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Best DSL internet providers of 2023


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Headshot of Brittany McGhee
Researched by
Headshot of Bri Field
Reviewed by
Bri FieldAssigning Editor
Updated 2/9/23

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Our pick for the best DSL provider is Kinetic by Windstream. It offers broadband speed across more of its DSL service area than any of our other top choices. Kinetic by Windstream also has low pricing and unlimited data.

The best DSL providers for broadband speeds

Editor's choice
Windstream Communications
Windstream Communications brand
Staff rating
3.6
Customer rating
4.0

  • Plans starting at $39.99 - $89.99
  • Download speeds up to 100 Mbps
  • Upload speeds up to 500 Mbps

Click below for all current Windstream Communications deals

Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers

Runner-up
Frontier Communications
Frontier Communications brand
Staff rating
4.1
Customer rating
3.9

  • Plans starting at $49.99 - $164.99
  • Download speeds up to 5000 Mbps
  • Upload speeds up to 5000 Mbps

Click below for all current Frontier Communications deals

Disclaimer: Subject to availability. Cannot be combined with other offers. Other restrictions, Frontier policies and service terms apply. For a list of terms, view disclaimers

Runner-up
CenturyLink
CenturyLink brand
Staff rating
4.0
Customer rating
4.0

  • Plans starting at $30.00 - $110.00
  • Download speeds up to 940Mb
  • Upload speeds up to 940Mb

Click below for all current CenturyLink deals

Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers

Runner-up
AT&T
AT&T logo
Staff rating
4.5
Customer rating
4.1

  • Plans starting at $55.00 - $180.00
  • Download speeds up to 5000Mbps
  • Upload speeds up to 5000Mbps

Click below for all current AT&T deals

Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers

Methodology

DSL (or digital subscriber line) uses phone lines to connect you to the internet. It’s an older technology and relatively slow, but widely available even in rural areas. Download speeds usually range from less than 1 Mbps to as fast as 100 Mbps, and upload speeds are very low across the board. With DSL service, available speeds vary widely between locations. The closer your home is to your provider, the better speed you’ll be able to get. DSL is perfectly fine for light surfing and emails, but its performance isn’t ideal for those who do a lot of gaming or video calls.

Find out how much internet speed your household needs.

Since DSL speeds are so much slower than fiber and cable, we’ve ranked providers according to how much of their DSL service area offers download speeds of at least 25 Mbps, which is considered broadband speed. In addition to choosing DSL providers with the best speeds and pricing, we’ve also considered overall customer experience, using information from customer reviews and scores from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).

Our rankings here differ from the overall staff ratings because each of the DSL providers listed here also offers fiber service, which affects their overall scores. Learn more about how we rate internet providers.

Fastest DSL providers in 2023

DSL internet modems stand on a podium.

#1: Kinetic by Windstream

Windstream Communications brand
Staff rating
3.6
Customer rating
4.0
Price: $39.99 - $89.99
Pros

  • Good rural coverage
  • No data caps
  • No contracts
Cons

  • Limited fiber availability
  • So-so customer service

Specifications
Speed: 1000 Mbps - 100 Mbps

Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers

Kinetic's DSL plans offer speeds up to 100 Mbps

All the providers in our ranking have download speeds of up to 100 Mbps with their DSL service, but you can’t get broadband speed everywhere. Kinetic by Windstream is our top DSL provider pick because it offers speeds faster than 25 Mbps to more of its DSL service area than any other provider. (1)

Windstream’s DSL service is inexpensive compared to other DSL providers and comes with unlimited data. Contracts aren’t required, and you can sometimes get promo pricing or signup bonuses. Windstream has a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and a 12-month price guarantee.

Despite offering high speeds and low prices, Kinetic by Windstream doesn’t offer the best customer experience of the bunch. Customers often complain of unresponsive customer service and service disruptions in their reviews. (2)

#2: CenturyLink

CenturyLink brand
Staff rating
4.0
Customer rating
4.0
Price: $30.00 - $110.00
Pros

  • Unlimited data across all plans
  • Fast fiber connections in select markets
  • No contracts
Cons

  • Limited fiber availability
  • Much slower DSL internet speeds
  • Below-average customer service

Specifications
Speed: 3Mb - 940Mb

Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers

CenturyLink skips the data cap, but has poor customer service

CenturyLink costs about the same as AT&T, but it has less broadband speed availability in its DSL footprint, according to the FCC. (1)

CenturyLink doesn’t require contracts or have a hard data cap. However, using more than 1 TB per month is considered excessive use and may result in additional charges if it happens more than a few times.

