CenturyLink Internet for Seniors, Tested and Reviewed
CenturyLink offers widely available fiber internet with speeds up to 940 Mbps.
Our tech team spent around 50 hours researching and testing CenturyLink’s internet plans for older adults. Taking into account our personal experience, industry research, and online customer reviews, we evaluated the provider’s costs, speeds, customer service, and reliability.
Below is additional information about the criteria we used in our evaluation.
- Cost: Affordability is a crucial factor for many older adults, so an important aspect of our reviews are whether companies offer discounts for veterans, seniors, or low-income households. We also note extra fees, such as taxes and equipment fees.
- Contracts: We carefully evaluate related costs and long-term contracts. Some companies require a service contract for one- or two-year terms, for example, to get the best deal.
- Coverage: We do our best to give you an accurate picture of a company’s network nationwide and note how to find a company’s coverage in your area.
- Plan variety and flexibility: In our reviews, we consider plan flexibility. We like to see customization options that fit older adults’ needs and offer value, while not making choosing an internet plan needlessly complicated.
- Reliability: We rigorously test how reliable a provider’s service is by conducting speed tests and taking note of speeds in different parts of testers’ homes, at different times of day, and with different numbers of people using data simultaneously to evaluate reliability and speeds.
- Customer service: Accessible, helpful, and courteous salespeople and tech support are critical for those less experienced with technology. We note how easy it is to reach a company’s customer-service representatives and how helpful the agents were when we spoke to them on the phone, via email, or chat.
- Industry rankings: We check market reports and business performance rankings such as the American Customer Satisfaction Index to gauge how each company we review stacks up against the competition.
Available in 16 states, CenturyLink offers several residential DSL and fiber internet packages, starting at $55 per month, with speeds up to 940 Mbps in select areas. CenturyLink doesn’t have any senior-specific plans or discounts, but that doesn’t mean you should count them out. The company offers straightforward, affordable internet plans, but their prices are a bit higher than some competitors, such as Xfinity.
Our tech experts spent over 50 hours researching and testing CenturyLink’s internet plans and evaluating them for seniors. During our testing, we considered important factors such as price, value, customer service, speed, reliability, ease of use, and more. Read on to learn about our experience with CenturyLink and why they made our list of the best internet providers in 2025.
Our CenturyLink router
How Does CenturyLink Compare?
A brand of Lumen Technologies since 2020, CenturyLink is transparent about their pricing, so you don’t have to worry much about hidden costs down the road. However, CenturyLink does not currently offer any unique plans or discounts for older adults. If you’re looking for a more senior-friendly internet provider, check out some of our favorite internet providers below.
Pros About CenturyLink
- Availability: CenturyLink offers high-speed internet options in 16 U.S. states.
- Affordable fiber internet: CenturyLink offers reasonable rates for its gigabit fiber plan for those who want the fastest, most reliable internet connection.
- No contracts: Plans are available with no annual contracts.
- Live chat support: Customers can speak with a representative over chat seven days a week.
Cons About CenturyLink
- No senior-specific plans: There are no CenturyLink plans or discounts designed specifically for seniors, but many of their plans will still be suitable for the needs of older adults.
- Not all speeds available: CenturyLink offers only two plans, but both should be available in most areas.
- DSL connection: DSL internet is slower and less reliable than other types of internet, such as 4G, cable, and fiber. It’s critical to remember that you may not always receive the speeds advertised with your CenturyLink DSL plan, as your connection may be slower depending on your location and the number of people who are simultaneously using the internet in your area.
CenturyLink Internet Plans, Pricing, and Features
Let’s take a closer look at CenturyLink’s available internet plans. Remember that different speeds and plans depend on the provider’s coverage availability, so not all the offerings below will be an option. In addition, these rates will likely require opting into paperless billing to receive some hidden discounts.
| Plan | (Max) Download Speed | Connection Type | Price | Monthly Data Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simply Unlimited Internet | 100 Mbps | DSL | $55 per month | Unlimited |
| Fiber Internet | 940 Mbps | Fiber* | $75 per month | Unlimited |
*CenturyLink notes service may switch to nonfiber connection if necessary. Modem lease fee of $15 will apply unless you supply your own.
