Best DSL Internet Service Providers 2021

If you can’t get your hands on fiber and cable high-speed internet in your area, DSL internet might be an option instead.

Though DSL is slower than cable or fiber internet, it may offer okay speeds at a price that’s lower than satellite internet prices. And that’s why DSL is still one of our top choices for anyone who needs rural internet.

Plus, a lot of DSL internet service providers (ISPs) are updating those old DSL lines with fiber. This gives your internet speed a boost, but if you live in a truly rural area, you likely won’t see fiber infrastructure just yet.

Let’s dig into some of the larger DSL internet providers out there to see if one of them is a fit for you.

CenturyLink: Editor’s Choice

CenturyLink promises no price hikes, no contracts, and no data caps.

CenturyLink is one of our favorite internet service providers (ISPs) because it promises to never bump your monthly bill up, cap your data, or make you sign a contract. We can all breathe a sigh of relief now.

What we like about CenturyLink

No surprise price hikes

Depending on where you live, CenturyLink internet speeds may not be anything to write home about. Your download speed can land anywhere from 15 to 100 Mbps or somewhere in between, making it difficult to gauge the true value at first glance. But we will say that, no matter what your download speed is, CenturyLink brings something to the table with its unlimited data and lack of contracts.

Plus, the ISP promises to not jack your price up. That’s a unique perk—most internet providers offer a low price for about a year, then your bill goes up.

No contracts

Now that both CenturyLink and Frontier are both in on this no-contract thing, hopefully other internet service providers will feel the peer pressure. So whichever DSL high-speed plan you choose, you are free to opt out whenever you like without incurring an early termination fee.

So yeah, you get unlimited data, you don’t have to worry about price hikes, and you can leave whenever you want. That sense of security is a rare find with an internet plan.

What we don’t like about CenturyLink

Almost everybody we talked to before writing our CenturyLink review had something negative to say about its customer service. One user was even ghosted by CenturyLink despite setting an appointment. The internet specialist just never showed up! Talk about poor customer satisfaction.

Nobody wants to go days without an internet connection, and shaky customer service can certainly make that possible.

Frontier: Best budget option

Lots of options and low prices make Frontier’s low-speed plans good for budgeters.

Frontier offers only three DSL plans, so the variety isn’t the best part. The real game changers are that you won’t need to sign a contract to grab Frontier DSL internet service and you get unlimited data. Nice.

If only other internet service providers followed suit.

What we like about Frontier

No contract necessary

When you sign up for an internet service provider, you usually have to commit the next two years of your life as well. It’s like an awkward relationship where maybe you want to break up, but neither of you knows how, so you just keep dating forever. (Just us? Cool, cool.)

Anyway, Frontier doesn’t require an intense commitment from you. You can sign up for any internet download speed that works for you and then cancel if fiber or cable internet finally roll into town.

Value download speeds

Compared to other DSL internet options, Frontier’s speeds start at your lowest price point. And also your slowest download speed—but if you need only 6 Mbps, why pay for more?

Barring promotions, you’re likely getting the best value for that Frontier download speed.

What we don’t like about Frontier

It’s a bummer you can’t get Frontier everywhere. (Don’t you hate it when you read that something is easy on your wallet but you can’t get it in your area?)

Hopefully, this isn’t one of those moments. Frontier is available in 29 different states—so enter your ZIP code below and let’s see how lucky you are.

AT&T Internet: Best bundles

AT&T’s DSL internet bundles with DIRECTV or DIRECTV STREAM.

What we like about AT&T

Bundling promos

If you’re planning on signing up for a TV or phone service at the same time as broadband internet, AT&T might make a lot of sense for you. When you bundle everything together, expect to save about $10–$20 per month.

DSL speeds go up to 100 Mbps

AT&T automatically hooks you up with the fastest of internet speed available in your area, up to 100 Mbps. And you’ll pay the same price regardless of the size of your Mbps connection—whether it’s 10, 25, 50, 75, or 100 Mbps.

