T-Mobile vs. Spectrum Internet: Comparing Speeds, Pricing, Deals, and More
Spectrum’s internet plans are faster than T-Mobile, but T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is far more affordable.
$50.00–$70.00/mo.*
$50.00–$70.00/mo.*
$40.00–$70.00/mo.
$40.00–$70.00/mo.
Is T-Mobile or Spectrum better?
Spectrum, our pick for best cable ISP, wins out over T-Mobile 5G Home Internet thanks to its sheer scale. With its fast internet speeds, wide availability, and a 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, which is why we named it the best value internet provider in the nation. Plus, if you’re going by customer satisfaction survey ratings, T-Mobile has Spectrum beat nearly across the board—the carrier finished in 5th place in overall satisfaction compared to Spectrum’s 11th-place finish.
Still unsure about T-Mobile 5G Home Internet or Spectrum? Keep on reading for our full breakdown between both providers.
Compare T-Mobile 5G Home Internet or Spectrum to other providers
Prices starting at
$40.00/mo.
Max download speeds up to
182 Mbps
Service Type
5G
Prices starting at
$50.00/mo.
Max download speeds up to*
1,000 Mbps
Service Type
Cable
* 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.
T-Mobile vs. Spectrum internet plans and prices
Technically, Spectrum and T-Mobile 5G Home Internet are both internet service providers with no contracts, but they have some key differences on top of and under the hood (namely, price increases and download speeds). T-Mobile 5G Home Internet offers cheaper internet service, but Spectrum has wider availability and faster, more reliable speeds. Read on to learn what you need to know about each provider.
Spectrum plans and prices
| Package | Price | Max. download speeds | Max. upload speeds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet Premier | $50.00/mo. for 12 mos.* | 500Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | 20Mbps |
| Spectrum Internet Gig | $70.00/mo. for 24 mos.* | 1Gbps** (wireless speeds may vary) | 35Mbps |
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
From speeds to pricing, Spectrum’s a wholly typical cable ISP. With Spectrum, you’ll choose from two main plans with maximum speeds between 500Mbps 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 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.
Both Spectrum and T-Mobile don’t have internet contracts, so you won’t be required to stay with either ISP for a full year. Without contracts, you’ll have the flexibility to sign up for either provider for as long as you want and cancel your plan whenever is most convenient for you.
If you’re locked in an internet or TV contract with another provider, both Spectrum and T-Mobile will help you buy out your contract. For Spectrum, they’ll buy out plans up to $500◊, and for T-Mobile, that amount goes up to $650.
T-Mobile plans and prices
| Package | Price | Download speeds up to | Upload speeds up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Unlimited | $40.00–$50.00/mo.† | 72-245 Mbps | 15-31 Mbps |
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Unlimited with T-Mobile phone plan | $40.00/mo.‡ | 72-245 Mbps | 15-31 Mbps |
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Plus | $50.00–$70.00/mo.^ | 72-245 Mbps | 15-31 Mbps |
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Plus with T-Mobile phone plan | $50.00/mo.‡ | 72-245 Mbps | 15-31 Mbps |
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See full disclaimer.
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. Like Spectrum, T-Mobile keeps it relatively simple with two internet plans. For $40.00–$50.00/mo. with the Unlimited plan or $50.00–$70.00/mo. with the Plus plan, you’ll get T-Mobile internet service with download speeds between 72-245 Mbps.
But you might be wondering one thing: why’s that speed range so big for both plans? 5G home internet speeds depend on factors including your neighborhood’s network traffic and 5G coverage. You might hit 245 Mbps in ideal conditions, which would be enough for a household of regular internet users. But with 72 Mbps download speeds, you’ll run into problems if more than a few people want to use the internet.
The difference between the base Unlimited plan and the higher-tier Plus plan is expanded household coverage. With the Plus plan, a free Wi-Fi Mesh Access Point is included. This equipment will expand your 5G Home Internet coverage in your home. The Wi-Fi Mesh Access Point will provide more consistent speeds across your home (think upstairs, hallways, basement, backyard, etc.) and will allow for a more optimized internet performance for larger households with more devices.
That said, one of T-Mobile’s biggest advantages over Spectrum is its pricing simplicity. If you want internet, you’ll pay only $40.00–$70.00/mo. 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 $10–$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 low monthly price.
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet vs. Spectrum customer service
T-Mobile was a high performer in our annual Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey, ranking fifth out of 25 ISPs. Spectrum, on the other hand, received more average reviews, ranking 11th in our same list.
One of the writers of this page was a Spectrum customer for over a year. I had the 500 Mbps plan (which at the time was called Internet Ultra, which is no longer available for new customers), which was plenty fast for me who lived alone and worked from home.
Outages-wise, it was less than ideal. Thanks to random outages, I had to make last-second coffee shop runs in the middle of the workday. Plus, the $25 price increase I had to deal with after 12 months passed was a huge bummer, even though I knew it was coming. So when I recently moved to an area with Google Fiber coverage, it wasn’t hard to choose to switch away from Spectrum.
The service has been great, if there's any issues they're quick to fix it, but I've only had 1 outage and they had it back on very quickly.
Another member of the CableTV.com team, Garrett B., has T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Unlimited. Garrett has had a plethora of devices connected to T-Mobile internet for over a year and has experienced no issues with its speed or reliability, and has even recommended the service to family and friends. Learn more about his experience with T-Mobile 5G Home Internet in our T-Mobile review.
