Earth Link Review 2026. Is earthlink.net good or bad on providing Telecom services?

📄 Editorial Review

(3*) 🔧 Services: Telecom
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EarthLink: A Veteran ISP Expanding into Hosting and Web Development

With over 25 years of experience in internet services, EarthLink has steadily transitioned from a traditional ISP to a multifaceted provider offering web hosting, domain services, cybersecurity, and full-scale website development. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the company now supports individuals and small businesses across the U.S. with a growing portfolio of digital solutions designed for usability and flexibility.

While its core internet services remain a staple, EarthLink’s entry into hosting and web development reflects an ambition to support small business owners from connectivity to full online presence.

Web Hosting Solutions with a Basic Foundation

EarthLink’s hosting portfolio includes:

• Shared Hosting
• Email Hosting
• Domain Registration
• Web Design

The shared hosting plans offer standard features such as WebMail, spam filtering, anti-virus protection, and basic SEO tools. Customers can utilize a custom website builder, and the plans are mobile-responsive by default. Calendar integration, contact management, and note-taking tools round out the hosting environment.

Their "Design Your Own" option bundles a free domain, domain-based email accounts, and enhanced website tools—a decent starting point for small business websites.

The absence of a money-back guarantee or clearly stated uptime commitment may be concerning for cost-conscious or performance-driven users. Additionally, the service uses a proprietary control panel instead of the more common cPanel, which may require a learning curve.

Website Development: DIY or Done-for-You Options

EarthLink’s website development services represent one of the company’s more recent and robust expansions. Their offering is split between professionally developed websites and DIY (Design-It-Yourself) plans, catering to business owners with different levels of time, skill, and budget.

Professionally Designed Packages

EarthLink’s in-house team creates responsive, mobile-friendly websites complete with:

• SEO-focused content
• Custom lead forms
• Website analytics
• Professional copywriting

Two tiers are available:

• Standard Plan: 5 web pages, 200 branded emails, 4 hours of maintenance, and a basic email list.
• Premium Plan: 10 pages, 1,000 emails, and the same maintenance and mailing list options.

This offering is ideal for businesses looking for a turnkey experience with ongoing support.

DIY Website Builder Plans

For those wanting creative control, the DIY builder includes:

• Drag-and-drop editing
• Mobile-optimized design
• Free domain registration
• Domain-based email accounts (up to 500 in higher-tier plans)
• Email marketing tools
• SEO-friendly templates
• Security features like shared SSL

Packages range from Website Plus to Business Website Plus and eCommerce Website Plus, the latter adding guided store setup and support for Microsoft SQL databases.
Each plan supports custom layouts, local presence tools (like maps and schedulers), and WordPress blog integration. It’s a solid option for small businesses with design input but without developer expertise.

Security and Domain Services

EarthLink provides a range of SSL certificates tailored to business scale and security needs:

• Positive SSL for basic encryption
• DV SSL for growing businesses
• EV SSL for eCommerce with extensive validation

Their domain registration service includes standard features—domain-based branding, identity protection, and brand ownership control—with no recurring monthly charges for basic domain registration.

Customer Support and Limitations

Support is available via phone and email, but live chat is notably absent, which can be a drawback for users needing real-time help. EarthLink also hosts a knowledge base for self-service troubleshooting.
On the downside, the lack of an uptime guarantee, money-back assurance, and reliance on a custom control panel instead of industry-standard tools may limit appeal for more experienced web users or those needing guaranteed service levels.

🎯 Conclusion

EarthLink brings decades of experience and name recognition, particularly as a long-standing internet provider in the U.S. Its expansion into web hosting and development is clearly aimed at small business owners who want a reliable, all-in-one provider—from internet access to digital storefronts.

However, compared to more specialized hosting providers, EarthLink's offerings can feel pricey for the value, and the lack of certain guarantees and tools puts it behind names like Bluehost, IONOS, or GoDaddy in terms of hosting innovation and flexibility.

Still, for clients seeking an easy, bundled experience with basic hosting, security, and web development, EarthLink remains a solid option—particularly for those already using their ISP services or looking for a provider with a U.S.-based support structure.

As of 2025, EarthLink no longer lists any prices or predefined plans directly on its website. Instead, all their current offerings require customers to request a quote for customized services. This marks a shift from their previous approach, when EarthLink used to publish clear pricing for their offers. The new "quote-only" model can hinder transparency and make it harder for potential customers to quickly evaluate and compare options, potentially reducing its appeal to those seeking straightforward information.

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