James Martin/CNETXfinity vs. Spectrum: Which is healthier in your house? Xfinity and Spectrum are the largest cable web suppliers within the nation. Each ISP is accessible to over 100 million Americans — with a mixed footprint overlaying a couple of third of the inhabitants — so there is a good likelihood you are eligible for service from a minimum of considered one of them.Cable web, essentially the most broadly obtainable wired web, is a well-liked choice for house web. With speeds that sometimes attain a gigabit, bundling alternatives and aggressive introductory charges, cable web is a strong different to 5G, DSL or satellite tv for pc web and second-best choice if fiber is not obtainable at your tackle.Of the 2 most generally obtainable cable web suppliers, we reccomend Spectrum Internet as a result of it affords limitless knowledge, no contracts and higher general worth in the long run. However, if Spectrum is unavailable at your tackle, Xfinity is an honest different, with a variety of plan choices and aggressive introductory charges. Here’s the total rundown. Our take – Comcast’s Xfinity is the most important cable web supplier within the US and affords extra plans than every other ISP. While choices are sometimes an enormous benefit, there are just a few particulars try to be conscious of. Firstly, Xfinity clients can both join the usual one-year worth lock or the five-year worth lock. Both companies are freed from contracts and knowledge caps. In addition, gear is free for the size of your promo interval and $15 month-to-month thereafter. But remember that the service phrases range by area and tackle. You’ll should learn the phrases of service carefully to know what to anticipate. To discover out extra, examine in case your tackle is serviceable.
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Check with Xfinity Our take – After Charter Communications acquired Time Warner in 2016, Spectrum Internet grew to become the second-biggest cable web supplier within the nation. Spectrum retains its plans easy — there are solely two plans and no knowledge caps or contracts. Your modem is included within the month-to-month payment, and though a router rental is further, there is a minimal $10 cost for the beginning plan.
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Check with Spectrum Xfinity vs. Spectrum: Coverage and availability The newest knowledge from the FCC’s broadband maps reveals the usually overlapping, in depth protection of cable web suppliers Xfinity (purple) and Spectrum (purple). FCCAccording to the latest knowledge, the Federal Communications Commission reviews that Xfinity and Spectrum’s companies mixed cowl round 63% of households nationwide. Both suppliers’ protection is most concentrated within the Northeast, the Midwest and the South. You’ll additionally discover Xfinity and Spectrum plans obtainable in components of the West, Southwest and mountainous areas of the US. Spectrum even affords web service all through the vast majority of Hawaii. Despite the big swaths of protection, there’s much less overlap between the 2 suppliers’ footprints than you would possibly suppose. Though you will discover each obtainable in a number of metro areas throughout the nation, together with Atlanta, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Minneapolis and Orlando, the 2 suppliers every have a tendency to stay to no matter components of the map they’ve managed to wall off for themselves, with one usually claiming a metropolis’s central, downtown space and the opposite planting its flag in lots of the adjoining suburbs. That means you are not more likely to discover Xfinity and Spectrum obtainable on the identical tackle — however transferring throughout city would possibly imply switching from one supplier to a different. Xfinity vs. Spectrum: Plans and pricesComparing Xfinity and Spectrum pricing aspect by aspect isn’t straightforward. While Spectrum retains it easy with two constant plans throughout its protection space, Xfinity affords a number of plans with various phrases and charges throughout its three service areas.Spectrum house web plans Plan Monthly worth Max speeds Fees and repair particulars Spectrum 500 Internet Read full overview $50500Mbps obtain, 20Mbps uploadModem free; $10 for router (non-obligatory); no knowledge caps or contracts Spectrum Gig Internet Read full overview $701,000Mbps obtain, 35Mbps uploadModem and router free; no knowledge caps or contracts Show extra (0 merchandise)
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Let’s get the simple one out of the way in which first. With Spectrum, you have got two plans to select from, with max obtain speeds of 500 megabits per second or 1,000Mbps. Depending in your alternative, your month-to-month invoice will vary from $50 to $70 throughout your promo interval. After that, your month-to-month fee will enhance by $30, that means you will pay $80 to $100 every month. The excellent news is that no contracts or knowledge caps are related to both of these plans.Xfinity Internet one-year time period PlanMonthly worthMax speedsFees and repair particulars Connect More $40 ($80 after 12 months)300Mbps obtain, 150Mbps uploadEquipment and limitless knowledge free for 1 yr; $15 gateway rental after 12 monthsFast $45 ($95 after 12 months)500Mbps obtain, 150Mbps uploadEquipment and limitless knowledge free for 1 yr; $15 gateway rental after 12 monthsGigabit $50 ($110 after 12 months)1,000Mbps obtain, 300Mbps uploadEquipment and limitless knowledge free for 1 yr; $15 gateway rental after 12 monthsGigabit Extra $80 ($140 after 12 months)1,200Mbps obtain, 300Mbps uploadEquipment and limitless knowledge free for 1 yr; $15 gateway rental after 12 monthsGigabit X2 $85 ($140 after 12 months)2,000Mbps obtain, 300Mbps uploadEquipment and limitless knowledge free for 1 yr; $15 gateway rental after 12 monthsGigabit Pro (fiber) $30010,000Mbps obtain, 10,000Mbps add$20 gateway rental (required), limitless knowledge, 2-year contract Show extra (1 merchandise)
