Best CenturyLink TV and Internet Bundles

To make it simple, we've highlighted the four best CenturyLink bundles for TV lovers, internet junkies, and wallet-conscious users. 

Centurylink
CenturyLink Bundles
3.7 out of 5 stars
3.7
Prices
$95-$244.99
Download Speeds
140-940 Mbps
Channel Count Range
90-185
Easton Smith
Nov 08, 2024
Icon Time To Read5 min read

CenturyLink internet has teamed up with DIRECTV's to offer double and triple-play bundle packages.

Overall, we think this is an epic combo, considering that CenturyLink is on our list of the best internet service providers and DIRECTV makes the cut for the best satellite TV providers. But, the question is, which CenturyLink bundle is best for you?

We’ll go over our four favorite options in this article. But first, a few tips on how to choose the perfect TV and internet package.

reviews.org next zip logo
See which CenturyLink bundles are available in your area.

What to look for in your CenturyLink bundle

Choosing the perfect bundle requires a bit more research and forethought than just picking an internet plan on its own. But we’ve got a few tips that can make it easier to narrow down your choices.

1. Make sure you have enough internet speed

Not all high-speed internet is created equally. There’s a world of difference between 50 Mbps download speeds and 500 Mbps download speeds.

Below, we break down how much speed you need for a certain number of internet and Wi-Fi users, but high bandwidth activities, like uploading files, should also be considered. Here are a few guidelines to help you figure out how much speed you really need

Recommended download speed depending on your household size:

  • 1–2 people: 5–25 Mbps
  • 2–4 people: 25–50 Mbps
  • 4–6 people: 50–100 Mbps
  • 6+ people: 100–500 Mbps
  • 10+ people: 500–1,000 Mbps

2. Compare TV channel options

It’s not so easy to parse out which TV package is right for you when there are literally hundreds of channels to compare (not to mention choosing between extra features, like HD DVR and sports channel packages).

Still, it’s worth it to look closely at the channel list on each DIRECTV plan to make sure it has everything you need. You might be surprised that some favorites—like the NFL Network or Sundance TV—aren’t included in lower-tiered packages. Internet packages net you about 20 more channels per plan than satellite packages.

If you don’t want to sift through all the channels yourself, check out this guide from our TV expert Chantel Buchi.

3. Compare pricing

The best way to figure out the best bundle deal is to compare prices with plans from other providers in your area. You can do that by using the zip code tool below or by reading our roundup of the best TV, internet, and phone bundles.

Best budget bundle: DIRECTV® Entertainment + CenturyLink Internet

Centurylink
DIRECTV® ENTERTAINMENT + CenturyLink Internet Up to 140 Mbps
Download Speed
Up to 140 Mbps
Channel count
75+
Affordable price tag
$129.99/mo.

This plan gets you high-speed CenturyLink internet with up to 100 Mbps download speeds. If you happen to live in an area with CenturyLink Fiber Internet, then you can get even faster speeds for a few extra bucks each month.

On the TV side of things, you’ll have a DIRECTV plan with over 75 channels, including favorites like Disney Channel, HGTV, USA, TNT, ESPN, and CNN.

All this for $130 a month. That’s a pretty darn good deal (though it doesn’t necessarily beat bundle deals from Verizon, Frontier, and other providers).

Best High Speed Internet Bundle: DIRECTV® Choice + CenturyLink Internet Fiber

Centurylink
DIRECTV® CHOICE™ + CenturyLink Fiber Internet Up to 940 Mbps
Download Speed
Up to 940 Mbps
Channel Count
125+
Reliable and powerful fiber internet connection
$159.99/mo.

Having a ton of TV channels doesn’t make up for having slow internet, especially if you work from home, watch a lot of Netflix, or have a big family of streamers and gamers.

For those who need the best available internet speeds, we recommend the CenturyLink Internet Fiber and DIRECTV CHOICE bundle.

While DIRECTV’s channel offerings are nothing to sneeze at here, the real appeal of this bundle is CenturyLink's fiber internet connection. It can get you download speeds up to 940 Mbps (and upload speeds nearly as fast).

Comparing these fiber internet speeds to CenturyLink’s normal DSL internet speeds (or even cable internet speeds from companies like Spectrum) is like comparing a Honda Civic to a Lamborghini. It ain’t a fair race. And with this plan, you don’t really end up paying much more than you would for 100 Mbps internet.

