Spectrum Internet Review 2022

The nation's 2d-largest cable internet provider has decent prices, fast speeds, and no data caps or contracts. Just is that enough to outweigh its artificial fees and poor customer service?

Spectrum

4 out of 5 stars

4

Data constructive 03/xv/22. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject area to alter.

* Limited fourth dimension offer; subject to modify; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to whatsoever services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter.

Wireless speeds may vary.

Limited fourth dimension offer; subject field to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Spectrum Internet® Gig promotion cost is $89.99/mo; standard rates employ after twelvemonth. 1. Taxes, fees and surcharges actress and subject to change during and afterward the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra.

^ Speed based on wired connectedness. Bachelor Internet speeds may vary by accost. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit Spectrum.cyberspace/modem.

Mindy Woodall

Managing Editor, Home Security & Smart Home

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Banner advertising latest deals from Spectrum

While Spectrum received some non-so-great news coverage in the by,1 it offers up some good prices and download speeds when compared to other internet service providers (ISPs) that cover the same locations.

To top that off, Spectrum Internet plans come up with a few extra perks yous might non discover elsewhere, like unlimited data. So is Spectrum the right internet provider for you? Let's dig into the facts and find out.

Pros

  • Spectrum has good prices for most speeds

  • In that location are no contracts

  • There are likewise no data caps

Cons

  • Spectrum might have download speeds that may be slower than advertised

  • This internet provider gives poor customer service

Compare Spectrum and other net providers in your area.

Is Spectrum Internet correct for you?

Before nosotros go into the details, allow'south figure out if Spectrum is the right fit for you.

One affair we like is that Spectrum is widely available across the US. Use that zip code net finder above to see if you live in one of the 42 states it's bachelor.

Spectrum just has three plans to choose from, and we wish their Gig programme was a little less expensive. In comparison to Xfinity net, our height pick, Spectrum offers three fewer plans and the Gig internet is $15 more.

We practice like how Spectrum doesn't require you to sign a contract, but its internet performance could be a little better (this is why it didn't make our top v).

Spectrum prices and plans

Spectrum has a couple skillful deals, but we'd love to see a lower price on its Gig plan

If you're looking for fast download speeds that'll keep a family unit gaming and streaming over the weekend, Spectrum has yous covered. It offers a few different plans with speeds ranging from upward to 100 to ane,000 Mbps.* Each of those speeds is juicy enough to continue that buffering icon away.

But we're not gonna lie, we'd honey to run into more plans from Spectrum. That'south because nosotros love choices, and right now Spectrum doesn't offer anything in the way of slower download speeds at lower prices.

Sure, the price for its up to 100 Mbps plan* is reasonable, merely what about solo gamers or casual web surfers that don't need that much speed? (Of course, more than speed is amend than less speed, and then we nevertheless call up the Spectrum Internet® programme is a bargain.)

Looking for a Time Warner Cablevision or Lease Communications internet review?

Light Bulb

You're in the right place. Dorsum in 2016, Charter Communications bought both Time Warner Cable and Vivid House Networks. Yup, at present all that Isp prowess is housed under one proper name, Spectrum. And you'll find all the juicy details almost Spectrum internet right here in our review.

Spectrum prices and plans

Information effective 03/xv/22. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.

* Express time offering; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to whatever services within the previous 30 days and who take no outstanding obligation to Charter.

Wireless speeds may vary.

Limited fourth dimension offer; subject to alter; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services inside the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Spectrum Cyberspace® Gig promotion price is $89.99/mo; standard rates utilise after twelvemonth. 1. Taxes, fees and surcharges extra and discipline to change during and after the promotional flow; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra.

^ Speed based on wired connexion. Bachelor Internet speeds may vary by accost. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a listing of Gig capable modems, visit Spectrum.net/modem.

Y'all might hear Spectrum compared to AT&T Cobweb or Frontier. That's considering these three ISPs serve some of the same parts of the US.

When information technology comes to price, we call back AT&T Fiber offers the best value—and the lowest prices. AT&T Fiber is as well a fiber connection, which tends to be more reliable than the cable connection Spectrum uses.

