There’s no getting around it—internet is a necessity in a vast majority of U.S. homes. But how do you choose the plan for your needs when there are so many different options out there? You’ve come to the right place. This review explores Spectrum Internet, including its plans, pricing and what makes them stand out from the competition.
| Highlights |
|---|
| Up to 2 Gbps speed available in select markets |
| Doesn't rely on a cell tower for signal |
| Up to a 3 year price guarantee |
| Internet, Mobile, & TV bundling options |
About Spectrum Internet
Spectrum is one of the two largest internet service providers in the country, alongside Xfinity, and they employ hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) technology to bring faster, more reliable speeds than coaxial cable internet alone.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Fast, reliable fiber-powered internet* | Internet-only plans only offer a one-year price guarantee |
| Plans starting at $30 per month | Not as many speed options as some competitors |
| 100 Mbps to 2 Gbps plans available | |
| Free installation and activation with 500 Mbps plans and faster | |
| Advanced Wi-Fi with premium cybersafety and network performance | |
| Option to bundle mobile, home phone and TV for additional savings | |
| No contracts required | |
| Unlimited data on all plan tiers | |
| Coverage available in 41 states | |
| 24/7, U.S.-based billing and technical support |
Coverage Areas
Spectrum Internet is available in 41 states across the U.S. You can find out which Spectrum services are available in your area by entering your zip code on the company’s website.
Plans, Pricing & Packages
Spectrum offers three main internet-only plans that are based on internet speed, which is measured in megabits per second, or Mbps. Each speed level has its own perks, so let’s take a look at the differences between them:
Internet Advantage
- 100 Mbps fiber-powered internet*
- Good for basic internet use
- Add Advanced Wi-Fi for $10 per month
- Spectrum Mobile included for one year
- No contracts or data caps
Internet Premier
- 500 Mbps fiber-powered internet*
- Good for work and entertainment across multiple devices
- Free installation and activation
- Add Advanced Wi-Fi for $10 per month
- Spectrum Mobile included for one year
- No contracts or data caps
Internet Gig
- 1-gig fiber-powered internet (1,000 Mbps)*
- Fuels serious gaming, streaming and working for the whole household
- Free installation and activation
- Advanced Wi-Fi included
- Spectrum Mobile included for one year
- No contracts or data caps
Spectrum also offers a 2 Gbps plan, but since it’s not available in all areas, it is not listed on their main plans page. This plan is similar to the 1 Gbps plan in that it includes Advanced Wi-Fi and there are no contracts or data caps. This speed of internet service is ideal for large families, professional gaming, content creators and remote teams.
Pricing
Spectrum’s internet-only plans start at $30 per month for the 100 Mbps plan and increase based on internet speed. The 500 Mbps plan is $50 per month, and the 1 Gig plan is $70 per month. Spectrum’s 2 Gbps plan is $90 per month. Keep in mind that these prices are only guaranteed for one year, and your monthly bill will increase to the standard rates after the promotional period ends. Spectrum does not provide upfront information about what their standard rates are after the promotion expires, but customers can expect an increase of $20 to $40 per month, depending on plan speed.
Spectrum also offers a low-cost plan for low-income households. Spectrum Internet Assist provides 50 Mbps internet for $15 per month for qualifying households. With this plan, customers also receive an unlimited mobile phone line for one year.
Packages & Additional Services
In addition to internet, Spectrum offers a number of different services, including mobile phone, home phone, TV and streaming. Each of these services can be bundled with home internet for extra savings. In addition to saving money, some bundle options also offer extended price guarantees on internet, locking in your rate for two or three years.
There is a helpful interactive bundling tool on Spectrum’s website that allows you to build a package that suits your household needs and compare pricing and perks between available plans.
Contracts, Equipment & Additional Monthly Fees
Spectrum doesn’t require contracts on any of their plans, which is a welcome change from internet plans of the past that lock customers in for a year, or even more.
