From prices to data caps, our experts spent more than 20 hours researching which provider offers the best cable internet service.
Our pick
Editorial rating (3.6/5)
$19.99–$85.00/mo.
Excellent customer service
Affordable internet plans
Contracts on many plans
View plans
Read full review
$19.99–$85.00/mo.
Excellent customer service
Affordable internet plans
Contracts on many plans
Best no-contract
Editorial rating (3.8/5)
$39.99–$79.99/mo.
A free internet modem
No contracts
Expensive starter internet plans compared to Xfinity
View plans
Read full review
$39.99–$79.99/mo.
A free internet modem
No contracts
Expensive starter internet plans compared to Xfinity
By Eric Chiu
Edited By Mikayla Rivera
Is Xfinity or Spectrum better?
If you’re purely looking at price, Xfinity’s cheaper and faster internet packages inch out over Spectrum’s. Whether you’re downloading 150 GB PS5 games every week or simply answering emails, Xfinity’s internet plans cover every possible scenario. Spectrum recently lowered their internet prices, making them more competitive to Xfinity’s low prices. But when you look at the fine print, Spectrum’s unlimited data policy and free modem narrow the differences between both ISPs.
Spectrum and Xfinity have a similarly narrow gap when it comes to customer service. In CableTV.com’s annual Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey, Spectrum came in 11th place for overall customer satisfaction while Xfinity fell to 17th place.
Overall, we’d still recommend Xfinity over Spectrum thanks to Xfinity’s wider availability and more plan options. But if your household is full of gamers or work-from-home employees who need unlimited data (or if you’re interested in cable TV service too), Spectrum could be worth a second look.
Why should you trust us? At CableTV.com, our internet experts have spent thousands of hours testing all of the best (and worst) internet services, and hundreds more hours tracking and researching industry trends.
For this article, we drew from our existing Xfinity and Spectrum internet reviews. As part of these reviews, we surveyed hundreds of real Spectrum and Xfinity internet customers to see how they felt about their internet service. We also combined this data with our original research and reporting to see which internet provider comes out on top.
Interested in Spectrum or Xfinity internet service?
Enter your zip code below to see if Spectrum or Xfinity internet is available in your area.
Compare Xfinity or Spectrum internet head to head
Customer Rating
Prices starting at
$24.99/mo.
Max download speeds up to
1,200 Mbps
Service Type
Cable
Check Availability
Please enter a valid zip code.
View Plans forXfinity
Available in
Read Xfinity Review
Customer Rating
Prices starting at
$49.99/mo.
Max download speeds up to*
1,000 Mbps
Service Type
Cable
Check Availability
Please enter a valid zip code.
View Plans forSpectrum
Available in
Read Spectrum Review
* Speed based on wired connection. Available Internet speeds may vary by address. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed.
Pricing, speed and availability not guaranteed. Subject to change.
Xfinity vs. Spectrum: internet plans and prices
Xfinity and Spectrum are both nationwide cable internet service providers (ISPs), but their plans have plenty of differences. Here’s what you need to know about Xfinity and Spectrum’s internet packages.
Xfinity internet packages (Central)
| Package | Price | Max. download speed |
|---|---|---|
| Connect | $30.00/mo.* | 150 Mbps |
| Connect More | $35.00/mo.^ | 200 Mbps |
| Fast | $55.00/mo.^ | 400 Mbps |
| Superfast | $70.00/mo.^ | 800 Mbps |
| Ultrafast/Gigabit | $80.00/mo.^ | 1,000 Mbps |
| Gigabit Extra | $85.00/mo.^ | 1,200 Mbps |
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See full disclaimer.
When it comes to pricing and speeds, there’s a lot to like about Xfinity’s internet plans. The ISP’s extensive catalog of internet plans for every type of customer and relatively low prices translate into more options for internet shoppers.
But we’re not the biggest fans of Xfinity’s contract requirements. Xfinity’s exact policies vary by region, but you’ll generally need to pay around 30% extra for a contract-free plan. Meanwhile, providers like Spectrum have long allowed customers to go month-to-month for added flexibility, and we wish Xfinity made it easier to do the same.
Pro tip: Xfinity’s internet plans are split into three regions: West (approximately Colorado to California), Central (Midwest states), and Northeast (New England and greater New York area). The prices and fine print for Xfinity’s internet plans vary a little bit between regions, but they generally fall into the same price brackets.
Spectrum internet packages
| Plan | Price | Max download speed |
|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet | $39.99–$49.99/mo. for 12 mos. | 300 Mbps |
| Spectrum Internet Ultra | $49.99–$69.99/mo. for 24 mos. | 500 Mbps |
| Spectrum Internet Gig | $59.99–$79.99/mo. for 24 mos. | 1 Gbps |
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See full disclaimer.
Spectrum’s three internet plans give customers a decent number of options, and its new lower prices are now more competitive against Xfinity’s.
