Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
EarthLink vs Kinetic
What sets them apart
| Compare |  EarthLink |  Kinetic |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000Higher | 2,000 |
| Price from | $24.95 | $19.99Lower |
| 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 | Fiber 100 Mbps: $19.99/mo, 100 Mbps, no contract; Fiber 1 Gig: $39.99/mo, 1000 Mbps, no contract; Fiber Max 2 Gig: $79.99/mo, 2000 Mbps, no contract |
| Mid-contract price rises | 12 months consistent rates then full-price plan | After Guarantee Period, relocation, change or suspension, rates subject to change |
| Exit fee terms | Early Termination Fee up to $400 if Term Plan ended early | No termination fee on cancel |
| Router | Leased router $15.00 per month | eero Pro 7 Wi-Fi 7 gateway |
| Address checker | https://earthlink.net/internet-near-me/ | https://www.gokinetic.com/locations |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000 | Not confirmed |
| Setup fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Data cap (GB) | 15 to 300 | Not confirmed |
| Static IP | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Premises covered | Not confirmed | 1,900,000 |
Same on both: Markets (US).
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Key differences
- EarthLink scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.4.
- Top download speed (Mbps) is higher at EarthLink: 5,000 vs 2,000.
- Price from is lower at Kinetic: $19.99 vs $24.95.
- Support channels: only Kinetic offers Email.
- Technology: only EarthLink offers 5G, Satellite.
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.
Kinetic
Kinetic is a low-cost, month-to-month US fibre provider for households that want steady speeds without a long contract or an upfront charge. Entry pricing of $19.99 a month and a setup fee of $0 make it a strong pick, though the ceiling of 2,000 Mbps is modest for the busiest homes.
Score breakdown
| Area | EarthLink | Kinetic |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6Entry tier at $24.95 on 1 month terms keeps commitment low, though intro pricing gives way to the full-price plan. | 9.6Entry pricing of $19.99 a month, month to month terms, and a 13 place of 95 on price. |
| 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. | 9.2Fibre to 2,000 Mbps, static IP available, and month to month terms on a Wi-Fi router. |
Which one suits you
Pick EarthLink if top download speed (mbps) matter most.
Pick Kinetic if price from matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | EarthLink | Kinetic |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband providers | 27 of 124 | 28 of 124 |
| Full fibre providers | 14 of 107 | 15 of 107 |
| Broadband without a long contract | 7 of 46 | 8 of 46 |
What we checked
EarthLink
- earthlink.net: 15 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Kinetic
- gokinetic.com: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | EarthLink | Kinetic |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Fttp, 5G, SatelliteCovers more | Fttp |
| Contract length | 1 | 1 |
| Legal entity | EarthLink, LLC | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | EarthLink | Kinetic | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000highest quarter | 2,000above the median | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000highest quarter | Not confirmed | 900 |
| Price from | $24.95below the median | $19.99lowest quarter | $29.99 |
| Setup fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Data cap (GB) | 15 to 300at the median | Not confirmed | 15 |
| Premises covered | Not confirmed | 1,900,000above the median | 1,700,000 |
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.
Kinetic
Pros
- Entry pricing of $19.99 a month puts full fibre within reach of tighter household budgets.
- The setup fee is $0, and Kinetic places 1 of 86 on that measure, so nothing is added at the point of order.
- Plans run on 1 month and No termination fee on cancel, so leaving is low friction.
Cons
- The top speed of 2,000 Mbps is well below the 10,000 Mbps listed by Abissnet, which matters for very heavy multi-user homes.
- Rates are subject to change after the guarantee period, and after a relocation, change or suspension, so the $19.99 entry rate is not fixed for the life of the account.
- Service runs in US only, so households elsewhere cannot buy at all.
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.
Kinetic
Who it suits
- Renters and short-stay households, since plans run on 1 month and No termination fee on cancel means little to unwind.
- Budget-first families who want fibre, with entry pricing at $19.99 and a setup fee of $0.
- Home workers who need a fixed address, as static IP is available on Kinetic lines.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone chasing the highest headline speeds: Abissnet lists 10,000 Mbps against Kinetic's 2,000 Mbps.
- Households outside US, where EarthLink's fttp, 5G and satellite options are worth a look.
- People who want cable as well as fibre, since Astound lists cable and fttp.
Country by country
| Country | EarthLink | Kinetic |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Kinetic
How much does Kinetic broadband cost?+
Kinetic's fibre line starts at $19.99 a month on the entry plan, with faster tiers priced above it and no joining charge, since the setup fee is $0. The published figure is the standing monthly rate for the plan rather than a limited introductory offer that later resets higher.
Is there a contract and a cancellation fee?+
Plans run on 1 month, so there is no long minimum term to serve out before moving. Cancelling is correspondingly simple: No termination fee on cancel. That combination makes Kinetic one of the easier providers to leave if the price or the speed stops matching what a household needs.
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