Looking for a good and reliable internet connection is already a hassle and quite hard. But, looking for a modem compatible with that internet can be quite difficult as well. Well, maybe you’re not looking for an internet service provider, maybe you’re satisfied with the one you have. That still doesn’t mean looking for a modem is not a tedious task. So, what are you to do? How do you determine which modem you should buy?
First and foremost, it depends on your internet connection type. Secondly, it depends on the internet service provider. Thirdly, it depends on your internet speed. That’s pretty much it! You don’t need to look into other details once you’ve found the answer to this. These details will let you know which modem you can get. Now, that’s established, let’s move to the main topic. Here, in this article, we are going to talk about CenturyLink and the modems compatible with the different plans of CenturyLink.
CenturyLink Internet services are one of the best and top-rated services in the U.S. Not only does CenturyLink rank among the top 5 ISPs in the U.S., but it is also the 4th largest fiber internet provider and the 3rd largest DSL provider in the U.S. Its availability spans across 36 states. The most widely served states by CenturyLink are Arizona, Washington, Colorado, Minnesota, North Carolina, Florida, and Oregon. But enough about that, let’s move on to its internet plans and home phone packages!
CenturyLink plans and packages
So, before moving on to the compatible modems, let’s first discuss the internet plans and packages that CenturyLink offers to its customers. The reason this needs to be discussed is because of the conditions we mentioned before. To find a modem compatible with your internet, we will need to know the plan that you are using. So, it is important to first identify your plan and then move forward. Here is a list of the plans and bundles being offered by CenturyLink:
| Plans and Packages | Internet Speeds | Data Allowance | Pricing | Ideal for | Conditions |
| CenturyLink Simply Unlimited Internet | Up to 100 Mbps | Unlimited | $50/mo. | Modest consumption of the internetOnly wish to stay connectedStandard familyStandard usage of the internet | Paperless billing or prepay requiredAdditional taxes, fees, and surcharges appliedSpeed availability subject to location |
| CenturyLink Fiber Gigabit | Up to 940 Mbps | Unlimited | $65/mo. | Speed-hungry subscribersLarge householdsHeavy usage of the internetHomes with lots of smart devices | Paperless billing or prepay requiredAdditional taxes, fees, and surcharges applySpeed availability subject to location |
| Simply Unlimited Internet and Simply Unlimited Phone | Up to 100 Mbps | Unlimited | $90/mo. | Modest consumption of the internetOnly wish to stay connectedStandard familyStandard usage of the internetUnlimited nationwide calling | Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges applyRate excludes CTL fees not to exceed $3/mo./line |
| Fiber Gigabit and Simply Unlimited Phone | Up to 940 Mbps | Unlimited | $105/mo. | Speed-hungry subscribersLarge householdsHeavy usage of the internetHomes with lots of smart devicesUnlimited nationwide calling | Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges applyRate excludes CTL fees not to exceed $3/mo./line |
Best CenturyLink compatible modems
Now, that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s talk about the modems!
Actiontec C3000A
This modem is a great choice for speed. It works well with most DSL types and offers a speedy Wi-Fi connection as compared to most DSL modems and routers. This enhances your gaming and streaming experience. However, in terms of costs, it can be really expensive and easily costs twice as much as CenturyLink modems. In estimation, it can take over two years’ worth of rent to purchase it. Here are some more details for this modem:
DSL technology: ASDL, ASDL2+ (bonded), VDSL2 (bonded), GPON
Wireless protocol: 802.11n and 802.11ac
IP compatibility: IPv4 and IPv6
Price: $285.99
Zyxel C3000Z
This modem is best for static IPs. It offers a faster Wi-Fi connection than most DSL modems and routers and supports CBRAS connections. This helps you in setting up LAN subnets and also, static IP addresses. It is a great choice for an affordable yet fast modem. However, it works only with fast DSL technology. This modem will be great for you if you have a high-speed internet plan. Here are some more details for this modem:
DSL technology: VDSL2 (bonded), GPON
Wireless protocol: 802.11n and 802.11ac
IP compatibility: IPv4 and IPv6
Price: $229.95
Actiontec C1900A
This modem is great for its flexibility. It works very well with most DSL types and offers a faster connection for Wi-Fi than most of the DSL modems and routers. But, it runs pretty slow on ADSL as compared to the Actiontec 3000A modem. This modem is also offered by CenturyLink and so, it would help you save a few bucks if you purchase it from them. Here are some more details for this modem:
DSL technology: ADSL, ADSL2+ (bonded), VDSL2 (bonded), GPON
Wireless protocol: 802.11n and 802.11ac
IP compatibility: IPv4 and IPv6
Price: $189.99
Technicolor C1100T
This modem is also a good option for static IPs just like Zyxel C3000Z. It also supports CBRAS connections and works well with slightly slower DSL speeds. It doesn’t work very well with bonded DSL technology and also doesn’t offer the highly advanced Wi-Fi technology. Here are some more details for this modem:
DSL technology: ADSL, ADSL2+, VDSL2, GPON
Wireless protocol: 802.11n
IP compatibility: IPv4 and IPv6
Price: $99.95
Reasons for getting your own modem
Now, you must be wondering why you should consider buying a modem when you can just rent it from your ISP. While that thought is completely justified, let’s see some reasons why we would recommend you buy your own modem.
Saves money: Having your own modem means saving money in the long run. While it might seem like buying a modem is more expensive, think of it as an investment. Once you have your own modem, you won’t need to pay the monthly fee for the modem. Naturally, when you subscribe to an internet plan, you don’t change the service provider within a few months, unless it is unbearably bad. So, if you multiply the monthly fee for one month with the duration of at least two years, and compare it against the cost of the modem, you will see that you are paying more than if you had just purchased the modem yourself.
Additional controls: When you purchase your own modem, there is a high chance that you are getting additional benefits and features that you wouldn’t have gotten with the ISP’s modem. This is in, no way, the ISP’s fault or flaw as they just need to provide you with a basic modem so, if you want additional features like parental control or guest network tools, then you can get those easily by purchasing a modem yourself.
The verdict
We believe that you have made your decision while reading this final part of the article. Whatever your plan or package, you decide the modem according to it and get your very own modem! In case you are not subscribed to CenturyLink, and you want to, go on to BuyTVInternetPhone and find an internet plan or package for yourself by directly entering your ZIP code into the search bar. Click ‘Enter’ and choose your provider, whether CenturyLink or others like Spectrum, AT&T, Cox, etc., and enjoy a high-speed internet connection!