Their customer service is amazing. They are very easy to communicate with. They understand and try to work with you as much as they can. If you need a payment arrangement made they are very helpful with that. If you have issues with something else they are extremely diligent with that as well. Agents go above and beyond to get your issues fixed they are extremely caring.
How reliable is T-Mobile or Spectrum internet?
| T-Mobile | Spectrum | |
|---|---|---|
| Average latency | 40.7 milliseconds | 27.7 milliseconds |
| Internet reliability satisfaction rating | 74% positive | 68% positive |
| Internet speed satisfaction rating | 77% positive |
73% positive |
According to speed test and latency data from our partners at HighSpeedInternet.com, Spectrum and T-Mobile have some performance downsides. T-Mobile’s high latency times are a byproduct of its 5G network—you’ll be fine for web browsing and streaming video, but may run into problems if you’re frequently playing real-time online games. But Spectrum’s high latency times are an outlier for cable internet providers, as it was outclassed by competitors like Xfinity and Optimum.
Similarly, T-Mobile beat out Spectrum in our speed and reliability satisfaction polling. Since T-Mobile’s 5G network is largely wireless, it’s less prone to interruptions or downed wires during inclement weather.
Availability: Can you get T-Mobile 5G Home Internet or Spectrum in your neighborhood?
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.
- 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
- New York, NY
- Houston, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- San Diego, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Dallas, TX
- San Antonio, TX
- Brooklyn, NY
- Queens, NY
- Austin, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Jacksonville, FL
- San Francisco, CA
- Columbus, OH
- Atlanta, GA
- Washington, DC
- Seattle, WA
- El Paso, TX
- Detroit, MI
- Fort Worth, TX
- Memphis, TN
- Indianapolis, IN
- Miami, FL
- Boston, MA
- Omaha, NE
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Baltimore, MD
- Sacramento, CA
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Birmingham, AL
- Brea, CA
- Sparks, NV
- Columbia, SC
- Montgomery, AL
- Garland, TX
- Cumming, GA
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Fulshear, TX
- Topeka, KS
- Roseville, CA
- Springfield, MO
- Holly Springs, GA
- Temecula, CA
- Overland Park, KS
T-Mobile vs. Spectrum specs and features
Both T-Mobile and Spectrum offer some solid perks alongside their internet plans, including a $500–$650 contract buyout and free internet equipment. Let’s break down the best things that come with T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and Spectrum’s internet service.
T-Mobile offers a pile of good savings
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet deals
T-Mobile’s one of the providers that’ll throw down the red carpet for new customers. Along with freebies like streaming subscriptions and discounts, T-Mobile customers can get additional plan savings by bundling T-Mobile phone plans with their internet. Check out our T-Mobile deals guide for the latest updates.
Spectrum internet deals
As for Spectrum, you can expect to get bundle discounts, a free modem, a $500 early termination fee coverage, and more with your internet plan of choice. Visit our Spectrum deals guide to learn more.
Spectrum has the expected fees and hikes
T-Mobile fees and extra charges
| Fees | Amount |
|---|---|
| None | None |
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.
Spectrum fees and extra charges
| Fees | Amount |
|---|---|
| Data overage fee | None |
| Wi-Fi router rental fee | Optional $5.00/mo. |
| Late payment fee | $8.95 |
| Broadcast TV service fee | Up to $21.00/mo. |
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.
Get decent equipment freebies with Spectrum and T-Mobile
T-Mobile equipment
Both T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and Spectrum internet plans come with free internet equipment.
Every T-Mobile internet plan comes with a free Wi-Fi gateway device. This device connects your home to the internet and works similarly to a combo router/modem. The Plus plan also comes with the Wi-Fi Mesh Access Point that we mentioned earlier. We like that T-Mobile doesn’t have any sneaky equipment fees like Spectrum does.
Spectrum equipment
For Spectrum, all of its internet plans include a free internet modem. Spectrum also offers a Wi-Fi router rental for $5 per month. If you want to wirelessly connect devices to the internet (which you most likely will), you’ll need a router to convert the signal into a Wi-Fi connection.
Bundle services with T-Mobile and Spectrum
T-Mobile TV, internet, and phone bundle options
T-Mobile 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 $10–$20 monthly on your internet service, depending on which internet plan you have. T-Mobile internet and phone customers also get discounts and free subscriptions on streaming services such as Philo, Netflix, and Apple TV+.
Spectrum TV, internet, and phone bundle options
Spectrum offers a full suite of cable TV, phone, and cell phone plans for internet customers. Check out our Spectrum cable TV and Spectrum Mobile reviews to learn more about both services.
T-Mobile vs. Spectrum FAQ
Is T-Mobile internet better than Spectrum?
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet’s speeds are not better than Spectrum, but its pricing is much better. On T-Mobile, you’ll pay $40.00–$70.00/mo. for internet service. But on Spectrum, your price will increase after your first or second year of service.
Is Spectrum Mobile better than T-Mobile?
T-Mobile is generally better than Spectrum Mobile. Spectrum Mobile is available only for Spectrum internet customers and uses Verizon’s mobile network. T-Mobile offers larger data caps and more benefits for cell phone customers.
Does Spectrum own T-Mobile?
Spectrum does not own T-Mobile. Spectrum and T-Mobile are two separate companies.
Why you should trust us
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, along with CableTV.com’s own expert experience with these providers, to see how real customers felt about each ISP.
For more on our process, see our How We Rank page.
Disclaimer
*Spectrum Internet Premier: 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. 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 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.
◊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.
†With AutoPay.
‡Requires one line with T-Mobile Magenta MAX plan.
^w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms. Delivered via 5G cellular network; speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks, including data prioritization.
