Verizon Fios piles deals and discounts onto its powerful fiber plans. But Spectrum’s classic cable internet options are more widely available and include great entertainment bargains.
Spectrum Internet vs. Verizon Fios: Which One Is Worth Your Money?
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7 min readSpectrum provides cable internet services and is available in 41 states. While you can get faster speeds from a fiber connection, cable internet is still dependable and budget friendly for all kinds of users. Spectrum’s cable is more stable than competing 5G internet providers and is a superior option to DSL. Despite its extra fees and lack of symmetrical speeds, you still get a solid connection with excellent promos (for new and existing customers).
This is what you get with Spectrum:
- Unlimited data
- No annual contract or early termination fees
- No extra fee for modem rental
- Autopay discount
- Free Spectrum Mobile line for 12 months with a qualifying internet plan
Verizon Fios is one of the top fiber internet providers, delivering a reliable and fast fiber-optic internet connection with symmetrical speeds that range from 300Mbps to 2,300Mbps. It also offers discounted internet plans to various members of the community, including military, veterans, nurses, teachers, first responders, and those participating in federal assistance programs.
Here’s what you get with Verizon Fios:
- Unlimited data
- Included router
- No annual contract
- Free self-installation
- $15–$25 monthly discount on internet when you connect an existing Verizon mobile plan
Want to know if Spectrum or Verizon Fios are available where you live? Run a search with your zip code below to find out.
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Spectrum vs. Verizon Fios: Plans, pricing, and deals
Spectrum plans and prices
Provider | Plan | Price | Download speed | Details |
| Internet Premier | $50/mo. 1 yr price guarantee* | Up to 500 Mbps | View Plans | |
| Internet GIG | $70/mo. for 12 mos.† | Up to 1000 Mbps | View Plans |
*
Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Spectrum. Taxes and fees extra in select states. SPECTRUM INTERNET: Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.
†
Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Spectrum. Taxes and fees extra in select states. SPECTRUM INTERNET: Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit spectrum.net/modem. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.
Verizon Fios plans and prices
‡
Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans.Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.
^
Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.
Spectrum offers cable internet packages with download speeds ranging from 500Mbps to 1,000Mbps. For those speeds, you pay between $50 to $70 per month. Cut your bill down with a $5 monthly discount when you sign up for Autopay. And don’t miss out on a full free year of Spectrum mobile when you combine it with your Spectrum internet plan.
Spectrum offers a few special offers and discounts. Spectrum’s Internet Advantage plan provides discounted, high-speed internet for qualifying low-income households and seniors aged 65+. The Spectrum Internet Advantage plan costs $30 a month for 100Mbps speeds. This explainer of Spectrum's low-income services will tell you all you need to know about qualifying and applying.
Verizon Fios provides a healthy range of internet speeds from 300Mbps to 2,000Mbps. Unlike Verizon 5G Home Internet (also offered by Verizon), Verizon Fios provides a fiber connection that is notorious for speed and stability. Customers pay between $49.99 to $109.99 (the price is discounted when you enroll in autopay). All of Verizon’s home internet plans come with unlimited data, no contracts, and no early termination fees. Verizon also offers discounts for qualifying households with its Verizon Forward program. See if you qualify with this guide to low-income Verizon discounts.
You don’t have to worry about a professional installation fee if you order Verizon Fios online (you can also ask the salesman to waive the fee over the phone). Depending on the plan, Verizon also guarantees a price lock on its Fios plans for two, three, or four years. Don't miss out on any of Verizon's spectacular perks that recently included a free Samsung TV.
Spectrum vs. Verizon Fios: Fees for modem and installation
Spectrum add-ons and perks
Combine Spectrum mobile line and a Spectrum internet plan
Sign up for a qualifying Spectrum Internet plan.
$50 bonus credit on your first month of service (available in select areas)
Sign up for Autopay
No fee, included in internet plans
No fee, included in internet plans
$5/mo.
Verizon 5G Home Internet add-ons and perks
Connect Verizon Mobile line to Verizon internet plan
Get up to a $500 credit to cover early termination fees when you break your contract with a different provider
300Mbps internet plan
500Mbps internet plan
1 Gig and 2 Gig internet plan
Enroll in Autopay and paper-free billing
$20/mo.
What makes this review legit?
Our fact-based research process centers on interviews with internet customers across the country, helping us understand how internet services hold up against diverse needs and challenges.
To put together this review, we looked at results from our speed test, pulled data from customer satisfaction surveys, and pored over the fine print to compare prices and speeds between the two providers. To flesh out our analysis, we also interviewed Spectrum and Verizon Fios customers to get their firsthand insights. We let their experiences guide our research and shape our conclusions. We also speak with ISP spokespeople and industry experts to get insights into connection types, speed capabilities, and other technical issues related to internet service.
The matchup: How we rate Spectrum vs. Verizon Fios
For all our internet reviews, we give a rating based on three main criteria—speed and reliability, dollar value, and customer experience—which we then average to make an overall score.
Here, we compare those ratings face to face. We then offer some analysis and context for important factors to keep in mind.
Want to know more? Read our full-length Spectrum review and Verizon Fios review.
Speed and reliability
Spectrum Internet
3.8/5.0
Verizon Fios
5.0/5.0
As mentioned earlier, Fios takes the cake when it comes to speed and reliability, performing well in speed tests and ranking as the second-fastest provider in the nation. Spectrum is good for cable service, but no cable network can match Fios’s fiber speeds and stable connection.
What makes fiber faster and more dependable?