But if you lot tin't get AT&T Fiber and instead have a pick of Spectrum versus Frontier, nosotros'd go with Spectrum. Frontier'south prices start out great, but apace skyrocket to the highest cost nosotros've seen for a gig speed plan.

Spectrum toll comparison

Data effective 01/fourteen/22. Offers and availability vary by location and are discipline to alter.

° For the outset 12 months.

** Price after $five/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount (westward/in ii bills). Plus taxes $ fees. Limited availability. May not be available in your area.

†† for 24 months with 2-year agreement. Actual speeds may vary. Installation, equipment fees, Internet Infrastructure Surcharge, early term, taxes & other fees apply. Services subject area to availability and all applicable terms and atmospheric condition.

Is Spectrum Internet available in your area?

Spectrum Internet is available in 42 states, so chances are pretty good that it'due south bachelor near you. Especially if you lot live in the northeastern US, where Spectrum is focused on connecting cities and towns to the globe wide web.

A map of the US shows 42 states where Spectrum internet is available

Of the states where you can discover Spectrum, here are the top five states with the virtually availability:

  1. Ohio
  2. Maine
  3. New York
  4. Wisconsin
  5. North Carolina

If you're not certain whether Spectrum Internet is available in your hometown, nosotros tin assist you lot out. Just enter your zilch lawmaking below and we'll tell you if Spectrum is in your area.

Search for Spectrum Internet plans in your expanse

Spectrum Internet speed

Stream in 4K or download your entire Steam library without worrying well-nigh data charges

We mentioned we wished Spectrum offered more choices for download speeds, but what speeds information technology does offer are great for streamingThe Expanse on Amazon Prime Video or teaming upwards with your buddies in aPlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds lucifer.

The upwardly to 100 Mbps programme* should exist hefty plenty to go along parents happily streamingSchitt'south Creek while their kiddo watchesPhineas and Ferb on Disney+. (Just perchance not in the same room.)

But if you've got more than a few connected devices, like jail cell phones, dwelling house security systems, and smart TVs, and yet want to rampage-lookout manThe Great British Blistering Testify when you come up home from work, you lot'll probably want to upgrade to Spectrum's up to 200 or even up to 400 Mbps plan.*

And that Spectrum Internet Gig plan? That'southward perfect for a large family who loves to do all of the above—or for serious gamers or adults who make a living working from habitation.

Spectrum download speeds and upload speeds

Data constructive 03/15/22. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.

Wireless speeds may vary.

^ Speed based on wired connection. Bachelor Internet speeds may vary by address. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit Spectrum.net/modem.

So what about all this news coverage of Spectrum's slower-than-advertised speeds? Aye, we've heard almost that too, and it has us shaking our heads in disappointment.

In our latest analysis of the fastest internet providers in the United states, Spectrum ranked 14th out of the 38 full ISPs we analyzed. That puts it far below other cable internet providers like RCN (ranked sixth), Xfinity (ranked seventh), and Optimum (ranked 9th).

Spectrum Internet speed scoresii

Provider

Overall rank

Cable Internet service provider rank

Spectrum Cyberspace®

14th out of 38 ISPs

7th out of 22 cable ISPs

Really quick, we desire to note that Spectrum'southward weighted score of 35.half-dozen out of 100 isn't representative of any download speeds you might see with information technology. Instead, that weighted score is a combination of the average download speeds, upload speeds, and latency that Spectrum Net customers saw in more than 1 million speed tests taken between January and December 2019.

Our highest-ranked cable net provider, RCN, earned 47.4 out of 100, while our lowest-ranked cable provider, Sparklight, earned 31.v out of 100. That puts Spectrum toward the bottom of the pack when it comes to internet speed from big cable ISPs. So, we expect that you'll likely get slower speeds than what you pay for with Spectrum.

The somewhat silver lining is that Spectrum has no contracts. So if you detect your download speeds waning and client service is no assistance, it's piece of cake to put a stop to your service and find someone else. You won't go slapped with early termination fees either.

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Not sure if Spectrum's download speeds are enough for you? Check out our Mbps guide for more than info.

Data caps

Spectrum will neither throttle your speeds nor charge yous actress for your data use. That's the best kind of "no" we've ever heard.

