| Contract length | 1 | 1 |
| Legal entity | EarthLink, LLC | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centre | Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | EarthLink | Homefi | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000highest quarter | 400lowest quarter | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000highest quarter | 10 to 20lowest quarter | 900 |
| Price from | $24.95below the median | $50highest quarter | $29.99 |
| Data cap (GB) | 15 to 300at the median | 50 to 800above the median | 15 |
Median across 116 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
Homefi
Pros
- The exit fee terms allow cancelling at any time, and the only contract length on offer is 1 month, so moving costs no lost term.
- Infinity 5G Unlimited is sold without a data cap, while the capped Hotspot plans stop at 50 to 800 GB.
- Support runs on chat, phone and help centre, so a problem with a rented router can be raised by phone or by chat.
Cons
- Uploads run 10 to 20 Mbps, the weak point for large backups, cloud work and frequent video calls.
- Capped tiers stop at 50 to 800 GB, so heavy streaming or big downloads can use up the allowance early in the month.
- The router is rented monthly with a separate service charge and has to go back on cancel, and the exit fee terms add a restocking fee plus a higher recovery fee based on the cost of the device.
Who each suits
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.
Homefi
Who it suits
- Households in US with no wired line available, especially renters who would rather hand a router back than own hardware.
- People who expect to move and do not want a long minimum term, since plans run 1 month.
- Families happy to choose a data allowance of 50 to 800 GB rather than pay for the uncapped plan.
Who should look elsewhere
- Households that send a lot of data from the home, who should look at Astound (cable and fttp) for a wired route.
- People who want an uncapped connection, who should look at EarthLink (fttp, 5G and satellite).
- Homes with a fibre line already in place, who should look at Abissnet (fttp).
Country by country
| Country | EarthLink | Homefi |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
Homefi
What does Homefi broadband cost a month?+
Entry pricing starts at $50 a month on the smallest Hotspot plan. The larger Hotspot plan costs more for the biggest data allowance, and Infinity 5G Unlimited sits between them with the highest speed. Every reference plan is quoted as a plain monthly figure on rolling terms, so it reads as the ongoing rate rather than a promotional one.
Is there a contract term with Homefi?+
Plans run on rolling monthly terms, and the only contract length on offer is 1 month. Nobody serves a long minimum term, which suits renters and anyone who expects to move. The monthly figure stays the same for as long as the service is in place, and the exit fee terms allow cancelling at any time.
Other options to compare
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