Xfinity vs. Spectrum Internet

Xfinity’s internet plans are faster and more affordable than Spectrum’s. But if data caps are a dealbreaker for your household, you might be better off paying extra for Spectrum internet’s unlimited data policy.

Xfinity vs. Spectrum pros and cons

✓ Excellent customer service
✓ Affordable internet plans
✗ Contracts on many plans

✓ A free internet modem
✓ No contracts
✗ Expensive starter internet plans compared to Xfinity

Jump to:

• Deals and promotions
• Head to head comparison
• Packages and prices
• Features

Deals and promotions

Xfinity internet deals

Xfinity’s best internet deals include service discounts, the Xfinity Flex streaming stick, and Peacock Premium with the X1 TV box. Check out our Xfinity deals guide for more Xfinity savings.

Spectrum internet deals

Spectrum will cover up to $500 in early termination fees and include 90 days of free Peacock Premium for Spectrum Internet customers. Read our Spectrum deals guide for more information.

Compare Xfinity vs. Spectrum head-to-head

Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

*For the first 12 months with a 1-year agreement.

** See full disclaimer.

Whether you’re downloading 150 GB PS5 games every week or simply answering emails, Xfinity’s internet plans cover every possible scenario.

We placed Xfinity ahead of Spectrum thanks to its affordable internet plans, but Xfinity’s data caps and contracts can be a hassle. If you’re looking for short-term internet service or have problems staying under a data cap, the last thing you’d like to be doing is combing through Xfinity’s fine print to avoid any extra charges.

Spectrum’s base internet plans are pricier than Xfinity’s, but you’ll also get sweet extras like unlimited data and a free modem. For most households, we’d still recommend Xfinity over Spectrum. But if your household has problems with data caps, we’d recommend getting Spectrum thanks to its unlimited data policy.

Spectrum vs. Xfinity packages and prices

Xfinity and Spectrum are both nationwide cable internet service providers (ISPs), but their plans have plenty of differences. Here’s what you need to know about Xfinity and Spectrum’s internet packages.

Xfinity internet packages (Central)

*For the first 12 months with a 1-year agreement.
**No term contract. Taxes not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount.

Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

On Xfinity’s starter Connect and Connect More plans, you’ll get 75 Mbps or 200 Mbps download speeds for $30.00 and $35.00 monthly during your first year.

While these speeds aren’t anything spectacular, they’ll be perfect if your biggest concern is affordability. Connect and Connect More will be great fits if you have a small household that typically uses the internet for web browsing and occasional Netflix nights.

By comparison, Spectrum Internet ($49.99 monthly for 300 Mbps) is Spectrum’s competing starter internet plan. It’s comparable with Xfinity’s Fast plan (in the regions where it’s available), but Xfinity wins that tier with faster upload speeds.

Xfinity’s Fast to Gigabit Extra plans will work best if your home has a lot of people who watch Netflix or download games.

But we’re not the biggest fans of Xfinity’s contract requirements. Xfinity’s exact policies vary by region, but you’ll generally need to pay around 30% extra for a contract-free plan. Meanwhile, providers like Spectrum have long allowed customers to go month-to-month for added flexibility, and we wish Xfinity made it easier to do the same.

But even with this minor hassle, there’s still a lot to like about Xfinity’s internet plans. The ISP’s wide availability, extensive catalog of internet plans for every type of customer, and relatively low prices translate into more options for internet shoppers.

Spectrum internet packages

Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See full disclaimer.

Spectrum’s three internet plans give customers a decent number of options, but its prices simply aren’t competitive compared to Xfinity. And Spectrum Internet offers great download speeds, but the $25.00 price hike after the first 12 months undermines its status as a budget-friendly plan. That being said, it’s hardly the only internet provider to pull the switcheroo.

Spectrum Internet might technically be Spectrum’s most affordable internet plan. But its lack of any budget plans below 300 Mbps puts the provider at a disadvantage compared to Xfinity.

Spectrum vs. Xfinity internet packages

*For the first 12 months with a 1-year agreement.

Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See full disclaimer.

Spectrum’s other internet plans fare just as poorly compared to Xfinity. Across the board, you’ll get faster download speeds for less per month with Xfinity. Even after both providers’ second-year price increase ($25 on Spectrum, around $20 on Xfinity depending on your plan), you’ll still be paying less on Xfinity compared to Spectrum.

