Kinetic by Windstream Internet for Seniors: Reviews and Prices

Kinetic by Windstream Internet Pros and Cons

Windstream Internet Plans and Prices

Kinetic offers two types of internet: DSL and fiber. DSL internet, according to Frontier Internet, works through your existing phone line, so it requires a landline service and falls under the general label of “broadband.” Although we have a landline, we prefer fiber, as it’s much faster, as you can see from the download speeds below. That being said, rural areas are less likely to have fiber access, according to BroadbandNow. It’s also apparent in Kinetic’s pricing below that fiber plans cost more.

*Prices will vary based on location and current deals.

Kinetic Internet Senior Plan

Kinetic does not currently offer a specific plan or discount for seniors; however, we think that the DSL 100 Mbps plan is an ideal option for older adults. It will allow you to browse the web, check your email, check your bank accounts, shop online, and spend time on social media. That being said, it may not be enough bandwidth for video calling, streaming 4K video, or online gaming. DSL also doesn’t do as well as fiber in households with multiple users or devices. If you think you might need more than what the DSL 100 Mbps plan provides, any of the two fiber plans from Kinetic are also good options if they’re in your budget.

Kinetic Internet With AT&T Wireless

While Kinetic doesn’t offer senior discounts, we found that users have the option of bundling internet service with a wireless postpaid phone package from AT&T, saving up to $20 a month off your internet bill. AT&T’s postpaid plans start at a minimum of $50 per month. In contrast to unlimited phone plans, postpaid plans mean that you have a finite amount of data, and that you pay for the data you used at the end of the month, according to TechBuzz by AT&T.

But remember, the discount on Kinetic internet is up to $20 when you have a new or existing AT&T postpaid wireless plan, so it could be less than $20. Ask about the exact discount when you buy your Kinetic internet. In our research, we found that this exclusive promotion lasts 24 months – the first two years of your kinetic subscription.

How to Purchase Kinetic Internet

We found the Kinetic buying process easy, but it requires calling for a custom quote. We started by visiting the company’s website, where we entered our home address and found out whether Kinetic currently offered services in our area. Once we confirmed they could service us, we had to call the company to find out which internet plans they offered in our area and how much they cost.

That step is very important because the exact plans and prices will vary greatly based on location. For example, we were given a quote of $37 per month for Portland, Oregon, but we’ve heard of people elsewhere getting cheaper rates. If you’d rather skip the website step, you can call the company directly at 1-844-292-6167.

Aside from the monthly charge for the internet, we had to pay monthly to rent our modem, and we were told that if we did not return the modem within 30 days after our services ended, the company would charge us $100. There was also an activation fee that covered professional installation for us, but that isn’t always the case.

Kinetic by Windstream Internet Speeds

In some areas, Kinetic is rolling out fiber internet, which allows you to get the fastest speeds. Kinetic offers up to 2 Gbps fiber plans. Currently, however, fiber plans are mostly confined to urban coverage areas. If fiber is not yet available in your location, you’ll be using DSL or cable-based internet. Kinetic’s DSL internet plan offers speeds up to 100 Mbps, which is only 10 percent of their fiber internet plan speeds. It’s not quite on par with fiber internet providers like Cox, Verizon, or Spectrum.

Still, we find DSL connections generally faster than satellite internet, another readily available option in most rural areas. Satellite internet connections typically average only 25 Mbps – just a quarter of Kinetic’s promised speed with their DSL plans.

Kinetic Internet vs. Spectrum

While Kinetic by Windstream has shown that it’s a good, affordable option, especially for those living in rural areas, we don’t think their service is better than Spectrum, our current top pick for seniors.

For starters, Spectrum offers internet plans that don’t require professional installation fees or modem rentals. Spectrum’s fiber plans are also available in more areas than Kinetic. And, while neither Kinetic nor Spectrum offer senior discounts, Spectrum has the Spectrum Internet Assist program for limited-income households, which you could qualify for if you’ve retired and are living on a fixed income.

That being said, it’s clear that Kinetic by Windstream offers more affordable internet plans and longer price-lock options than Spectrum:

Kinetic is a more affordable provider than companies other than Spectrum as well. Xfinity internet starts at $55 for 400 Mbps, although this plan offers internet that’s four times as fast as Kinetic’s cheapest plan. For other examples, T-Mobile internet starts at $55 for a maximum of 318 Mbps, and AT&T internet starts at $60 a month for maximum speeds of 300 Mbps. While Spectrum may be the cheapest among the major providers, Kinetic is more affordable than any of them. And if you want to save even more money, check out our list of the best internet discounts for seniors.

Bottom Line

While it’s only available in 18 states, Kinetic by Windstream Internet is one of the best options for seniors, and in rural areas, in particular. The company’s 100 Mbps plan can cost well under $30 per month, and it provided all the speed we needed to browse the web, check our debit accounts, and email our friends and family.

For many rural users, satellite internet is the only other viable option; however, satellite internet generally has speeds well under half of what Kinetic offers. So if you don’t have access to one of the major fiber internet providers, such as Verizon or Cox, Kinetic is worth a shot.

To learn more about our favorite internet providers for seniors, read our list of the best internet providers for seniors.

Methodology

Here are the key factors we consider when we test different internet service providers:

• Speeds: We look at each plan’s Broadband Facts Label, which tells us the average upload and download speeds in Mbps, as well as the average latency, measured in ms. Typically, speeds range from 200 Mbps to 2,000 Mbps. But not everyone needs high speeds, and you can save money by choosing a slower internet plan. We don’t just rely on the Broadband Facts Labels, however. We check the speeds ourselves using BroadbandNow’s internet speed test.
• Prices: Internet plans range from $25 to $110 per month, and the cost depends on not only the speed but also on extras like streaming services, which we detail below. We also prefer companies that do not charge extra fees, such as an activation fee.
• Contracts: We prefer providers that offer flexible, month-to-month contracts as well as a discounted longer-term option.
• Bundles: Ideally, the company offers internet bundles with TV or phone plans as well.
• Installation: Installation should be easy to do on your own, unless it’s fiber internet, which requires professional installation in most cases.
• Customer service: Consulting the 2024 U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study from J.D. Power, we see how hundreds of real customers ranked different providers in terms of overall satisfaction. Fun fact: As of May 2025, the highest-rated provider of wireless internet in the South — the only category Kinetic is in — is GFiber, formerly known as Google Fiber, with a ranking of 702 out of 1,000. Kinetic, unfortunately, is under the regional average of 559, with a score of 535 (the third lowest).
• Extras: Finally, we take into account any extra services, like streaming subscriptions, discounts on other products or services, or giveaways.