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Xfinity Internet five-year time period PlanMonthly worthMax speedsFees and repair particulars Connect More $55 ($80 after 5 years)300Mbps obtain, 150Mbps uploadEquipment and limitless knowledge free for 5 years; $15 gateway rental afterwardsFast $60 ($95 after 5 years)500Mbps obtain, 150Mbps uploadEquipment and limitless knowledge free for 5 years; $15 gateway rental afterwardsGigabit $65 ($110 after 5 years)1,000Mbps obtain, 300Mbps uploadEquipment and limitless knowledge free for 5 years; $15 gateway rental afterwardsGigabit Extra $85 ($140 after 5 years)1,200Mbps obtain, 300Mbps uploadEquipment and limitless knowledge free for 5 years; $15 gateway rental afterwardsGigabit X2 $85 ($140 after 5 years)2,000Mbps obtain, 300Mbps uploadEquipment and limitless knowledge free for 5 years; $15 gateway rental afterwardsGigabit Pro (fiber) $30010,000Mbps obtain, 10,000Mbps add$20 gateway rental (required), limitless knowledge, 2-year contract Show extra (1 merchandise)
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Xfinity affords a greater variety of plans, with costs and particulars various throughout markets. You can both signal as much as preserve your costs for one yr or 5 years. Xfinity plans used to return with a 1.2TB knowledge cap. Currently, clients will not be capped on their knowledge — a minimum of for the size of the promo interval. It’s nonetheless unclear whether or not these knowledge caps come again after the one-year or five-year mark. Most areas can anticipate max obtain speeds that vary from 300Mbps to 2,000Mbps. Select components of the footprint could have entry to an Xfinity fiber connection. That mentioned, per the FCC, fiber is accessible to lower than 0.7% of Xfinity subscribers. For most Xfinity addresses, a 2,000 or 1,200Mbps cable plan would be the quickest pace obtainable. Pricing is the place Xfinity will get sophisticated. For starters, let’s pull out that top-tier Gigabit Pro plan, which is simply obtainable at addresses with entry to Xfinity fiber. It prices a hefty $300 per 30 days and comes with a two-year settlement in all three areas. You’ll additionally have to request a web site survey to confirm that your tackle is serviceable for the plan.Standard cable web plans, obtainable all over the place, supply obtain speeds of as much as 1,200Mbps and infrequently as much as 2,000Mbps. Monthly costs vary from $40 to $85 throughout the promo interval and from $80 to $140 after that. Just take note of these worth jumps as a result of they’ll get awfully steep. For instance, the Gigabit Extra plan jumps by $60 month-to-month after a yr. Even if it means paying extra upfront, you will probably discover a higher bang in your buck with Xfinity’s five-year worth lock. Xfinity vs. Spectrum: Which affords the higher worth? The best approach to get a fast sense of worth with an web plan is to take a look at the month-to-month value per Mbps. Spectrum’s common value throughout its two plans throughout the first yr promo interval is 9 cents for every Mbps of obtain pace. After yr one, that common goes as much as 13 cents per Mbps. Both are first rate figures — the one cable supplier that does higher is WideOpenWest (aka WOW), which expenses a median of 7 cents per Mbps throughout the first yr and 21 cents per Mbps after that.With Xfinity’s smattering of cable plans, you will pay a median of 17 cents per Mbps throughout the first yr and 39 cents per Mbps after your promo ends and your invoice goes up. (The Gigabit Pro fiber plan does are available in at 3 cents per Mbps, however once more, you are paying an unrealistic $300 every month for it.) That’s nonetheless higher than many different opponents, together with cable web rival Cox Communications, which expenses a median of 15 cents per Mbps throughout yr one and 26 cents per Mbps after that.With extra plans, there’s numerous variance within the Xfinity worth proposition, and a few plans supply higher worth than others. Overall, although, you will be paying a bit greater than you’ll with Spectrum.When you consider Xfinity’s contracts, knowledge caps and worth hikes, it is fairly clear that Spectrum wins on worth.Xfinity vs. Spectrum: Service phrases and charges Neither supplier goes overboard with further charges, and each provide the flexibility to skip them every time doable. Here’s the breakdown:InstallationXfinity expenses $100 for in-home, skilled set up of your private home web service. Spectrum expenses $65. You can skip the payment with each suppliers through the use of a self-install equipment and plugging all the pieces in your self, although Spectrum expenses $30 for its self-install gear and Xfinity expenses $40. It’s additionally fairly customary for web suppliers to waive the payment for skilled set up to assist entice you into signing up, so it is value asking for that should you’re making an attempt to barter one of the best deal. You’ll have to pay $14 month-to-month to hire the Xfinity xFi Gateway, however you possibly can skip that payment through the use of your personal modem and router. ComcastGear rentalBoth suppliers cost a month-to-month gear payment for renting a gateway or router, however you possibly can skip that payment through the use of your personal gear in each instances. It’s somewhat simpler with Spectrum, which supplies a modem for gratis after which