The big catch is that this super high-speed internet plan from CenturyLink isn’t available in most areas. We hope to see CenturyLink expand its fiber coverage in the coming years (In the meantime, you can check out other fiber internet providers that may have better coverage in your area).

Best Bundle for TV Lovers: DIRECTV® PREMIER + CenturyLink Internet

Centurylink
DIRECTV® PREMIER™ + CenturyLink Internet Up to 140 Mbps
Download Speed
Up to 140 Mbps
Channel Count
185+
Tons of premier entertainment channels
$214.99/mo.

Do you like to unwind after a long day by flipping between ESPN 1, 2, and 3? Are you the type who likes to keep up with every new premier drama? Do you sometimes need the TV to fill in as a babysitter on Saturday afternoons?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, then we’ve got the perfect bundle for you: DIRECTV PREMIER and CenturyLink DSL internet.

This package gets you over 45 premium channels, including HBO (and a free Max subscription), STARZ, Cinemax, MGM+, and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME®. It also has specialty channels like Fox Soccer Channel, CINEMAX ThrillerMax, and HBO Family.

The internet plan that comes with this bundle isn’t the most powerful. It will get you up to 100 Mbps download speeds (depending on where you live and other factors) and won’t have the fast upload speeds that a fiber connection would get you. But this CenturyLink internet plan should still be plenty for everyday activities, like streaming Netflix and browsing.

Side note: DIRECTV is pretty great, but it’s not your only option. 

You can read about how DIRECTV compares to other popular TV providers, like DISH and Xfinity, in our full versus reviews.

Best Triple Play Bundle: DIRECTV® ULTIMATE + CenturyLink Internet + Home Phone

Centurylink
DIRECTV® ULTIMATE + CenturyLink Internet Up to 140 Mbps + Basic Home Phone
Download Speed
Up to 140 Mbps
Channel Count
160+
Unlimited nationwide calling
$199.99/mo.

While a phone with no touchscreen may seem like a distant relic to Zoomers and Millennials, there are plenty of people who still use a good ol’ landline phone service. For those customers, we recommend the DIRECTV ULTIMATE, CenturyLink Internet, and Home Phone service bundle.

This triple play bundle gets you CenturyLink’s DSL internet, a home phone plan with unlimited nationwide calling, and a DIRECTV package with over 150 channels, including HBO, Disney Channel, Sundance TV, and many others.

With this bundle, you’ll have your entire home outfitted for entertainment and communication for $200 a month. That’s a darn good deal when you think about it (just try adding up what you currently pay for the three services separately).

Recap: Best CenturyLink TV and Internet Bundles

Alright, folks, that’s about it for this review. Now it’s up to you to decide which bundle fits your lifestyle. Here’s a little recap to help you make up your mind.

Methodology

We like to give our readers a little peek into our decision making process when we write best-of reviews like this. So, for those of you who are interested, these are the features we looked at to determine the best CenturyLink bundles.

  1. Price: this is probably the most important factor to most consumers.
  2. Internet performance: performance comes down to more than just speed. We also take into account reliability (are there frequent outages?), upload speeds, and availability.
  3. TV channels: are all of the cable classics included in the package? What specialty channels are there? Are there optional add-on packages?
Easton Smith
Written by
Easton has worked as a freelance writer and researcher for several years, reviewing health, lifestyle, and technology products. He has probably read more Terms of Use contracts than any human alive. When he’s not sitting in front of a computer, Easton spends his time camping, climbing, and volunteering with humanitarian aid organizations.

Related Articles

watching_hockey_on_tv
6 Must-Have Bundles That Can Save You Money
Save money when you get one of these seven bundles that range from cable TV...
Reviews_org-State-of-Consumer-Media-Spending-2023-featured-image
State of Consumer Media Spending in 2024: Cost of Internet, TV, and Mobile
Reviews.org’s annual Consumer Media Spending Report takes a closer look into the cost of telecom...
ESPN+ review
ESPN+ Review
ESPN+ is for the sports fans who want live event coverage, access to on-demand series...
Best_Streaming_Services_for_Movie_Lovers
Best Streaming Services for Movie Lovers
Do you love movies but hate the movie theater experience? Then this is the guide...