Xfinity vs. Spectrum

Jump to: Comparison Table | Plans & Pricing | Internet Speed | Equipment | Customer Experience | Coverage Area | Advantages & Disadvantages | Bundles | FAQs

Bottom line

Choose Xfinity for wide availability and some of the fastest speeds on the market. With service in forty states and speeds up to 2 gigs in select areas, it’s hard to argue against Xfinity. If speed is what you need, Xfinity probably has an option where you live.

Choose Spectrum for a good selection of plans with no contracts or data caps. Spectrum goes toe-to-toe with Xfinity with a variety of plans for every Internet need and budget, but Spectrum also offers the flexibility of no contract plans that you can opt out of at any time for no charge. Spectrum also offers unlimited data at no additional charge—that’s perfect for heavy streamers or gamers.

Data effective 7/30/20. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

*For the first 12 or 24 months. May require a 1- or 2-year agreement.

†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.

Packages and pricing

Xfinity and Spectrum could not be more different when it comes to package offerings. While Xfinity has a plan for every budget and need, Spectrum takes the simple route with just a single offering. Which path is the right one? Let’s find out.

Xfinity offers a dazzling array of internet packages. These plans run the full range from your basic 25 Mbps starter package to the ridiculously fast (and equally expensive) Gigabit Pro fiber plan. Xfinity’s fiber package has limited availability though. At this time what Xfinity is hanging its hat on is cable internet offerings for any speed (and budget) you could possibly want.

Each package is clearly differentiated and makes sense in the lineup, and the pricing is reasonable for what you get. Our big gripe with Xfinity is inconsistency in packages among different locations. Prices, available plans, and speeds often vary widely from place to place. While this is normal behavior for Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Xfinity is even more all over the map than some of the others.

If you want to add TV or phone service, Xfinity has plenty of bundling options available. The cream of the crop is the Premier XF Triple Play, which gets you 400 Mbps internet, 260+ channels, and unlimited nationwide calling. You’ll also get HBO®, STARZ®, CINEMAX®, and SHOWTIME® included at no additional charge, which is quite valuable on its own.

*Per month for 12 months. Up to these speeds (wireless speeds may vary).

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.

**To qualify for Spectrum Internet Assist, a member of the household must be a recipient of The National School Lunch Program (NSLP), The Community Eligibility Provision of the NSLP, or Supplemental Security income (for those 65 and older only).

Spectrum’s Internet Ultra plan is a nice option since up to 400 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) for $69.99 per month for 12 months is plenty of speed for the vast majority of households. Many folks would be just fine with Spectrum Internet^® with speeds up to 100 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) for $49.99 per month for 12 months. If you qualify for the Spectrum Internet Assist plan with speeds up to 30 Mpbs (wireless speeds may vary) for $14.99 per month for 12 months, it’s a great price for basic Internet too.

Spectrum’s prices are competitive with Xfinity for the most part, though if you’re dead set on getting gig speeds, the Spectrum pricing is on the high side and you’d be better off going with Xfinity. But the big thing Spectrum has going for it is the flexibility of no contract plans, as well as unlimited data included in all its Internet offerings. The freedom of a no contract plan may very well be worth your paying a couple bucks extra a month so you don’t get stuck paying big fees if you end up wanting to change your Internet plan.

Important features

Speed

Both Spectrum and Xfinity offer a range of plans at varying speeds. Xfinity really goes all-in with the number of options it offers for prices and speeds, while Spectrum has a more streamlined menu with options that should be suitable to most anyone. If it’s gigabit Internet you’re after, you can get that from Spectrum but the Xfinity price is significantly better. Comcast technically offers a two gigabit fiber internet plan, though the availability is pretty low and all that speed is way more than most people will need, especially for the elevated price.

The Spectrum Internet Ultra plan is appealing, since up to 400 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) for $69.99 per month for 12 months is more than enough speed for most households and lacks the hefty price tag of the gigabit plans.

Internet type

Both Xfinity and Spectrum use coaxial cables to transmit data, TV, and phone signals. Cable Internet tends to be fast, reliable, and easily accessible, and both Xfinity and Spectrum live up to that reputation. Xfinity does technically have a fiber Internet offering for its 2 gig plan, but it has very limited availability.

Data caps

Here’s an area where Spectrum has a clear edge. Spectrum offers unlimited data. Period. End of story. No fine print. There’s no cap, there’s no fee for additional use, and there’s no add-on subscription to worry about. If your household uses a ton of data and has a plan that suits your speed and budget, this is a big advantage for Spectrum.

