If you are shopping for new internet providers in your area then you may have Spectrum and Verizon services in mind. In this article, we will be reviewing and comparing Spectrum vs Verizon services to see which is the best home internet provider for you and your family.
Spectrum Internet is an established telecom service provider with a very wide reach in the US. It’s easy to subscribe to their service and they have affordable plans for every budget.
On the other corner of the ring, there’s Verizon Fios that boasts its extreme internet speeds delivered through a fiber-optic network. They have a limited coverage area though, so not many can enjoy their service.
It will be interesting to see how these two networks that seem to have opposing strategies fare against each other in terms of various factors that customers like you look for in an internet service provider.
Who’s The Best Internet Provider from Spectrum vs Verizon
Here’s a brief description of how Spectrum and Verizon Fios fare against each other on streaming, gaming, and web browsing.
Spectrum Overview
Spectrum is the second largest internet provider in the US, servicing more than 40 states across the country. They mainly use a hybrid coaxial cable network which maximizes the use of traditional copper lines to deliver the best speeds possible that the technology provides.
For professional live streamers, Spectrum internet plans may not be the best choice because of their low upload speeds. Even their 940Mbps plan can only handle upload speeds up to 35Mbps.
But for online gamers and, Spectrum’s internet plans provide good value for money. The average latency range of the network is only 28ms to 43ms, which is more than acceptable. You’ll rarely experience lag while watching HD videos or gaming online with this kind of service.
Pros:
- No contracts
- No data caps
- Affordable internet plans
- Wide service availability
Cons:
- Price increase after the first year of promo subscription expires
- Lacking DVR offers
- Limited savings even on bundled packages
- Poor customer service
Verizon Fios Overview
Verizon is a large telecom company with a worldwide reach. Founded in 2000, the company continues to lead in using fiber-optic technology on its internet network. However, this gives them a limited reach for now because fiber-optic cables are harder and costlier to organize.
Areas that can are within the reach of Verizon Internet can enjoy reliable, stable, and high-speed connections. Verizon is ideal for serious gamers and live-streaming professionals who need an unfettered and consistent internet connection. With an average latency of just 12ms, Verizon is the best provider you can get for online gaming.
Pros:
- Good tech support service
- Fiber internet connection for a more stable service
- Reliable and matching upload/download speeds
Cons:
- Expensive plans compared to the competition
- Very limited availability
- Expensive equipment fee
Major Points to Consider – Get The Facts
In choosing an internet service provider, it’s best to look at the following factors to determine which is best suited to your needs.
Speed – Are They High-Speed?
Verizon Fios offers speeds ranging from 200Mbps to 940/880Mbps. They use a fiber-optic network that is more reliable and consistent in delivering blistering internet speeds and incredible TV picture quality in households.
The only downside with Verizon Fios is their limited coverage area, which means you may not be able to apply for their gigabit plan easily as it’s available only in a few areas in the US. You’ll have to settle with the 200Mbps plan which is still more than acceptable for a seamless streaming and gaming experience.
Spectrum, on the other hand, offers internet plans with a speed range of 100Mbps to 940Mbps. They use a hybrid coaxial cable network to deliver high internet speeds to households, although all of their plans have a way lower upload speed.
Monthly Cost – Whats The Real Price?
Verizon’s starting price for their internet service is around $49.99 a month. Their gigabit internet plan will cost you $79.99 a month.
Spectrum’s cheapest internet plan, on the other hand, is priced the same at $49.99. However, their gigabit plan of 940Mbps is more expensive at $109.99 per month.
Spectrum and Verizon won’t tie you with an annual contract, so you can shift anytime you want in case you don’t like their service. But if you want to avail of a price guarantee plan, Spectrum offers a one-year contract to customers who are interested in this package.
Verizon also has contract plans that will give you a huge discount on monthly fees. However, prematurely exiting the contract can cost you as much as $350.
Installation & Equipment Costs
Professional installation of Verizon internet will cost $99.99, though this can be waived if you apply through online channels.
Verizon Internet’s Wi-Fi router rental will cost you an additional $15 per month. You can purchase the router for a one-time fee of $199.99 or you can use your router as an alternative.
Spectrum’s one-time internet installation fee is cheaper at $49.99 which applies to their cable connection. Self-installation costs only $9.99, so you may want to try this instead. However, for fiber internet, the professional installation fee is $199.99. On top of the installation cost, there’s also the Wi-Fi activation fee that will cost another $9.99.
For Spectrum Internet, the modem is included in the installation package, but the Wi-Fi router rental costs $5 per month.
Data Allowance
Both Verizon and Spectrum are loved by their customers because they have no data limits on any of their internet plans.
How Do Their Bundle Deals Compare?
Both Verizon and Spectrum offer bundle deals for cable TV, mobile, and home phone. They also have packaged solutions for small businesses and large enterprises.
For the TV option, Verizon provides the better deal over Spectrum. Spectrum allows you to record two shows at once with their DVR technology. On the other hand, Verizon offers the same with standard DVR, but they can expand this up to six shows with their DVR Enhanced Service.
