CenturyLink Landline Phones for Seniors: a 2025 Review
|
April 4, 2025
|
Landlines might seem like a thing of the past. As of 2024, more than seven out of 10 U.S. adults use wireless phones only, according to the Chamber of Commerce (a business advocacy organization, not the government office). But less than half of adults 65 and older are mobile-only, meaning most still depend on landlines. While another report from the National Center for Health Statistics found that 55 percent of U.S. adults 65 and older are wireless-only, it is still the lowest rate of any age group by a wide margin.
CenturyLink is a reputable phone and internet service provider. The company currently offers a single landline for users who want a traditional home phone, including a primary phone number and features such as caller ID and call waiting. The company also offers a bundled option for home phone and CenturyLink internet.
The landline seems expensive at $50 per month, but we like CenturyLink’s no-nonsense approach to their plan, with few hidden fees and no long-term contracts. It also features unlimited long-distance calling, which many plans do not. If you’re in CenturyLink’s service area, consider them a viable option for a reliable landline, especially if you bundle it with CenturyLink internet.
FYI: To learn more about our favorite phone services for seniors, read our guides to the best senior phone plans and best landline phone plans.
CenturyLink Landline Pros and Cons
Pros
- Unlimited nationwide calling: Unlike some providers, CenturyLink’s landline offers unlimited calling for both local and long-distance on their home phone plan.
- Great call features: The landline plan includes caller ID, three-way calls, and, of course, voicemail.
- Bundling option: CenturyLink offers customers the chance to save money by bundling their home phone plan with internet service.
Cons
- Lack of options: CenturyLink offers only a single landline plan plus a bundling option, so there isn’t room to customize your service.
- Price: At $50 per month, CenturyLink’s stand-alone landline plan is not the cheapest on the market.
FYI: To learn more about our favorite internet providers, read our guide to the best internet for seniors.
CenturyLink Landline Plans and Pricing
There is only one landline-only plan from CenturyLink, and it costs $50 a month. However, there are two landline-and-internet bundles ranging from $95 to $115 a month, a more economical option given that internet alone costs either $55 or $75 a month. That means that with the bundle, you save $10 at either level.
| Plan | Starting monthly price |
|---|---|
| Landline only | $50 |
| Landline and 100 Mbps internet | $95 |
| Landline and 940 Mbps internet | $115 |
CenturyLink Landline Plan for Seniors
CenturyLink does not offer a plan specifically for older adults, but if you only want a landline, that’s an option for $50 a month.
How to Purchase CenturyLink
To purchase a landline from CenturyLink, go to the company’s website and enter your address. You can also chat with an agent virtually, or call 855-263-9576.
CenturyLink Landline Pricing
CenturyLink’s home phone plan costs $50 per month. Bundled with a CenturyLink internet plan, it costs $95 or $115 per month. One thing we love about CenturyLink is that they offer unlimited local and long-distance calls, so you never have to worry about overages.
There are a few extra fees to be aware of, but they won’t apply to everyone. CenturyLink normally installs their landline for free. Your house will need a phone jack, however, and CenturyLink charges $99 to install one if your house doesn’t already have one. We were impressed that installation is free otherwise.
If you need an internet modem to connect your house to the internet as part of your bundle, you can buy it through CenturyLink for either a one-time fee of $200 or $15 per month. We strongly recommend purchasing a compatible modem rather than renting one.
Finally, late fees for payments can either be a flat $5 or a percentage of the amount you owe. It could also be a combination of the two. We recommend signing up for automatic payments to avoid late fees altogether.
CenturyLink Landline vs. Verizon Landline
Both CenturyLink and Verizon offer no-contract plans for landlines with no price increases. The major difference between them is that CenturyLink is an actual landline phone service, while Verizon’s landline plan is Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), meaning it requires an internet connection. VoIP has better sound quality than landline, but emergency calls to 911 aren’t guaranteed, as they depend on your internet connection, according to Business News Daily.
Keep in mind that CenturyLink offers a similar program for $30 a month .But we’re comparing the actual landline to Verizon’s VoIP, which you can buy on an unlimited or per-minute basis for either domestic or international calls, while CenturyLlink’s landline can be used for domestic calls only. Also, keep in mind that Verizon’s home phone service requires an internet package from Verizon, specifically.
| CenturyLink Landline | Verizon VoIP | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $50 | $30 |
| Price increases | No | No |
| Contract requirement | No | No |
| Long-distance calls | Unlimited nationwide | Unlimited nationwide, Puerto Rico, and Canada; international calls to 1 additional country/destination of choice |
Learn more about Verizon’s senior discounts or Verizon mobile phone plans, which you can also bundle with home phone and/or internet.
Bottom Line
With no long-term contracts, no hidden fees beyond equipment costs, and a single landline plan that includes both unlimited local and long-distance calling, CenturyLink is a viable option for people looking for a primary home phone. And you may be able to save money by bundling multiple CenturyLink services into one monthly bill, such as CenturyLink internet with your home phone.
With only one plan, which is by no means the cheapest landline available, CenturyLink will not be a perfect fit for everyone. Call or visit CenturyLink’s in-person retailers to find out if the provider’s landline is right for you, and check your eligibility for multiple discount programs. Or, check out other services like Xfinity landline, AT&T landline, or Frontier landline.
Methodology
Here is how we review landlines, and some factors to keep in mind if you’re choosing between providers.
- Cost: Most landlines cost around $50 to $75 a month, but you may be able to save money with your AARP membership, with some providers, or by bundling multiple services together, like a landline with internet and TV.
- Contracts: The majority of companies won’t make you sign a long-term contract for a landline, but beware that with a month-to-month contract, your pricing could go up as soon as a month.
- Features: The landline should have the standard features we’ve come to expect from a home phone like three-way calls, caller ID, long-distance and international calling, and speed-dialing.
- Type of technology: Decide if you want a traditional landline that uses telephone wires or a digital home phone service that uses your internet connection. Traditional landlines won’t require the internet and stay on during a power outage. VoIP phones, on the other hand, need power, which is why some come equipped with battery backups that last around twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Not sure which route you want to go? Read about the five reasons you should keep your landline.
CenturyLink Frequently Asked Questions
-
Does CenturyLink still offer landline service?
Yes, CenturyLink offers a single landline plan for $50 a month. You can combine it with internet services and save $10 a month.
-
Is CenturyLink’s landline service reliable?
Yes, CenturyLink’s landline service is reliable. They are one of the few companies that offer traditional landline service, which does not depend on an internet connection and will stay on in a power outage, unlike digital home phone service, i.e., Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP.)
-
Which is more expensive: CenturyLink landline or cellular?
CenturyLink does not offer a cellular phone plan.
-
Does CenturyLink offer a senior discount?
No, CenturyLink does not offer a senior discount.