Although the telecommunication industry is by no means small, only a handful of internet providers are available in most cities and towns. But these options can still make you contemplate when choosing the best possible internet for your home. The choice gets further complicated when national internet providers like Spectrum and Verizon Fios are available in your area.
The chances of finding these providers together are higher in the Northeast, as their services overlap in many areas. Both internet providers deliver required internet speeds at affordable rates. When comparing Verizon Fios vs Spectrum, the final choice comes down to fiber vs. cable internet, your budget, and your online activities. You can read our comparative analysis to discover how both providers compare based on plans, pricing, speeds, availability, and more.
Verizon Fios
Verizon Fios is a leading service of one of the world’s top telecommunication companies, Verizon Communications. Based in America, the company offers various services besides home internet and is primarily famous for its mobile network. But unlike other companies, Verizon does not force you to bundle its internet with other offerings.
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Verizon Fios is one of the largest internet providers in the country. You can mostly find this service in many large metro areas of the Northeast. You can trust Verizon to deliver reliable performance and speed to complete your daily online activities.
Pros
- High-speed fiber internet speeds
- No price hike in 1 year
- No Data Caps
Cons
- Limited Availability
Spectrum
Spectrum is a well-known brand of a Stamford, Connecticut company, Charter Communications. The company has become one of the leading broadband firms since it acquired Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks in 2016. Spectrum provides a range of residential and business services. But it is mainly renowned for its cable internet.
Spectrum now provides service to approximately 32 million customers in 41 states, making it the third-largest provider in the country. You can trust Spectrum’s award-winning coverage to deliver faster speeds and unlimited data consumption at cost-efficient rates.
Pros
- Wide coverage
- Free modem
- No Contracts
Cons
- Slow Upload Speeds
Comparison – Verizon Fios vs Spectrum Internet
| Features | Spectrum | Verizon Fios |
|---|---|---|
| Internet Plans | 3 | 3 |
| Starting Price | $49.99/mo. | $24.99/mo. |
| Download Speed | Up to 1000 Mbps | Up to 2,000 Mbps |
| Internet Type | Hybrid fiber-coaxial cable | Fiber |
| Data Caps | None | None |
| Contracts | None | None |
| Equipment Fee | Yes | No |
| Bundle Deals | Yes | Yes |
| Wide Coverage | Yes | No |
| Contact Provider | Order Now | Order Now |
Spectrum and Verizon Fios have few things in common, like the number of plans, starting costs, and lack of data caps and contracts. Both providers also offer somewhat similar download speeds, but they use different technologies to deliver their services, which yield contrasting results.
Verizon Fios is only accessible in urban areas of a few states, and Verizon has to rely on slow and pricier DSL service and mobile networks to cover the rest of its service area. Spectrum matches Verizon Fios’ download speeds with its hybrid fiber-coaxial cable network. However, its upload speeds are much slower than Verizon Fios. But you can find Spectrum in more states, especially in areas where Verizon has to rely on slow DSL service. Let’s explore Verizon Fios vs Spectrum in detail.
Internet Plans
Spectrum
You get three plans at different prices and speeds with Spectrum. Each package comes with a free modem and unlimited data and does not require you to sign a contract. However, Spectrum offers these plans at promotional rates, and you have to face higher monthly bills after the end of the first 12 months.
| Plans | Price | Internet Speed | Upload Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet | $49.99/mo. | 300 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| Internet Ultra | $69.99/mo. | 500 Mbps | 20 Mbps |
| Internet Gig | $89.99/mo. | 1000 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
Verizon Fios
While Verizon Fios gives you the choice of three internet plans like Spectrum, it offers higher upload speeds. Another significant difference is that Verizon does not offer promotional rates, which means your monthly bill won’t automatically increase after a year. However, it does not necessarily mean you won’t face unprecedented price hikes. But you don’t have to worry, as Verizon will inform you if it changes its pricing.
| Verizon Fios Internet Plans | |||
| Plans | Download Speed | Price | Shop Now |
| Fios 300 | 300 Mbps | $49.99/mo. | Order Now |
| Fios 500 | 500 Mbps | $69.99/mo. | Order Now |
| Fios 1 Gig | 1,000 Mbps | $89.99/mo. | Order Now |
| Fios 2 Gig | 2,000 Mbps | $119.99/mo. | Order Now |
Internet Speed
Internet speeds influence the performance of your online activities. Therefore, many people prefer higher-speed plans. So, let’s compare Verizon Fios and Spectrum in terms of internet speed. Which ISP offers adequate internet speeds? Fortunately, you get above-average internet speeds with Verizon Fios and Spectrum.
