Ziply vs. Spectrum

Is Ziply or Spectrum better?

We recommend Ziply Fiber over Spectrum because you’ll get faster speeds on Ziply’s fiber network plans compared to Spectrum’s cable network internet plans. However, Spectrum offers better value if you’re interested in a multi-service TV, internet, or phone bundle.

Ziply vs. Spectrum pros and cons

✓ Fast fiber internet plans
✓ Budget internet options
✗ Unimpressive budget internet speeds

✓ Free modem
✓ Unlimited data
✗ Higher prices for internet

Jump to:

• Deals
• Plans and prices
• Fees and extra charges
• Specs and features

Ziply vs. Spectrum deals

Spectrum’s best deals included bundle discounts and free Disney+ subscriptions, while Ziply offered a free month of internet and waived installation fees. Visit our Ziply internet review and Spectrum deals guide for current deals.

Ziply internet vs. Spectrum head-to-head

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

Ziply Fiber’s internet plans come with excellent download speeds and affordable pricing, while Spectrum has steady internet service and wide-ranging customer support resources. Read on to see which provider reigns supreme.

Ziply Fiber vs. Spectrum internet plans and prices

Ziply plans and prices

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
For new residential customers only. No annual contract required. Prices shown are before taxes and fees and require autopay and paperless billing.
*for the first 12 mos. with autopay and paperless billing

Ziply’s a smaller provider compared to Spectrum, but the internet provider has a much larger catalog of internet options. Along with its standard DSL plan, Ziply offers a whopping six fiber internet plans.

We’re fans of Ziply’s affordable pricing on their Fiber 100/100 through Fiber Gig plans, which all cost $50 or less monthly during your first year of service. Most fiber internet providers leave budget-conscious customers by the wayside, so it’s nice that Ziply provides pricing flexibility for budget-conscious households.

At the same time, we wish Ziply was more generous with the download speeds on these plans. While 100Mbps is fine for one or two light internet users, you’ll hit a hard performance ceiling if more than a few people want to watch Hulu at the same time. Spectrum’s internet plans start at 300Mbps, and even cable internet providers like Xfinity have faster speeds on their budget internet plans.

Spectrum plans and prices

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

Spectrum’s three internet plans cover the basics, but whether you’re looking at pricing or download speeds, they can’t hold up to Ziply Fiber’s advantages as a fiber internet provider.

Simply put, you’ll pay more for less on Spectrum compared to Ziply Fiber. Like with Spectrum Internet 500 Mbps, you’ll pay $59.99 monthly for 500Mbps download speeds. With Ziply Fiber’s comparable plans, you’ll pay $50 monthly for 1,000Mbps download speeds and $60 monthly for 2,000Mbps download speeds. Spectrum’s Internet Gig plan does start at $49.99 in some areas (the same price as Ziply’s), but it’s dependent on location. Be sure to enter your zip to see the rates you’d be getting with Spectrum where you live.

We’d recommend Spectrum over Ziply only if your area is limited to Ziply’s slower DSL plan, as DSL internet is slower than cable internet providers like Spectrum. Otherwise, fiber internet providers like Ziply Fiber will almost always win out over cable providers when it comes to internet performance.

Ziply vs. Spectrum fees and extra charges

Ziply Fiber fees and extra charges

Ziply offers a handful of equipment rental options for households that prefer to outsource the Wi-Fi installation process. Unfortunately, Ziply also relies on promotional pricing, which involves a lower first-year internet price followed by a second-year price increase. Ziply’s price hike isn’t massive, but fiber internet providers rarely do this price trickery, and we’ll always beat the drum against it.

Spectrum fees and extra charges

Spectrum’s one of the rare cable internet providers with unlimited data, so you won’t have to worry about expensive data overage charges. Additionally, Spectrum has the standard slate of optional rental fees, along with a first or second-year price hike on its internet plans.

Check out our Spectrum hidden fees guide for a full breakdown of the provider’s extra charges.

Ziply vs. Spectrum specs and features

Ziply vs. Spectrum customer service

Spectrum and Ziply were similarly average performers in our annual internet customer satisfaction survey.

That said, Spectrum also has a large network of retail stores for easy equipment exchanges and service troubleshooting. Ziply closed its retail stores in 2022, but the provider still maintains a limited network of payment kiosks throughout Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

Availability

Ziply operates out of Idaho, Washington, Montana, and Oregon. Spectrum is also available in these states as part of its 41-state internet network.

TV, internet, and phone bundle options

Like other national internet providers, Spectrum offers a full suite of cable TV, landline phone, and cell phone services, so you can assemble a Spectrum internet bundle for the biggest savings. We’re fans of Spectrum Mobile, which offers some of the cheapest cell phone plans for an internet provider-affiliated cell phone carrier.

By comparison, Ziply offers landline phone service for $20 monthly but doesn’t have other bundled services.

Is Ziply or Spectrum better?

We generally recommend fiber internet over cable internet in most scenarios, and when it comes to Ziply and Spectrum, we stand by this blanket rule. Ziply could be a better provider, but it soundly beats Spectrum regarding fiber internet performance and pricing.

We recommend Spectrum over Ziply in only two scenarios: your area doesn’t get Ziply Fiber coverage, or your household wants a multi-service internet, TV, or cell phone bundle.

Ziply vs. Spectrum FAQ

Why you should trust us

Our experts drew from our existing Ziply and Spectrum coverage, rating both ISPs on 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

*Spectrum Internet: 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 Ultra & 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.