Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
EarthLink vs Optimum
EarthLink vs Optimum: the differences
| Compare |  EarthLink | Optimum ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000 | 8,000Higher |
| Price from | $24.95Lower | $30 |
| 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 | 300 Mbps Internet: $30/mo, 300 Mbps, no contract; 500 Mbps Internet: $40/mo, 500 Mbps, no contract; 8 Gig Fiber Internet: $90/mo, 8000 Mbps, no contract |
| Mid-contract price rises | 12 months consistent rates then full-price plan | Price increases after promo period ends |
| Exit fee terms | Early Termination Fee up to $400 if Term Plan ended early | No contracts - cancel without early termination fees |
| Router | Leased router $15.00 per month | Rent up to $14/mo unless you opt out |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000 | Not confirmed |
| Setup fee | Not confirmed | $150 |
| Data cap (GB) | 15 to 300 | 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 9.3.
- Top download speed (Mbps) is higher at Optimum: 8,000 vs 5,000.
- Price from is lower at EarthLink: $24.95 vs $30.
- Technology: only EarthLink offers 5G, Satellite.
- Technology: only Optimum offers Cable.
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.
Optimum
Optimum suits US households that want a fast line with no contract attached, and its top plan reaches 8,000 Mbps. What you weigh is the joining cost: a setup fee of $150 and a router that is rented unless you opt out.
Score breakdown
| Area | EarthLink | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6HigherEntry tier at $24.95 on 1 month terms keeps commitment low, though intro pricing gives way to the full-price plan. | 8.6Entry price of $30 looks fair, but Price increases after promo period ends and a $150 setup fee weigh on the total. |
| Offer | 9.4Speeds of 5,000 Mbps down and 5,000 Mbps up across fttp, 5G and satellite, with satellite data caps of 15 to 300 GB. | 9.8HigherSpeeds of 8,000 Mbps on terms of 1 month, with both cable and fibre available. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.8A US operator trading since 1996 under Optimum Communications, Inc., with US as its market. |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | EarthLink | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband providers | 27 of 124 | 36 of 124 |
| Full fibre providers | 14 of 107 | 23 of 107 |
| Broadband without a long contract | 7 of 46 | 15 of 46 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | EarthLink | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Available in 1 country for both.
Pick EarthLink if, pick Optimum if
Pick EarthLink if cost and price from matter most.
Pick Optimum if offer and top download speed (mbps) matter most.
What we checked
EarthLink
- earthlink.net: 15 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Optimum
- highspeedinternet.com: 5 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 4 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- allconnect.com: 3 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- broadbandnow.com: 1 fact, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | EarthLink | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Fttp, 5G, Satellite | Cable, Fttp |
| Contract length | 1 | 1 |
| Legal entity | EarthLink, LLC | Optimum Communications, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1996 |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | EarthLink | Optimum | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000highest quarter | 8,000highest quarter | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000highest quarter | Not confirmed | 900 |
| Price from | $24.95below the median | $30above the median | $29.99 |
| Setup fee | Not confirmed | $150highest quarter | $0 |
| Data cap (GB) | 15 to 300at the median | Not confirmed | 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.
Optimum
Pros
- No contract: No contracts - cancel without early termination fees, so moving or switching does not cost an early termination charge.
- Top-end speed: 8,000 Mbps, well above Astound at 5,000 Mbps.
- Choice of line type: cable and fttp, so cable and fibre both come from one provider.
Cons
- Setup fee of $150 ranks 86 out of 86 on the site's setup fee table, the expensive end of that list.
- Rent up to $14/mo unless you opt out adds a monthly equipment cost unless you opt out and bring your own kit.
- Renewal risk: Price increases after promo period ends, so the figure you pay after the promo period can sit above the $30 entry price.
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.
Optimum
Who it suits
- Households that want a very fast line but no long commitment, and would otherwise settle for Astound at 5,000 Mbps.
- People likely to move or switch provider often, since No contracts - cancel without early termination fees keeps leaving cheap.
- US households that want one provider for both cable and fibre lines: cable and fttp.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers outside US, who can compare EarthLink instead for fttp, 5G and satellite and a wider choice of ways to connect.
- Fibre-only buyers, who may prefer Abissnet running fttp across its footprint.
- Shoppers who want no joining bill, since the $150 setup fee ranks 86 out of 86 and Astound's terms are worth checking first.
Country by country
| Country | EarthLink | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Optimum
What does Optimum cost to get started?+
The entry price is $30 a month, the cheapest plan on the list. Installation is a separate setup fee of $150. Budget for both in the first month, because the setup cost does not appear in the monthly price and it sits at the expensive end of the site's setup fee table.
Do I have to sign a contract with Optimum?+
Contract terms apply: No contracts - cancel without early termination fees. Plan terms are listed as 1 month, so the commitment is measured in months rather than years. That makes Optimum a straightforward option if you expect to move home, since leaving does not trigger an early termination charge.
Other options to compare
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