T-Mobile vs. Spectrum

T-Mobile vs. Spectrum pros and cons

✓ No contracts
✓ Fast internet speeds
✗ Price increases after 12 months

✓ Stellar flat-rate pricing
✓ A $20 discount for T-Mobile cell phone customers
✗ Inconsistent download speeds

Jump to:

• Deals
• Plans and prices
• Fees and extra charges
• Features

T-Mobile vs. Spectrum deals

T-Mobile bundles freebies like streaming subscriptions, discounts, and more with T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. As for Spectrum, you’ll occasionally get add-ons like free Peacock Premium. Check out our T-Mobile deals guide and Spectrum deals guide for the latest updates.

T-Mobile internet vs. Spectrum head-to-head

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

Technically, Spectrum and T-Mobile 5G Home Internet are both internet service providers (ISP), but they have some key differences on top of and under the hood. Let’s break down what you need to know about each provider.

T-Mobile vs. Spectrum internet plans and prices

Spectrum plans and prices

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

From speeds to pricing, Spectrum’s a wholly typical cable ISP. With Spectrum, you’ll choose from three main plans with maximum speeds between 300Mbps and 1Gbps.

Spectrum’s not the cheapest cable ISP, as competitors like Xfinity and Optimum charge less for similar (or faster) speeds. But at the same time, Spectrum’s fast internet speeds will make it a great fit if your household has multiple people who regularly download large files, take Zoom calls, or stream 4K video.

But one of Spectrum’s biggest downsides is its short 12-month price guarantees. Like with many cable ISPs, you’ll typically pay a promotional price for a limited time before your price goes up. With Spectrum, you’ll see a $25 internet price increase after your first year.

T-Mobile plans and prices

*With AutoPay.
**Requires one line with T-Mobile Magenta MAX plan.
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

T-Mobile’s main internet service is T-Mobile 5G Home Internet, which uses T-Mobile’s 5G data network to bring internet service to your home. Unlike Spectrum, T-Mobile keeps it simple with one internet plan. For $50 monthly, you’ll get T-Mobile internet service with download speeds between 33 and 182Mbps.

But you might be wondering one thing: why’s that speed range so big?

5G home internet speeds depend on factors including your neighborhood’s network traffic and 5G coverage. You might hit 182Mbps in ideal conditions, which would be enough for a household of regular internet users. But with 33Mbps download speeds, you’ll run into problems if more than a few people want to use the internet.

That said, one of T-Mobile’s biggest advantages over Spectrum is its pricing simplicity. If you want internet, you’ll pay only $50 monthly. You won’t have to deal with equipment or service fees, and with T-Mobile’s Price Lock Guarantee, your price won’t double every other year.

Plus, you’ll save an additional $20 per month on T-Mobile 5G Home Internet if you’re a T-Mobile phone subscriber with a qualifying plan. If you simply need the internet for emails and YouTube, it’s hard to beat T-Mobile and its $50 (or $30) monthly price.

T-Mobile vs. Spectrum fees and extra charges

Spectrum fees and extra charges

Spectrum has the usual collection of TV and internet surcharges. But thanks to Spectrum’s free modem and unlimited data, you’ll dodge the rental and overage fees you’d find on other providers. Check out our Spectrum hidden fees guide for a full breakdown of the ISP’s extra charges.

T-Mobile fees and extra charges

We know it might be hard to believe, but T-Mobile doesn’t have additional monthly internet fees. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet includes a Wi-Fi router/modem, unlimited data, and flat-rate pricing with no scheduled price hikes.

T-Mobile vs. Spectrum specs and features

T-Mobile Home Internet vs. Spectrum customer service

Spectrum was an average performer in our annual internet customer satisfaction survey, ranking 10th out of 20 ISPs. T-Mobile wasn’t evaluated on our customer service survey, but the carrier has a nationwide network of retail stores and earned the top spot in J.D. Power’s 2022 phone carrier customer survey.

Availability

Spectrum has wide availability across 41 states, and if you’re in a major or mid-sized city, you’ll likely be able to get Spectrum internet and TV service.

As for T-Mobile, its availability is far more hit or miss. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet’s availability depends on factors including enrollment numbers and 5G tower coverage in your area. Even if you’re in a city with T-Mobile 5G Home Internet coverage, your address may not be eligible for service.

TV, internet, and phone bundle options

Spectrum offers a full suite of cable TV, phone, and cell phone plans for internet customers. Visit our Spectrum bundles guide to learn more about each service.

As for T-Mobile, the carrier doesn’t have TV service. But if you bundle T-Mobile 5G Home Internet with at least one Magenta MAX phone plan, you’ll save $20 monthly on your internet service. T-Mobile internet and phone customers also get discounts and free subscriptions on streaming services such as Philo TV, Netflix, and Apple TV+.

Final take

Spectrum wins out over T-Mobile 5G Home Internet thanks to its sheer scale. With its fast internet speeds, wide availability, and suite of bundling options, you’ll have far more options on Spectrum compared to T-Mobile.

But if your address qualifies for T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and price matters more than performance for your household, give the 5G home internet carrier a second look. T-Mobile’s flat-rate pricing and decent speeds make it an excellent value-friendly internet option.

T-Mobile vs. Spectrum FAQ

Methodology

Our experts drew from our existing T-Mobile and Spectrum reviews, rating both ISPs on areas including internet speeds, pricing, and availability. We also used our annual customer satisfaction survey to see how real customers felt about each ISP.

For more on our process, see our How We Rank page.

Disclaimer

*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. 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. ©2021 Charter Communications.

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® Ultra promotion price is $69.99/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. ©2021 Charter Communications.

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. ©2021 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.