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Looking to learn how Xfinity vs Spectrum internet compares in 2024 then we answer all your questions and more.
Xfinity and Spectrum are two of the largest internet providers in the country that serve relatively the same areas. Their internet services are delivered mostly through a cable connection and they offer almost the same speeds, pricing, and bundle options.
If youโre choosing between these two internet providers, we can help you decide through this guide which details the most useful information about the two internet companies.
Table of Contents
Comparing Xfinity and Spectrum
Hereโs a brief description of how Spectrum and Xfinity fare against each other on streaming, gaming, and web browsing.
Xfinity Internet Overview:
Xfinity is under the Comcast company and is one of the largest internet providers in the US, serving more than 40 states across the country. The company also provides home security, mobile, and TV and streaming services aside from internet plans.
Xfinity offers several internet plans at affordable prices. Their crown jewel is the Gigabit Pro plan that delivers 2,000Mbps of download speed without any data limit.
Among internet providers, Xfinity is reported to have the lowest latency according to the FCC. This makes the service ideal for games as it has one of the least lag times among ISPs.
Pros:
- Offers a wide range of speed plans
- Extreme 2Gbps internet speed available
- Fiber and cable connection available
- Affordable internet plans
- Wide service availability
Cons:
- Sometimes suffers from unstable connection
- Massive price increases after the first 12 months of subscription
- Monthly data cap
Spectrum Internet Overview:
Spectrum is one of the biggest cable TV and internet providers in the US, servicing more than 40 states nationwide. Theyโre best known for having contract-free and unlimited data plans.
FCC reports state that Spectrum reaches only around 95% of their advertised speed on average. This is far from ideal because youโre getting less speed than what youโre paying for.
Still, having less than 30ms average latency, Spectrum is an excellent choice for online gaming and HD streaming. Youโll rarely experience lags and loading times when playing or watching.
Pros:
- Reliable service connection
- Contract-free plans
- No data cap
Cons:
- Limited internet plans
- Mediocre customers service
- Relatively more expensive plans
Major Points to Consider for Xfinity and Spectrum
In choosing an internet service provider, itโs best to look at the following factors to determine which is best suited to your needs.
Speed
Xfinity offers a wide range of internet speeds, starting from as low as 15Mbps to as high as 2Gbps. Internet speeds from 15Mbps to 600Mbps are delivered through a cable connection, while the 1Gbps and 2Gbps plans are provided through Xfinityโs fiber-optic network.
On the other hand, Spectrum offers speeds ranging from 100Mbps to 940Mbps, all delivered through cable lines.
Monthly Cost โ Is it worth it?
The cheapest internet plan that Xfinity offers is $29.95 and thatโs for their 15Mbps plan. The 1Gbps plan costs $79.99, which is relatively lower compared to the pricing of the competitors for a similar speed offer.
Xfinityโs most expensive offer is the 2Gbps plan and its price may exceed your expectations. It will cost you $299.95 per month to get this kind of speed, and thatโs a very high price for the average consumer.
The cost of Spectrumโs internet plans ranges from $49.95 up to $109.95. They have relatively fewer internet plans to choose from even when you include the bundle packages they offer.
Xfinityโs pricing on their internet plans is very competitive when compared to Spectrum or even other internet providers. On the other hand, Spectrumโs internet plans are slightly priced higher, and they justify this with their above-average service reliability.
Spectrum offers contract-free internet plans, while Xfinity may hold you for a year or two on some of their offers.
Installation Costs
Xfinityโs professional installation service will cost you a one-time fee of around $60 to $90. You can choose to self-install and itโs totally free โ no need to pay for the kit and its shipping.
Xfinityโs modem and router cost $14 per month to rent. This is paid on top of your monthly bill, so consider this cost when choosing a plan to subscribe to.
Spectrumโs professional installation fee is priced at $49.99. This is a fixed-rate cost whether you avail of any of the companyโs plans.
Self-installation is the common option to avoid fees. However, you still have to shoulder the Wi-Fi activation fee of $9.99.
Data Allowance
Spectrum doesnโt have a data cap on any of their internet plans, so you can surf the internet as much as you want.
Xfinity, on the other hand, has a 1TB data cap on most of their plans. You can purchase an extra 50GB for $10 should you exceed the monthly limit.
Xfinity also offers an option to upgrade to unlimited data per month, but this will cost you a massive $50 monthly on top of your internet bill. This seems impractical, so you better stick with your 1TB limit. Besides, you may not even be able to consume it in a month even when you stream or play online every day.