While most ISPs offer only 1 TB of data (which is normally more than than enough data for most of u.s.), Spectrum'south unlimited data is a dream come true for anyone who uses the web for file sharing, (legally) downloading movies, or working from home.

Contracts, equipment, and fees

Spectrum comes with no contract, just you'll still pay for installation and a Wi-Fi activation fee

We like that Spectrum offers a no-contract internet option because it frees you up to switch providers if you lot're moving homes or unsatisfied with the service. That'southward perfect if you're renting, temporarily in a city for work, or simply don't like commitments. (We get it.)

Other options for no-contract internet that may exist in your surface area include Frontier and Xfinity.

The just issues we have with Spectrum are it'southward additional fees. Those fees are a confusing bunch, and then nosotros'll effort to articulate them up for yous.

Equipment

Spectrum throws in a complimentary modem with your cyberspace, which is pretty nice of them. Almost other companies charge anywhere from $10 to $20 actress a month to rent equipment.

Of class, you tin can nonetheless bring your own modem and router combo if y'all prefer. If you need a recommendation, we're fans of this ARRIS SURFboard modem router philharmonic from Amazon.

Service fees

The professional installation fee for the Spectrum Cyberspace and Spectrum Cyberspace Ultra plans is one of the most reasonable nosotros've seen. But the fee for the Spectrum Internet Gig program is outrageous at best.

  • Pro installation fees: $49.99 for Spectrum Internet and Spectrum Internet Ultra plans, $199.99 for Spectrum Gig plan
  • Self installation fee: $19.99
  • Early termination fees: No contract means no early on termination fee. Yay!

Spectrum TV's customer service

Spectrum's client service improved over the last year, but there's still room for more improvement

Internet service as a whole doesn't exercise well in the customer service department. We know that's no excuse, but nosotros want to put the situation in perspective earlier nosotros dive into how Spectrum's customer service performs.

The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) scores ISPs for client service each year, and the net industry averaged a score of 65 out of 100 for 2021.3 And then if y'all look at Spectrum's latest score of 63 out of 100, information technology may not seem that peachy. But that score is still a major improvement from two years agone, when Spectrum scored a lackluster 59 out of 100.

Spectrum client service rating3

Customer service rating

Spectrum

ACSI 2020

63 out of 100

So, while we're pleased to see Spectrum improved over the past couple of years, we're notwithstanding expecting bigger and better things from information technology.

But if you have no other option but to call customer service, what can you lot do? Kickoff matter's first, take a deep jiff and grab a pen and newspaper.

  1. Use online chat or email if you can. Chat and email free you up to proceed living your life without a prison cell phone attached to your ear. Both of these methods also keep a log of what was said or promised, which is perfect if you need to refer back to it for proof.
  2. Advocate for yourself. If your current client service rep isn't cut it, ask to speak to someone else—or their manager. It may seem disrespectful, but at the end of the day you lot're the client and you deserve off-white and respectful treatment!
  3. Negotiate. Spectrum doesn't take contracts, so this tin can exist a huge bargaining bit for you. Enquiry other internet providers' prices and speeds before you lot call or chat, and don't be afraid to say you'll abolish your service if Spectrum tin't give you lot what you're asking for.

Go in touch with Spectrum here:

  • Telephone: 1-855-707-7328
  • Online conversation
  • Twitter: @Ask_Spectrum
  • Facebook: @Spectrum

How does Spectrum Internet compare to the competitors?

Every bit nosotros mentioned earlier, Spectrum Internet barely fabricated our acme internet service provider picks.

Although it'southward still a good provider for some, we'll give you some context of how Spectrum stacks upwards against our tiptop iv internet providers.

Spectrum Internet competitor comparison

Provider

Monthly toll

Download speeds

Data cap

Learn more

Spectrum $17.99/mo. $89.99/mo. for 12 mos. ° thirty 1000 Mbps Unlimited
Xfinity Internet $19.99 $79.99 ‡‡ 50 1200 Mbps i.2 TB
Verizon Fios Home Internet $39.99 $89.99 ^^ 300 940 Mbps Unlimited
CenturyLink Internet $50 $65 °° 100 940 Mbps Unlimited
AT&T Internet $55 ** 75 100 Mbps 1 TB Unlimited

Data effective 11/11/21. Offers and availability vary past location and are discipline to change.

