CenturyLink at a glance
- Connection
- DSL (CenturyLink) & fiber (Quantum Fiber)
- Starting price
- DSL from ~$30/mo; Quantum Fiber ~$50/mo flat
- Availability
- ~16–37 states (DSL wider, fiber select metros)
- Top bundle perk
- Flat pricing, no contracts, free install/modem on select fiber
- Contracts
- No contracts; no annual price increases
CenturyLink (and its fiber brand, Quantum Fiber, both owned by Lumen) stands out for one thing: honest, flat pricing. No contracts, no promotional games, no year-two price hikes — the rate you sign up for is the rate you keep, which is genuinely unusual in this industry.
CenturyLink DSL reaches a wide 37-state footprint, while Quantum Fiber — the faster, newer fiber product — is available in about 16 states, mostly in the West plus Florida, with speeds up to 8 Gig. The trade-off for the simple pricing is fewer flashy promotions and limited fiber availability. Below are the plans; see our complete bundling guide for context.
CenturyLink plans & pricing
CenturyLink's pricing model is the opposite of most — flat and contract-free, with no introductory-rate cliff. Quantum Fiber offers symmetrical speeds.
| Plan type | Typical speed | Starting price* |
|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink DSL | Up to ~140 Mbps | from ~$30–$55/mo flat |
| Quantum Fiber 500 | 500 Mbps symmetrical | ~$50/mo flat |
| Quantum Fiber 1 Gig | 1 Gig symmetrical | ~$55–$75/mo flat |
| Quantum Fiber multi-gig | 2–8 Gig | ~$100+/mo |
*Starting/promotional prices with typical conditions (autopay, etc.), illustrative and varying by address. Promotions change frequently — confirm current pricing for your location.
CenturyLink bundle offers & promotions
CenturyLink/Quantum keeps it simple — the value is in the pricing model and freebies rather than bundle gimmicks:
- Flat pricing — no annual increases, the rate you get is the rate you keep
- No contracts on most plans, no early-termination fees
- Free professional install + premium modem on the Fiber Gigabit plan
- Unlimited data on fiber, no caps
- Up to $100 referral credit; 30-day Bark parental-controls trial
💰 Best current CenturyLink perk
The real perk is structural: flat, no-contract pricing with no year-two hike. For people tired of calling to renegotiate every 12 months, Quantum Fiber at a locked ~$50–$55/mo with free install and modem is a genuinely low-hassle option. Confirm fiber availability at your address.
See CenturyLink deals at your address
Enter your ZIP — we'll confirm whether CenturyLink is available where you live and show current offers.
CenturyLink pros and cons
✓ Strengths
- Flat pricing — no year-two hikes
- No contracts, no ETFs
- Quantum Fiber symmetrical up to 8 Gig
- Free install + modem on Gig fiber
- Unlimited data on fiber
- Wide DSL availability (~37 states)
✗ Trade-offs
- Quantum Fiber only in ~16 states
- DSL is slow vs. cable/fiber
- Few flashy promos or gift cards
- No traditional TV bundle (pairs with streaming/DIRECTV)
- Fiber availability address-specific
Where CenturyLink is available
CenturyLink DSL reaches roughly 37 states; Quantum Fiber is in about 16 states, concentrated in the West (Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Washington, Oregon, etc.) plus Florida and pockets elsewhere. Check your ZIP to see whether you can get Quantum Fiber or DSL.
How to get the best CenturyLink bundle
- Check availability first. CenturyLink's plans and pricing depend on your exact address — enter your ZIP to confirm what's offered where you live.
- Compare the all-in price, including equipment and fees, not just the headline rate.
- Ask the after-promo price so year two doesn't surprise you.
- Stack the bundle perks — if Quantum Fiber is available, take the Gig plan for free install + modem; the flat price means there's no promo to negotiate later.
- Talk to a free advisor who can line CenturyLink up against the other providers at your address so you're choosing with full information.
Frequently asked questions
Both are owned by Lumen. CenturyLink is the older brand, now focused on DSL; Quantum Fiber is the newer fiber brand with faster, symmetrical speeds up to 8 Gig. If Quantum Fiber is available at your address, it's the better product; CenturyLink DSL is the wider-reaching but slower option.
No — that's its main selling point. CenturyLink and Quantum Fiber use flat pricing with no annual increases. The rate you sign up for is the rate you keep, which is unusual versus cable providers that hike prices after 12 months.
Quantum Fiber runs about $50/month flat for 500 Mbps symmetrical and $55–$75 for 1 Gig, with multi-gig plans higher. No contracts, unlimited data, and free install plus modem on the Gigabit plan. The price doesn't rise after year one.
Quantum Fiber is in about 16 states, mostly the West plus Florida. CenturyLink DSL covers far more (~37 states) but is slower. Check your ZIP and we'll confirm whether fiber or DSL is offered at your home.
No — most CenturyLink and Quantum Fiber plans are contract-free with no early-termination fees. Combined with flat pricing, it's one of the lowest-pressure options available.