Verizon vs. Spectrum: Which Internet Provider Is Best for You?
Verizon and Spectrum offer different internet connection types. We compare the two so you can choose what’s best for you.
Aug 10, 2023 | Share 
Provider Comparisons (Versus)
-
Best for speed
- Price: $49.99–$94.99/mo.*‡†
- Customer rating: 3.9/5
- Speed: Up to 300–2,300 Mbps
- Internet type: Fiber, DSL
- Annual contract: No contract
- Setup charge: $99.00 (waived when ordered online)
-
Best for availability
- Price: $49.99–$89.99/mo.§
- Customer rating: 3.7/5
- Speed: Up to 300–1,000 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary)
- Internet type: Cable
- Annual contract: No contract
- Setup charge: $49.99 for pro; $24.99 for self
* w/ Auto Pay. Available in select areas.
†w/ Auto Pay and select 5G mobile plans. Available in select areas.
§ 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.
Compare Verizon and Spectrum head to head
Choosing between Verizon and Spectrum mostly comes down to fiber versus cable. Spectrum’s cable internet is the clear choice if you want speeds faster than DSL internet and there is no fiber internet in your area.
However, we suggest going with fiber from Verizon Fios if you can. Verizon’s high-speed plans are cheaper than Spectrum’s, plus you get the benefits of fiber like symmetrical speeds, low latency, and great reliability.
Pros:
- Fiber internet with speeds up to 2 Gbps
- No annual contracts
Cons:
- Limited fiber availability
Want to compare the best Verizon and Spectrum plans in your area? Enter your zip code below.
Plans and pricing: Verizon vs. Spectrum
Verizon is cheaper than Spectrum when you compare the 300 Mbps plans. Their gigabit plans are identical in price, but the pricing of all three Spectrum Internet® plans increases after twelve months whereas Verizon’s plans do not. Verizon simply has the upper hand in both pricing, symmetrical speeds, and the fastest downloads you can get of the two.
Verizon plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Speed | Type | Order online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet 300/300 | $49.99/mo.* | 300 Mbps | Fiber | |
| Internet 500/500 | $69.99/mo.* | 500 Mbps | Fiber | |
| Internet 1 Gig | $89.99/mo.* | Up to 940 Mbps | Fiber | |
| Internet 2 Gig | $94.99/mo.# | Up to 1,500-2,300 Mbps | Fiber | |
| 5G Home Internet | $50.00/mo.*, $25.00/mo. for Unlimited mobile subscribers† | Up to 300 Mbps | Fixed Wireless | |
| 5G Home Internet Plus | $70.00/mo.*, $35.00/mo. for Unlimited mobile subscribers† | Up to 1,000 Mbps | Fixed Wireless |
* w/ Auto Pay. Available in select areas.
#Available in select areas only. Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Fios plan prices include taxes & fees.
†w/ Auto Pay and select 5G mobile plans. Available in select areas.
At first glance, Verizon offers a wider variety of internet plans than Spectrum. But a closer look shows that Verizon’s Internet 2 Gig plan is limited to specific areas in New York. That narrows the list down for fiber connections in most areas.
Verizon also offers fixed wireless plans with download load speeds up to 1000Mbps.
Spectrum plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Speed | Order online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet® | $49.99/mo. for 12 mos.* | Up to 300 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | View Plan |
| Spectrum Internet® Ultra | $69.99/mo. for 12 mos.* | Up to 500 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | View Plan |
| Spectrum Internet® Gig | $89.99/mo. for 12 mos.† | Up to 1,000 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | View Plan |
* 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.
† 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 promotion price is $89.99/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.
Like Verizon, Spectrum also serves up speeds maxing out at 300, 500, and 1,000 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary).
The base Spectrum Internet plan is the same price for the same download speed as Verizon’s Internet 300/300 plan. Spectrum’s 500 Mbps plan costs $5 more per month while its gigabit plan matches Verizon’s Fios Gigabit Connection price. But Spectrum increases your monthly cost after the first 12 months, making its cable internet a far less affordable option compared to Verizon’s fiber.
The win for Spectrum, though, is that cable internet has a wider availability than fiber. Given fiber internet is relatively new and scarce in most areas, Spectrum may be your only high-speed option.
Deals and promotions: Verizon vs. Spectrum
Get $25 off your internet plan when you bundle it with Verizon’s Unlimited Plus phone plan. You can get Fios fiber or 5G Home Internet for as much as half off the original monthly price.
