EarthLink Reviews & Complaints

EarthLink reviews and complaints can help other customers understand a Fiber Internet, 5G Home Internet, billing, installation, equipment or customer-service experience. Share what happened, which service you used and whether the company resolved the issue. Positive, neutral and negative experiences are welcome on ZeroStars’ −5 to +5 rating scale.

EarthLink is a current national Internet provider offering Fiber Internet, 5G Home Internet and other connectivity options depending on the address. Product terms differ by technology: Fiber plans may include a subscription term and early termination fee, while EarthLink 5G Home Internet is currently month-to-month.

A useful EarthLink review explains your own experience in enough detail for another customer to understand it:

• Service and location: Fiber Internet, 5G Home Internet or another EarthLink service, plus your city or state.
• What happened: the approximate date, outage, speed problem, billing issue, installation appointment, equipment problem, cancellation or move.
• Support route: phone, chat, text, EarthLink Portal, app or technician visit.
• Outcome: what EarthLink promised and whether the repair, refund, credit, equipment return or account correction was completed.

Choose the rating that reflects your experience. A rating of 0 is valid. Do not post account numbers, passwords, payment details, security codes, your complete service address or unredacted bills in a public review.

EarthLink offers multiple connection types, including Fiber Internet and 5G Home Internet. Fiber plans currently advertise speeds up to 5 Gigs in eligible areas, while 5G Home Internet performance depends on wireless coverage, plan, network conditions and equipment.

If your review concerns speed, include the subscribed plan, whether the test used Wi-Fi or a wired Ethernet connection when applicable, the approximate time of day and whether the issue affected one device or several. Actual speeds can vary by location, network activity, equipment and device capability.

EarthLink’s Help Center provides troubleshooting steps for complete and partial Internet outages, and customers can contact support if power cycling or resetting equipment does not restore service.

For an outage review, record when service stopped, when it returned, what troubleshooting was attempted and what support said. If EarthLink offers a bill adjustment, document the amount and confirm that it actually posts.

EarthLink customers can manage billing and payment methods through the EarthLink Portal. Current billing guidance identifies possible late fees, reactivation fees, early termination fees on applicable subscription plans, convenience fees for some support-assisted one-time payments and non-returned equipment fees.

If a charge is unclear, compare the current statement with the previous bill, your original service agreement and any recent service or equipment changes. Ask support to identify the exact line item and whether it is recurring, one-time, equipment-related, promotional or tied to a contract term.

EarthLink’s current billing guidance says Fiber/Internet pricing is locked for the duration of the applicable subscription period, which can be one or two years depending on the plan. EarthLink says customers receive 30 days’ notice before company-wide pricing or fee changes.

EarthLink 5G Home Internet is currently month-to-month with no annual subscription. Do not assume terms for 5G service apply to Fiber, or vice versa.

EarthLink Fiber is professionally installed. The company says customers can check order status and modify installation appointments through its order-status tools, and EarthLink can contact customers if an appointment changes.

EarthLink 5G Home Internet is designed for self-installation. If your review concerns installation, note the service type, appointment or shipment date, whether equipment arrived or the technician showed up, and whether service worked after setup.

EarthLink-provided routers and related equipment can be leased or otherwise tied to the service plan. Current EarthLink return guidance uses a QR-code process that allows customers to bring the modem/router and associated cables to a participating Staples or The UPS Store, where the equipment is packaged and shipped.

EarthLink’s current billing guidance says equipment should be returned within 15 days after cancellation to avoid a non-returned equipment fee. Equipment returned later can have different refund treatment. Keep the drop-off receipt or tracking record until the device is cleared from the account.

EarthLink handles cancellation and service modifications through customer support. Existing customers can use 1-888-327-8454 or EarthLink’s official support channels. For 5G Home Internet specifically, EarthLink currently instructs customers to call 1-866-323-0325.

Before canceling, confirm the disconnect date, whether your plan is month-to-month or within a Fiber/Internet subscription term, any early termination fee, the final bill and all equipment-return requirements.

