CenturyLink vs. Mediacom: Compare DSL, Cable and Fiber Options

In most towns where both are available, Mediacom is the faster choice. Mediacom's cable network offers 1 Gig service, and its "Price for Life" offer locks 1 Gig at $50 a month for as long as you keep the same package, if you sign up by December 31, 2026. CenturyLink in these areas is usually DSL, which runs over copper phone lines at up to 140 Mbps and often far less, for $55 a month. If a fiber offer is available, compare it separately with the DSL and cable quotes. The technology at your address matters more than the legacy brand name.

Also see CenturyLink vs. Spectrum and the rural internet options guide for alternatives to compare at your address.

The two overlap mostly in small towns across the Midwest and South, including parts of Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin.

Prices compared (October 30, 2026)

Mediacom's offer has detailed terms. The $50 price stays the same only while you keep the exact package at the same address. If you change, downgrade or cancel part of it, standard rates apply. The three free months arrive as credits on your 1st, 13th and 25th bills, and the gift card goes to new customers only. Taxes and fees are extra on both providers.

What happened to CenturyLink fiber?

AT&T completed its purchase of substantially all of Lumen's Mass Markets fiber business on February 2, 2026. The transaction covers the acquired fiber customer relationships and network assets; check your current bill and provider notices for the brand and support arrangements that apply to your account. Lumen kept the CenturyLink DSL business. So if your address shows "CenturyLink," you're most likely looking at DSL, and if it shows fiber, it may now be sold under the Quantum Fiber or AT&T name. For the AT&T side, our CenturyLink vs. Spectrum page explains how the fiber handoff works.

Speed and reliability

DSL speeds fall off with distance from the phone company's equipment, so two homes on the same road can get very different results. Use the speed estimate and Broadband Facts label for your own line, then compare that with the number of people streaming, calling and uploading at home. Mediacom's cable network delivers far more download speed, and its 1 Gig plan handles 4K streaming, gaming and several people working from home at once. Cable upload speeds are lower than download, and Mediacom's terms say heavy uploading over 1 TB a month can slow your upload speed for the rest of the month. Heavy cloud backups or regular video uploads make that threshold worth checking.

TV and discounts

Mediacom still sells cable TV packages, and our guide to Mediacom channel packages lists what's included. CenturyLink doesn't sell its own TV service, so you'd pair it with a streaming service. If you're over 65, see whether Mediacom offers senior discounts.

Which should you pick?

• Pick Mediacom if you want faster speeds, a locked price on 1 Gig, or TV service from the same company.
• Pick CenturyLink DSL only if Mediacom doesn't reach your home and you need a simple, low-use connection.
• If CenturyLink, Quantum or AT&T fiber reaches your address, it usually beats both on upload speed, so compare it too.

If neither reaches you, satellite and 5G home internet are the main alternatives. The three satellite options are Starlink, Viasat and Hughesnet. Satellite speeds depend on the plan, location, network conditions and equipment; speeds are not guaranteed. Confirm current download and upload estimates before ordering. Our guide to rural internet options compares them with fixed wireless. For another CenturyLink matchup, see CenturyLink vs. Optimum.