Get a free, 90-day trial of Peacock Premium when you sign up for a qualifying internet plan.
Extra fees: Verizon vs. Spectrum
| Equipment Fee | Installation Fee | Other Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | |||
| Spectrum |
Spectrum doesn’t charge a modem rental fee each month. However, it charges a $5.00 monthly fee for WiFi, whether you have Spectrum’s standalone router or one of its wireless gateways. You can eliminate this fee by buying your own router.
The good news is Spectrum dropped its one-time $199.99 activation fee and lowered the monthly cost for gigabit internet. The plan is now more affordable than ever if you need gigabit speeds and Verizon’s fiber isn’t available where you live. But Verizon is still the cheaper, faster, and more reliable option if you can get it.
Want to see which Verizon and Spectrum plans are available in your area? Check to see by typing in your zip code below.
Customer ratings: Verizon vs. Spectrum
| Overall Rating | Reliability Rating | Customer Service Rating | Speed Rating | Price Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Spectrum | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 3.2 |
* Ratings based on a five (5) point system used in our customer satisfaction survey.
Verizon ranks second out of 13 national internet providers for overall satisfaction in our latest customer satisfaction survey. Its highest rating is in reliability satisfaction, and that’s not unexpected since fiber is more reliable than cable and DSL. Its lowest rating is in price satisfaction, but it’s still in the top four in that category and above the national average. You simply can’t go wrong with Verizon’s fiber internet.
Spectrum ranks third for overall satisfaction. Its highest rating is in speed satisfaction, and it pulls slightly ahead of Verizon in that category, which is surprising. But a closer look shows more Spectrum customers say their speeds “always” or “usually” meet their speeds than Verizon customers. On the flip side, Spectrum’s weakest point is price satisfaction which, when we compare Spectrum with Verizon, makes total sense. Spectrum has post-promo price hikes, whereas Verizon does not.
Best TV and internet bundles
| Package | Internet speed | TV channels | Price | Order online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon 300 Mbps Internet + Your Fios TV | Up to 300 Mbps | 125+ | $124.99/mo.* | |
| Verizon Fios Gigabit Connection + More Fios TV | Up to 940 Mbps | 300+ | $188.99/mo.** | |
| Spectrum Internet + TV Select Signature# | Up to 300 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | 150+ | $109.98/mo. for 12 mos.‡ | View Plans |
| Spectrum Internet Ultra + TV Select Signature# | Up to 500 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | 150+ | $129.98/mo. for 12 mos.‡ | View Plans |
*For new eligible TV and/or Internet res. custs. Availability varies. Wired & wireless Internet speeds vary due to device limits, multiple users, network & other factors. See Verizon.com/yourspeed for more info. $15/mo. router and $99 setup charges & other taxes & terms may apply. Auto Pay & paper-free billing reqd. Subj. to credit approval & may require a deposit. Fios TV: $12/mo. STB charge may apply.
** For new eligible TV and/or Internet res. custs. Availability varies. Wired & wireless Internet speeds vary due to device limits, multiple users, network & other factors. See Verizon.com/yourspeed for more info. $15/mo. router and $99 setup charges & other taxes & terms may apply. Auto Pay (ACH or bank debit card only) & paper-free billing req’d. for Internet service. Subj. to credit approval & may require a deposit. Fios Gigabit Connection: Gigabit network connection to your home. Wired speeds up to 940/880 Mbps with avg. speeds betw. 750-940 Mbps download / 750-880 Mbps upload. Fios TV: $12/mo. STB charge may apply.
‡ 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.
#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 Signature promotion price is $59.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr 1. Taxes, fees, and surcharges (broadcast surcharge up to $23.20/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 and location. 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.
Verizon’s Mix & Match options come in only four flavors, the cheapest of which costs $119.99 per month. Verizon’s Your Fios TV service includes one set-top box and allows you to pick five of your favorite channels. The More Fios TV service consists of a set-top box, basic DVR service, Verizon’s most popular channels, and regional sports.
Spectrum doesn’t offer TV and internet bundles at a discounted price. Instead, you can pair its TV Select service with any one of its three cable internet plans. Both services have discounted pricing for 12 months, but all premium channels are an added cost. You’ll also see a broadcast surcharge of up to $21 per month that’s not part of the discounted pricing.
