Spectrum Internet: Plans, Prices, and Reviews

With a business reach that spans 41 states, Spectrum (also known as Charter Spectrum) is one of the largest internet service providers out there, covering over 27% of the U.S. population. Owned by parent company Charter Communications, Spectrum offers a broad array of cable internet, TV, and phone services.

Spectrum plans and prices

Spectrum offers both internet-only and bundle options to all customers that fall under the ISP’s service area. Here’s a breakdown of Charter Spectrum’s offerings:

Spectrum internet speed

According to the FCC’s latest report, Spectrum is one of the top performing internet providers when it comes to speed and consistency. More than 90% of customers received at least 95% of their advertised download speed on average, and this held up even during peak hours.

Ookla’s speed test data also rated Spectrum very highly, with the second highest download speeds and consistency scores on average, behind only Xfinity. In short, you can expect to get the speeds you’re paying for with Spectrum.

Spectrum reviews

The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) has Spectrum in the middle of the pack with a score of 63/100, one point below the average score for internet service providers. Spectrum also scored in the middle of the pack from J.D. Power in every region it’s available.

There were a number of things that stood out for active customers, but concerns with hidden fees and higher average costs seemed to be the most common reason for negative reviews. But other reviewers wrote of positive experiences with the ISP, citing easy installation and a good customer service experience.

How does Spectrum compare?

Spectrum ranks in the middle of the pack compared to other internet providers. While its speeds are as good as any of them, Spectrum’s price increases in the second year make it very expensive for the average customer. It also has much lower upload speeds than fiber providers like Verizon and AT&T.

Our take

Spectrum offers solid internet speeds, but they’ll cost you. By your second year, you’ll be paying at least $74.99/mo. for internet — the main reason Spectrum scores in the middle of the pack for customer satisfaction. That said, it does deliver on the speeds that it advertises, with some of the best performance metrics of any internet provider.