Spectrum Vs. Xfinity - Which Is Best For You? (2024)

Charter Spectrum, or simply “Spectrum,” is Charter Communications’s brand name for its internet service providers (ISPs), one of the most widespread ISPs in the nation.

Spectrum provides three home unlimited internet plans, all of which are enough for most homes. The company doesn’t force you to get into a contract, charge you for early terminations or impose any data caps on any of its plans.

In addition to home internet, Spectrum provides standalone or bundled plans for TV, streaming, mobile services and home phones. Even better, Spectrum has a contract buyout program that provides up to $500 to help you pay the early termination fee of your current provider and switch over to Spectrum.

These benefits and its relative affordability for the first 12 months of service make it a company worth considering to serve your internet needs.

Xfinity was founded in 2010 as Comcast Corp’s brand name for its internet, mobile, TV, streaming, home phone and security services. With over 32 million customers in 2022, Comcast Xfinity is the most-used broadband provider in the U.S. and one of the best internet companies.

Xfinity is available in 35 states, including Washington, D.C., and is the only top-speed internet provider in many parts of the country. It uses a hybrid fiber-coaxial network to provide internet services, and only limited markets receive fiber-to-the-home.

Its seven plans start at $20 per month for new customers, but that price is only locked for the duration of your contract (one or two years). When the contract expires, your monthly bill will go up.

In addition to contracts, Xfinity enforces a 1.2 TB data cap per month. Luckily, this is more than sufficient for the average internet user.

Let’s explore Spectrum’s and Xfinity’s services to determine which is better for you.

Plans and Pricing

Spectrum has fewer plans and is generally easier to understand than Xfinity’s.

*Prices and availability vary by location

These are Xfinity’s internet plans.

*Prices and availability vary by location

Connection Types

Spectrum and Xfinity use similar connection types.

Spectrum works mostly with a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network, delivering its services through fiber optic and coaxial cables. As of writing, the company provides high-speed fiber services only to enterprises.

Xfinity also uses an HFC network to deliver its services, but it also provides high-speed fiber in select residental markets (approximately 18,000 receive Xfinity’s fiber plans).

Availability

While city availability varies, Xfinity’s internet service area covers 35 states.

While city availability varies, Spectrum offers coverage in 41 states.

Customer Support

Spectrum Customer Support

Spectrum provides multiple customer support options, including:

• A phone line to call for support
• A phone line to order a new service
• A live chat feature
• A resource center with tips for transferring your service after moving, etc.
• An online tool to find Spectrum deals near your location
• A contract buyout program that gives you up to $500 to help you cancel your current contract and switch to Spectrum
• My Spectrum App is a mobile app that allows you to manage your account and service
• Specialized support for enterprises

Spectrum’s extensive customer support options are one reason it is on our list of best internet providers. However, our research found many reviews complaining about poor customer service.

If you’re unsatisfied with Spectrum’s service, the company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for residential connections, effective from the installation date or service.

Also, while Spectrum doesn’t charge for a modem, it charges $5 per month for a Wi-Fi router. Customers can skirt this fee by buying their Spectrum-compatible router, but their customer service options will be limited.

Xfinity Customer Support

Xfinity provides multiple customer support options, including:

• A support center with information about managing your modem, TV & streaming plan, home security system and mobile services
• A status center to verify local outages
• A live chat feature
• Community forums
• Frequently asked questions for mobile plans
• Guides for troubleshooting your internet connection
• Xfinity App is a mobile app that allows you to manage your Xfinity account

Despite this extensive list of customer support options, several online reviewers were dissatisfied with Xfinity’s customer services. For example, there are many threads in Xfinity’s official forums where users complain that their internet speeds were actively throttled. This contradicts Comcast’s (Xfinity’s parent company) claims that users’ speeds are not throttled.

Customer Reviews

Spectrum Customer Reviews

The Better Business Bureau does not accredit spectrum but has an A+ rating. Still, the company has a score of 1.09 out of 5 in customer reviews, with a staggering number of the 3,383 reviews expressing a negative experience with the company. Some complaints include inconsistent bills and service, unexpected price hikes and low internet speeds.

On other platforms like Consumer Affairs, Google Maps, and Trustpilot, Spectrum has mixed-to-poor customer reviews, with users making similar complaints.

Xfinity Customer Reviews

Xfinity’s user reviews are similarly mixed or poor. Xfinity is not BBB-accredited but has an A+ rating. However, the company has a low 1.07 out of 5 customer rating, showing that, by and large, customers don’t have the best experiences with Xfinity’s customer service. Some of the most common complaints involve hidden fees, price hikes and service disruptions.