Of course, we don’t recommend internet speeds less than 50 Mbps if you can avoid them. And 100 Mbps is optimal for most families to stay connected even while everyone streams, games, and works from home.

What we don’t like about AT&T

We mentioned it before, but if you’re stuck with painfully slow AT&T DSL speeds, like 10 or 25 Mbps, it’s time to see if there are other internet options available to you.

That’s because these internet speeds are far too slow to keep up with modern-day online activities like Zoom calls, Netflix, and gaming.

If you find yourself in this tough spot, try looking for a local internet provider that might offer a better deal or take a peek at our picks for the best rural internet for more ideas.

Windstream: Best rural option

Looking for internet in Small Town, USA? Chances are Windstream is there.

Lazily driving along backroads in the country is one of our favorite pastimes, and you can imagine how shocked we were to see a big Windstream sign on a brick building as we slow-rolled through a nearby town. But that’s one of the perks with Windstream: it serves the small towns other ISPs have forgotten.

And not long ago, Windstream’s choices were a bit lackluster. But this ISP has since stepped up its game, offering speeds up to 500 Mbps—or up to 1,000 Mbps, if you’re lucky enough to live in an area with fiber.

What we like about Windstream

No contracts and unlimited data

Windstream also offers no-contract options and an unlimited data cap. Most internet service providers only give you 1 terabyte (TB) of data, and it’s nice knowing you won’t get any passive-aggressive emails sent at 2 a.m. warning you that you’ve almost reached your data cap.

Low prices for the speeds you get

Windstream’s prices are low—limbo low. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a provider that comes close, especially when you’re talking triple digit speeds.

What we don’t like about Windstream

It’s hard to get a peg on Windstream’s pricing because it changes—a lot—based on where you live. Your best bet is to check your ZIP code or address to find prices in your area. Simple, yes, but it’s another step you have to take just to get an idea whether Windstream fits in your budget or not.

Recap: What’s the best DSL internet provider?

When it comes to DSL internet, we recommend CenturyLink, Frontier, AT&T Internet, and Windstream. Here’s a quick look at why these four ISPs earned our vote:

• CenturyLink: Editor’s Choice. Who could say no to CenturyLink’s promises of no price hikes, unlimited data, and no contracts? We sure couldn’t.
• Frontier: Best budget option. With a variety of (slower) speeds, no contracts, no data cap, and low prices, Frontier’s DSL internet is an excellent choice for those who prefer to save money.
• AT&T Internet: Best bundles. If you love to binge-watch, you can’t beat AT&T Internet’s DIRECTV or DIRECTV STREAM bundles. You’ll save some money when you bundle too.
• Windstream: Best rural option. Windstream makes its home in rural towns where time moves more slowly. Plus, it comes with no contracts, no data caps, and some pretty rad speeds and prices.

Not sure DSL is right for you? Check out our reviews of cable and fiber internet:

• The Best Internet Service Providers
• The Fastest Internet Providers
• The Best Internet for Streaming
• The Best Internet for Gaming
• The Best Satellite Internet Providers

What about you—where did you decide to get your DSL internet access? What’s your experience been like? Let us know in the comments below!

What is DSL internet service?

You might assume that digital subscriber line (DSL) is just a fancy term for dial-up, but while both technologies use your phone line to connect you to the internet, that’s pretty much the only thing they have in common.

While good ol’ dial-up means you can’t take phone calls while surfing the web, DSL lets you do both. (Thank goodness, right?)

DSL is also a lot faster than dial-up—and you won’t need to wait for all those beeps and trills before you click on Netscape, err, your internet browser. (Thinking about dial-up has us stuck in the late 1990s.)

But why might you pick DSL over cable internet? Well, DSL is usually cheaper and more widely available than cable, since pretty much every part of the US has phone service. Of course, there are always exceptions to this, but if you’re digging life in the wilderness, you can always check out our picks for satellite internet.