Unavailable in Provider unavailable in 90001
Or call: Or call to learn more: (877) 992-4786
Spectrum home internet rating
How we calculated our rating
7.2
/ 10
SCORE
Speed
7/10
Value
7.5/10
Customer Care
7/10
Pros
- Straightforward pricing
- No data caps on any plans
- No contracts required for internet service
- Free access to Spectrum's nationwide Wi-Fi hotspots
Cons
- Competitive rates for cable, but pricier than many fiber providers
- Internet service is slightly below the industry average for customer satisfaction
See more pros and cons
Best Spectrum Internet plans and pricing
| Plan | Monthly price | Max speeds | Fees and service details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet Read full review | $50 | 300Mbps download, 10Mbps upload | Modem free; $7 for router (optional); No data caps or contracts |
| Spectrum Internet Ultra Read full review | $70 | 500Mbps download, 20Mbps upload | Modem free; $7 for router (optional); No data caps or contracts |
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review | $80 | 1,000Mbps download, 35Mbps upload | Modem free; $7 for router (optional); No data caps or contracts |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
You get a choice of three different speed plans with Spectrum, and none of the tiers include data caps or require you to commit to a contract. After one or two years (depending on your chosen plan), your monthly bill will increase by $30. Nonetheless, each of these plans offers a high-quality cable experience.
The entry-level tier features a maximum download speed of 300 megabits per second, which is plenty fast for a provider's opening option. Comparatively, cable internet providers such as Cox and Xfinity offer plans that start at 100 to 150Mbps.
Locating local internet providers
We pick Spectrum Internet Ultra as our favorite because it's a fast plan (500Mbps) for a reasonable price, and that price has a two-year guarantee as opposed to the 12-month price-lock of the 300Mbps tier.
Spectrum Internet review
When Charter Communications launched Spectrum Oneat the end of October 2022, it essentially unveiled a bundle of Spectrum Internet (download speeds of either 300 megabits per second, 500Mbps or 1 gigabit), Charter's Advanced WiFi (featuring a Wi-Fi 6 router) and Spectrum Mobile with unlimited data. The first tier, featuring Spectrum Internet at 300Mbps, comes at a compelling promotional price of $50 per month for 12 months (for new customers), with no taxes, fees or contracts.
Locating local internet providers
Then Charter's broadband service gained some bragging rights more recently when, in May, Spectrum grabbed top honors in Opensignal's newest broadband report.
Take our quiz
Progress
Step 1 of 4
How many members of your household use the internet?
Beyond all that, Charter can boast that Spectrum Internet service features no contracts, includes no termination fees and provides new customers with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Such a straightforward approach can be mighty appealing, especially when internet providers often make their offerings anything but simple.
Spectrum Internet serves more than 32 million customers in 41 states, so there's a good chance it's available in your area or somewhere nearby. If so, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better cable internet provider, especially since Spectrum doesn't enforce a data cap like its biggest competitors, Xfinity and Cox. However, if a 100% fiber connection is available at your address, you should strongly consider going with that instead of Spectrum for faster upload speeds and a more reliable connection overall.
A quick word on cable
Spectrum Internet relies mainly on hybrid fiber-coaxial cable connections to provide service to subscribers' homes. As you can tell by the three fast tiers offered by Charter, a cable connection is a trusty method that offers download speeds better than those you'll get with DSL, fixed wireless and satellite. Fiber internet can also provide faster downloads and equally zippy upload speeds. With cable internet plans like those offered by Optimum, Xfinity and Cox, your upload speeds will typically stay in the double digits.
According to a December 2023 report from the Federal Communications Commission, Spectrum's cable internet service is available to nearly 30% of the country, but just under 1% of Spectrum's potential customer base is eligible for fiber. According to our source, that's not true. While Charter does not release its fiber/HFC percentage publicly, the spokesperson said the FCC's info is outdated: "A sizable percentage of our network is fiber, from our facilities down to the neighborhood, and virtually all of the 53 million homes our network passes can access gigabit speeds."
Yet the issue isn't about gigabit speeds. After all, other cable internet competitors, like Cox and Xfinity, can boast of their Gig plans. It's all about the symmetrical speeds and better performance of a 100% fiber network; that's something Spectrum doesn't have.
Enlarge Image
Where can you get Spectrum Internet?
Spectrum Internet serves 41 states across the country, so it's easier to list the states where Charter Communications doesn't operate: Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Iowa, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Utah (as well as Washington, DC). If you live anywhere other than that, there's an above-average chance you're within Spectrum's coverage map or close to it.
Most cable internet providers struggle to offer service to rural areas with low population density, and Spectrum is no exception. If that's your situation, check out our rundown of the best rural internet providers.
Straightforward terms for Spectrum Internet
Charter tends to keep its Spectrum offerings fairly uncomplicated, but let's burrow down to see what else you can expect with your service.