Although their base internet plan is slower than Xfinity Fast, its lower price makes up for that. Xfinity wins the mid-tier plans, though, with 800 Mbps for $60 blowing Spectrum’s comparably priced Ultra out of the water.However, the 1 Gig internet winner goes to Spectrum now, with prices as low as $59.99 in some Spectrum locations.
Despite Spectrum’s great download speeds, the $25.00 price hike after the first 12 or 24 months undermines its status as a budget-friendly plan. That being said, it’s hardly the only internet provider to pull the switcheroo.
Spectrum Internet is Spectrum’s most affordable internet plan. But its lack of any budget plans below 300 Mbps puts the provider at a disadvantage compared to Xfinity. Xfinity’s budget internet plans give you options if you need to trim your internet bill, but Spectrum doesn’t have additional affordable internet plans besides its subsidized Internet Assist program.
Xfinity vs. Spectrum: customer satisfaction
As part of CableTV.com’s annual Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey, we talked to more than 7,000 real internet customers across the U.S. to see how they felt about their internet providers.
As with other cable internet providers, Xfinity didn’t necessarily put up the best showing in this year’s survey. It ranked 17th for overall satisfaction and tied with providers like EarthLink, Cox, and Frontier.
- 70% of Xfinity customers were highly satisfied with Xfinity’s internet speeds.
- But 58% of Xfinity customers were extremely satisfied with Xfinity’s customer service.
- Only 49% of Xfinity customers felt that the quality of Xfinity’s internet justified its price.
Xfinity also ranked 13th in internet service quality in this year’s survey, although it performed stronger in our speed research. According to speed test latency data from our partners at HighSpeedInternet.com, Xfinity’s average latency of 18.8 milliseconds ranked sixth overall.
What do real Xfinity internet customers think about Xfinity?
I love the service Xfinity provides and their rewards program but the cost of the service and the fact that it continues to increase is the only negative.
Xfinity internet customer in Michigan
By comparison, Spectrum landed in a respectable 11th place in our survey for overall satisfaction. Spectrum didn’t necessarily impress its subscribers, but it generally performed as expected for an internet provider.
- 71% of Spectrum internet customers felt Spectrum could effectively meet their needs.
- 77% of Spectrum customers had no problems with their installation process.
- But only 51% of respondents felt that Spectrum was competitively priced compared to the competition.
Spectrum ranked 12th in internet service quality in our survey and narrowly beat Xfinity. However, Spectrum’s average latency mark of 27.7 milliseconds fell well below Xfinity’s averages in HighSpeedInternet.com’s test data.
What do real Spectrum internet customers think about Spectrum?
The internet goes out at night at least twice a week. After turning the modem off and on multiple times it eventually works. Our modem went out so I switched it out at Spectrum. They forgot to add the new modem to the account, so I bought a router thinking that was the issue. Eventually after chatting multiple times with spectrum, it was resolved.
Spectrum internet customer in Florida
How reliable is Xfinity or Spectrum internet?
| Xfinity | Spectrum | |
|---|---|---|
| Average latency | 18.8 milliseconds | 27.7 milliseconds |
| Internet reliability satisfaction rating | 67% positive | 68% positive |
| Internet speed satisfaction rating | 70% positive | 73% positive |
Xfinity and Spectrum are two peas in a pod according to our speed data research. Both performed largely identically in our satisfaction survey and speed test data from our partners at HighSpeedInternet.com, although Xfinity had better average latency times. But generally, both providers can provide an average level of speed and reliability for cable internet, but be prepared for downtime if you live in an area with inclement weather.
Xfinity vs. Spectrum customer service around the web: what do other people say?
Spectrum and Xfinity are two peas in a pod when it comes to customer service that’s merely fine.
In the 2024 edition of the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), Xfinity and Spectrum fell firmly in the middle of the pack among non-fiber internet providers with respective satisfaction scores of 67 and 68. J.D. Power’s rankings placed Xfinity atop Spectrum across the board, although neither provider was best-in-class and Xfinity’s margins varied by region.
Is Xfinity or Spectrum internet available in your neighborhood?
Xfinity and Spectrum largely have coast-to-coast availability, although exact coverage varies by state. Xfinity is available in 35 states split between its three service regions, while Spectrum has a 41-state network.
Xfinity’s pricing and internet speeds slightly vary across its Central, West, and Northeast regions, so you’ll have to deal with different plans depending on where you live. By comparison, Spectrum offers the same three plans across its footprint, although pricing varies by region.
Xfinity states
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Check Availability
Please enter a valid zip code.
View Plans forXfinity
Available in
Spectrum states
- Alabama
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Check Availability
Please enter a valid zip code.
View Plans forSpectrum
Available in
Xfinity vs. Spectrum: specs and features
Price is just one part of your overall internet service experience. Let’s break down what else you’ll need to plan for with Xfinity or Spectrum internet service.
