Spectrum Internet Review: Programs, Sales, Speed and Availability

Spectrum Internet critique

As the second-largest cable operator in the country, Charter Communication’s Spectrum Internet leads in presence, basic service conditions and strong speeds. Your company comes with, cancellation fees, products fees or data caps. Trying out a new online service can be tough, that’s why new customers may request a 30-day money-back guarantee if they aren’t happy with the service. Particularly since many web providers make those important details so perplexing, such a simple approach is appealing.

Spectrum Internet serves about 57 million homes across 41 says, so there’s a good chance it’s available in your area or somewhere nearby. If so, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better cable internet service, particularly since Spectrum doesn’t maintain a data cover like its biggest competition, and , do. But, if you can get a 100 % fiber connection at your target, you should definitely think about switching to that instead of Spectrum for faster upload speeds and a more credible relationship overall.

Spectrum house internet

Spectrum Internet strategies and sales

Origin: CNET analysis of company data.

Spectrum currently offers two plans: 500Mbps for$ 50 a month and 1 gig ( or 1, 000Mbps ) for$ 70. In addition, Spectrum is currently offering new customers$ 50 in credit ( which can be applied to their account ) when signing up for service online. Its earlier products ‘ speed increases are encouraging. This cable giant had previously three internet plan options ( not including its low-income option for$ 30 a month ): 300 megabits per second, 500Mbps and 1 gigabit ( or 1, 000Mbps ). Customers who currently subscribe to the 300Mbps and 500Mbps ideas can upgrade to 400Mbps and 600Mbps for the same amount. Any plans do not have any information hats or contractual obligations, but after one to three years, depending on the program you choose and whether you’ve bundled your services, your monthly expenses will increase by about$ 30.

Spectrum’sprice increases “target =” _self may be one reason 110, 000 home internet customers ditched the service in the third quarter of 2024, according to an . Therefore, the most recent changes to costs and velocity may reflect that. However, each of Spectrum’s internet plans offers a high-quality cable experience with reliable download speeds, making it a good option for many households.

The entry-level tier features a maximum download speed of 500Mbps, which is plenty fast for a provider’s opening option. Comparatively, such as Cox “target =” _self and Xfinity “target =” _self offer plans that start at just 100Mbps to 150Mbps.

Is cable internet good?

Cable internet is the next best thing after fiber, which is typically the preferred choice over any other type of connection. To provide service to subscribers ‘ homes, Spectrum Internet primarily relies on hybrid fiber-coaxial cable connections. A cable connection is a reliable method that offers download speeds much faster than those of , , and , as you can tell by the two fast tiers offered by Charter.

Cable service providers ‘ upload speeds aren’t typically very fast. On the other hand, cable internet plans offered by , Xfinity, Cox and Spectrum, your upload speeds will typically stay in the double digits– which may negatively affect your , and remote work needs. Remember when I said that Fiber internet “target =” _self” on the other hand, which offers faster downloads and sluggish upload speeds, making it a good and effective substitute for cable?

Yet the issue isn’t about gigabit speeds. After all, other cable internet competitors, like Cox and Xfinity, can boast of their gig plans. It’s all about the symmetrical speeds and better performance of a 100 % fiber network, Spectrum doesn’t have that. If you’re not sure about whether fiber or cable is more suitable for your home, .

According to a June 2024 report from the , Spectrum’s cable internet service is available to almost 30 % of the country, but just under 1 % of Spectrum’s potential customer base is eligible for fiber. According to our source, that’s not true. Charter does not release its fiber/HFC percentage publicly, but the spokesperson said the FCC’s info is outdated:” A sizable percentage of our network is fiber, from our facilities down to the neighborhood, and virtually all of the 53 million homes our network passes can access gigabit speeds”.

Yet the issue isn’t about gigabit speeds. After all, other cable internet competitors, like Cox and Xfinity, can boast of their gig plans. It’s all about the symmetrical speeds and better performance of a 100 % fiber network, Spectrum doesn’t have that. If you’re not sure about whether fiber or cable is more suitable for your home, .

Where can you get Spectrum Internet?

Spectrum Internet serves 41 states across the country, so it’s easier to list the states where Charter Communications doesn’t operate: , , , , , , , and ( as well as ). If you live anywhere other than that, there’s an above-average chance you’re within Spectrum’s coverage map or close to it.

Spectrum is no exception to the rule that the majority of cable internet providers struggle to provide service to rural areas with low population density. If that’s your situation, check out our rundown of .

Straightforward terms for Spectrum Internet&nbsp,

Let’s dig down to see what else you can expect with your service, though Charter typically keeps its Spectrum offerings fairly simple.

