HTC vs. Spectrum

Bottom line

Horry Telephone Cooperative (HTC) is a fiber and cable internet provider in South Carolina covering Horry, Georgetown, and Marion counties. It doesn’t have Spectrum’s vast, nationwide network, but it excels in customer support and straightforward pricing. Both of HTC’s internet services offer plans with speeds up to a gigabit.

Spectrum is one of the largest cable internet providers in the US, so it’s a great option if you can’t get HTC’s internet service. Spectrum doesn’t have the symmetrical speeds of HTC’s fiber, but you get tons of options, ranging from gigabit speeds and free cable modems to introductory discounted pricing.

Current internet deals

HTC’s wireless phone customers can get $10 per month off their monthly bill by signing up for three or more services. The provider also offers cable TV, wireless, and home security services.

Spectrum will give you a free, 90-day trial of Peacock Premium when you sign up for a qualifying internet plan.

See our Best Internet Deals page for more deets on the cheapest plans and the biggest discounts from other major internet providers like Spectrum. It’s updated every month to give you the scoop.

HTC vs. Spectrum internet

HTC vs. Spectrum packages and pricing

HTC and Spectrum have three identical plans but HTC is the only provider of the two with fiber. That means its fiber plans generally have faster upload speeds than Spectrum’s cable plans. Both include unlimited data and cable modems as part of the pricing.

HTC internet packages

HTC provides fiber-to-the-home internet in most of its service areas and cable internet in places where HTC still needs to upgrade. Some areas continue to offer both as HTC replaces cable with fiber, so you won’t know if a plan uses cable or fiber until you call. Prices are the same whether you’re on cable or fiber.

HTC’s fiber is definitely the better bet if it’s in your area—you get much faster upload speeds than cable internet. A fast upload speed is mostly a bonus for internet users who work from home and need high performance to run massive Zoom meetings or upload humongous video files to YouTube. The typical web surfer, however, generally downloads more data than uploads.

As for cost, HTC’s prices are cheaper than Spectrum during and after the first 12 months. The rates include a cable modem and router—Spectrum offers a free cable modem only. And you can waive the installation cost if you sign up for an annual contract instead of going with a no-contract plan.

Finally, there are no data caps, so you’re free to use the internet as much as you want without worrying about overage charges.

Spectrum Internet packages

Spectrum offers decent prices and impressive speeds over cable. Its base plan delivers speeds up to 300 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary), up from 100 Mbps just a few years ago.

Spectrum’s fastest plan, Internet Gig, is now more affordable than ever. It reaches up to 1,000 Mbps in download speed and boasts one of the fastest cable internet upload speeds in the US: up to 500 Mbps in certain areas.

Spectrum works well for users who require advanced capabilities for working from home, content production, and other bandwidth-intensive tasks. But don’t let the big megabit numbers distract you—even speeds up to 300 Mbps are a handsome amount for most users, and the price for that package is solid.

Spectrum doesn’t have contracts, so you can cancel service after one month if you’re dissatisfied. But it’s more expensive than HTC during and after the first year. Spectrum’s Gig plan, for example, increases $25.00 to $114.99 per month by the third year. HTC’s similar plan has a standard rate of $89.95 per month—a $15.00 increase if you choose the one-year contract.

HTC vs. Spectrum: Who has the fastest internet speed?

Internet speeds

Spectrum and HTC offer three identical plans with download speeds of up to 300, 500, and 1,000 Mbps. But if you compare Spectrum cable to HTC cable, Spectrum generally has the faster upload speeds—especially when you factor in Spectrum’s Gig plan with speeds up to 500 Mbps offered in some areas.

Comparing Spectrum’s cable against HTC’s fiber is a different story. HTC’s Tier 1 and Tier 2 fiber plans have symmetrical speeds, meaning the download and upload speeds are identical. However, HTC’s Tier 3 plan isn’t symmetrical—its download speeds reach up to 500 Mbps only, similar to Spectrum’s Gig cable internet plan.

Overall, go with HTC if you see both providers in your area—especially fiber if you can get it.

Internet types

HTC offers fiber and cable internet, while Spectrum offers cable internet. Technically, the two types don’t have a maximum speed—think of them as highways with speed limits enforced by providers. However, here are the maximum download and upload speeds currently offered to residential customers:

*Data according to area provider maps for cable and maps for fiber from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Cable internet relies on existing cable TV lines with a copper-clad core (coaxial cables) to deliver internet using radio waves. Fiber internet operates over cables with glass cores to deliver internet using light signals (think Morse code).

Fiber is generally faster than cable internet in upload speed. Both HTC and Spectrum can reach download speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps (the maximum speed for most national providers). But, like other fiber providers, HTC’s fiber packages have much faster upload speeds due to the way fiber providers distribute bandwidth over the newer connections.

HTC’s fiber internet is available only in some parts of its service area, so you may have to settle for cable until HTC upgrades the area.