Both providers offer similar download speeds, but Verizon’s gigabit speeds are slightly higher, maxing out at 2,000 Mbps. The real difference is in upload speeds since Spectrum and Verizon use different technologies to deliver home internet.
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Hence, you get asymmetrical internet speeds with Spectrum and symmetrical uploads and downloads with Verizon Fios. However, it does not make much difference since most online activities heavily depend on download speeds unless you are a streamer. Keep in mind that, unlike fiber internet, you might experience slower speeds with Spectrum during peak hours.
Type of Internet
Internet type is another notable difference between Spectrum and Verizon Fios. While Verizon Fios uses a fiber network to deliver reliable internet connection with symmetrical download and upload speeds, Spectrum has an extensive network of hybrid fiber-coaxial cables.
The use of different technologies also affects their availability which is why Verizon Fios is limited to certain areas of a few states as fiber-optic is the latest technology, and Verizon has to build this network from scratch. Meanwhile, Spectrum enjoys greater availability as it uses the already laid cable TV lines to deliver its internet service.
Data Caps
We live in an era of high data consumption as streaming and gaming have become normal daily activities for many people. Data caps can quickly become frustrating if you constantly have to monitor your data usage to avoid penalties like throttled speeds and overage fees.
Fortunately, both Spectrum and Verizon Fios offer unlimited data with their plans, allowing you to conduct multiple online activities at once. Hence, you can enjoy your favorite Netflix shows, download large files and play complex games without repercussions.
Bundle Deals
Bundling always comes with various benefits. Many people combine services to save money or avoid dealing with multiple providers. Like many other providers, Spectrum and Verizon all offer bundle deals.
Let’s find out which provider offers the best bundle deals, Verizon Fios or Spectrum. The answer depends on your requirements. For example, Verizon’s bundles come with a set-top box that allows you to pick your favorite channels. On the other hand, Spectrum caters to your requirements by offering various add-ons.
Spectrum allows you to customize your bundles by combining any internet plan with Spectrum TV® Select and Voice. It lets you choose between Spectrum double-play or Spectrum triple-play and gives you 125+ HD standard channels, high-speed internet, and more than 28 calling features. Here are some popular Spectrum bundle deals.
| Spectrum Bundles | Speed | TV Channels | Home Phone | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet + TV Select + Voice | 300 Mbps | 125+ | Unlimited calling with 28 features | $129.97/mo. |
| Internet + TV Select | 300 Mbps | 125+ | – | $109.98/mo. |
Verizon Fios allows you to mix and match internet and TV and internet plans according to your preferences. Unlike Spectrum, it offers multiple TV packages. Additionally, it provides extra perks like gift cards and a streaming device connection bundle.
| Verizon TV & Internet Bundles | |||
| Price | Fios Internet | Fios TV | Savings |
| $109.99/mo. | 300 Mbps | Fios TV Test Drive plan | $15.00/mo. |
| $134.99/mo. | 500 Mbps | Fios TV Test Drive plan | $10.00/mo. |
| $159.99/mo. | 940 Mbps | Fios TV Test Drive plan | $5.00/mo. |
| $109.99/mo. | 300 Mbps | Your Fios TV plan | $15.00/mo. |
| $134.99/mo. | 500 Mbps | Your Fios TV plan | $10.00/mo. |
| $159.99/mo. | 940 Mbps | Your Fios TV plan | $5.00/mo. |
| $129.99/mo. | 300 Mbps | More Fios TV plan | $19.00/mo. |
| $154.99/mo. | 500 Mbps | More Fios TV plan | $14.00/mo. |
| $179.99/mo. | 940 Mbps | More Fios TV plan | $9.00/mo. |
| $149.99/mo. | 300 Mbps | The Most Fios TV plan | $19.00.mo. |
| $174.99/mo. | 500 Mbps | The Most Fios TV plan | $14.00/mo. |
| $199.99/mo. | 940 Mbps | The Most Fios TV plan | $9.00/mo. |
Customer Service
Customer service gives you a clear idea about the reliability of a provider. A trustworthy ISP has supportive customer service that resolves your issues on time. Over time, Spectrum has shown tremendous improvement, from managing to increase its score from 59 to 63 on the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s latest report, to create a personal record in the Southern region on J.D. Power U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study for 2021.
