Spectrum vs. DISH

Spectrum TV® offers cable TV, internet, and home phone service to various regions in the US. DISH covers 99% of the US with satellite TV service, and bundles with Frontier internet and phone services in some areas. Each provider has its individual charms, which we’ll explain in this article. But for now, if you want a quick and easy recommendation:

If TV is your top priority and you’re not interested in bundling, DISH is a great pick. If you just want a stellar channel lineup for a great price—and the freedom to leave whenever you want—go with Spectrum.

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• Deals and promotions
• Compare Spectrum vs. DISH head-to-head
• Plans and pricing
• Specs and features

Spectrum vs. DISH pros and cons

Compare Spectrum and DISH head-to-head

Date as of post date. Offers and availablilty may vary and are subject to change.
* for 12 mos.

Spectrum TV^® has fewer channels than many other providers, but still includes nearly all of the most popular channels, and they’re all in HD for no extra cost. And, even better, Spectrum also offers high-speed internet and home phone service, has no contracts. and, if you’re switching providers, Spectrum will pay up to $500 to get you out of your contract. Unfortunately, Spectrum’s service area is limited and its DVR options are confusing.

DISH has far wider availability (you can get it almost anywhere), more channels, and the powerful Hopper 3 DVR. But the packages are more expensive, with fewer included premiums than Spectrum, and you’ll have to sign a two-year contract. Fortunately, DISH guarantees your price won’t change for two years and it’s ultimately a solid value.

Spectrum and DISH deals and promotions

Both Spectrum and DISH offer plenty of deals for new customers. Check out our Spectrum deals and DISH deals pages for the latest deals, or head over to our monthly updated TV deals page for the best deals from all TV providers.

Packages and pricing

Spectrum packages and pricing

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Spectrum’s prices are a bit lower than DISH’s, although it comes with a lower channel count. But there’s no contract to sign, and therefore no early termination fee to worry about if you decide to jump ship.

If you’re worried about the slim look of Spectrum’s TV Select plan, don’t worry—you can bulk that baby up with à la carte premium channels and entertainment or sports packages at a reasonable price. We like the customizability this option offers.

DISH packages and pricing

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* Flex Pack and America’s Everything Pack are for existing customers only.

DISH offers packages at very reasonable prices. Even the top-tier package, America’s Top 250™, costs you only $104.99 per month and gets you 290+ channels.

As for the best deal, we like America’s Top 200™, which offers 240+ channels for $89.99 per month. It strikes the best balance between affordability and channel count.

DISH does better than Spectrum in the channel selection department, with over 290 to choose from. There aren’t any major channels missing from the lineup either, which is great. DISH also offers plenty of premium channels and packages to choose from, including HBO Max^TM and SHOWTIME®. For the most part, we’d say you get your money’s worth with DISH.

Equipment

Heads up here—Spectrum’s DVR is really bare-bones. It might get the job done if you’re a light user, but anyone who watches more than a few hours of TV a week is probably going to get frustrated with it.

Fortunately, you can bring your own DVR to use with Spectrum service. We recommend the TiVo DVR, but there are others out there. Check out our list of the best DVRs on the market for some ideas.

Mobile Viewing Apps

Mobile apps are an important part of the TV experience these days, and DISH really takes that to heart. While both apps get the job done, and Spectrum’s offering includes a handy remote-control feature, the DISH mobile app provides a nicer experience for the user. (Just look at the difference in ratings!) The interface is clean and the essential features are all there. If mobile viewing is important to you, you may want to give DISH a good look.

Final take

Choose Spectrum for the affordable packages with free premium channels and HD, the freedom of no-contract plans, and bundles with TV, internet, and home phone service.

Choose DISH for wide availability, affordable TV-only packages with a two-year price guarantee, and a great DVR.

Methodology

Our TV experts routinely research and test TV providers like Spectrum and DISH, logging hunders of hours along the way. We compare each service based on plans, pricing, equipment, features, and functionality, then pass our findings on to our readers to help inform their search for TV service. For more on how we do things, see our How We Rank page.

Check out plans and pricing for TV plans in your area:

Spectrum vs. DISH FAQ