Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
EarthLink vs RED by SFR
EarthLink vs RED by SFR: the differences
| Compare |  EarthLink |  RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000Higher | 2,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000Higher | 1,000 |
| Price from | $24.95 | €1.99 |
| 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 | 1Go: 1.99EUR per month, 1GB, no commitment; 120Go 5G: 12.99EUR per month, 120GB, no commitment; 250Go 5G Voyage: 15.99EUR per month, 250GB, no commitment |
| Exit fee terms | Early Termination Fee up to $400 if Term Plan ended early | Termination fee 59 EUR fibre/THD, 29 EUR Box 5G |
| Router | Leased router $15.00 per month | SFR Box 7, SFR Box 8 option, Box 5G |
| Address checker | https://earthlink.net/internet-near-me/ | https://www.red-by-sfr.fr/offres-internet/eligibilite-fibre-adsl-vdsl/ |
| Markets | US | FR |
| Setup fee | Not confirmed | €0 to €29 |
| Mid-contract price rises | 12 months consistent rates then full-price plan | Not confirmed |
| Data cap (GB) | 15 to 300 | Not confirmed |
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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.
- Upload speed (Mbps) is higher at EarthLink: 5,000 vs 1,000.
- Support channels: only RED by SFR offers Community.
- Technology: only EarthLink offers Satellite.
- Technology: only RED by SFR offers Cable.
- Markets: only EarthLink offers US.
- Markets: only RED by SFR offers FR.
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.
RED by SFR
RED by SFR suits readers in FR who want a sim only plan on 1 month terms with rolling billing and no commitment. Data does not roll over and EU roaming runs on fair use terms, so the low entry price fits light users and short stays rather than heavy data habits.
Score breakdown
| Area | EarthLink | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6Entry tier at $24.95 on 1 month terms keeps commitment low, though intro pricing gives way to the full-price plan. | 9.8HigherEntry price of €1.99 a month sits well under the site median of €9.30, and it ranks 32 of 258 brands on entry 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. | 9.1Each plan carries 5G, an eSIM and hotspot sharing, with the larger allowances aimed at streaming, plus roaming in 137 countries. |
What we checked
EarthLink
- earthlink.net: 15 facts, checked September 30, 2026
RED by SFR
- red-by-sfr.fr: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | EarthLink | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband providers | 27 of 124 | 29 of 124 |
| Full fibre providers | 14 of 107 | 17 of 107 |
| Broadband without a long contract | 7 of 46 | 10 of 46 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | EarthLink | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Fttp, 5G, Satellite | Fttp, Cable, 5G |
| Contract length | 1 | 1 |
| Legal entity | EarthLink, LLC | SOCIETE FRANCAISE DU RADIOTELEPHONE - SFR |
| Headquarters | United States | France |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centre | Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | EarthLink | RED by SFR | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000highest quarter | 2,000above the median | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000highest quarter | 1,000above the median | 900 |
| Setup fee | Not confirmed | €0 to €29below the median | €27 |
| 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.
RED by SFR
Pros
- Sim only plans, so a new line can be activated on its own without a handset in the same order.
- Billing is rolling on 1 month terms, so a line can end without serving a long fixed period.
- The host network is SFR, and the same provider also sells fixed lines at 2,000 Mbps with routers SFR Box 7, SFR Box 8 option, Box 5G.
Cons
- Data rollover is not offered, so data left at the end of a month expires instead of carrying over.
- EU roaming runs on fair use terms, so frequent travel across Europe is not a flat included allowance.
- Billing is rolling only, while GETESA (prepaid and contract) and Lonestar Cell MTN (contract and prepaid) also list contract billing, so no committed term sits behind a lower monthly figure.
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.
RED by SFR
Who it suits
- Readers in FR who pay as they go and would rather not serve a fixed minimum term
- People who want 5G, an eSIM and hotspot sharing on one bill without a handset
- Households after mobile and fixed lines from one provider, with fibre at 2,000 Mbps and a choice of SFR Box 7, SFR Box 8 option, Box 5G
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want a contract term, since GETESA (prepaid and contract) and Lonestar Cell MTN (contract and prepaid) both list contract billing while this brand bills rolling
- Readers whose address has weak reception on SFR, since yesss! runs on A1 instead
Country by country
| Country | EarthLink | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| France | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
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.
RED by SFR
What does the entry plan cost and what comes with it?+
The entry plan is priced at €1.99 a month and runs on 1 month terms with rolling billing, and it carries a small data allowance. Larger plans sit above it, all on no commitment terms, with allowances sized for streaming and heavier use. The price list holds the full ladder to compare.
Do I have to sign a minimum term?+
No commitment is attached to any of the plans, and billing is rolling, so the arrangement can be stopped without serving a long fixed period. That is the main difference from brands such as GETESA, where billing covers prepaid and contract, and Lonestar Cell MTN, which lists contract and prepaid.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- EarthLink vs Frontier Communications
- EarthLink vs Kinetic
- EarthLink vs Webafrica
- EarthLink vs OiSTER
- EarthLink vs Vodafone Portugal
- EarthLink vs Abissnet
- EarthLink vs Odido Thuis
- EarthLink vs toob
- EarthLink vs hollandsnieuwe
- EarthLink vs Optimum
- RED by SFR vs 4th Utility
- RED by SFR vs TelecomItalia
- RED by SFR vs GOMO by Singtel
- EarthLink vs YouFibre
- EarthLink vs Astound
- EarthLink vs Budget Thuis Internet
- EarthLink vs Budget Energie
- EarthLink vs PremiumSIM
- EarthLink vs sim.de
- EarthLink vs Eni Plenitude
- EarthLink vs 1pBroadband
- EarthLink vs Singtel
- EarthLink vs EE Store
- EarthLink vs beeline
- EarthLink vs Homefi