EarthLink’s billing guidance says approved refunds to credit cards, debit cards or bank drafts are generally returned to the payment method on file after processing, while check-payment refunds may be mailed.

For equipment-related refunds, EarthLink says the router must be returned in good condition and that processing begins after the return is received. A billing credit, deposit refund and refund to a payment method are different outcomes, so ask EarthLink to specify which one applies.

EarthLink Fiber and other Internet plans can include a one-year or two-year subscription period depending on the plan and location, and an early termination fee can apply if the customer cancels within that period.

EarthLink 5G Home Internet is different: current support materials say it is month-to-month and does not have an annual contract. Review your own order confirmation before canceling or moving.

EarthLink recommends contacting the company before canceling when moving. Current moving guidance says customers can transfer eligible service to a new address and should bring their modem, power cord and cables when instructed.

A move can begin a new service term at the new address. EarthLink says an existing early termination fee at the old address can be waived when the relocation is completed, while the new service can have a new term and fee structure.

EarthLink 5G Home Internet is a wireless, prepaid service billed in advance. Current plans include limited-data and unlimited options depending on availability. Activation requires a payment method and self-installation of the provided device.

If your review concerns 5G service, identify the plan, data allowance, signal quality, equipment model and whether the problem involves activation, throttling, billing, coverage or cancellation.

EarthLink maintains a Fraud and Abuse Department and provides guidance for reporting spam and phishing. EarthLink says it will not ask customers for their password by email.

For suspicious EarthLink email, the company recommends using the Spam button in EarthLink Web Mail or forwarding the complete original message as an attachment to thisisspam@earthlink.net. If you believe an account is compromised, change the password and contact official EarthLink support.

EarthLink markets service across a broad national footprint, but the actual connection type, maximum speed and plan terms depend on the exact address and underlying network availability.

For an availability review, identify your city or general area without posting your full street address. This provides useful context while protecting personal information.

The EarthLink Portal and app can be used for billing, payment-method changes, account information and other self-service tasks. EarthLink also provides guest payment, activation and order-status tools for specific needs.

If your review concerns login or account access, note whether the issue affected the portal, app or both and whether password reset or support resolved it. Never post usernames, passwords or verification codes in a public review.

Compare other customer experiences with WOW! Internet reviews, Mediacom reviews, Kinetic reviews, Google Fiber reviews, CenturyLink reviews, Frontier Communications reviews, Cox Communications reviews, Optimum reviews, Spectrum reviews and Xfinity reviews. Browse the full Internet, TV & Phone Services category. These links provide additional customer experiences, not a ranking or endorsement.

Official sources checked September 26, 2026. This guide was reviewed against EarthLink’s current contact, Help Center, billing, Fiber, 5G Home Internet, equipment-return, moving, security and account information. Company statements are attributed to EarthLink. Availability, support routes, subscription terms, pricing, equipment, promotions, taxes and fees can vary by product, address, account and date. Customer ratings and reviews are submitted separately by ZeroStars users.

EarthLink’s current support materials list 1-888-327-8454 for existing-customer account assistance and support. Product-specific numbers can differ.

It depends on the service. Fiber/Internet plans can include one-year or two-year subscription periods with an early termination fee, while current EarthLink 5G Home Internet is month-to-month.

Contact EarthLink support at 1-888-327-8454 or use the official support channels. For 5G Home Internet, EarthLink currently lists 1-866-323-0325 for cancellation.

EarthLink currently sends a QR code by email, allowing customers to take the modem/router and associated cables to a participating Staples or The UPS Store. Return the required equipment within the stated deadline and keep the receipt.

EarthLink’s current billing guidance says equipment should be returned within 15 days after cancellation to avoid a non-returned equipment fee.

No. ZeroStars is an independent review website. A published review shares your experience but does not open a support case, cancel service, return equipment, request a refund or change your EarthLink account.

Yes. Explain the original problem, what EarthLink did and how it was resolved. Reviews describing successful repairs, helpful support, corrected bills or completed refunds can be useful alongside unresolved complaints.