Internet types: Verizon vs. Spectrum
| Internet type | Order online | |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon | Fiber, DSL | |
| Spectrum | Cable | View Plans |
Verizon’s DSL service is the slowest of the three using telephone lines already installed in most areas. Meanwhile, Verizon’s Fios network is the fastest of the three due to how the infrastructure is designed. Fiber also has symmetrical speeds, unlike cable and DSL.
Cable internet is the middle ground when it comes to speeds. It relies on cable TV lines, so it’s more widely available than fiber. The fastest cable internet plan you can get from Spectrum is 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps), and in some areas, the upload speed reaches 500 Mbps. Verizon’s fastest fiber plan has symmetrical speeds of up to 2,048 Mbps (2 Gbps).
Data caps: Verizon vs. Spectrum
| Data Cap | Order online | |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon | No cap | |
| Spectrum | No cap | View Plans |
Verizon and Spectrum do not force data caps, but that may change in the next few years for Spectrum.
Part of Charter’s deal with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2016 when it acquired Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks was that it wouldn’t impose a data cap and usage-based pricing. That agreement will lapse in May 2023, and Charter already attempted to end its agreement two years early but withdrew its petition. In a response to the FCC, Charter implied that customers would benefit from data caps and usage-based pricing.1
Contracts: Verizon vs. Spectrum
| Contract length | Order online | |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon | No contract | |
| Spectrum | No contract | View Plans |
Verizon and Spectrum do not have annual contracts or early termination fees. Spectrum, however, offers discounted pricing for 12 or 24 months, depending on where you live. There’s no catch either—you can cancel the discounted service at any time after the first month without any hidden penalties. They’re just promotions to get you to sign up with Spectrum.
Installation: Verizon vs. Spectrum
| Installation options | Order online | |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon | ||
| Spectrum | View Plans |
Data as of 02/28/2023. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Verizon doesn’t offer a self-install kit, but you can save money by ordering Verizon’s service online—Verizon will waive the pro install fee. Spectrum doesn’t offer a similar discount with its pro install service.
In fact, Spectrum encourages new customers to opt for its self-install kit over a pro install due to COVID-19. Spectrum sends a technician out to customers for completely new installs, relocating the modem, rewiring, and so on.
Availability: Verizon vs. Spectrum
Verizon’s DSL internet covers most of its service areas. Its fiber-based Fios network has a smaller footprint, available in key metro areas within Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
Spectrum has a broader footprint across North America. It provides cable internet in California, Florida, Kentucky, Maine, New York, North and South Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and several other states.
To see Verizon and Spectrum availability in your area, enter your zip code below.
Final call: Verizon vs. Spectrum
The choice between Verizon and Spectrum boils down to fiber versus cable internet. Verizon doesn’t offer DSL service to new customers, and its fiber internet has limited availability. We suggest Spectrum’s cable internet over DSL and satellite if you can’t get fiber internet.
But if you live or work where Verizon Fios overlaps in coverage with Spectrum’s cable internet, go with Verizon instead. Fiber internet plans are hard to beat, and Verizon Fios’s fiber plans are a great deal. They’re cheaper than Spectrum plans—even more so after Spectrum’s promotional pricing ends—and provide equal upload and download speeds.
| View Spectrum Plans |
Methodology
Our HighSpeedInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on customer input from our annual customer satisfaction survey, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. To strengthen our research, we look closely at provider contracts to get hard-to-find information on price hikes, data caps, and extra fees, and we keep tabs on the latest news reports and online reviews. When applicable, we also rely on our personal experiences testing these services.
More about Verizon and Spectrum
Sources
- Federal Communications Commission, “Reply of Charter Communications, Inc.,” August 6, 2020. Accessed August 20, 2021.
Disclaimer
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. HighSpeedInternet.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
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Author - Kevin Parrish
Kevin Parrish has more than a decade of experience working as a writer, editor, and product tester. He began writing about computer hardware and soon branched out to other devices and services such as networking equipment, phones and tablets, game consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom’s Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others. At HighSpeedInternet.com, he focuses on network equipment testing and review.
Editor - Cara Haynes
Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she's edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet.com for five years. She graduated with a BA in English and a minor in editing from Brigham Young University. When she's not editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands like Pluralsight. She believes no one should feel lost in internet land and that a good internet connection significantly extends your life span.
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