Spectrum
available in 
- Contract buyouts
- No Internet data caps
- No contracts
Spectrum pros and cons
The best thing about Spectrum is its no contract policy. It doesn’t lock you into service for years and charge hefty termination fees if you want to leave, so you’re free to come and go.
In fact, Spectrum is so anti contract that it will even buy out your contract* with another Internet provider when you switch (as long as you get a qualifying Spectrum bundle).
Spectrum does have its downsides though. Even though there’s not a contract, there’s still a price hike after your first year of service. That’s not a rare practice for a cable company, but we still don’t like it. Even so, Spectrum’s cons aren’t absolute deal-breakers.
*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.
Pros
- No contracts
- No Internet data caps
- Inexpensive mobile service on Verizon network
- Wide availability
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Limited savings on bundles
- Lackluster DVR
- Price hikes after first year for TV and Internet
Spectrum contract buyout
If you switch from a comparable service to one of Spectrum’s qualifying Double or Triple Play bundles, Spectrum will reimburse your early termination fee (ETF) up to $500.* You just have to fill out a form and send Spectrum a copy of the bill that states your ETF.
This is cool because some companies make you sign a contract to get TV or Internet service. It’s usually fine, but things get tricky if you want to switch services or move before the end of your contract. You’ll usually get hit with a hefty ETF, which often costs $20 or more per each month left of your contract.
* 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. Check 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.
Spectrum Internet, TV, mobile, and bundling
Internet
- $49.99–$109.99/mo. for 12 mos.
- Up to 100 Mbps–1000 Mbps° (wireless speeds may vary)
- No data caps
TV
- $44.99-$89.99/mo. for 12 mos. when bundled
- 125–200+ channels
Mobile
- $14.00–$45.00/mo. for 12 mos.
- 1 GB–Unlimited data
Bundles
- Start at $59.98/mo. for 12 mos.
- Up to 200+ channels and up to 1000 Mbps° (wireless speeds may vary)
- Double and Triple Play bundles
Data as of 07/30/20. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Prices per month for 12 months, 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.
Spectrum offers Double and Triple Play bundles for TV, Internet, and home phone. Oddly enough, you can’t bundle Spectrum Mobile with your other services because you have to be an existing Spectrum Internet customer to sign up for its cellphone service.
What you can bundle is Spectrum Voice, which is the company’s home phone service. It costs $9.99 per month* and is available only when you bundle it with at least one other service.
*Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Price for home phone is $9.99/mo. when bundled. Taxes and fees included in price; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra. HOME PHONE: Unlimited calling includes calls within the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and more. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.
Spectrum Internet®
Our pick:
Spectrum Internet
Speeds up to
100
Mbps download
(wireless speeds may vary)
100
Mbps download
(wireless speeds may vary)
From
$4999/mo
for 12 months
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® promotion price is $49.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr. 1. Taxes, fees and surcharges extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra. General Terms: INTERNET: Speed based on wired connection and may vary by address. Wireless speeds may vary. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.
Spectrum has Internet plans starting at up to 200 Mbps and going up to 1000 Mbps° (wireless speeds may vary) from $49.99 to $109.99 per month for 12 months. We like that Spectrum doesn’t have Internet data caps, and its fastest speed tiers are available in most of its service areas. Read our full Spectrum Internet review for details on pricing, availability, and plan features.
°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.
Spectrum TV
Our pick:
Spectrum TV® Silver
175+ Channels
From
$7499/mo
for 12 mos when bundled
Disclaimer: 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 TV® Silver promotion price is $74.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr 1. Taxes, fees and surcharges (broadcast surcharge up to $16.45/mo) extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra. General Terms: TV: TV equipment required; charges may apply. Channel and HD programming availability based on level of service. Account credentials may be required to stream some TV content online. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. Enter your address to determine availability.
Spectrum TV gives you options, from traditional cable service to streaming-only service with cloud DVR. We particularly like the Spectrum TV® Silver plan because it costs only $20 more than the Select tier but gives you at least $30 worth of premium channels. Check out our Spectrum TV review for our full analysis.
Spectrum Mobile
Our pick:
If you’re already a Spectrum Internet customer, you can take advantage of Spectrum Mobile. It’s an inexpensive cell service that works on the Verizon Wireless nationwide network and Spectrum’s network of WiFi hotspots. You can read more about the service’s inexpensive and flexible plans in our in-depth Spectrum Mobile review.
Spectrum bundles
Our pick:
Spectrum Triple Play Select
Spectrum Internet
Spectrum TV® Select
125+ Channels
Spectrum Voice®
Unlimited calling in the U.S., to Canada, Mexico, and more
Speeds up to
200
Mbps download
(wireless speeds may vary)
200
Mbps download
(wireless speeds may vary)
From
$10297/mo
for 12 mos 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 TV ® Select promotion price is $44.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr. 1. Spectrum Internet® promotion price is $44.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr. 1. Spectrum Voice®: Price is $12.99/mo when bundled. Taxes, fees and surcharges (broadcast surcharge up to $16.45/mo) extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra. General Terms: INTERNET: Speed based on wired connection and may vary by address. Wireless speeds may vary. TV: TV equipment required; charges may apply. Channel and HD programming availability based on level of service. Account credentials may be required to stream some TV content online. HOME PHONE: Unlimited calling includes calls within the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and more. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. Enter your address to determine availability. ©2021 Charter Communications.
Though Spectrum doesn’t give you much of a discount for bundling services, getting your TV, home phone, and Internet all in one place is at least convenient. And you can throw together any combination of TV, home phone, or Internet services into Double Play or Triple Play bundles. Read our review of Spectrum bundles for recommendations and tips on how to get the best deal.
Spectrum fees and charges
Shout-out to Spectrum for making it easy to find info about its prices, fees, and charges. You can check your area’s specific costs for service calls, late fees, equipment costs and other charges using Spectrum’s online rate card. Having the list of charges might not make paying them any easier, but at least you know what to expect.
We looked at the fees for at least seven cities across the US, and things look pretty normal for a cable company. A few items popped up that merit some side-eye, though, like the $5.00 processing fee for paying over the phone or the $9.99 WiFi activation fee (on top of the installation fee).
On the other hand, Spectrum’s no contract plans mean no early termination fees (ETF). And it has a forgiving 30-day grace period before hitting you with a late fee, so we’d say the pros and cons of the fee structure are pretty balanced. Fees are still fees, but in this case we wouldn’t say Spectrum’s fees are a deal-breaker.
Learn more about Spectrum.
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Which Internet Service Providers Have Data Caps?
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Read more about Which Internet Service Providers Have Data Caps?
AT&T vs. Spectrum
Spectrum’s highest speeds are more widely available, but AT&T fiber internet is a great plan when you can find it. Both are solid choices for high-speed Internet.
Our verdict
Choose Spectrum for no contract service and fast Internet speeds. Skip it if you’re not interested in Spectrum Internet. Two of Spectrums most promising features—Spectrum Mobile and its live TV streaming service—are available only to Spectrum Internet customers. Spectrum’s TV service is fine on its own, but you can find more channels and better DVR options elsewhere.