Spectrum and Verizon are the leading internet service providers in the telecommunications industry. Spectrum delivers internet through hybrid fiber-coaxial cables, while Verizon offers two options for internet connectivity – a Wireless 5G network and a fiber network.
Both internet providers offer their basic plans at $49.99/month for 300 Mbps of speeds. However, Spectrum offers only three plans with download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps, while Verizon has various options with speeds up to 2,000 Mbps.
Discover which one is superior for your internet requirements by reading this blog.
Table Of Contents
- Verizon
- Spectrum
- Internet Service Comparison – Verizonvs Spectrum
- Additional Costs – Verizon vs Spectrum Internet
- Data Caps – Verizon vs Spectrum Internet
- Perks – Spectrum vs Verizon Internet
- Installation Options – Spectrum vs VerizonInternet
- Better Option for Gaming – Spectrum or Verizon?
- Wider Coverage Area – Spectrum or Verizon?
- Better Customer Service – Spectrum or Verizon?
- Final Verdict – Is Spectrum Internet Better than Verizon?
Verizon
Verizon Communications is a product of the merger between Bell Atlantic and GTE Corp. In the first quarter of 2024, Verizon reached a mark of 11.1 million total broadband subscribers, making it one of the most trusted internet companies in the country.
Verizon offers internet through wireless and fiber-optic connections. Verizon 5G internet plans start at $50.00/month with up to 1,000 Mbps of download speed.
Verizon Fios is a 100% fiber connection, offering four plans with different speeds. The service starts at $49.99/month, and you get symmetrical speeds up to 2,000 Mbps.
Pros
- 5G wireless service is widely available
- Verizon Fios has symmetrical speeds
- Non-contractual
- No data overage fee
Cons
- Limited availability of fiber
- Slow download speeds on 5G home internet
Spectrum
Charter Communications is a leading telecommunications company. It launched its brand “Spectrum” to provide dedicated internet, TV, and phone services to urban and rural communities. Spectrum is one of the most trusted internet brands in the USA, with 30.5 million broadband customers across 41 states.
Spectrum is popular as it perfectly meets the internet requirements of most homes and small businesses. It offers three internet plans, starting at $49.99/month, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps.
Spectrum Internet plans are without data caps and contracts, allowing you to enjoy non-stop connectivity and terminate the service without paying any fee.
Pros
- Wider availability
- No contracts
- No data caps
- Cost-saving bundles
- Free equipment and antivirus suite
Cons
- Slow download speeds
- Few plan options
- Price hikes
Internet Service Comparison – Verizonvs Spectrum
| Features | Spectrum | Verizon |
|---|---|---|
| Types Of Internet | Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial | Fiber-optic, Fixed Wireless |
| Speed | 300 Mbps – 1,000 Mbps | 300 Mbps – 2,000 Mbps |
| Prices | $49.99 – $79.99/mo. | $49.99 – $109.99/mo. |
| State Coverage | 41 | 39 |
| Data Cap | No | No |
| Contracts | No | No |
| Equipment | Included | Included |
| Bundles | Available | Available |
| ACSI Score (Non-Fiber ISPs category) | 68/100 | 74/100 |
Plans & Pricing Details – Spectrum vs Verizon Internet
Spectrum and Verizon offer their service at similar starting rates. Their month-to-month plans include unlimited data and free equipment.
Spectrum offers 3 plans with asymmetric speeds to its subscribers. The download speeds range from 300 Mbps to 1,000 Mbps, but the maximum upload speed is 35 Mbps. All 3 plans are offered at introductory rates and do not require an annual contract for price guarantees.
On the other hand, Verizon Fios’ entry-level plan costs $49.99/month, and you can get up to 2 Gig speeds on the fiber-rich network. Like Spectrum, Verizon’s 5G home internet packages deliver asymmetric speeds at a starting price of $50.00/month.
Spectrum Internet Plans
| Plans | Starting Price | Download Speed | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet | $49.99/mo.* | Up to 300 Mbps** | Hybrid fiber-cable |
| Spectrum Internet Ultra | $69.99/mo.* | Up to 500 Mbps** | Hybrid fiber-cable |
| Spectrum Internet Gig | $79.99/mo.* | Up to 1,000 Mbps** | Hybrid fiber-cable |
Verizon Internet Plans
| Plan | Starting Price | Download Speed | Upload Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Plans | |||
| 5G Home | $50.00/mo.* | 50 – 300 Mbps | Up to 20 Mbps |
| 5G Home Plus | $70.00/mo.* | 85 – 1,000 Mbps | Up to 75 Mbps |
| Verizon Fios Home Internet Plans | |||
| 300 Mbps | $49.99/mo.* | 300 Mbps | 300 Mbps |
| 500 Mbps | $74.99/mo.* | 500 Mbps | 500 Mbps |
| 1 Gig | $89.99/mo.* | 1,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps |
| 2 Gig** | $109.99/mo.* | 2,000 Mbps | 2,000 Mbps |
Additional Costs – Verizon vs Spectrum Internet
| Additional Cost | Spectrum | Verizon |
|---|---|---|
| Installation Fee | $65.00 | $99.00 |
| Equipment Fee | $7.00/mo. (price for whole-home WiFi equipment) | $18.00/mo. (price for WiFi 6E tri-band router) |
| Early Termination Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Late Payment Fee | $8.95/mo. | $7 or 5% of due balance* |
Data Caps – Verizon vs Spectrum Internet
The data cap is the maximum data you can use each month. Some providers impose data caps. For example, Xfinity and AT&T apply data caps of 1.2 TB and 1.5 TB, respectively, on some of their plans, and exceeding the data limit incurs a data overage charge of $10 for every 50 GB extra data.