To gauge typical plan availability, we tested entering many different addresses on CenturyLink’s website. With only two plans available, there isn’t much variety. However, the lack of plan choices may not matter to most people.
If you’re not sure what internet speed would be sufficient for your needs, here’s a quick breakdown:
- 100 Mbps: For those who want to stream movies with friends or video chat with the kids, or for older adults who have several devices (such as a phone, TV, laptop, and speaker) connected to the internet at once, these download speeds will be more than sufficient. The speeds are also great for households of two or three light internet users.
- 940 Mbps: Older adults who want as much speed as possible and an ultrareliable fiber connection should opt for the 940 Mbps plan if it’s available in your area. It’s far faster than the average senior will need, but you’ll never have to worry about buffering, a frozen screen, or your connection slowing down when lots of people are online at once. If you love having family members over and they are all big internet users, this plan may be for you. You’ll be set whether your grandkids like to game, upload videos to YouTube, watch shows on Netflix for hours, or do schoolwork online.
When we tested CenturyLink, we had the 100 Mbps plan. We ran several speed tests and experienced average download speeds of about 85 Mbps. It wasn’t as fast as our advertised speeds, but we had consistent, fast speeds throughout our multistory house. We could easily play games, stream movies, and make video calls on multiple devices at one time.
Running a speed test with CenturyLink
If we ever experienced slow speeds, we could easily restart our equipment or run a speed test using the online portal or mobile app. We found the online portal was easy to use.
Viewing our CenturyLink account
CenturyLink Discounts for Seniors
CenturyLink doesn’t currently offer a senior discount. Many older adults may meet the qualifications for Lifeline. Lifeline is a federal phone and internet assistance program for low-income customers.1 The FCC’s Lifeline program has discounts of up to $9.25 per month for broadband service with speeds of 25 Mbps to qualifying individuals. Tribal Lifeline offers discounts up to $34.25 per month on internet, plus installation assistance, to qualifying individuals who live on federally recognized tribal lands.
Pro Tip: Want to learn more about internet plans for older adults and how to get the best deal? Read our internet for seniors guide.
For comparison, AT&T offers discounted internet plans to low-income subscribers through their Access From AT&T program. If your income is at or below federal poverty guidelines, you may be eligible for internet with speeds up to 100 Mbps for $30 a month or fiber internet with faster speeds for $20 per month.
Xfinity has a similar low-income connectivity program called Internet Essentials. Available in select areas, recipients of government benefits programs such as the National School Lunch Program, housing assistance, Medicaid, or SNAP may be eligible for internet service starting at $15 a month.
Note that these programs are available only to very low-income households. Because CenturyLink offers high-speed internet at very competitive prices, it’s a fantastic choice for most customers if they are the main internet provider in your area.
Bundle for a Better Deal With CenturyLink
The CenturyLink bundle options offer perks to their internet plans. For $90 per month, you can receive speeds up to 100 Mbps and unlimited home phone use. Or, for $105 per month, you can bundle the Fiber Internet plan with home phone services.
This package is ideal for older adults who want to stay connected. It’s all the better if you prefer a home phone to a cell phone. To qualify, you must opt for paperless billing, meaning less tech-savvy customers could miss out. The total speed is also dependent on your location. That said, you can enter your ZIP code beforehand to get a speed estimate and decide whether the bundle is worth it.
In some areas, you can sign up for DIRECTV through CenturyLink. (Note: It is not available in all areas and requires the purchase of a streaming device.) You can get 160 channels for $74.99 per month for two years and $89.99 per month afterward, or opt for the Ultimate plan with 250 channels for $119.99 per month for two years and $152.98 per month afterward. Auto pay and paperless billing are required for these rates. If you’re interested in the bundles, check out our DIRECTV review.
How Does CenturyLink Stack Up to the Competition?
CenturyLink doesn’t rank very highly in terms of speed compared to other internet providers, but the company boasts transparency, competitive pricing, and reliability. Here’s more about how CenturyLink holds up against their competitors.
CenturyLink vs. AT&T
AT&T
- Discounts for low-income households
- Sign-up perks such as $150 in reward cards when you sign up for select fiber internet plans
- Comparable starting prices
AT&T has several internet plans with prices starting at $55 per month for slower speeds (300 Mbps), which is similar to what CenturyLink offers. One area in which CenturyLink has the advantage over AT&T, however, is plan simplicity.