The reviews are mixed or negative on other platforms, too, with similar complaints. However, some positive reviews praise the company for its high speeds, so service quality may vary by location.

Contracts and Data Caps

Spectrum enforces no contracts, so users can terminate the service without paying cancellation fees at any point. Additionally, Spectrum helps customers switch providers by assisting them to pay the termination fee of their current contract. However, the customer must qualify by acquiring a combination of Video, Internet or Voice services.

Spectrum doesn’t enforce data caps.

On the other hand, Xfinity has contracts and a data cap (although it’s pretty high at 1.2TB per month). Xfinity’s deals and promotions require a one- or two-year contract. Once the contract is up, prices spike without an increase in internet quality.

Every Xfinity plan requires a contract, and the company charges an early termination fee if you want tocancel before the term ends. The fee is usually $10 for every month you have left in the contract.

Modem Fees

Spectrum doesn’t charge for the modem, but it charges $5 per month for a router if you want Wi-Fi. You can also use your own router to avoid this fee.

In Xfinity’s case, the Xfinity Gateway (Xfinity’s modem-router) costs nothing on the Connect More, Fast, Superfast, Gigabit, Gigabit Extra, or 2X Gigabit plans. After the contract term is up, it will cost $15 per month.

Additional Services

Spectrum’s Additional Services

In addition to home internet, Spectrum provides:

• Enterprise internet solutions
• Bundle packages to get unlimited mobile data, TV and streaming and home phone services along with your internet services
• Standalone TV, home phone, streaming and mobile services
• When you trade in your mobile device, you get an extra $100 toward your new device
• Tablets and smartwatches

Xfinity’s Additional Services

In addition to home internet, Xfinity provides:

• Bundle packages to get mobile data, TV and streaming, home phone and internet services
• Standalone TV, home phone, streaming and mobile services
• Home security services
• Internet solutions for businesses

Data Overage Fees

Spectrum does not charge data overage fees.

For Xfinitiy’s 1.2 Terabyte Internet Data Usage Plan, if you exceed 1.2 TB following your one courtesy month, a block of 50 GB will be added to your account.

Early Termination Fees (ETFs)

Spectrum does not charge any early termination fees for canceling. In contrast, Comcast Xfinity charges you up to $10 for every remaining month in your contract for early terminations (e.g., if you have six months left, you must pay an ETF of $60).

• Max Speed. Spectrum’s highest internet speed is 1 Gbps, and Xfinity’s is 2 Gbps (can be up to 6 Gbps).
• Contracts. Spectrum has no contracts. All Xfinity’s plans require a one or two-year contract.
• Data Caps. Spectrum doesn’t enforce data caps, but Xfinity has a monthly 1.2 TB data cap and charges overage fees.
• Home Security. Only Xfinity provides home security services.
• Contract Buyout Program. Only Spectrum has a contract buyout program to help you switch providers.
• Fiber Connection. Xfinity provides fiber internet in some areas, but it represents a small fraction of its customer base.

• Availability. Spectrum and Xfinity are the country’s most widespread internet service providers. Spectrum is available in 41 states, and Xfinity is available in 35.
• Bundle Packages. Both companies provide bundles with TV, streaming, home phone and mobile services.
• Connection Type. Xfinity and Spectrum’s internet services are offered via a hybrid fiber-coaxial network.
• Service Installation. Both companies provide self-installation kits and professional installation services.
• Poor Customer Reviews. Both companies have mixed or low customer reviews on most online platforms.

Despitea track record of poor customer service, when compared, we believe that Xfinity provides more flexibility and value by offering more options for different plans, more affordable initial prices, additional home security services and a higher maximum speed.

What We Like About Spectrum

• Simple Marketing. Three straightforward plans that let customers quickly choose what speed they want
• Reliable Speeds. The lowest speed is enough for most homes
• No Caps. No data caps, contracts or throttling
• Bundle Savings. Bundles for home internet with mobile services, TV, streaming and home phone
• New Client Offers. Contract buyout programs to help you switch from your current provider to Spectrum by partially or fully covering the termination fees
• Availability. High availability throughout the U.S.

Learn more in our Spectrum review.

What We Like About Xfinity

• Multiple Options. Multiple internet speed options to let you choose the right speed for your needs.
• Service Bundles. These bundles include home internet plus mobile services, TV, streaming and home phone. It also offers home security services with two plans available.
• Affordable. Low starting prices.
• Availability. High availability throughout the U.S.

Learn more in our Xfinity review.

To determine the best internet providers, the Forbes Home editorial team compared 22 major internet providers across 39 different metrics, such as average monthly cost, download speed and fiber availability.

You can find out more about how Forbes Home rates internet providers in our detailed methodology page.