° For the first 12 months.

‡‡ For the first 12 months. Some packages require a 1- or ii-year contract.

^^ w/ Auto Pay + taxes & equip. charges.

°° New customers only. Rate requires paperless billing and excludes taxes. Boosted fees apply.

** Price after $5/mo Autopay & Paperless neb discount (w/in two bills). Plus taxes $ fees. Limited availability. May not be bachelor in your area.

Our picks: The best Spectrum Internet programme

All-time budget selection for most families: Spectrum Cyberspace

Who it's best for: If your family loves to stream videos or playFarming Simulator 19 together online, the Spectrum Net program's up to 100 Mbps* is fast plenty to go along you lot connected on a upkeep.

But hey, if your firm is domicile to a large family, yous've got kiddos uploading YouTube videos, or a partner who works from habitation, you'll desire to look into the upwards to 400 or ane,000 Mbps* plans instead.

Why we picked it: The price Spectrum charges for its up to 100 Mbps programme* isn't the best out at that place, but information technology's notwithstanding reasonable. We likewise call up it'due south the best bargain of all three Spectrum plans available. And so if you're stuck on a upkeep simply still dear to game and stream reruns of Parks and Recreation, we recollect this plan is the perfect compromise.

4 out of 5 stars

4

Download speed:

Up to 200 Mbps

Data effective 01/25/2022. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.

Data effective 5/17/2021. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to modify.

Recap: Is Spectrum Net good?

Spectrum'due south got okay pricing and client service, but on the plus side information technology pairs its fast speeds with unlimited data and no contracts

Equally the nation's 2nd largest net provider, Spectrum has to compete with big dogs like Xfinity, Verizon, and AT&T.

How does it stack up? Mmm, so-so if you ask us.

It's widely bachelor in the United States, offers a wide range of speeds that work for streaming or gaming households, and keeps you going with unlimited data—all while fugitive contracts.

Just its confusing fees and iffy customer service make usa hesitate. Can you notice better than Spectrum? Yeah. Only are in that location worse ISPs out there? Over again, yes.

Spectrum internet prices and plans recap

  • Spectrum Cyberspace: $49.99/mo. for the first 12 months, upward to 100 Mbps download speeds,* no data cap
  • Spectrum Internet Ultra: $69.99/mo. for the first 12 months, up to 400 Mbps download speeds,* no data cap
  • Spectrum Internet Gig: $89.99/mo. for the first 12 months, up to i,000 Mbps download speeds,* no data cap

Information constructive 12/16/2021. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.

Methodology

We research and rate our internet providers based on the following criteria:

  • Prices
  • Availability
  • Speed scores
  • Client service scores
  • Connectedness blazon

Afterwards comparing the criteria, we give yous our honest opinion about each provider while giving you the information you demand to know before signing upwardly.

Spectrum FAQs

Who owns Spectrum Internet?

Back in 2016, Charter Communications bought both Time Warner Cablevision and Bright House Networks. Now, all that Internet access provider prowess is housed nether one name, making Charter the proud new owner of Spectrum.

How much is Spectrum Net after 12 months?

Subsequently 12 months of service, your prices will increase past $21 for internet. Since Spectrum doesn't require a contract, your promotional cost isn't guaranteed after the beginning year (although it's worth calling and negotiating for if y'all're an existing customer).

How do I install Spectrum Internet?

If you already have a cable connection and basic cognition of modems and routers, you can gear up it upwardly yourself. Information technology's straightforward enough if you've gear up-up a Wi-Fi network before, but in that location's a Spectrum video if you haven't.

Sources

*Wireless speeds may vary.
°Speed based on wired connection. Available Internet speeds may vary by address. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit Spectrum.net/modem.

Mindy Woodall

Written by

Mindy Woodall

Mindy has been writing about applied science for vii years. She covers all things smart home for Reviews.org, and keeps rail of the latest robot gadgets. Mindy attended the University of Utah and her work has been featured on the likes of Parents.com, Digital Care, Hostfully, and more than.

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