Spectrum’s internet plans include a modem at no extra cost. Customers can use their own Wi-Fi router (check the list of compatible devices on the company’s website) or opt for Spectrum Advanced Wi-Fi, which includes a Wi-Fi router. The cost for Advanced Wi-Fi is $10 per month, unless you choose the Spectrum Gig plan or a bundle, in which case it’s included in your monthly fee.
Spectrum’s Advanced Wi-Fi routers have Wi-Fi 7 technology, which can securely support more than 250 total connected devices, providing a secure connection for mobile phones, tablets and laptops by automatically blocking malicious websites and internet-originated attacks.
If you have a large home or have experienced Wi-Fi “dead spots” in the past, Spectrum offers Wi-Fi Pods that integrate with the Advanced Wi-Fi router to provide seamless whole-home Wi-Fi coverage. The cost for Wi-Fi Pods are $3 per pod, per month.
Another fee to be aware of is the installation fee. This is waived with higher-tier plans, but for the lower-tier options like Internet Advantage, there is a $30 service activation fee for self-installation, or a $65 charge for professional installation if a technician is needed.
How Spectrum Internet Stacks Up
Now that you know what Spectrum has to offer, let’s see how they compare to other top internet providers:
| Spectrum | Xfinity | AT&T | Verizon Fios | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting at $30 per month | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Fiber-powered internet comes standard | Yes | No | No | No |
| No contracts required | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Unlimited data | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| No equipment fees on 500 Mbps plan & up | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Bottom Line: Why We Love It
Spectrum hits all the right notes for most of us average internet users: Competitive pricing, a variety of internet speed options, no contracts and unlimited data—and they even offer super-fast speeds for heavy-duty uses like large households and serious gaming.
Spectrum’s fiber broadband network provides fast, consistent internet performance compared to coaxial cable internet, which is an especially good option if 100 percent fiber isn’t available in your area.
We think Spectrum’s a great option for those who want to bundle multiple services, as that’s how you score the best deals and longest price guarantees. So if you’re interested in increasing your internet speed or services to meet your household’s needs, we recommend checking Spectrum out to see what’s available in your area.
FAQs
Spectrum offers both 100 percent fiber and fiber-powered internet, depending on location. Both are designed to deliver speed and performance.
With Spectrum’s 100 percent fiber internet, a fiber-optic line runs all the way from the network hub to your home, and does not use any coaxial cable.
Spectrum’s fiber-powered internet uses an advanced hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network to deliver fast, reliable internet service. Data travels over high-speed fiber-optic lines to a nearby fiber node in your neighborhood. From there, a coaxial cable connection delivers internet to your home. This approach enables multi-gig speeds and seamless performance for streaming, gaming, video calls and more.
The best Spectrum Internet plan depends on your specific household needs. Here’s a breakdown of who each speed option is best for:
- Internet Advantage (100 Mbps): Best for single or small household for basic browsing, email and a few devices; great entry-level price.
- Internet Premier (500 Mbps): Great for up to 14 devices for browsing, HD streaming and moderate gaming; a great value and suitable for most households.
- Internet Gig (1 Gbps): Optimized for 14+ devices; best for families, gamers, streamers and remote workers.
- 2 Gig Internet: Optimized for 20+ devices; best for large families, heavy gaming, content creators and remote teams. Available in select areas.
Spectrum recommends a minimum download speed of 100 Mbps, but the best speed for you will depend on how your household uses the internet, especially during peak times.
If you have one or two people and a small number of devices in your household, lower speeds between 100 and 500 Mbps should be sufficient for basic browsing and streaming.
However, if you have a large household or multiple people regularly performing high-bandwidth activities simultaneously, such as 4K streaming, video calls and large file transfers, you’ll be better off with a plan with faster upload and download speeds.
Spectrum Internet offers plans from 100 Mbps up to 1 Gbps, and a 2 Gbps plan is available in select markets.
Disclaimer
*Spectrum Internet (R) is powered by fiber and connected to the premises by coaxial lines
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