Spectrum’s cable internet can bring the heat with up to 1,000 Mbps speeds (wireless speeds may vary) across much broader parts of South Carolina.

TV bundle deals

Spectrum and HTC both provide TV service in addition to internet, with packages starting at under $60 per month. With either provider, you can get 120+ channels along with popular features like on-demand viewing, online streaming, and cloud DVRs. For a little extra moola, you can order deluxe packages for kids’ programming, sports, and premium channels like HBO®.

We think Spectrum is a better pick for pairing TV with internet, mainly because it’s easier to get exactly what you want and get a quote right away when you’re signing up on Spectrum’s website.

HTC vs. Spectrum fees and contracts

HTC and Spectrum both go easy on extra fees. For starters, neither provider has data caps, so you won’t see data overage charges.

If you’re concerned about possible early termination fees (ETFs), Spectrum doesn’t impose annual contracts, so no worries there. But you’re obligated to keep the service for at least one month to enjoy the promotional discount.

Meanwhile, HTC charges $100 if you discontinue service at any time before your one-year contract ends. There is no ETF if you take the no-contract option.

Finally, Spectrum charges a reasonable $5 per month for its router or WiFi access in its gateways, and $3 per month for each WiFi Pod—there’s no fee for its modem. HTC includes the modem and router as part of the total bill.

HTC fees

HTC doesn’t charge monthly rental fees for its equipment. Plus, if you miss a payment, HTC’s late fees aren’t too bad. You have around a week to make your payment before HTC disconnects your service and you’re hit with a $25 reconnection fee on the next bill. Installation can be a bit pricey, but you can waive the cost by signing an annual contract.

Spectrum fees

Spectrum doesn’t have data caps, so there are no overage fees. Installation is on the cheaper end, costing $59.99 for professional installation—$24.99 for the self-install kit which includes activation. The WiFi access fee won’t run you much at $5 per month—many internet providers charge twice that (except for HTC, which doesn’t charge anything at all).

Internet contracts

Spectrum doesn’t have contracts. Instead, it offers discounted pricing for 12 months, but you must keep the service for at least one month to get the discount. After that, you can cancel service without shelling out big bucks in early termination fees (ETFs).

With HTC, you have two options:

• One-year contract – Get free installation and a discounted rate for 12 months. This option does not renew. The ETF cost is $100.
• No contract – Pay up to $100 in installation fees and HTC’s standard rates.

HTC does not list the no-contract option on its website. An agent gives you this option when you call to sign up for new internet service.

HTC vs. Spectrum equipment

Renting equipment

HTC provides all the equipment you need for fiber or cable internet at no extra cost—just return the devices once you discontinue your service.

Spectrum doesn’t charge a monthly fee to use its modem or gateway. But WiFi costs $5 per month whether you use Spectrum’s standalone router or access WiFi from the gateway. Spectrum’s WiFi Pods are $3 per unit per month, which can add up if you want whole-home coverage.

Renting a modem, router, or gateway from your provider is definitely the easiest approach to get your Wi-Fi running (unless you get fiber). You won’t have to shop around and drop big bucks upfront on hardware. If you have technical issues, customer support will be familiar with the device and help you troubleshoot.

However, there are some advantages to owning your own devices.

Buying a modem and router

Many routers come with lots of extra functions, boosting your Wi-Fi signal or improving your Wi-Fi speeds for activities like streaming and gaming. They also often have better security configurations, including options for setting up firewalls and guest networks.

And while $5 a month is pretty cheap, you can save some mun-muns in the long run by buying your equipment rather than renting if you plan to stick with the same provider for a while.

HTC vs. Spectrum availability

HTC’s service area covers Horry, Georgetown, and Marion counties in the top northeastern corner of South Carolina. It’s available across major cities like Myrtle Beach, Conway, and Georgetown along with smaller towns and rural communities.

Spectrum covers most of the same area—as well as other parts of South Carolina. It’s available in 227 towns and cities across the state, including all the best-known locales in the Horry-Georgetown area.

Pros and cons

Our verdict

HTC is the best internet provider if you want great customer service and great prices. Each plan includes rent-free equipment and unlimited data, so you’re free to use as much internet as you please. It’s the cheapest of the two in Horry, Georgetown, and Marion counties too—and the most reliable if you can get HTC’s fiber.

If you want internet and TV at a discount, go for Spectrum instead. It doesn’t lock you down with a contract, so you can quit at any time after the first month. You get unlimited data too, just like HTC, but Spectrum is more expensive than HTC for the long term.

HTC vs. Spectrum FAQ

Which is better: HTC or Spectrum?

HTC internet is better than Spectrum Internet if you’re interested in fiber service and symmetrical upload and download speeds. It has excellent customer service and robust speeds on its cable internet plans. We say go with HTC if you just want internet and especially if you want fiber internet. Plus, it’s cheaper too—even after 12 months.