- The fiber-optic cables in a fiber network allow Fios Internet signals to move rapidly through light.
- The clarity and speed of fiber-optic cables don’t degrade as much as they get further from the signal source.
- Fiber optics are more durable and less prone to damage than copper. While Spectrum’s network is “fiber-rich”—meaning that fiber-optic cables are present—it’s not a full fiber-optic system.
Because of its infrastructure, Verizon Fios has significantly higher maximum download and upload speeds than Spectrum. Fios’s maximum download speed is 2.3 times faster than Spectrum’s, and its maximum upload speed is 65.7 times faster. And all of these speeds come through supersmooth fiber-optic cables right up to your router.
Dollar value
Spectrum Internet
3.2/5.0
Verizon Fios
3.75/5.0
Verizon Fios gives you more value for each dollar than Spectrum. While Spectrum plans initially appear to be the better deal, Spectrum uses promotional pricing. After those prices expire, Spectrum costs shoot up by $20 a month. Fios prices are much more straightforward: What you see is what you get.
Spectrum also has way more fees, like a modem rental fee and a self-installation fee. In contrast, Fios has no rental fee and doesn’t require a self-installation fee if you meet the self-installation requirements (not everyone does). However, the Verizon Fios fee is much more expensive than the Spectrum fee by about 50%. Read our guide to lower your Spectrum internet bill as much as possible.
Customer experience
Spectrum Internet
4.0/5.0
Verizon Fios
4.75/5.0
When it comes to the customer service experience, Verizon Fios garners more critical acclaim than Spectrum. Fios scores exceptionally high on both the HighSpeedInternet.com Customer Satisfaction Survey and the 2024 American Consumer Satisfaction Index in telecommunications. In contrast, Spectrum’s scores range from average to just below it.
In an echo of the critical assessment, we found more satisfied Verizon Fios customers than Spectrum customers, though customers have had substandard experiences with both providers.
Generally, Spectrum’s most significant customer service strength seems to be its ubiquity: The Spectrum internet service is available all over the U.S., making it easy to enroll and even move with the service. On the other hand, Verizon Fios excels in not having outages. Some customers don’t even have to interact with the service side. Cheers to that.
Overall quality: Which internet provider should you pick?
Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change. Data verified as of the article's publication date.
Spectrum Internet
3.7/5.0
Verizon Fios
4.1/5.0
In areas where Spectrum and Verizon Fios are both available, Fios is the clear winner. It’s faster and more reliable, has a better value proposition, and offers better customer service.
But Fios isn’t as widespread as Spectrum, and if you live in an area with no Fios, Spectrum is still worth considering as a classic cable option.
Want to compare Spectrum to other Verizon internet services?
You can also look at our Spectrum vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet review.
Spectrum vs. Verizon Fios: What do customers think?
Spectrum customers say it’s sufficiently affordable and reliable, but they’re meh on the customer service
Spectrum customers we spoke with generally find the service satisfactory. “It’s totally fine. It’s fast, and we’ve never had an outage,” says Spectrum customer Anna Harsanyi in New York City.
“They seem to respond quickly and take care of problems pretty fast,” comments Conrad Burnham, a Spectrum customer located in Los Angeles.
But although some folks, like Anna and Conrad, have great Spectrum experiences, that isn’t typical. Most find their interactions with customer service subpar.
“It’s not very customer friendly,” laments Robyn Straw in St. Cloud, Missouri. When she experienced daily outages in summer 2023, personnel weren’t responsive when contacted through the My Spectrum app. And Straw’s not the only one with a frustrating app experience.
“The Spectrum app is absolutely garbage,” says Reddit user Osmosis_Vanderwal. “My phone says it quits responding between every single screen, and I have to click ‘wait.’”
Here’s what customers have to say about Spectrum:
"They're very affordable, and if I'm having an issue, they're very good about troubleshooting.” –Sakia Anwar of New York City
“Spectrum was the only service provider that offered anything faster than 100Mbps download.” –Sean Huntley of Glendale, California
“I miss ‘old Charter’ and wish there was more competition.” –Joel of Hazelwood, Missouri
“Spectrum was the only service provider that offered anything faster than 100Mbps download.” –Sean Huntley of Glendale, California
“I miss ‘old Charter’ and wish there was more competition.” –Joel of Hazelwood, Missouri
Verizon Fios customers love the speed and reliability but sometimes find customer service frustrating.
Verizon Fios lacks very little in speed and stability.
“Its dependability and swiftness are unmatched and essential for my professional and everyday tasks,” says Laviet Joaquin, who uses Verizon Fios as marketing head of router manufacturer TP-Link.
“When downloading games, I’ve seen almost 500Mbps speeds, which I was impressed by,” says Darren Hansen, a Fios customer in Brooklyn, New York.
Although most Verizon Fios customers sing the provider’s praises, sometimes there are bumps with the customer service side.
“What makes [Verizon Fios] good is that the service is more reliable than anyone else, so I don't need to call as much,” says Reddit user lets_try_civility. “But when I do, whoa boy. It's a disaster.”
Here’s what customers have to say about Verizon Fios:
“No complaints about the service so far.” –Darren Hansen of Brooklyn, New York
“From reliability to performance, it’s everything you can expect.” –Thomas H. “...I don't need to call as much. But when I do, whoa boy. It's a disaster.” –Reddit user lets_try_civility
“From reliability to performance, it’s everything you can expect.” –Thomas H. “...I don't need to call as much. But when I do, whoa boy. It's a disaster.” –Reddit user lets_try_civility
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