Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
EarthLink vs Webafrica
Where EarthLink and Webafrica differ
| Compare |  EarthLink | Webafrica ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000Higher | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000Higher | 5 to 1,000 |
| Price from | $24.95 | ZAR 319 |
| 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 | Web Connect 10/5 Mbps: R319 per month, month-to-month, uncapped | MetroFibre Nexus 500/500 Mbps: R899 per month, month-to-month, uncapped | Frogfoot Peak 1000/1000 Mbps: R1499 per month, month-to-month, uncapped |
| Exit fee terms | Early Termination Fee up to $400 if Term Plan ended early | R999 termination fee on cancellation |
| Router | Leased router $15.00 per month | Fully insured Free-to-Use router |
| Address checker | https://earthlink.net/internet-near-me/ | https://www.webafrica.co.za/fibre/ |
| Markets | US | ZA |
| Setup fee | Not confirmed | ZAR 0 |
| 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 9.3.
- Top download speed (Mbps) is higher at EarthLink: 5,000 vs 1,000.
- Upload speed (Mbps) is higher at EarthLink: 5,000 vs 5 to 1,000.
- Technology: only EarthLink offers Satellite.
- Technology: only Webafrica offers Fwa.
- Markets: only EarthLink offers US.
- Markets: only Webafrica offers ZA.
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.
Webafrica
Webafrica suits South African households wanting rolling uncapped fibre with nothing to pay for setup. Entry pricing starts at ZAR 319 a month, contract terms run 1 month, and the strongest plans in the reference range reach 1,000 Mbps with Fully insured Free-to-Use router included.
Score breakdown
| Area | EarthLink | Webafrica |
|---|---|---|
| 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 price of ZAR 319 with a setup fee of ZAR 0, on month-to-month plans. |
| 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. | 8.9Uploads of 5 to 1,000 Mbps and downloads up to 1,000 Mbps across an uncapped range. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.6Operating since 1997 from ZA, with support across chat, phone and help centre and an insured Fully insured Free-to-Use router. |
How the counts compare
| Fact | EarthLink | Webafrica |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000 | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000 | 5 to 1,000 |
How they place
| Ranking | EarthLink | Webafrica |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband providers | 27 of 124 | 40 of 124 |
| Full fibre providers | 14 of 107 | 26 of 107 |
| Broadband without a long contract | 7 of 46 | 16 of 46 |
Licences and countries
| Country | EarthLink | Webafrica |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | South Africa |
Additional countries for EarthLink: 1. Additional countries for Webafrica: 1.
What we checked
EarthLink
- earthlink.net: 15 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Webafrica
- webafrica.co.za: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | EarthLink | Webafrica |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Fttp, 5G, Satellite | Fttp, Fwa, 5G |
| Contract length | 1 | 1 |
| Legal entity | EarthLink, LLC | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | South Africa |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1997 |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centre | Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | EarthLink | Webafrica | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000highest quarter | 1,000at the median | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000highest quarter | 5 to 1,000above the median | 900 |
| 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.
Webafrica
Pros
- Entry price of ZAR 319 puts Webafrica near the front of our price ranking.
- The setup fee of ZAR 0 leaves nothing to budget for installation.
- Contract lengths of 1-month mean every plan rolls month to month, so nothing is locked in.
Cons
- Service covers ZA only, so it is not an option outside South Africa.
- Cancelling early carries R999 termination fee on cancellation, which takes the saving out of leaving.
- Abissnet runs on fttp alone, while Webafrica's fttp, fwa and 5G mix makes the top speed at an address depend on the access type that reaches it.
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.
Webafrica
Who it suits
- South African households wanting uncapped fibre on rolling monthly terms
- Renters and short-stay households avoiding an installation charge
- Shared homes needing matched download and upload speeds for calls and backups
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers wanting a single dedicated fibre line: Abissnet runs on fttp only.
- Homes where only fixed wireless or satellite reaches: Earthlink covers fttp, 5G and satellite.
- Addresses fibre has not reached: Astound pairs cable and fttp, so cable is an option.
Country by country
| Country | EarthLink | Webafrica |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 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.
Webafrica
How much does Webafrica broadband cost per month?+
Plans start at ZAR 319 per month on Web Connect, the entry plan. MetroFibre Nexus sits above that figure, and Frogfoot Peak pairs the highest speeds with the highest monthly figure. All are billed month to month and uncapped, so the figure you join on keeps running.
Is there a contract to sign?+
Contract lengths are listed as 1 month, so plans here run rolling rather than tying you in for a fixed term. Cancelling early has a price attached, since the cancellation terms apply R999 termination fee on cancellation when you cancel a service, which is worth reading before switching.
Other options to compare
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- EarthLink vs Abissnet
- EarthLink vs Odido Thuis
- EarthLink vs RED by SFR
- EarthLink vs toob
- EarthLink vs hollandsnieuwe
- EarthLink vs Optimum
- Webafrica vs Hyperoptic B2C
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- EarthLink vs Astound
- EarthLink vs Budget Thuis Internet
- EarthLink vs Budget Energie
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