On the other hand, both ACSI and J.D. Power rank Verizon as the top internet provider. It scored 71 out of 100 in the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s latest report. It also gained 758 on a 1000-point scale in the East region on J.D. Power U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study. We can see that Spectrum’s customer service still has room for improvement. However, it is still good as the large gap is mainly due to different technology.
Contracts
Both Verizon Fios and Spectrum offer contract-free internet plans. It means you don’t have to worry about paying a hefty early termination fee if you want to switch providers for whatever reason.
Coverage Area
Verizon Fios has a significantly smaller footprint than Spectrum. Fiber-optic is the latest technology, and installing its infrastructure is a slow and expensive task. Therefore, Verizon Fios is currently only available in densely populated areas of New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
In contrast, Spectrum is one of the most widely available internet providers in the US, covering 32 million households in 41 states. However, it does not cover these states equally and mainly operates in densely populated areas.
Additional Fee
Your monthly internet bill also includes some additional fees. While some providers are vague about these details, Spectrum gets positive points for its honesty.
Equipment Fee
Spectrum’s monthly equipment fee is less than other providers. It only charges $5 per month for its WiFi service, which you can avoid by buying your router. Spectrum makes the deal sweeter by including a free modem with every internet plan. On the other hand, you don’t have to pay a monthly equipment fee with Verizon Fios.
| Provider | Equipment Fee |
|---|---|
| Spectrum | Modem – free WiFi router rental – $5/month WiFi Pod – $3.00/month for each unit |
| Verizon Fios | None |
Installation Fee
Verizon Fios charges a much higher installation fee than Spectrum. It also does not offer a self-installation option. On the other hand, Spectrum offers self-installation and pro-installation options for $30.00 and $65.00, respectively.
| Provider | Equipment Fee |
|---|---|
| Spectrum | Self-installation – $30.00 for service activation Pro-installation – $65.00 |
| Verizon Fios | Professional Installation – $99.00 (Waived on online orders) |
Internet for Gamers
Experiencing lags when you are a move away from winning can be rather frustrating. This is why a reliable internet connection is necessary for gamers. Many people think that getting high speeds can solve this problem. However, games don’t require much speed but a connection with low latency.
You can still experience lags even with a high-speed internet plan if your latency exceeds 100 milliseconds. Usually, fiber-optic is considered the best internet for gaming, but its limited availability makes it impossible for gamers to access it. Therefore, cable internet is the most preferred choice of gamers because it gives them fiber-like internet speeds and has lower latency than DSL and satellite internet options.
The ideal latency for gaming is below 40 ms, which is why both Verizon Fios and Spectrum Internet® are excellent for gaming. Besides, they give you multiple high-speed internet plans without any data caps, making them more attractive for gaming.
| Provider | Latency | Connection Type |
|---|---|---|
| Spectrum | 33 ms | Cable |
| Verizon Fios | 12 ms | Fiber |
Conclusion
Now that you have read our detailed comparison of Verizon Fios vs Spectrum, we hope you can find a suitable internet plan. Overall, we recommend Spectrum due to its wide availability, transparency about pricing, and affordable self-installation option. But the choice depends on your requirements. So, if you live in an area where Verizon Fios and Spectrum are accessible, your internet options are more outstanding than in other areas.
FAQs