Spectrum offers better hardware freebies
Xfinity equipment
Xfinity offers the xFi Gateway, which is a combo wireless router/modem, for $14 monthly. Under the hood, Spectrum and Xfinity’s Wi-Fi routers have standard features like Wi-Fi 6 and Ethernet ports, so Spectrum wins by price.
Spectrum equipment
Spectrum takes the win over Xfinity in this department thanks to the ISP’s free modem and lower monthly rental costs. Spectrum bundles a free modem with its internet plans, and you can rent a Wi-Fi router for just an additional $5 per month.
| Device | Rental cost (optional) |
|---|---|
| Xfinity xFi Gateway | $14.00/mo. |
| Spectrum Wi-Fi router | $5.00/mo. |
Does Xfinity or Spectrum have good internet deals?
Xfinity internet deals
Xfinity generally offers a solid slate of deals for new and current internet customers. New customer promotions regularly include add-ons like gift cards and discounts on secondary services like Xfinity Mobile. Current customers have also gotten bonuses like service discounts, Peaco*ck Premium subscriptions, and an X1 TV box.
Check out our Xfinity deals guide for more Xfinity savings.
Spectrum internet deals
Spectrum will cover up to $500 in early termination fees. Past Spectrum deals have included multi-year price guarantees and Visa gift cards, but Spectrum doesn’t necessarily roll out the red carpet for new customers.
Visit our Spectrum deals guide to learn more about current Spectrum internet deals.
Spectrum wins on data caps
Xfinity unlimited data
Spectrum’s unlimited data is a far cry from Xfinity’s 1.2 TB data cap. You’ll get a warning the first time your household exceeds the data cap, but after that, Xfinity charges $10 per 50 GB of additional data. You can get unlimited data by paying an additional $30 monthly.
Although 1.2 TB of data will be enough for many households, your household could run into problems if more than three people are regularly using the internet for Zoom calls or video game downloads.
Spectrum unlimited data
Spectrum doesn’t have a data cap, so you can download video games and watch 4K Netflix shows without missing a beat. Although Spectrum reserves the right to throttle internet speeds during high-traffic times, it won’t force you to pay extra for overage fees or track your family’s monthly data every month.
We’re never fans of data caps and overage charges, which ISPs like AT&T and Verizon Fios have long left by the wayside. So Spectrum’s unlimited data policy helps the ISP take the win over Xfinity in this section.
Xfinity vs. Spectrum internet FAQ
Spectrum and Xfinity are competing cable internet providers. Although they both offer TV and internet plans nationwide, each provider has its own prices and speed options. Xfinity’s internet plans are affordable, while Spectrum’s internet plans come with unlimited data.
Xfinity has faster internet plans than Spectrum. Xfinity offers internet plans with speeds up to 6,000 Mbps, while Spectrum’s fastest internet plan has download speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps.
You’ll get better Wi-Fi performance with fiber internet compared to Xfinity’s cable internet plans. Fiber internet offers faster upload speeds and a more reliable connection compared to cable internet.
Xfinity’s Gigabit x6 plan offers the best fiber internet performance with 6,000 Mbps download speeds, but it also costs $299.95 monthly. Fiber internet availability also depends on the internet options available in your area.
Although Spectrum is a good pick for folks with a need for unlimited data or a desire to bundle internet with cable, we think Xfinity is a better choice thanks to its cheaper and faster internet plans.
Xfinity tends to be the cheaper ISP. Xfinity’s internet plans often run around $5–$10 less than the comparable Spectrum plans, while also having faster speeds. But in some Spectrum locations, their plans can be cheaper. Click here to enter your zip and find out which provider is right for you.
Why you should trust us
Our experts analyzed all 24 internet plans from Xfinity and Spectrum for more than 20 hours to see how each provider held up when it came to value, features, and service. We also drew data from our annual internet customer satisfaction survey to see what actual Spectrum and Xfinity customers thought about their internet service.
For more information on our methodology, check out our How We Rank page.
Related articles
- Xfinity Internet Review
- Spectrum Internet Review
- Best Internet Providers
Disclaimer
Spectrum Internet
*Spectrum Internet: For 12 months when bundled. Limited time offer; subject 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. Taxes, fees and surcharges extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra.
Spectrum Internet Ultra: For 24 months when bundled. Limited time offer; subject 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: For 24 months when bundled. Limited time offer; subject 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.
◊To qualify for the Contract Buyout Program, a customer must order and install a qualifying Triple Play or limited Double Play promotion; offers not available in all areas. Offer available to qualifying customers only who have no outstanding obligations to Charter. Payment amount will be determined by the Early Termination Fee on the final bill from the previous provider, not to exceed $500. For Contract Buyout qualifications, go to Spectrum.com/buyout.
**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.
Xfinity Internet
* with equipment included for 12 months. Prices may vary by location.
^ For 24 months. No term contract. Taxes and equipment not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Prices may vary by location.
