If you live in rural America, finding a high-speed internet connection fast enough to handle today’s online activities is like finding a needle in a haystack. With slow satellite and lackluster DSL connections powering the internet in many country towns, lag time and buffering issues are often the norm, which can put a damper on Zoom meetings, video streaming and online gaming––not to mention working from home. 

But Windstream’s fibre-backed internet brand, Kinetic, could offer these folks a robust and affordable internet solution with download speeds that match those available in cities. However, speeds and pricing vary significantly depending on location––and some customers end up paying high prices for slow speeds, while others get fast connections for a great price. From plans, pricing, speed and more, here’s what you can expect with Windstream internet in 2022.

Most Kinetic plans transmit signals through a fiber-backed network to your home DSL connection. This hybrid technology enables the internet to perform much faster than local internet connections available in rural areas.

But download speeds can vary depending on your location. For example, the market for Legacy Lakes Way in Aberdeen, NC has plans starting at $39.99 that range from 200 Mbps to 1 GIG with speeds as fast as 800 to 1,000 Mbps. On the other hand, customers in Caballo, NM have to pay the same $39.99 price for download speeds starting at 10 Mbps. Windstream recommends the following minimum download speeds for Kinetic plans based on internet activities for low-tier markets (10 Mbps to 100 Mbps).

Standard Kinetic Internet: Delivers speeds up to 15 Mbps for basic internet use such as web browsing and email. 

Enhanced Kinetic Internet: Provides speeds up to 25 Mbps for video streaming, sending photos and music downloads.

Premium Kinetic Internet: Offers speeds up to 50 Mbps for households with multiple users that enjoy streaming videos and downloading high-quality photos.

Premium Plus Kinetic Internet: Delivers speeds up to 100 Mbps recommended for multiple users for downloading movies faster (1 GIG HD movie in 25 seconds), music streaming and video conferencing. 

Windstream customers who desire more speed have the option to upgrade their plan. You can upgrade to one of the Kinetic 200 plans with promotional pricing between $40 to $60 a month not including taxes and fees. For upgrades, the first three months are free. Customers only need to pay for nine months of service.

Windstream announced the company will expand its fiber-backed gigabyte broadband network to include new builds to one million homes and businesses by the end of the year. Perhaps this will level out the company’s pricing structure to be more consistent nationwide. We’ll have to wait and see. Until then, this is what you can expect from Windstream Kinetic plans.

Windstream Kinetic Internet

Pricing also depends on the security plan that you choose. Windstream security plans range from $10 to $15 per month. New customers pay a $50 activation fee. But currently, if you order your plan online, you can receive a $100 instant credit which covers the activation fee and puts $50 in your pocket.

Windstream offers one of the lowest equipment rental prices available. Renting a combination modem and router runs $10. In some markets, you can pay as low as $7. Windstream allows customers to use and install their own equipment (as long as it’s compatible with Windstream) which can cut $1,200 off your annual bill. 

Another great quality about Windstream: it comes with no data caps or overage charges. For example, some companies, such as Mediacom, charge $15 every time you hit 50 GB of data over your plan limit. So using 150 GB over your cap will tack on $45 to your bill. Another downside of data caps is throttling. Some providers begin to throttle the speed as you approach your data limit. You won‘t need to worry about this with Windstream.

Windstream Speed Test internet is available in 18 U.S. States, with the most coverage in Georgia, Kentucky and Iowa (50% and higher). The table below indicates where you can find Windstream internet.

Other Benefits

$100 instant credit for online orders 

Upgrades free for the first three months 

No contract 

30-day money-back guarantee

Flexibility to customize plans

Fine Print

Even with fiber connections, the speed and cost can vary substantially. For example, in some areas, plans start at 200 Mbps while plans in other locations start at 500 Mbps. But remember, you can still pay the same price. 

If you’re lucky to be in a market with the option to upgrade your plan to one gigabyte, Windstream will charge you an extra $30 a month. But you won’t be billed for the upgrade until the fourth month. 

How Windstream Stacks Up Is Windstream Internet Right for You?

If you live in a rural area that only offers satellite, a slow fixed internet or DSL connection, Windstream could provide you with the speed you need to enjoy endless streaming and gaming and more without interruptions. However, if your area doesn’t offer fibre or a fast cable connection, opt for an ISP plan with the best speeds and pricing. If you choose an internet provider with low data caps, make sure to select the plan that covers your data needs––or you could be paying big bucks on overage fees.

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: