Xfinity vs. Spectrum Internet
From prices to data caps, our experts spent more than 20 hours researching which provider offers the best cable internet service.
$35.00–$105.00/mo.
$35.00–$105.00/mo.
$50.00–$70.00/mo.
$50.00–$70.00/mo.
Is Xfinity or Spectrum better?
If you’re purely looking at price, Xfinity’s cheaper and faster internet packages inch out over Spectrum’s. Whether you’re downloading 150 GB PS5 games every week or simply answering emails, Xfinity’s internet plans cover every possible scenario. Spectrum recently lowered their internet prices, making them more competitive to Xfinity’s low prices. But when you look at the fine print, Spectrum’s unlimited data policy and free modem narrow the differences between both ISPs.
Xfinity has Spectrum slightly beat when it comes to customer service. In CableTV.com’s annual Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey, Xfinity tied for third place for overall customer satisfaction, while Spectrum came in ninth place—both solid showings.
Overall, we’d still recommend Xfinity over Spectrum thanks to Xfinity’s wider availability and more plan options. 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.
Compare Xfinity or Spectrum internet head to head
Prices starting at
$35.00/mo.
Max download speeds up to
2000 Mbps
Service Type
Fiber
Prices starting at
$30.00/mo.
Max download speeds up to*
1000 Mbps
Service Type
Fiber
* Speed based on wired connection. Available Internet speeds may vary by address. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed.
Pricing, speed and availability not guaranteed. Subject to change.
Xfinity vs. Spectrum: internet plans 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
| Package | Prices starting at | Max download speed |
|---|---|---|
| Connect | $35.00/mo. | 150 Mbps |
| Connect More | $40.00/mo. | 400 Mbps |
| Fast | $45.00/mo. | 600 Mbps |
| Superfast | Visit Xfinity.com for current pricing | 800 Mbps |
| Gigabit | Visit Xfinity.com for current pricing | 1,100 Mbps |
| Gigabit Extra | Visit Xfinity.com for current pricing | 1,300 Mbps |
| Gigabit X2 | Visit Xfinity.com for current pricing | 2,000 Mbps |
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See full disclaimer.
When it comes to pricing and speeds, there’s a lot to like about Xfinity’s internet plans. The ISP’s extensive catalog of internet plans for every type of customer and relatively low prices translate into more options for internet shoppers.
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.
Pro tip: Xfinity’s internet plans are split into three regions: West (approximately Colorado to California), Central (Midwest states), and Northeast (New England and greater New York area). The prices and fine print for Xfinity’s internet plans vary a little bit between regions, but they generally fall into the same price brackets.
Spectrum internet packages
| Plan | Price | Max download speed |
|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet Premier | $50.00/mo. for 12 mos. | 500 Mbps |
| Spectrum Internet Gig | $70.00/mo. for 12 mos. | 1 Gbps |
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See full disclaimer.
Spectrum’s two internet plans give customers a decent number of options, and its prices are now more competitive against Xfinity’s.
Although Spectrum’s base internet plan is slower than Xfinity Fast, its lower price makes up for that. Plus, the 1 Gig internet winner goes to Spectrum now, with prices as low as $70.00 in some Spectrum locations.
Despite Spectrum’s great download speeds, 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 Premier is Spectrum’s most affordable internet plan. But its lack of any budget plans below 500 Mbps puts the provider at a disadvantage compared to Xfinity. Xfinity’s budget internet plans give you options if you need to trim your internet bill, but Spectrum doesn’t have additional affordable internet plans besides its subsidized Internet Assist program.
Xfinity vs. Spectrum: customer satisfaction
As part of CableTV.com’s annual Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey, we talked to more than 8,800 real internet customers across the U.S. to see how they felt about their internet providers.
Xfinity beat all other cable internet providers this year in our survey, tying for third in overall satisfaction.
- A whopping 81% of Xfinity customers were highly satisfied with Xfinity’s internet speeds.
- But 71% of Xfinity customers were extremely satisfied with Xfinity’s customer service.
- And just 65% of Xfinity customers felt that the quality of Xfinity’s internet justified its price.
Xfinity also ranked 5th in internet service reliability in this year’s survey. Xfinity also performed strongly in our own speed research. According to speed test latency data from our partners at HighSpeedInternet.com, Xfinity’s average latency of 18.8 milliseconds ranked sixth overall.
What do real Xfinity internet customers think about Xfinity?
I love the service Xfinity provides and their rewards program but the cost of the service and the fact that it continues to increase is the only negative.
By comparison, Spectrum landed in a respectable 9th place in our survey for overall satisfaction. Spectrum didn’t necessarily blow its subscribers away, but it generally performed as expected for a cable internet provider.
- 73% of Spectrum internet customers felt Spectrum could effectively meet their needs.
- 84% of Spectrum customers had no problems with their installation process.
- But only 59% of respondents felt that Spectrum was competitively priced compared to the competition.
Spectrum also ranked 9th in internet service quality in our survey, coming in a few places behind Xfinity. Makes sense, as Spectrum’s average latency mark of 27.7 milliseconds fell well below Xfinity’s averages in HighSpeedInternet.com’s test data.
What do real Spectrum internet customers think about Spectrum?
The internet goes out at night at least twice a week. After turning the modem off and on multiple times it eventually works. Our modem went out so I switched it out at Spectrum. They forgot to add the new modem to the account, so I bought a router thinking that was the issue. Eventually after chatting multiple times with spectrum, it was resolved.
How reliable is Xfinity or Spectrum internet?
| Xfinity | Spectrum | |
|---|---|---|
| Average latency | 18.8 milliseconds | 27.7 milliseconds |
| Internet reliability satisfaction rating | 77% positive | 72% positive |
| Internet speed satisfaction rating | 81% positive | 74% positive |
Xfinity and Spectrum are two peas in a pod according to our speed data research. Both performed similarly in our satisfaction survey and speed test data from our partners at HighSpeedInternet.com, although Xfinity does have better average latency times and better satisfaction ratings. (Psst—these ratings are partly why we gave Xfinity our Best of the Best for Cable award over Spectrum.)
But generally, both providers can provide an average level of speed and reliability for cable internet, but be prepared for downtime if you live in an area with inclement weather.
Is Xfinity or Spectrum internet available in your neighborhood?
Xfinity and Spectrum largely have coast-to-coast availability, although exact coverage varies by state. Xfinity is available in 35 states split between its three service regions, while Spectrum has a 41-state network.
Xfinity’s pricing and internet speeds slightly vary across its Central, West, and Northeast regions, so you’ll have to deal with different plans depending on where you live. By comparison, Spectrum offers the same three plans across its footprint, although pricing varies by region.
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Alabama
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Xfinity vs. Spectrum: specs and 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.
Spectrum offers better hardware freebies
Xfinity equipment
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.
Spectrum 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.
| Device | Rental cost (optional) |
|---|---|
| Xfinity xFi Gateway | $14.00/mo. |
| Spectrum Wi-Fi router | $5.00/mo. |
Does Xfinity or Spectrum have good internet deals?
Xfinity internet deals
Xfinity generally offers a solid slate of deals for new and current internet customers. New customer promotions regularly include add-ons like gift cards and discounts on secondary services like Xfinity Mobile. Current customers have also gotten bonuses like service discounts, Peacock Premium subscriptions, and an 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. Past Spectrum deals have included multi-year price guarantees and Visa gift cards, but Spectrum doesn’t necessarily roll out the red carpet for new customers.
Visit our Spectrum deals guide to learn more about current Spectrum internet deals.
Spectrum wins on data caps
Xfinity unlimited data
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.
Spectrum unlimited data
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.
We’re never fans of data caps and overage charges, which ISPs like AT&T and Verizon Fios have long left by the wayside. So Spectrum’s unlimited data policy helps the ISP take the win over Xfinity in this section.
Xfinity vs. Spectrum internet FAQ
What's the difference between Spectrum and Xfinity?
Spectrum and Xfinity are competing cable internet providers. Although they both offer TV and internet plans nationwide, each provider has its own prices and speed options. Xfinity’s internet plans are affordable, while Spectrum’s internet plans come with unlimited data.
Is Spectrum faster than Xfinity?
Xfinity has faster internet plans than Spectrum. Xfinity offers internet plans with speeds up to 10,000 Mbps in some areas, while Spectrum’s fastest internet plan has download speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps.
What Wi-Fi is better than Xfinity?
You’ll get better Wi-Fi performance with fiber internet compared to Xfinity’s cable internet plans. Fiber internet offers faster upload speeds and a more reliable connection compared to cable internet.
Xfinity’s Gigabit x6 plan offers the best fiber internet performance with 6,000 Mbps download speeds, but it also costs $299.95 monthly. Fiber internet availability also depends on the internet options available in your area.
Is Spectrum internet better than Xfinity?
Although Spectrum is a good pick for folks with a need for unlimited data or a desire to bundle internet with cable, we think Xfinity is a better choice thanks to its cheaper and faster internet plans.
Is Spectrum or Xfinity cheaper?
Xfinity tends to be the cheaper ISP. Xfinity’s internet plans typically cost less than the comparable Spectrum plans, while also having faster speeds. But in some Spectrum locations, their plans can be cheaper. Click here to enter your zip and find out which provider is right for you.
Why you should trust us
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
*Spectrum Internet: For 24 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. 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 Gig: For 24 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.
◊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.
Xfinity Internet
* For 12 months, no term contract. Taxes not included. Incl. up to $10/mo. auto-pay & paperless bill discount.
