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Another disadvantage to cable internet service is the upload speed. Cable can give you really fast download speeds, but it can’t deliver fast upload speeds due to limitations in the infrastructure. So if your Sparklight (Cable One) internet package has a download speed of 200 Mbps, you may have an upload speed of only 20 Mbps.

Choosing between Cable One and CenturyLink is tricky since they have so much in common. Both offer high-speed Internet, TV, and phone service. As an added bonus, both offer “gigabit” Internet in select areas.
As with most tie-breaker reviews, the devil is in the details. I’d love to say “just pick CenturyLink” since they’re a stronger value overall… but in many areas, Cable One has the upper hand — especially in midwest suburban markets.
The big catch with Cable One is that they have strict data caps in many areas. If available, CenturyLink is the better choice for “cord cutters” who prefer streaming Netflix to a traditional cable TV subscription.

Sparklight (formerly Cable One): Recommended For Family Homes, Sports Fans & TV Fans

Recommended For:

Enjoy fast and reliable high speed Internet service, Cable TV and Phone with Sparklight (formerly Cable ONE)! No contract or bundle required. Sign up for service today! In response to the current level of COVID-19 cases, technicians may be unable to enter customer homes at this time. Internet Speed: Cable One Speed Test Quickly check your Cable One internet speeds at your current location with the speed test to the right. Test your latest cable internet upload and download speeds to evaluate whether or not your internet is right for you.

Family Homes
Sports Fans
Tv Fans

Cable One’s traditional cable service offers good value at a reasonable price point. They also offer gigabit download speeds in some areas. (Although even on these plans their upload speeds max out around 50 Mbps.) The channel variety, fast speeds, and friendly customer service make them perfect for family homes.

Their TV options are the real value-add for Cable one, making them a better choice for customers who want a robust, full-featured Internet/TV bundle plan.

CenturyLink: Recommended For Cord Cutters, Home Offices & Techies

Recommended For:

Cord Cutters
Home Offices
Techies

CenturyLink is our top pick for customers in urban areas, or for those who have access to their fiber “gigabit” plans. CenturyLink is also a good option for rural customers without cable access.

Overall, CenturyLink offers decent-to-excellent speeds for budget-friendly prices. Their fiber plans offer gigabit upload and download speeds at a similar price point as other leading fiber providers like Google Fiber and Verizon Fios.

Compare Sparklight (formerly Cable One) and CenturyLink at a Glance

STATISTIC	SPARKLIGHT (FORMERLY CABLE ONE)	CENTURYLINK
Price Range	$39.00 – $125.00/mo+	$49.00 – $65.00/mo+
Connection Type(s)	Cable & Fiber	DSL, Fiber, Fixed Wireless & Copper
Customer Recommendation Rating on BroadbandNow.com	49.90%	35.30%
ACSI Customer Service Rating	0/100	63/100
Netflix Ranking	34th	46th
Population Served	3,262,103	49,300,155

Cable One vs CenturyLink Download Speed Performance

Again, speed details vary from address to address. Here’s the overall national speed test data to give you some grounding:

CITY	CABLE-ONE SPEED	CENTURYLINK SPEED
Blackfoot	219.79 Mbps	56.52 Mbps
Boise	205.61 Mbps	41.34 Mbps
Caldwell	280.43 Mbps	43.35 Mbps
Cottonwood	154.81 Mbps	38.28 Mbps
Eagle	212.94 Mbps	39.3 Mbps
Fargo	171.97 Mbps	34.58 Mbps
Idaho Falls	206.26 Mbps	67.7 Mbps
Kimberly	227.08 Mbps	15.02 Mbps
Kuna	203.01 Mbps	65.64 Mbps
Meridian	212.4 Mbps	53.59 Mbps
Middleton	227.22 Mbps	16.75 Mbps
Nampa	214.46 Mbps	78.58 Mbps
Norfolk	212.48 Mbps	10.35 Mbps
Ontario	170.61 Mbps	85.87 Mbps
Rio Rancho	283.24 Mbps	31.41 Mbps
Safford	324.88 Mbps	17.69 Mbps
Shelley	101.21 Mbps	49.17 Mbps
West Fargo	222.23 Mbps	28.6 Mbps

*Speeds above are based on 8,766,642 speed tests over the trailing 12 months.

Cable One vs CenturyLink: Network Technology

The main difference between Cable One and CenturyLink is network technology.

Cable One started as a cable TV provider, and delivers Internet over the same coaxial cable network that delivers TV channels.

CenturyLink, on the other hand, was a phone service provider — and their Internet service usually comes over the same DSL copper wires (AKA phone lines) that deliver landline phone service.

Coaxial cable is generally better than DSL when it comes to reliability. For that reason, Cable One is great for customers who are choosing between cable and DSL.

The game-changer here is CenturyLink’s fiber network. Fiber networks, unlike cable or DSL, are designed for digital data. This allows CenturyLink to deliver incredible speeds in the gigabit range — close to 1,000 Mbps upload and download. To put that in perspective, it’s about 10x the average for traditional cable and DSL. It also comes at a reasonable $85/month.

Cable One Speed Test

Cable One also offers “gigabit” Internet, but with a major caveat — the download speeds are comparable with Google Fiber or CenturyLink, but their upload speeds are only around 50 Mbps. Not to mention, it costs about twice as much at a whopping $175/month.

In many of the areas where they overlap, only one or the other will offer advanced speeds. DSL service from CenturyLink can be spotty depending on your exact address, since DSL Internet slows down the further you get from the local ISP office.

If possible, compare speed tests from friends and neighbors. If not, don’t be scared to try out one option and cancel within the 30 day grace period if it doesn’t live up to their speed promises.

Customer Service

Customer service is important if you’re going to be dealing with a provider for the long haul. Particularly for customers who aren’t “tech-savy,” being able to call for help when things aren’t working is critical.

Cable One is the winner in this department. They do a good job of keeping that “small business” feel when you talk to their local offices and technicians.

If I was choosing an Internet provider for my Grandma, Cable One would be my selection for this reason. She doesn’t need gig upload speeds or a ton of data — she just needs to check email and Facebook and stream Netflix once in awhile. Most importantly… she needs to be able to call and talk to a real person if the router needs to be reset.

Installation Considerations and Fees

CenturyLink is pretty flexible with installation and will allow most customers to self-install if they so choose. (Just budget an hour or so to follow the instructions in their self-install kit.)

Professional installation by a technician is also available for CenturyLink, but be aware that it adds a fee to your first monthly bill. (Some customers have reported success arguing their way out of it over the phone when signing up for a multi-year contract.) If you’re signing up for their fiber service, you probably won’t be able to get around the technician fee.

Equipment and Installation

CenturyLink is easy to install yourself, so long as you have the time and patience. Cable One requires an appointment with a technician, but doesn’t charge for it.

Cable One actually doesn’t allow self-installation at all, which is highly unusual among cable provide