Spectrum and Verizon have an edge over other providers in terms of data caps. Both allow unlimited data usage, regardless of the connection type. Therefore, Verizon and Spectrum customers are safe from data overage fees.
Perks – Spectrum vs Verizon Internet
Verizon and Spectrum offer enticing perks to their customers.
Verizon offers a price lock guarantee of 2-4 years with limited-time offers, like gift cards and free accessories. You can also get unlimited cloud storage for backing up your documents, pictures, and videos at a discounted price of $10/month.
In contrast, Spectrum offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to its customers. If you are unsatisfied with the service within the first 30 days, you can terminate the connection and get a full refund.
Spectrum has also installed over 530,000 WiFi access points countrywide where subscribers can connect to free internet.
Installation Options – Spectrum vs VerizonInternet
The key difference between installing Verizon and Spectrum is that you can self-install Spectrum Internet. Instead of paying $65 for professional installation, you can order a free DIY kit and activate the service for just $30.
Verizon does not offer self-installation with its Fios plans. The standard professional installation costs $99, but you get a waiver on the online orders of 1-Gig and 2-Gig plans. However, its 5G home internet equipment is “designed for self-setup”, and the equipment cost is included in the monthly fee.
TV & Internet Bundles – Spectrum vs Verizon
Both Spectrum and Verizon allow the bundling of their internet and TV services.
Verizon Bundles have different options. The Fios TV plans start at $85, and you can watch over 425 live TV channels. The monthly price includes the lease of a set-top box, and you may even get extras, like gift cards and free access to premium channels, on the pricer TV packages.
In comparison, Spectrum Bundles guarantee savings of more than $400 in the first year. The Spectrum One Stream bundle, which combines Internet and TV, helps you save up to $42 per month through freebies like an Unlimited Spectrum Mobile line, advanced home WiFi, and Xumo Stream Box.
Better Option for Gaming – Spectrum or Verizon?
Latencies are a major factor in gaming, and since fiber internet has ultra-low latency, it is the best option for seamless gaming. Generally, between Spectrum and Verizon, Verizon Fios is the best option for gaming because of its 100% fiber network.
However, if we specifically consider the latencies of Verizon and Spectrum, the latency of Verizon Fios is under 10 ms, again, making it ideal for online gaming. However, the latency of Verizon 5G home internet is between 37 and 56 ms.
Spectrum’s latency is more than 20 ms, which is also good but not as great as Verizon Fios.
Wider Coverage Area – Spectrum or Verizon?
Both Spectrum and Verizon are widely available internet providers.
Spectrum’s availability extends to 14,943 cities across 41 states. Whereas, Verizon’s availability is dependent upon its type of connections.
Verizon’s 5G home internet service is available in 39 states, while the fiber internet network is limited to 8 states (in the mid-Atlantic region) and Washington, D.C.
The services of both providers overlap in most states. However, there are a few states where their internet coverage is unavailable. These states are listed below.
| States Where Verizon or Spectrum is Unavailable | |
|---|---|
| Verizon | Spectrum |
| Alaska | Alaska |
| Hawaii | Arkansas |
| Kansas | Delaware |
| Maine | Iowa |
| Mississippi | North Dakota |
| Montana | Oklahoma |
| New Hampshire | Rhode Island |
| North Dakota | South Dakota |
| Vermont | Utah |
| West Virginia | – |
| Wyoming | – |
Better Customer Service – Spectrum or Verizon?
It is a widely understood belief that internet service providers do not provide good customer service, leading to low customer satisfaction. A few industry surveyors measure customer satisfaction levels of internet providers and rank them based on regions and connection types.
When comparing Verizon and Spectrum’s customer service, Verizon delivers higher customer satisfaction than Spectrum. The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) has rated Verizon in the fiber and non-fiber categories. Whereas, Spectrum is only listed in the non-fiber ISPs category and has an average score for customer satisfaction.
According to the J.D. Power survey, Verizon topped the list for customer satisfaction in the eastern region.
| Spectrum | Verizon |
|---|---|
| ACSI Non-Fiber Category (100-point scale) | |
| 68 | 74 |
| J.D. Power (1,000-point scale) – East Region | |
| 686 | 760 |
Final Verdict – Is Spectrum Internet Better than Verizon?
Spectrum and Verizon offer high-speed internet at affordable rates without data caps or contracts.
However, if we have to decide in favor of one internet provider, our decision will always lean toward fiber internet connections. Verizon Fios is a 100% fiber internet connection, offering 99.99% network reliability and ultra-low latency.
Unfortunately, the availability of Verizon Fios is limited to a handful of metros. So, if Verizon Fios is unavailable in your area, it is better to opt for the alternative – Spectrum’s hybrid fiber-coax service.
