AT&T vs Earthlink: Which Is Better in 2026?

We track Earthlink entry pricing from $59.95/mo, but we do not currently list plan-level pricing for AT&T, so a direct price verdict is not possible from our data. Check the AT&T provider page for the fields we do have.

On the fastest plans we track, AT&T reaches 5 Gbps download versus 1 Gbps for Earthlink. These are advertised plan speeds — real-world performance varies by address, wiring, and network load.

Sometimes — provider footprints overlap in many markets but coverage is decided block by block, and our plan records are provider-level, not an address-level serviceability check. Enter your ZIP code on Konecteaze or run each provider's address checker to confirm which one (or both) actually serves your home.

Order the new service first and confirm an installation date before cancelling the old one, so you are never offline. On installation day, verify speeds, then cancel the old plan, return any rented equipment to avoid fees, and check your final bill for proration. If you are under contract, ask about early-termination charges before scheduling.

Displayed plan records originate in the Konecteaze provider database and are checked against current provider sources where terms change. We currently track 3 AT&T plans and 2 Earthlink plans. Unsupported prices and speeds are withheld rather than estimated; confirm current offers at your address.

AT&T rates higher in our database at 4.0/5, compared with 3.3/5 for Earthlink. Ratings reflect reviews collected on Konecteaze and are one signal among the plan facts above.

Often, in some form. EarthLink has long operated as a reseller, delivering internet service over network infrastructure it leases from other carriers rather than lines it owns outright, and in many areas that underlying infrastructure includes AT&T's own DSL or fiber lines. That means the physical connection to your home can be the same wire either way; what typically differs is the company billing you, its pricing structure, support, and contract terms — not necessarily the network itself. Reseller arrangements vary by market and change over time, so this isn't true everywhere EarthLink operates.

When the underlying network is shared, the deciding factors shift from whose wire is better to service-layer differences — EarthLink has historically marketed things like simplified pricing, no-contract terms, or bundled features as its differentiators. Whether that is worth it versus ordering AT&T directly depends on the current terms each quotes at your address, since the physical performance ceiling is largely set by the shared infrastructure, not by which company's name is on the bill.

Where EarthLink is reselling AT&T's own network, the realistic speed ceiling is largely the same, since both ride the same physical line into your home. Meaningful speed differences are more likely to come from which specific plan tier you choose and what technology is available at your address, rather than from the two companies having fundamentally different infrastructure.

Yes — even when the network is shared, resellers like EarthLink typically set their own pricing structure, contract length, and fees independent of the carrier whose lines they use. Compare the specific contract terms, promotional period, and early-termination policy each quotes for your address rather than assuming AT&T and EarthLink offer the same deal just because the connection may be technically similar.