Charter Communications can boast that its Spectrum Internet service has no contracts, no termination fees, and a 30-day money-back guarantee for new consumers. Such a straightforward approach can be quite enticing, especially since internet plans are rarely easy.
With Spectrum, you can choose from three different speed plans. The entry-level tier offers a maximum download speed of 200 Mbps, which is fast for a provider’s first offering.
PROS
- Pricing is straightforward.
- There are no data caps on any plans.
- There are no commitments for internet service.
- Spectrum’s nationwide Wi-Fi hotspots are available for free.
CONS
- Competitive cable rates, but more expensive than others.
- Customer satisfaction with Internet service is slightly lower than the industry average.
Spectrum Internet serves more than 28 million consumers throughout 41 states, so there’s a strong possibility it’s available in your neighborhood or closes by. If that’s the case, you’ll have a hard time finding a better cable internet provider, especially since Spectrum, unlike its two major competitors, Xfinity and Cox, does not impose a data cap. However, suppose a 100 percent fiber connection is available at your location. In that case, you should seriously choose it over Spectrum because it will provide quicker upload speeds and a more dependable connection overall.
Plan prices
Spectrum has three distinct plans available, each with a different price. None of them have data limits, and none of them need you to sign a contract. However, your monthly price will increase by $25-$55 after 12 or 24 months. The details are as follows:
Internet plans and pricing from Spectrum
Spectrum Internet
The first year’s fee is $50 per month.
The monthly fee will be $75. (after one year)
The download speed is 200 Mbps.
The upload speed is 10 Mbps.
There is no need for a contract.
Internet Ultra-Spectrum
The first year’s fee is $40 per month.
The monthly fee will be $95 (after two years).
The download speed is 400 Mbps.
The upload speed is only 20 Mbps.
There is no need for a contract.
Gigabit Internet from Spectrum
The first-year fee is $80 per month.
The monthly cost will be $115. (after two years).
The download speed is 940 Mbps.
The upload speed is 35 Mbps.
There is no need for a contract.
The speed of the connection will depend on the plan you choose.
The download speeds of 200 Mbps, 400 Mbps or the Spectrum Internet Gig package, which offers maximum download speeds of 940 Mbps, are available in most of its serviced areas. According to Charter, the 200Mbps package will be the initial choice in around 85% of Spectrum’s coverage region, with the 100Mbps plan being the lowest tier in most other places.
Internet connection
Spectrum Internet provides service to users’ homes through hybrid fiber-coaxial cable connections. As per the Charter’s three fast tiers, the cable is a reliable approach that provides download speeds faster than DSL, fixed wireless, and satellite. Fiber internet, however, can deliver quicker download and upload speeds.
Much of the country is covered.
Because Spectrum Internet is available in 41 states, it’s easier to mention the ones where Charter Communications does not operate: Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Iowa, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Utah (as well as Washington, DC). If you reside any place else, you have a better-than-average chance of being on Spectrum’s coverage map or close to it. However, most cable internet providers, including Spectrum, struggle to deliver service to remote areas with low population density.
Monthly costs are not included.
As previously said, Spectrum prides itself on having no data caps or additional fees. This is largely correct. Each Spectrum package includes a free modem and no commitments or bandwidth limits. However, you’ll have to pay an extra $5 per month for the Spectrum router if you want to connect to Spectrum’s network via Wi-Fi. (Note that if you choose Spectrum Internet Gig, the router is included at no additional cost.) Fortunately, Spectrum, like many other ISPs, allows you to avoid the extra price by using your Spectrum-compatible router, albeit you won’t be eligible for Spectrum technical help.
Installation costs are one-time only.
During the epidemic, Spectrum briefly halted all professional in-home installations. However, professional in-home installations are now available again. The regular in-home installation price is $50, but the Internet Gig plan will cost you $200. The majority of Spectrum Internet installations, on the other hand, are self-installable. You’ll need to use a self-installation kit in certain circumstances, which can be mailed to your location or picked up at a Spectrum store.
You’ll still have to pay a $10 one-time fee for the self-installation activation and another $10 for the Wi-Fi activation fee.
Spectrum does not impose data limitations on its consumers. Thus, you won’t have to keep watch of your data consumption for fear of being throttled.