SuddenLink Review: Plans, Prices And Speed 2024 (2024)

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Our Verdict

Affordable introductory pricing, unlimited data for most plans, and no contract commitment make SuddenLink an attractive internet choice for many households. However, with declining customer satisfaction in the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) report (2020 to 2021), a history of price hikes after the first year, and data overage costs for lower-tier plans in some areas, you might want to look elsewhere for your internet needs.

On the other hand, as SuddenLink joins the Optimum family at the end of 2022, the provider might see a bright light at the end of the tunnel and become one of the best fiber internet providers. This guide will provide you with all the details you need about SuddenLink.

Pros

No contracts and free data in most locations
Three to 12 months of free HBO Max
No equipment fees

Cons

Huge price hikes after 12 months
Data caps in 25% of service areas
$15 fee for exceeding 50 GB data limit in some locations

SuddenLink Internet at a Glance

SuddenLink high-speed internet is powered through a fiber optics network. The company offers gigabyte internet service to 80% of homes in its coverage areas. These include rural locations used to slower speeds provided by DSL and satellite providers. With SuddenLink, residential customers can access max download and upload speeds from 100 Mbps to 940 Mbps in many areas. However, plans and pricing can vary depending on where you live. We verified pricing and speeds for service in White Plains, NY. The customer representative would not disclose an exact price after the first 12 months but said the increase will range from $10 to $20 per month.

SuddenLink Plans, Pricing and Speed

Plans	Max Speeds	Introductory Price Per Month	Good For	Data Cap
Fiber Internet 100	Up to 100 Mbps download and upload	$29.99	Browsing, music, photos, file downloads,	Unlimited
Fiber Internet 1 GIG	Up to 940 Mbps download and upload	$79.99	Heavy streaming, gaming, VR, and more	Unlimited
Fiber Internet 300	Up to 300 Mbps download and upload	$39.99	Gaming, streaming, downloading large files	Unlimited
Fiber Internet 500	Up to 500 Mbps download and upload	$59.99	4K HD streaming, multi-player gaming, work from home	Unlimited

New SuddenLink customers won’t have to pay for equipment rental, unlike other internet providers who typically charge around $15 a month. Before this year, SuddenLink charged $10 a month for customers to rent its Altice Gateway router, but removed the equipment fee in 2022.

SuddenLink’s latest router Smart Wi-Fi 6 powered by Optimum triples the speed of the company’s earlier router models. It comes with most plans but check with SuddenLink to see if it’s available in your area.

Data Caps

Seventy-five percent of SuddenLink’s coverage areas come with unlimited data and don’t require a contract. While most areas offer unlimited data, certain pockets have data caps for lower-tier plans with max download speeds below 200 Mbps. Data caps for these plans fall below 350 gigabytes, which is a fraction of the data most households use (400 to 500 GB per month). Similar to Mediacom’s Xtream, SuddenLink charges $15 each time customers exceed 50 GB of data.

Suddenlink bumps up its prices after your first 12 months of service. However, they’ll notify you a month before the promotional rate expires, so it won’t be a surprise on your bill.

Unlike some providers, Suddenlink doesn’t lock you into a contract. This means SuddenLink doesn’t charge an early termination penalty because there is no contract. Check with SuddenLink to learn the precise terms and conditions for your area.

SuddenLink State Availability

Previously, SuddenLink offered internet plans in 17 U.S. states, primarily in the Southwest, Midwest, and Southeast. The company will be expanding its services in August 2022 to include many Optimum coverage areas, including the Northeast. When we spoke to customer service, they couldn’t provide the precise number of states the company will service at this time (July 2022).

Other Benefits

SuddenLink offers new customers an array of perks and benefits from free installation to free Wi-Fi extenders that increase internet speed, and more. Check out what you can expect for most plans:

Free HBO Max from three to 12 months (excludes Fiber Internet 100 plan)
Free Wi-Fi extender and free installation ($99 value) with some plans
Visa prepaid cards valued from $50 to $200 depending on your plan (excludes Fiber Internet 100 plan)
12 months of Optimum Mobile for $5
Up to $30 in savings off your monthly bill with the Affordability Connectivity Plan if you qualify

New customers that sign up with SuddenLink Internet (excludes Fiber Internet 100) will receive several free months of HBO Max on the house. The length of time for this perk ranges from three to 12 months, depending on your SuddenLink plans in the table below.

Plan	Free HBO Max	Monetary Value
1 Gig	12 months	$180
Internet 500	6 months	$90
Internet 300	3 months	$45

Affordable Connectivity Program

SuddenLink participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program, a federal government initiative that helps eligible households pay for their internet. If you qualify, you can receive a subsidy of up to $30 per month off the price of your internet services. The program is available to new and existing SuddenLink customers.

Fine Print

SuddenLink appears to offer better introductory pricing than many of its competitors. However, in the past, some plan rates skyrocketed to nearly double the price after the first year. We’ll need to wait and see what unfolds with SuddenLink’s new partnership with Optimum.

How SuddenLink Stacks Up

Company	Lowest Price Available	Customer Rating	Number of States Serviced	Learn More CTA text	Learn more CTA below text
SuddenLink Internet	$29.99	Great	17	-
Mediacom Internet	$19.99	Great	22	Learn More	Via Xtream's Website
CenturyLink Internet	$35	Great	21	Learn More	On Century Link's Website

Is SuddenLink Internet Right for You?

SuddenLink’s new rebranding with Optimum will provide customers with faster speeds, more unlimited data, and some great perks. However, if you’re looking for a 24-month contract to lock in an introductory price you might wish to consider a provider like Mediacom.

Methodology

To determine the best internet provider ranking, the Forbes Home Improvement editorial team analyzed third-party data on almost 20 major companies, with each company’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics, including:

Customer reviews (20%)
Customer support options (20%)
Number of states covered (15%)
Other services (10%)
Lowest price plan available (10%)
Highest price plan available (10%)
Pro installation (5%)
Unlimited data plans available (5%)
Bundle plans available (5%)

When comparing customer review data on some of the largest review sites, the
Forbes Home editorial team found the following customer review data for SuddenLink.

Trustpilot: 3.2 out of 5 stars
Consumer Affairs: 3.7 out of 5 stars
Google Reviews: 1.7 out of 5 stars

SuddenLink Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is SuddenLink internet a good deal?

SuddenLink internet is a great buy for the first year. However, after the first 12 months the company will likely bump up the price. How high will depend on the company’s branding. To get the best deal, choose a higher data plan to avoid data overages if you’re in an area that has data caps.

Is SuddenLink internet really unlimited?

Most plans provide customers with unlimited data. However, the Internet 100 plan has a data cap of 250 GB in some areas. Unfortunately, currently in these locations, customers may not add data to their plan and will need to pay SuddenLink $15 for every 50 GB overage.

Is SuddenLink Wi-Fi good for gaming?

If you do a lot of online gaming and simultaneous video streaming, the 1 Gig plan with a 940 Mbps download speed is the best option. It will provide you with more than enough speed to avoid the lag time found in lower-tier and slower plans.