CenturyLink Internet for Seniors Review
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March 12, 2025
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Of the 34,280 U.S. households with residents ages 65 and up, 81 percent have internet subscriptions, according to U.S. Census data. Of the houses with internet subscriptions, 80 percent are broadband, which is much faster than dial-up. But no matter which group you fall into, there’s something even faster than broadband that may interest you: fiber internet. Across all age groups, there are over 22 million U.S. households with fiber internet, but that’s only 17 percent of all broadband users, according to a July 2024 report from S&P Global.
Offering both fiber and broadband internet, CenturyLink is one of the top providers for people who live in 16 states, most of which are in the western U.S. The company doesn’t offer a special plan or discount for seniors, but it offers free installation with fiber internet, free modem leasing with fiber, and referral bonuses on certain plans. The company also offers discounts for bundling its internet with phone and TV services.
FYI: CenturyLink is affordable, but it’s far from the most affordable internet provider. To find home internet from $30 per month, read our guide to this year’s best internet plans for seniors.
CenturyLink Pros and Cons
CenturyLink Pros
- Affordable pricing: CenturyLink internet plans start at $55 a month for broadband internet or $75 a month for fiber internet.
- Fast speeds: CenturyLink’s fiber internet plan offers exceedingly fast download speeds up to 940 Mbps.
- No annual contracts: CenturyLink does not require annual contracts for internet service.
CenturyLink Cons
- No senior or bundling discounts: Like most internet providers, CenturyLink doesn’t offer a senior discount. And unlike most providers, CenturyLink doesn’t give discounts for bundling internet service with TV or phone service.
- No free installation/equipment with broadband: While CenturyLink offers free installation for fiber internet service, you’ll have to pay $129 to get broadband internet installed. You will also have to pay for Wi-Fi equipment if you don’t have your own.
- Limited availability: CenturyLink’s home internet is only available in 16 states: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Did You Know: Nine out of every 10 U.S. adults ages 65 and older use the internet, according to a Pew Research Center survey.
Alternatives to CenturyLink
If CenturyLink is not available in your area, then we recommend checking out one of the following providers, each of which offers affordable home internet.
CenturyLink Internet Plans and Pricing
CenturyLink currently offers two internet plans: broadband and fiber, which is considerably faster. Plus, only the fiber plan includes free installation plus free equipment. For broadband internet, installation ranges from $25 to $149. New internet installations will cost $500 or the entire amount of construction charges, which are usually capped at $2,000. Lease equipment rates cost $15 a month if you don’t have your own compatible equipment. But again, CenturyLink covers both costs with fiber internet.
CenturyLink Home Internet Plans Compared
| CenturyLink plan | Internet type | Speed maximum in Mbps | Monthly price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simply Unlimited Internet | Broadband | 140 | $55 |
| Fiber Internet | Fiber | 940 | $75 |
FYI: CenturyLink’s plans are affordable, but if you want to find home internet for less than $50 per month, read our guide to the best cheap internet providers for seniors.
CenturyLink Internet, Phone, and TV Bundles
CenturyLink no longer offers bundles of their internet service with phone or TV service. You can learn more about home phone service in our CenturyLink landline review.
CenturyLink Internet Senior Plan
As of this writing, CenturyLink doesn’t offer a specific senior internet discount or plan. However, we think any of the company’s basic plans would be ideal for older adults. The 100 Mbps plan for $55 per month is a particularly great deal considering how fast their speeds are. You’ll be able to stream in high-definition, but if you want the fastest speeds, fiber internet is nearly 10 times as fast.
CenturyLink Internet vs. Cox
| CenturyLink Simply Unlimited | Cox Go Fast | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $55 per month | $50 per month |
| Price hikes | Anytime | After first year |
| Overage fees | None | None |
| Long-term contracts | Not required | Not required |
| Fastest download speeds | 100 Mbps | 100 Mbps |
| Cost of equipment | $15 per month | $13 per month |
Depending on where you live, Cox internet may be a viable alternative to CenturyLink. Cox offers the same speeds for $5 less per month, plus lower equipment rental costs. Like CenturyLink, Cox also offers fiber internet, with speeds up to 2 Gbps for $120 a month. If speed is important to you and you have a little more room in your budget, you can go much faster with Cox compared to CenturyLink. Plus, unlike with CenturyLink, you can bundle an internet plan with Cox’s cable or with Cox’s mobile phone service.
Bottom Line
CenturyLink might not be the most affordable internet provider for older adults, and the company’s plans don’t reach the high speeds of some other major providers. If you’re fine with 100 Mbps speeds, however, $55 a month is not a lot to pay for internet.
But if you’re looking for service with even faster speeds, we’d recommend checking out our guides to AT&T internet for seniors and Xfinity internet for seniors. For more information about subscribing to an internet plan, read our guide to the internet for seniors.
Our Methodology
We used the following criteria to review CenturyLink, along with all of our Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
- Speeds: We perform speed tests from Ookla with each of our ISPs, making sure that we get the download and upload speeds we paid for, along with low latency.
- Customer service: In addition to evaluating our own dealings with the company, we also check out the latest results from J.D. Power’s U.S. residential ISP satisfaction survey. For CenturyLink specifically, we looked at the survey for Wired Internet for the North Central and Western regions of the U.S.
- Cost: Internet subscriptions vary based on the provider, maximum speeds, extras such as streaming subscriptions and bundles, and a number of other factors. We look for companies with affordable options starting at around $50 a month, although we’ve certainly seen a wide range of $10 to $250 a month for internet service.
- Contracts: We prefer companies that do not require customers to sign annual contracts. Ideally, service contracts are month-to-month, with an annual option to lock the monthly price.
- Extras: Some ISPs offer extras like streaming services, cybersecurity features, or discounts on other products. While these extras are nice, they’re not necessary for someone who just wants internet service.
CenturyLink Internet Frequently Asked Questions
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How much does CenturyLink internet cost?
CenturyLink home internet costs $55 per month for the 100 Mbps plan, or $75 a month for the 940 Mbps plan, which uses fiber internet rather than broadband.
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Does CenturyLink have an internet plan for seniors?
CenturyLink doesn’t have a plan or discount for seniors, and it also doesn’t have a plan for low-income individuals.
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How much does it cost to rent a CenturyLink modem?
CenturyLink router rental fees are $15 per month, but the monthly charge will be waived if you sign up for a fiber plan or have your own compatible equipment.
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How much does it cost to cancel CenturyLink internet?
CenturyLink doesn’t require long-term contracts, and you can cancel at any time without incurring additional fees.