If you’re dead set on Spectrum Internet service, Spectrum Internet 500 Mbps and Spectrum Internet Gig offer the strongest value among Spectrum’s internet plans (and its cable TV plan is among the best around). But when it comes to price, Spectrum’s internet plans can’t compare to Xfinity’s larger selection and more competitive prices.

Spectrum vs. Xfinity features

Price is just one part of your overall internet service experience. Let’s break down what else you’ll need to plan for with Xfinity or Spectrum internet service.

Equipment

Spectrum takes the win over Xfinity in this department thanks to the ISP’s free modem and lower monthly rental costs.

Spectrum bundles a free modem with its internet plans, and you can rent a Wi-Fi router for just an additional $5 per month. Xfinity offers the xFi Gateway, which is a combo wireless router/modem, for $14 monthly. Under the hood, Spectrum and Xfinity’s Wi-Fi routers have standard features like Wi-Fi 6 and Ethernet ports, so Spectrum wins by price.

Thankfully, both providers let you use your own equipment if you already have a Wi-Fi router or modem. We typically recommend buying your own router to save on rental costs, but rentals can be a convenient option if you want your ISP to take care of your equipment.

Customer satisfaction

Xfinity narrowly beat out Spectrum with a third-place finish in our annual ISP customer satisfaction survey. Although Xfinity’s customer support could be hit-or-miss, Xfinity customers were highly satisfied with their internet speed and overall service.

Spectrum landed right behind Xfinity at fourth place overall and beat Xfinity in a few areas including customer service. So generally, you can expect fairly consistent customer service from either provider.

Xfinity and Spectrum also both have resources like numerous retail stores and live support agents.

Data cap

Spectrum doesn’t have a data cap, so you can download video games and watch 4K Netflix shows without missing a beat. Although Spectrum reserves the right to throttle internet speeds during high-traffic times, it won’t force you to pay extra for overage fees or track your family’s monthly data every month.

Spectrum’s unlimited data is a far cry from Xfinity’s 1.2 TB data cap. You’ll get a warning the first time your household exceeds the data cap, but after that, Xfinity charges $10 per 50 GB of additional data. You can get unlimited data by paying an additional $30 monthly.

Although 1.2 TB of data will be enough for many households, your household could run into problems if more than three people are regularly using the internet for Zoom calls or video game downloads.

And in general, we’re never fans of data caps and overage charges, which ISPs like AT&T and Verizon have long left by the wayside. So Spectrum’s unlimited data policy helps the ISP take the win over Xfinity in this section.

Final take

If you’re purely looking at price, Xfinity’s cheaper and faster internet plans make the ISP a clear-cut winner over Spectrum. But when you look at the fine print, Spectrum’s unlimited data policy and free modem narrow the differences between both ISPs.

Overall, we’d still recommend Xfinity over Spectrum thanks to Xfinity’s affordable internet plans. But if your household is full of gamers or work-from-home employees who need unlimited data (or if you’re interested in cable TV service too), Spectrum could be worth a second look.

Xfinity vs. Spectrum internet FAQ

Methodology

Our experts analyzed all 24 internet plans from Xfinity and Spectrum for more than 20 hours to see how each provider held up when it came to value, features, and service. We also drew data from our annual internet customer satisfaction survey to see what actual Spectrum and Xfinity customers thought about their internet service.

For more information on our methodology, check out our How We Rank page.

Disclaimer

*Spectrum Internet® 300 Mbps: 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.

Spectrum Internet® 500 Mbps: 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.

Spectrum Internet® Gig: 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.

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. Enter your address to determine availability. ©2022 Charter Communications.

◊To qualify for the Contract Buyout Program, a customer must order and install a qualifying Triple Play or limited Double Play promotion; offers not available in all areas. Offer available to qualifying customers only who have no outstanding obligations to Charter. Payment amount will be determined by the Early Termination Fee on the final bill from the previous provider, not to exceed $500. For Contract Buyout qualifications, go to Spectrum.com/buyout.

**Speed based on wired connection. Available Internet speeds may vary by address. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit Spectrum.net/modem.