Yes and no—it really depends on what you value in an ISP. If you’re looking strictly at dollars per Mbps, the answer has to be no. You’ll simply get more raw speed for your money elsewhere. However, if you want a better overall experience (especially customer service) and don’t mind paying a little more for it, EarthLink can be a good option.
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply.
When switching to EarthLink, there are two things to watch for. The first is the installation fee of $79.95. There doesn’t seem to really be any way around it. The second is that you’ll need to sign a 12-month contract with EarthLink. That’s unfortunate—many ISPs are moving away from these agreements, including many of those EarthLink uses to provide its service.
It’s also worth noting that the technician who shows up to do the installation will likely appear to be from the provider EarthLink is contracting with, which can be a little confusing if you’re not expecting it. Otherwise, the process should be simple.
Canceling EarthLink isn’t as simple as we’d like. Thanks to the 12-month contract, you may find yourself subject to early termination fees of up to $200 if you cancel service (ouch). Apart from that, you’ll also need to return any rented equipment. Call Earthlink customer service to start the process.