Bundle Deals
Xfinity plans can be categorized into no-contract, family, and high-speed internet packages in increasing speeds and pricing. These plans can be bundled with TV, home phone, and home security functions. These are offered at discounted rates and youโll save more money the more products you add into the bundle option.
The great thing about Xfinity bundle deals is how each service work perfectly with each other, giving you a wonderful home internet experience.
Spectrum also offers TV and phone bundles. The features of the bundles may include hundreds of TV channels and unlimited nationwide calling.
Spectrum also offers the Spectrum TV mobile app which enables you to control TV functions, watch live channels, and access on-demand titles at the comfort of your tablet or phone.
Customer Support
Xfinityโs online customer support portal is well-organized and easy to navigate as itโs subdivided into the main concern categories. Support portals for internet, voice, home security, mobile, and TV and streaming will take you to the appropriate section containing detailed troubleshooting instructions for resolving the most commonly encountered issues. Solutions for account management, billing and payment, accessibility, and service status can also be found on the customer support page.
You can also seek the community of Xfinity subscribers via Forums and Reddit to ask around how people resolved their network issues. You may also get some helpful tips on how to maximize your internet plans there.
In case none of these avenues work, you can contact Xfinityโs support team through the chat function on their website. You can also visit their official Twitter and Facebook pages and get in touch with their tech team.
Spectrumโs customer support portal is also divided into account and billing, internet, TV, voice, and mobile โ the main areas that customers frequently have concerns with. Each link will take you to a library of solutions under the selected category which have been proven to work for most customers.
In case none of the quick fixes work, you can call the toll-free number Spectrum provides on their website.
Customer Reviews
What Xfinity Customers Are Saying:
Xfinity garners a good rating in terms of customer service. Most of the first-time subscribers had a great experience dealing with Xfinityโs tech team as the support representatives made it easy for customers to understand the problem and solutions by giving a comprehensive walkthrough.
When it comes to internet reliability, issues might sometimes occur during peak hours when there are a lot of people using the network in the neighborhood. Since part of their internet service runs through cable connections, it can suffer from usage density. The distance of your house to the main service line also has an impact on the reliability of the service.
Generally, most of the customers are satisfied with the overall speed and reliability of the network.
What Spectrum Customers are saying:
Spectrum has a fair rating in terms of customer service as clients are often received with kind and friendly tech support teams. The teamโs tech skills are rated as exceptional since issues are often resolved on the first try, leaving little need for any rework.
For some users, Spectrumโs internet plans are overpriced. There are also small price increases that further adds to the cost of the service, making it hard for customers to keep up with the bills.
Although the internet service is delivered as expected, the home phone service isnโt as consistent. According to customers, outgoing calls sometimes donโt work and thereโs no ringing tone on the other line even if the caller is hearing it.
Similar Service Providers
Aside from Xfinity and Spectrum, here are other notable service providers to consider:
Verizon Fios
Verizon Fios is a global telecom company that focuses on providing a fiber-optic internet network in the US. Currently, they have a limited coverage area because of the difficulty in installing fiber-optic cables.
Verizon Fios is known for providing reliable, stable, and high-speed internet connection to residential and business clients. Itโs one of the best service providers for professional gamers and streamers.
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
Will unused data be carried over to the following month?
No, it wonโt be added to your next monthโs data cap. As an Xfinity client, you will still have a 1TB data limit, regardless if you spent less than the cap of the previous month.
What happens when I exceed the monthly data cap?
With Xfinity, you wonโt be billed for the first two times you exceed the data cap within 12 months. But if you commit it for the 3rd time, youโll receive overage charges amounting to $10 for every 50GB of data spent. The overage limit also has a cap of $200 which is equivalent to 1TB of data.
What is Spectrum Wi-Fi?
Spectrum Wi-Fi is the service where hotspots grant internet service to Spectrum customers at no additional cost. All you need is to go to a partner hotspot area or establishment and log into the network using your Spectrum username and password.
For non-Spectrum customers, the Wi-Fi network can still be accessed for a free trial or by purchasing an Access Pass.
Conclusion
Both Xfinity and Spectrum are designed for heavy internet users who need seamless gaming and streaming experience. The two companies offer almost similar speed plans and bundle packages, but the prices are slightly in favor of Xfinity. On the other hand, Spectrumโs greatest advantage is its contract-free plans and unlimited data caps.
The choice between the two networks will depend on your budget and location. Investigate your neighbourhood to know which service provider works best in your area.