Customer Support
Verizon has an organized support portal where you can find the solutions to the most frequently encountered problems by the subscribers. There’s also a forum where helpful customers can assist you in solving issues that they’ve encountered themselves.
Alternatively, you can chat with a customer service agent through their website or Facebook page; the support team is available 24/7. If you prefer to talk with customer representatives, you can leave your contact number on the website and have them call you at the preferred schedule.
Spectrum also has a systematized support page on its website where you’ll see the FAQs first before the other contact options. There’s also a search bar where you can type in a custom question and choose from the solutions that will appear on the results page. These methods will save you the time of asking help directly from the tech support team when you can resolve the issue without their assistance.
But in case you aren’t able to find the answers on the page, you can chat or call their customer service representatives.
Service Availability
Spectrum has a wide coverage area that spans across 44 states in the US, including:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Montana
- North Carolina
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- Nevada
- New York
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Verizon Fios, on the other hand, has a more limited service coverage. Their internet plans are available only in the following 10 states in the country:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Virginia
Customer Reviews – Discover The Truth
Spectrum Customers
Spectrum Internet performed poorly in customer service according to the 2019 ACSI report. The internet provider garnered 59 out of 100 points, seeing an observable decline from 65 points in 2017 and 60 points in 2018.
However, Spectrum seems to be resolving the problem with their customer support team. Many subscribers are now applauding the helpfulness and politeness of the representatives that take their call and reply on their queries. The thing is, these agents are sometimes hard to get in touch with, probably due to the number of calls they take every day.
Another issue some users found with Spectrum is how the company upgraded their plans without any notification. Customers found out that their bills have increased the following months due to an unauthorized plan upgrade.
In terms of speed, your location will play a factor in the consistency and stability of the service. Many users were satisfied with Spectrum’s service, while some whine about losing connection when it’s raining.
Verizon Fios Customers
Verizon Internet remained consistent with its ACSI score by averaging 70.3 out of 100 in the past 3 years. Although they may not have a wide reach compared to other internet providers, they make sure that they deliver quality customer experience to serviced areas.
According to customers, Verizon Fios delivers consistent and stable internet speed. Sometimes, the actual speed surpasses the advertised ranges.
Usually, complaints revolve around the Verizon’s TV cable service, with some users saying they often get pixelated reception and changes to programming setups.
Overall, the issues raised on Verizon’s internet service and overall customer support are only a few. Customers are generally happy with the company’s service.
Similar Service Providers – Better Alternatives
Aside from Verizon Fios and Spectrum Internet, here are other notable service providers to consider:
Xfinity Internet
Xfinity is available in over 41 states across the country. Their internet plans range from 15Mbps to 2Gbps, with prices starting from around $40 a month.
Xfinity provides mobile bundle plans to subscribers with unlimited data, talk, and text features for only $45 a month. They also have limited data plans that start from $12 a month for those who are on a budget.
Optimum Internet
Optimum is a company owned by Altice which is a communications and media company. It provides robust internet speeds with a base plan of 20Mbps that costs $29.99. Their top-tier internet package of 400Mbps costs $64.99.
Aside from internet connection, Optimum also offers TV, mobile, audio, and smart home bundles to subscribers. They also have special offers to existing subscribers who are moving from one place to another.
Cox Internet
Cox Internet is a telecom company that provides internet-only plans and customizable bundles where you can mix and match TV and internet packages. They serve both residential and commercial customers, with the latter given additional options for integrating security systems and cloud services.
FAQs
Which has more TV channels included in the package?
If you’re on a budget, Spectrum provides 125+ channels on their lowest tier internet bundle compared to Verizon’s 70 channels. However, if money is no object and your goal is to get the maximum number of channels available, Verizon tops the competition with over 425 channels compared to Spectrum’s 200+ option.
Which has better overall customer service?
Based on the ACSI report and customer reviews, Verizon has a better customer rating for the past 3 years. Although the experience will vary per location and situation, the ACSI score can be a good reference to consider in choosing your internet provider.
Does Verizon or Spectrum charge overage fees?
Neither company charges data overage fees because they provide unlimited data on all their internet plans. You can use their services to your heart’s content without worrying about additional fees or speed slowdowns per month.
Do these internet providers require a contract?
Spectrum doesn’t require a contract on their internet plans. Verizon has several internet plans that don’t require a contract either. However, if you decide to subscribe to Verizon’s contract plan in exchange for more affordable bundles, expect it to last between 1 to 3 years. Early termination of the contract will cost you $15 per month on the remaining time toward the completion of the agreement.
Conclusion
It’s easier to subscribe to Spectrum Internet because of its wide coverage area. Their service is available in almost every state in the country and they deliver good internet speeds to households and businesses.
On the other hand, Verizon Fios provides blinding internet speeds through its fiber-optic network. However, not many can get their service because of their very limited coverage area.
If you want a reliable and consistent internet service for gaming or streaming, Verizon is the better choice, so get it if it’s available in your area. However, being left with no other choice but Spectrum as a service provider isn’t so bad either since they also offer great internet speeds through the traditional phone cables.