Xfinity gives users 1.2 TB of data each month. That’s still a lot, and most will never reach that cap. But if you do happen to hit it, Xfinity will give you one free courtesy month with no additional charge no matter how much you go over the limit. After that, each month in which you exceed the data cap you’ll pay $10.00 for each additional 50 GB used. Xfinity also gives the option of purchasing unlimited data for an extra $30.00 per month with any plan, which could be better than paying for overages if you consistently exceed the cap by more than 150 GB.

Find out which internet service providers have data caps.

Equipment

There’s one big difference between the way Xfinity and Spectrum approach equipment: Xfinity charges you an additional fee and Spectrum doesn’t. Both providers allow you to use your own modem or router if you prefer. And since they’re cable providers, there are plenty of options to choose from. We even have a whole article about the best routers and modems to use with your Xfinity internet.

When should you use the equipment provided by your ISP?

For most people, it makes sense to stick with what the provider gives you. This is especially true if the rental price is already included in your package, like with Spectrum. There are several benefits to sticking with ISP-provided equipment:

1. You’ll get guaranteed compatibility with your service, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally buying the wrong product.
2. You’ll get easier tech support if something goes wrong since your provider is familiar with the equipment.

When should you purchase your own equipment?

On the other hand, sometimes the ISP-provided modem or router just doesn’t get the job done, or you don’t want to pay the rental fee for years to come. Here are some reasons to consider picking up your own router:

• You need more WiFi coverage. If you live in a larger-than-average home, you might need more range from your router.
• You have a lot of devices online at once. If your network is especially crowded, try a router with special tech like beamforming to get the signal to your devices and prioritize traffic.
• You need more speed. If you need to maximize your wireless speed for streaming or gaming, purchasing your own router is probably the best way to do that.

Customer experience

How do Xfinity and Spectrum stack up when it comes to using them in the real world? Pretty well, it turns out. Customer reviews of both Xfinity and Spectrum point toward a positive experience.

How a provider treats its customers can be just as important as how fast its Internet is or how many channels it offers. Our 2020 Internet Provider Customer Satisfaction Survey ranks providers in a number of categories to find out which ones provide the best customer experience.

Both Xfinity and Spectrum sit toward the top of the list, in fifth and seventh places, with Xfinity beating Spectrum. Xfinity scores especially well in speed, tech support, and customer service, while Spectrum does well in most categories but consistently ranks lower than Xfinity.

We’d expect both providers to offer a pleasant experience overall. You really can’t go wrong with either when it comes to speed and reliability.

Other features

Apps

Xfinity and Spectrum both offer mobile Apps for managing your accounts and services.

Compared to many provider Apps, these Apps actually have pretty decent ratings. In any case, while these Apps might not be the most exciting things in the world, they’re always convenient to have.

Availability and coverage

Both Xfinity and Spectrum offer coverage across the country, with the highest availability on the East Coast and Great Lakes region. Xfinity offers coverage in 40 states total, while Spectrum claims availability in 29. Overall, Spectrum coverage tends to be more clustered in certain areas, while Xfinity is a bit more spread out.

Pros and cons

We’ve highlighted the important stuff in the chart below, but explore our 2020 Internet Provider Customer Satisfaction Survey for more details and scores.

Bundle Xfinity and Spectrum with TV

It makes sense to get your internet and TV service from the same provider. You’ll get reduced prices and extra features, and it’s one less bill to worry about. Check out each provider’s bundle options below.

Our verdict

Both Spectrum and Xfinity offer great service, have great reputations, and a variety of cable Internet option. If you want gigabit speeds, Xfinity is a better choice for price. But if the freedom of Internet without a contract or a data cap is important to you, Spectrum is the better option.

Xfinity was the highest-rated provider for speeds in our 2020 customer satisfaction survey, which means it does a great job of delivering on its advertised speeds. Plus, Xfinity has a significantly better price than Spectrum for gigabit plans.

FAQ about Xfinity and Spectrum

What happened to Time Warner Cable/Charter/Bright House?

In 2016, Charter acquired Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks and merged all three brands under the Spectrum roof. There are still a few lingering references to Charter Spectrum, Time Warner Cable or Bright House floating around, but it shouldn’t be long until everything is smoothed over.

What’s the difference between Comcast and Xfinity?

In practice, there is no difference. Comcast is the company, and Xfinity is the brand it uses for its consumer Internet and TV services.

What is gigabit Internet?

Gigabit Internet is Internet service with speeds of 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps). Many providers refer to these plans as “1 Gig” plans. Gigabit speeds are about as fast as they come. For some context, you could download an entire movie in less than two minutes on a gigabit connection.

Check out our complete guide to gigabit Internet.