Additional monthly fees

Spectrum prides itself on a no-data-caps-or-extra-fees approach, which is mostly accurate. Each Spectrum plan comes with a free modem in addition to the absence of contracts or data restrictions. If you opt for the 500Mbps plan, you’ll need to pay an additional$ 10 monthly for a router. The router for customers of the gig plan is included in Spectrum. Fortunately, like many other ISPs, Spectrum allows customers of the 500Mbps plan to skip that extra fee , with the caveat that you won’t be eligible for Spectrum technical support.

One-time installation fees

During the pandemic, Spectrum temporarily removed all of its in-home professional installations, but this is now an option. The typical in-home installation cost is$ 65. The majority of Spectrum Internet installations can be performed on-demand. In those cases, you’ll need to use a self-installation kit, which is$ 30 and can be shipped to your address or sent to a Spectrum store for pickup.

Additionally, you’ll still have to pay a$ 30 one-time fee for service activation and an additional$ 10 for the Wi-Fi activation fee.

No data caps

In contrast to some ISP rivals ( we’re looking at you, Cox and Xfinity ), Spectrum does not impose data caps on any of its customers. That eliminates the need to monitor your data usage out of fear of having to deal with throttling issues once you reach a certain threshold.

Free access to Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide

In addition to connecting at home, &nbsp, &nbsp, is available to customers for free whenever they’re out and about. The company has 530, 000 hotspots spread out across the entire coverage area. Sign in with your account username and password to access your network when you’re in range of a network. The My Spectrum app is also accessible quickly for customers.

Spectrum Internet vs.competitors: Customer satisfaction scores could be better

The good news is that there is still work to be done, even though Charter’s Spectrum service is doing better with customers than it has since Charter purchased Time Warner Cable in mid-2016.

Spectrum consistently fell short of the US regional averages, according to the J. D. Power US Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study for 2024. Spectrum earned its highest score in the South region, capturing 561 on a 1, 000-point scale, but that still placed it behind Cox “target =” _self, , AT&amp, T, and Xfinity “target =” _selfin that same area.

Over at the , Spectrum jumped 6 % in 2024 to score 68 points. That places it squarely at the top of the list of nonfiber ISPs, which might seem like a big deal at first, but it’s the second year in a row that Spectrum has raised its rating. That steady expansion is a positive step and a sign that, in the eyes of its customers, it’s continuing to do better.

Is Spectrum Internet deserving of the hype?

There’s a lot to like about Spectrum. It offers two high-speed tiers with unlimited data and no contracts and leads in terms of availability. Additionally, customers are spared some extra costs that might apply to other ISPs. There’s no additional monthly fee for the modem, for example. Of those two plans, we like Spectrum’s 500Mbps plan the most.

However, watch out for those price increases. Be aware of the pending change because Spectrum shares this with most providers in that it does bump up your monthly price after your initial promo period. As a cable provider, Spectrum can also offer quick download speeds, but the technology doesn’t offer symmetrical upload speeds, which might be detrimental for those who work remotely from home.

Spectrum Internet FAQs

Is Spectrum the same as Time Warner Cable?

Essentially, yes. In 2016, &nbsp, and Charter also purchased Bright House Networks. At the time, those two moves made Spectrum the second-largest US internet service provider and third-largest TV provider.

Are there Spectrum packages available?

There are several&nbsp, . For$ 50 per month, you can bundle the 500Mbps plan with a mobile phone line and cable TV for a year. If you don’t want to watch cable TV, you can bundle with a mobile plan and get 500Mbps of internet for as little as$ 30 per month. That’s a good deal for internet speeds that fast.

Is Spectrum Internet fast?

The quick answer is that it depends on the plans that are offered in your area. The Spectrum Internet Gig plan is surprisingly fast, reaching 1,024 Mbps, but it is not the .

Overall, according to the speed-testing firm&nbsp, Ookla, Spectrum was one of the top five fastest internet providers in the US with a median download speed of about 228Mbps during the first half of 2024 when looking at ISPs across the nation. ( Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis. ) In an OpenSignal report from 2024, Spectrum won the title for the nation’s fastest download speeds.

Does Spectrum offer discounts for low-income customers?

Spectrum does have a program for eligible, low-income households. &nbsp, &nbsp, features an affordable broadband plan ( 50Mbps download, 4Mbps upload ) with similar terms to the other internet plans– no data caps, no contracts and a free modem– for a discounted rate of$ 25 monthly. Some addresses may also be eligible for Spectrum’s Internet Advantage plan, which gives you 100Mbps for$ 30 a month. You’ll need to apply to determine eligibility. For instance, at least one family member must be a recipient of a subsidy program like the National School Lunch Program.

Will Charter Spectrum compensate me for switching from my current provider?

Spectrum does provide a for qualified new customers. Your former employer may grant you up to$ 500 toward the Early Termination Fee. As you might expect, there’s some small print involved as well. The biggest drawback to this offer, in our opinion, is that it is only available to those who use the internet for business. Instead, you must order one of Spectrum’s qualifying bundles.