Like CenturyLink, AT&T offers DSL, 4G, and fiber options in many states, but not in all areas. There are no specific discounts on internet service for older adults either, even though AT&T offers discounts with their cellular plans. AT&T does, however, offer discounts for low-income households.
CenturyLink vs. Verizon
Verizon
- More sign-up perks
- Slightly cheaper starting rates
- More fiber internet package options
- Complicated sign-up process
Frontier Internet (now part of Verizon) can be faster than CenturyLink, since Frontier offers 5,000 Mbps speeds in select areas, and plans can be cheaper than CenturyLink, starting at $29.99 a month. Frontier is also more widely available, with service in 27 states. Like CenturyLink, there are no contracts or data caps with Frontier internet service.
Further Reading: Find out more about Frontier internet service with our guide to the Frontier internet for seniors.
Verizon also offers Lifeline discounts for qualifying customers, as well as more options for fiber internet, starting at $50 per month for up to 300 Mbps. Customers can add the Disney bundle and get Hulu, ESPN, and Disney+ for just $10 a month, or they can opt for the Netflix bundle and get Netflix and Max (both with ads) for an additional $10 per month.
At a residence in Los Angeles, for example, we could choose a 5G home internet plan with speeds up to 100 Mbps for $50 or opt for the 5G Plus plan with speeds up to 300 Mbps for $70 per month. Each plan includes a free router, a five-year price lock, and the bundling options described above. Read our Verizon internet review for more details.
CenturyLink vs. Xfinity
Xfinity has widespread availability in 41 states and offers high-speed internet starting at $35 per month for one year. Unlike CenturyLink, Xfinity imposes data caps and charges customers $10 for every 50 GB of data over their monthly limit. Choosing a plan can be complicated, particularly when you add bundles.
The $35-per-month promotion is also contingent on signing up for auto pay and paperless billing. If your household is considered low income, you may be eligible for the Xfinity Internet Essentials plan, which provides service starting as low as $15 a month.
Expert Tip: Customers typically need to sign a one-year contract for the best prices on their Xfinity internet plans. Learn more about Comcast Xfinity internet service in our Xfinity internet review.
CenturyLink is known for offering affordable DSL service in rural areas with limited connectivity. If CenturyLink is available in your area, you have a reliable internet option that keeps plan choice simple. The company doesn’t offer as fast a connection or as many perks as AT&T and Verizon, but their prices are competitive and their speeds are likely fast enough to power the internet needs for the average older adult (who is likely not a gamer or streamer with super-fast internet needs).
About CenturyLink
CenturyLink has a company history that spans almost 100 years. The business began as Oak Ridge Telephone Company in 1930. Known for their widespread availability in rural areas, CenturyLink offers broadband services in 16 states, with the most coverage in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, and Washington.
The Bottom Line
Despite not offering senior-specific internet plans, CenturyLink is a solid internet option for older adults. CenturyLink offers most packages for $55 per month for DSL or fiber speeds, ranging anywhere from 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps, depending on your location and availability. The prices may seem high compared to budget internet providers, but CenturyLink is reasonably priced.
Most Americans 65 and older spend 10 hours a day interacting with computers or tablets, so it’s clear that seniors need to find an internet package that offers reliable service and fantastic value to meet their needs. With their affordable plans, high-speed internet options, and Lifeline participation, we believe CenturyLink fits the bill!
Frequently Asked Questions about CenturyLink
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Does CenturyLink offer an internet discount for seniors?
No, CenturyLink doesn’t currently offer a senior-specific discount for internet. They do, however, offer a Lifeline discount to low-income customers that many seniors may qualify for.
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Where is CenturyLink internet available?
CenturyLink internet is currently available in 16 states. They have the most widespread availability in Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, and Washington.
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How much does CenturyLink cost for seniors?
CenturyLink’s internet plans start at $55 per month for their DSL and 4G connections and range up to $75 per month for their fiber plan.
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Federal Communications Commission. (2025). Lifeline Program for Low-Income Consumers.