CenturyLink’s customer service leaves something to be desired, and it has the lowest ACSI score of the DSL providers we’ve ranked. (2)

#3: Frontier

Frontier Communications brand
Staff rating
4.1
Customer rating
3.9
Price: $49.99 - $164.99
Pros

  • Well-priced fiber plans
  • Fast speeds
  • No data caps
Cons

  • Limited fiber availability
  • Slow DSL in non-fiber areas
  • Poor customer service reputation

Specifications
Speed: 500 Mbps - 5000 Mbps

Disclaimer: Subject to availability. Cannot be combined with other offers. Other restrictions, Frontier policies and service terms apply. For a list of terms, view disclaimers

Frontier's DSL offers unlimited data, but you may pay for activation

Frontier comes in third among our top choices because it has less broadband speed availability in its DSL service area, though it still offers good terms and a reasonable price. (1)

DSL pricing with Frontier is comparable to AT&T and CenturyLink. Frontier will give you a router to use at no extra cost, and the price is guaranteed for two years. Like our other picks, data is unlimited. There’s no contract requirement, though you may have to pay an $85 activation fee.

In terms of customer satisfaction, Frontier is just ahead of CenturyLink in ACSI’s ranking, but its customer service is still sub-par. (2)

What to consider when choosing a DSL internet provider

Three monitor screens showing the three most important DSL internet ranking criteria

DSL is slower than cable and fiber connections, and you'll see that reflected in our rankings for top internet providers of 2023. When we're just comparing DSL providers, though, we've also accounted for availability and the percentage of a providers footprint eligible for its fastest plans.

Speed

Download speed with DSL usually maxes out around 100 Mbps. Super-fast DSL over 100 Mbps is out there, but it’s rare. For example, Kinetic by Windstream offers over twice that speed in limited areas. Regardless of the download speed, upload speeds are very low with DSL, so it’s not great if you need to make video calls or upload large files often. Your distance will affect what speed you can get with any DSL provider, and your service will be faster the closer you are to the provider.

That said, DSL means not sharing speed with your neighbors, so you won't see peak-time slowdowns like you might with cable internet.

For this ranking, we’ve left out DSL providers that only offer download speeds below broadband level (25 Mbps), like Verizon’s DSL service, which offers a maximum speed of only 15 Mbps.

Cost

DSL providers tend to have low monthly plan prices and simple pricing but don’t offer the same value as cable or fiber plans, which can cost about the same but come with much faster speeds.

DSL providers don’t usually require contracts unless you’re taking advantage of an optional promo. You’ll probably have to pay a monthly equipment fee or purchase a router, but costs tend to be in the same ballpark as most internet service providers (or even lower).

It’s often possible to avoid data caps with DSL. But when there are data caps, they tend to be high (around 1 TB), which is similar to cable internet.

Customer experience

Customer reviews reveal a lot of information about reliability, performance, and customer service. We’ve read reviews for each provider’s DSL service and considered American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) rankings in our research, although these reflect both DSL service and other connection types for each provider.

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The people behind our research
We believe the best information comes from first-hand customer experience and methodical research by subject-matter experts. We never source information from "content farms," and we don’t generate content using artificial intelligence (AI). You can trust that our recommendations are fact-checked meticulously and sourced appropriately by authentic, industry-recognized people.
Contributing researchers
Rebecca Palmer smiles for the camera
Researched by
Rebecca PalmerSenior Staff Writer

Rebecca Palmer has been writing about tech and consumer finance since 2010. Her work has been featured in the Deseret News, Idaho Business Review, TopTenReviews.com, and more. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, and lives in Salt Lake City with her exceptionally delightful pup, Nymeria.

Headshot of Brittany McGhee
Researched by
Brittany McGheeContributing Writer

Brittany is a Contributing Writer for Switchful with over five years of experience writing about technology in the US and Europe. Her primary focus is on mobile and internet topics. She is passionate about helping people choose the right tech for their needs at the right price.

Contributing reviewer
Headshot of Bri Field
Reviewed by
Bri FieldAssigning Editor

Bri Field has a background in academia, research writing, and brand marketing. She has edited scientific publications, conference papers, digital content, and technical communications. As Assigning Editor, she enjoys ensuring all content is accurate, clear, and helpful. In her free time, you can find her in the kitchen trying a new recipe, out on a hike, or working through her massive TBR list.


Endnotes and sources

(1) “FCC National Broadband Map,” FCC. Accessed 30 January 2023.

(2) “Internet Service Providers,” American Customer Satisfaction Index. Accessed 30 January 2023.