expenses $10 per 30 days should you hire a router — simply get a router of your personal and kiss that $10 payment goodbye. The gigabit plan comes with the router and modem at no further value. With Xfinity, renting your gateway gear is free for the primary yr, however you then’ll be charged $15 month-to-month after a yr. Xfinity’s gateway is a mixture of a modem and router, so that you would wish to provide each by yourself if you wish to skip the payment. In some instances, Xfinity waives the payment for that gateway for 12 months.Data capsNone of Spectrum’s web plans have an information cap, so you possibly can browse, stream, Zoom, and obtain all you want with out the concern of going over your knowledge restrict and incurring further expenses. On the opposite hand, Xfinity has since ditched its knowledge cap of 1.2TB (1,200GB) for many of its plans. However, it is unclear whether or not clients shall be capped on their knowledge after the promo interval ends. When it involves knowledge overage charges, Xfinity normally expenses a $10 payment for each 50GB of information over the cap, as much as a most cost of $100 month-to-month. The excellent news is that 1.2TB ought to be greater than sufficient for many households. In truth, based on the newest OpenVault 2024 report, the common American family makes use of 663GB of information. That’s somewhat over half of the dimensions of Xfinity’s knowledge cap, so many houses ought to be in a protected zone, so to talk.Still, should you’re a heavy person of house web — somebody with plenty of relations or roommates on-line, or somebody who recurrently video games on-line, downloads or uploads plenty of giant recordsdata, or spends many of the day tied up in video calls — then an information cap would possibly rightly provide you with pause. In that case, you would possibly need to contemplate signing up for Xfinity’s limitless knowledge supply, which can add $30 to your month-to-month invoice. But keep in mind that it is solely actually value it should you would in any other case incur a minimum of three overage expenses per 30 days.How do Xfinity and Spectrum fare in buyer satisfaction?
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In 2022, Xfinity scored simply above the common amongst all ISPs from the American Customer Satisfaction Index, whereas Spectrum got here in slightly below. ACSIThe American Customer Satisfaction Index launched its 2025 scores for the ISP class, and the general ranking amongst non-fiber web suppliers elevated two factors from the earlier yr to 70 out of 100. Spectrum scored one level larger than the general common amongst non-fiber ISPs, whereas Xfinity scored some extent under at 69. Both Xfinity and Spectrum trailed behind T-Mobile, Verizon, and cable web rival Sparklight. Xfinity scoring under the trade common might need one thing to do with its hike in costs, which may get fairly steep after the promo interval ends. J.D. Power additionally ranks web suppliers for buyer satisfaction. Its 2024 report is split throughout 4 areas — Xfinity outscored Spectrum in all of them and beat the general class common. Out of a 1,000-point scale, Xfinity obtained scores of 532 within the East area, 530 within the North Central area, 565 within the South area and 531 within the West area. That involves a median rating of 539, scoring under the general ISP common of 618.Spectrum’s general common with J.D. Power rings in at 522, 96 factors under the general ISP common. The firm’s strongest end was a 561 within the South; its weakest was a 492 within the East.Our general verdict: Spectrum winsIt’s a detailed one. Both suppliers are large, however Xfinity has a barely bigger footprint, and boasts a greater number of plans than Spectrum. Still, I say Spectrum wins out for providing significantly better worth than Xfinity. You’ll pay much less per Mbps with Spectrum, and you will not should put up with knowledge caps, contracts or extreme worth hikes like Comcast’s clients expertise. What’s extra, Spectrum’s plans and costs are extra easy to know than Xfinity’s.As cable suppliers, neither will supply add speeds which might be something near fiber. But if fiber is not an choice, they’re your subsequent finest wager for a quick, dependable connection at house. Between the 2, I give the sting to Spectrum.Xfinity vs. Spectrum FAQs
Is Spectrum higher than Xfinity?
Spectrum’s service phrases are fairly easy nationwide, whereas Xfinity’s plans and costs barely range by market. While Xfinity affords a wider vary of plans throughout its footprint, CNET recommends Spectrum Internet for its general worth for the long run. Both ISPs enhance their costs after a yr, however Spectrum affords a less expensive value per Mbps down the road at 13 cents vs. 39 cents with Xfinity. You could join Xfinity’s five-year worth lock assure to keep away from worth hikes, however you will should pay extra upfront. Both Xfinity and Spectrum supply service freed from contracts.
Is Xfinity sooner than Spectrum?
Yes. Xfinity has considerably extra pace tiers obtainable, normally as much as seven. On the opposite hand, Spectrum solely affords two pace tiers: 500Mbps and 1,000Mbps. For sure markets, clients could also be eligible for Xfinity’s Gigabit Pro fiber plan (10,000Mbps), however most addresses will see a top-end plan of 1,200Mbps and a couple of,000Mbps with Xfinity, which is quicker than what you will get with Spectrum.
Do both Xfinity or Spectrum supply fiber web?
At current, fiber protection is restricted for each Xfinity and Spectrum. But choose addresses could also be serviceable for Xfinity’s Gigabit Pro plan, that includes symmetrical speeds of 10,000Mbps for a flat fee of $300 a month.