We recommend products and services based on unbiased research from our editorial team. We make money via affiliate links, which means if you click a link on our site, we may earn a commission. Any commissions we receive do not affect our recommendations; if you want to know more about how that works, read more.
DSL is a good option for businesses and consumers in search of internet service. It may not be as fast as fiber-optic internet, but it’s reliable, lower-priced, and readily available nationwide. We’ve reviewed DSL service providers by comparing the plans each company offers, internet speeds, and customer service ratings. The criteria was established so you can make an informed choice when choosing your company’s internet service.
The Best DSL Internet Service Providers
- AT&T: Clearest Pricing Plans
- CenturyLink: Best Downtime Compensation
- Frontier: No Contract Required
- Verizon: Highest-Rated Customer Service
| Reviews.com Score | Availability | Bandwidth | J.D. Power Customer Service Rating | |
| AT&T | 4/5 | 21 states | Up to 75 Mbps | 5/5 stars |
| CenturyLink | 3/5 | 36 states | Up to 140 Mbps | 3/5 stars |
| Frontier | 2/5 | 29 states | Up to 115 Mbps | 2/5 stars |
| Verizon | 3/5 | 8 states | Up to 15 Mbps | 4/5 stars |
*Data as of March 30, 2020.
AT&T – Clearest Pricing Plans
PROVIDER SCORE: 4/5
AT&T makes shopping and comparing DSL internet plans simple. The website features clearly listed plans, which include all the information you need at a quick glance, including internet speeds, pricing, contract lengths, and equipment fees.
AT&T’s Business DSL service can support an entire company’s internet needs with fast downloading speeds for sharing large files.
| ✓ Best For: | ✗ Not For: |
| Businesses needing a standard plan Consumers needing custom features | Companies in search of high speeds Businesses not ready for a longer contract |
Availability: 3/5
AT&T’s services are available in 21 states. Its coverage area is mainly focused on the Southeast and Midwest regions, although business coverage is also available in select areas of Nevada and California.
Bandwidth: 4/5
AT&T offers up to 75 Mbps speeds for Business DSL customers, one of the fastest business DSL service speeds you’ll find in the market.
Customer Service: 5/5
AT&T earned second place in the 2019 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) with a 69 out of 100 and five out of five stars in the J.D. Power Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study.
Further Reading:
CenturyLink – Best Downtime Compensation
PROVIDER SCORE: 3/5
No one wants to deal with constant Internet outages. As little as an hour of internet interruption could mean lost productivity and hundreds or thousands of dollars in lost credit card sales or missed customer orders. Most internet providers have very low downtimes, but CenturyLink provides another layer of reliability by crediting you one day of DSL service for every thirty minutes of downtime your business suffers.
For smaller businesses, this added incentive can be critical when internet outages prevent revenue streams from increasing.
| ✓ Best For: | ✗ Not For: |
| Businesses that can’t afford internet interruptions People needing excellent customer support | Flexible contractual commitments Businesses that would suffer from a 1 TB monthly data cap |
Availability: 3/5
CenturyLink is available in 36 states, providing a large national network. The internet service provider (ISP) isn’t found in some larger states, including California and New York.
Bandwidth: 3/5
As with most ISPs, speeds vary by area and depends on the infrastructure. CenturyLink’s DSL bandwidth runs up to 140 Mbps, which allows employees to simultaneously conduct online tasks.
Customer Service: 3/5
CenturyLink’s customer service rating from the 2019 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) was below average at 59 out of 100. The ratings from J.D. Power were average at three out of five stars.
Further Reading:
Frontier – No Contract Required
PROVIDER SCORE: 2/5
New businesses or consumers on a monthly budget may not be ready to commit to a long-term contract. Or you or your company may foresee moving within a year, which makes Frontier’s no-contract plans a nice incentive due to not having to pay cancellation fees if you need to change services.
| ✓ Best For: | ✗ Not For: |
| Consumers wanting to avoid long contracts Companies who need excellent customer support | Users needing unlimited data |
Availability: 3/5
Frontier offers internet service in 29 states and although the internet may be available in your state, it’s common for service to vary from city to city within a state. It’s always best to check for availability online by entering your zip code.
Bandwidth: 3/5
Customers will get speeds of up to 115 Mbps, which should be enough for basic business tasks such as sending and receiving emails, creating cloud backups, running online accounting software, and participating in an occasional video conference.
Customer Service: 1/5
Frontier has a long way to go to improve its customer service rating. The DSL internet provider was near the bottom of the 2019 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) with a rating of 55 out of 100. Frontier came in last or next to last in all regions of the J.D. Power Study with just two out of five stars for customer service.
Verizon – Highest-Rated Customer Service
PROVIDER SCORE: 3/5
A new customer or small business may not be able to afford its own IT department yet and may need to rely on customer service and tech support for help. For customers with fewer resources to solve technical issues, Verizon ranks high in customer service, so there’s quality help available when your company needs it.
| ✓ Best For: | ✗ Not For: |
| New businesses needing more technical support than average Users outside the Northeast | Consumers needing fast and reliable DSL connectivity |
Availability: 1/5
Verizon internet is only available in eight U.S. states and the District of Columbia or now. Even in the few states covered, DSL service may not be as widespread.
Bandwidth: 3/5
Verizon offers high-speed internet for any size business and customer need. DSL business plans come with a bandwidth of up to 15 Mbps.
Customer Service: 5/5
Verizon ranks No. 1 in customer service with a score of 70 out of 100 in the 2019 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). The ISP also wins J.D. Power’s Internet Service Satisfaction Study with a four out of five stars.
Further Reading:
How to Choose Your Provider
Evaluate speed options
DSL speeds can vary from one internet service provider to the next. It’s best to compare more than one business DSL provider in your area (if there’s more than one) to determine the best bandwidth offer. Choose a higher speed tier than you think you’ll need — as your business grows, you may need more bandwidth.
Prep your home for DSL
If your home or business is not wired for DSL service yet, your service provider will send a technician to install the product. Make sure the area where the cables will be run is free and clear so the technician can access them quickly. Choose a central spot, so a connected router can transmit wifi throughout the property.
Test your speeds
Once you know the speed your ISP claims you’ll receive, test your internet speed regularly to ensure your service isn’t declining in bandwidth. If you notice a decline in your company’s DSL speeds, contact your service provider right away so you can receive guided troubleshooting to pinpoint and fix the issue.
Consider fiber or cable
Some DSL internet providers offer more than one type of internet service. Fiber is the fastest form of internet service today. Cable is similar in speeds to DSL, but it can be affected if others in the area are online with everyone in a neighborhood sharing the same bandwidth.
If you have the option to subscribe to fiber, it will be well worth it. Fiber speeds are as high as 1,000 Mbps, compared to a mere 100 Mbps for some of the faster DSL internet packages.
FAQ
About the Authors
Cynthia Paez Bowman is a contributing writer for Reviews.com. Over the last two years, she has covered insurance, home security and more. She has been featured in MSN, Bankrate, Coverage.com, The Simple Dollar and GOBankingRates. She has dual bachelors degrees in International Business and Journalism from American University in Washington, D.C. “Is It Getting Harder to Get Home Insurance in High-Risk Areas?” is Cynthia’s favorite story on Reviews.com.
Keep Reading