Additional monthly fees
As noted above, Spectrum prides itself on a no-data-caps-or-extra-fees approach. This is mostly accurate. On top of the lack of contracts or data limits, each Spectrum plan comes with a free modem. If you want to connect to Spectrum's network wirelessly over Wi-Fi, you'll need to pay an additional $7 monthly for the Spectrum router. Fortunately, like many other ISPs, Spectrum allows you to skip that extra fee by using your own, Spectrum-compatible equipment, with the caveat that you won't be eligible for Spectrum technical support.
One-time installation fees
Spectrum temporarily suspended all in-home professional installations during the pandemic, but professional, in-home installation is once again an option. The standard in-home installation fee is $65. Most installations of Spectrum Internet can be done on a self-install basis. In those cases, you'll need to use a self-installation kit, which is $30 and can be shipped to your address or sent to a Spectrum store for pickup.
You'll also still need to pay a one-time charge of $30 for service activation and an additional $10 charge for the Wi-Fi activation fee.
No data caps
In contrast to some ISP rivals (we're looking at you, Cox and Xfinity), Spectrum does not impose data caps on any of its customers. That means you won't have to track your data usage for fear of throttling issues once you hit some arbitrary threshold.
Free access to nationwide Wi-Fi hotspots
In addition to connecting at home,Spectrum Out-of-Home WiFiis available to customers for free whenever they're out and about. The company features approximately 530,000 hotspots across its entire coverage map. To connect when you're in range of a network, sign in with your account username and password for unlimited access. Customers can also use the My Spectrum app for quick access.
Spectrum Internet vs. competitors: Customer satisfaction scores could improve
The good news? Charter's Spectrum service is doing better now with customers than it has since Charter acquired Time Warner Cable in mid-2016, but there's still work to do.
For example, Spectrum was consistently below US regional averages when you look at the J.D. Power US Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study for 2023. Spectrum earned its highest score in the South region, capturing 728 on a 1,000-point scale, but that still placed it behind Google Fiber, , Frontier and Xfinity in that same area.
Over at the American Customer Satisfaction Index, Spectrum jumped 6% in 2024 to score 68 points. That puts it right at the average for nonfiber ISPs, which might initially seem like no big deal, but it's the second year in a row that Spectrum has increased its score. That consistent growth is a positive step and a sign that it's continuing to do better in the eyes of its customers.
What's the final word on Spectrum Internet?
Spectrum Internet offers three high-speed tiers with unlimited data and no contracts. Customers are also spared some extra fees you might find with other ISPs. There's no additional monthly fee for the modem, for example. Of those three plans, we like Spectrum Internet Ultra the most.
One thing Charter Spectrum has in common with most providers is it does bump up your monthly price after your initial promo period, so be aware of that pending change. Spectrum can also provide fast download speeds as a cable provider, but the technology doesn't offer symmetrical upload speeds, which may negatively impact those working remotely from home.
Spectrum Internet FAQs
Is Spectrum the same as Time Warner Cable?
Essentially, yes. Charter Communications purchased Time Warner Cablein 2016, right around the same time Charter also acquired Bright House Networks. At the time, those two moves made Spectrum the second-largest US internet service provider and third-largest TV provider.
Are there Spectrum packages available?
There are severalSpectrum packages, including Triple Play (internet, TV and home phone) and Double Play (two of the services mentioned above) bundles. Most package options offer the 300Mbps plan. Those that feature Internet Ultra (500Mbps) are available only in certain areas. Depending on the Spectrum package you select, you can expect to save anywhere from $5 to $10 a month. Spectrum One, which Charter unveiled in fall 2022, combines internet, Wi-Fi and mobile service in one package price.
Is Spectrum Internet fast?
The quick answer is that it depends on what plans are available in your area. The Spectrum Internet Gig plan is plenty fast, at 940Mbps, but is not the fastest residential plan in the US.
Overall, when looking at ISPs across the country, the speed-testing companyOokla determined that Spectrum was the second-fastest internet provider in the US, with a median download speed of approximately 253Mbps during the fourth quarter of 2023. That puts Spectrum ahead of home internet competitors AT&T (245Mbps), Xfinity (239Mbps) and Frontier (221Mbps) but behind Cox at 261Mbps.
Ookla also noted that Spectrum was the fastest fixed broadband provider in 8 out of the top 100 cities in the country. That put it behind AT&T (25 cities), Xfinity (12 metros) and Cox (10 cities) but ahead of Google Fiber (7), Verizon (6) and Frontier (2).
Does Spectrum offer discounts for low-income customers?
Spectrum does have a program for eligible, low-income households.Spectrum Internet Assistfeatures an affordable broadband plan (30Mbps download, 4Mbps upload) with similar terms to the other internet plans -- no data caps, no contracts and a free modem -- for a discounted rate of $30 monthly. You'll need to apply to determine eligibility. For example, at least one household member needs to be a recipient of an assistance program, such as the National School Lunch Program.
Will Charter Spectrum pay me to change from my current provider?
Spectrum does offer a Contract Buyout option for eligible new customers. You can get up to $500 toward the Early Termination Fee from your previous provider. As you might expect, there's some small print involved as well. To our eyes, the biggest restriction to this offer is it's not available to those looking just for internet service. Instead, you must order one of Spectrum's qualifying Triple Play or Double Play bundles.
