Compare Spectrum vs. CenturyLink

Is CenturyLink or Spectrum the provider for you?

Our TV and internet experts at Allconnect® have done the research so you don’t have to. Compare CenturyLink and Spectrum pricing, channel lineups, internet speeds and more to select the provider that’s right for you.

As ranked by Reviews.com as of 1/04/19.

• Best cable internet provider: Spectrum consistently offers fast internet speeds beginning with its first tier of internet plans, plus, Spectrum gives you a generous contract buyout offer compared to other cable internet providers who require term agreements.
• Best for price-lock guarantees: CenturyLink offers more Gig-speed internet plans than any other provider and lets you lock in a low price for fast fiber internet as long as you keep CenturyLink service. Plus, if you do decide to change, there’s no contract, so you can switch plans without penalties.
• Best for TV and internet contract buyout offers: Many internet providers have great sign-up offers but require customers to sign a term agreement. Spectrum will not only pay the cost it takes to get out of a contract up to $500, they also offer affordable internet plans with fast speeds and won’t require you to sign a contract with them.

Take a look at our full analysis on bundle, TV and internet deals and features you’ll enjoy with CenturyLink or Spectrum service.

CenturyLink vs. Spectrum quick comparison

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 2/4/19.

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CenturyLink vs. Spectrum availability

As the second-largest cable internet provider in the country with 45 states nationwide, consumers are more likely to be in a Spectrum serviceable area. CenturyLink home services are available in 35 states, including most major metropolitan areas.

Top service areas for each provider include:

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CenturyLink vs. Spectrum bundles

Bundle deals can be a great way to simplify your monthly bill and get more than one service for a discounted price. However, the provider, available internet speeds andd bundle you select will greatly affect the amount of monthly savings you receive.

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 2/4/19.

Bundling Spectrum high-speed internet, TV and home phone service can save you up to $20 on your monthly bill. Bundling these same services with CenturyLink will cost the same amount as it would to purchase them as standalone services.

Spectrum would be the best option for households that are interested in multiple home services from a single provider. If you’re more interested in one or two home services, CenturyLink may be your best bet since bundling doesn’t yield additional savings.

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CenturyLink vs. Spectrum internet

Providers	Starting price	Starting speeds	Fastest speeds	Data caps	Wi-Fi hotspots	Buy now
	$45/mo.*	20 Mbps	1,000 Mbps	DSL, 1 TB; Fiber, None	N/A	Shop
	$44.99/mo.*	30 Mbps	940 Mbps	None	500,000+ hotspots nationwide	Shop

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 2/4/19.

High-speed internet service from CenturyLink or Spectrum starts at around the same speed and price point. However, starting speeds vary vastly by location. Some areas of the country with  CenturyLink service may get starting speeds of 3 Mbps, and some areas with Spectrum may get starting speeds of 100 Mbps.

Both providers have similar maximum speeds, although once again, the fastest speeds available with either provider are only offered in limited areas.

Choosing an internet provider for your needs

If service without data limits is your top priority, Spectrum or CenturyLink fiber internet is the best option for you. CenturyLink DSL plans have data caps up to 1 TB/mo.* before speed throttling. If you like to use free Wi-Fi on the go, you’ll want Spectrum internet, which comes with access to more than 500,000 hotspots across the country.

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CenturyLink vs. Spectrum cheap internet plans

A basic internet plan from CenturyLink or Spectrum is the first-tier internet plan. You’ll start off paying about $45/mo.* with either provider but you’ll get more speed than many providers offer and therefore, more bang for your buck.

Online, CenturyLink does offer its first couple low-speed plans at the same price point of $45/mo.*, but even then you’ll only get speeds up to 20 Mbps compared to paying the same price for speeds up to 200 Mbps with Spectrum.

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 2/4/19.

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CenturyLink vs. Spectrum fastest internet

You can get gig speeds from either provider, but the price point and availability will vary greatly. CenturyLink’s gig-speed internet will cost you about $20 less per month than Spectrum and will likely be available in more areas, despite CenturyLink’s smaller service area. To learn more about the fastest speeds in your area, call Allconnect today.

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 2/4/19.

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CenturyLink vs. Spectrum TV

Depending on the entertainment habits of your household, your TV provider and plan selection may be based on affordability, channel selections, customization or DVR capabilities.

CenturyLink vs. Spectrum costs

A basic TV plan with CenturyLink’s partner DIRECTV will cost $10 less per month than Spectrum and start with more channels. Options for free installation are available with either provider, but you’ll pay a fee for professional installation from Spectrum. With CenturyLink or Spectrum, one DVR box rental will be included at no additional cost in your service.

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 2/4/19.

CenturyLink vs. Spectrum channel packages

Although Spectrum and CenturyLink have similar channel ranges, you’ll choose from more packages thanks to CenturyLink’s partnership with DIRECTV. You’ll also get 4 premium channels for your first 3 months of service.

DIRECTV also seems to have DVR service with the best storage capacity as well, with enough room for up to 200 hours of your favorite content. Spectrum has a limited selection of channel packages but makes up for it with additional add-ons and opportunities for lineup customization.

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Unique provider services

Both CenturyLink and Spectrum offer skinny bundle options for users who would rather pay for the channels they enjoy instead of a standard price for everything that’s available. With options from CenturyLink via DIRECTV and Spectrum TV Stream, you’ll start with a limited amount of base channels and then personalize your channel lineup from there.

DIRECTV NOW

Starting at $40/mo.*, pair CenturyLink with DIRECTV NOW to enjoy more than 65 live channels and 20 hours of recording time with no annual contract required. Customize your plan with premium channel add-ons for starting at $8/mo.*, or get more live channels for an additional charge. Current CenturyLink customers can also try a free trial of DIRECTV NOW.

Spectrum TV Choice

Looking to strip your cable plan down to the basics?  Spectrum TV Stream comes with 25 channels, including your local channels and popular networks for $21.99/mo.* Add premium channels for $7.50 each, get five for $15/mo.* or select the Sports & News pack for $12/mo.* to enjoy ESPN access.

If you want a channel lineup built for you, Spectrum TV Stream is your best and most affordable option. Take advantage of the Spectrum Premium Pack and get the most premium channels (HBOⓇ, SHOWTIMEⓇ, STARZⓇ, STARZENCOREⓇ and The Movie Channel) for the low monthly cost of $15/mo.* Spectrum TV Stream is available in select areas.

Skinny bundle availability with Spectrum or CenturyLink will depend on your location, so give Allconnect a call today at {{}} for options in your area.

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 2/4/19.

CenturyLink vs. Spectrum customer satisfaction

J.D. Power gives service providers an annual power circle score rating of 1-5 based on real consumer feedback. Rating factors include the following: overall satisfaction, performance and reliability, cost of service, programming, communication, billing and customer service.

In 2018, J.D. Power gave DIRECTV an average score of 4 out of 5 in the eastern and southern regions. DIRECTV received a 4 out of 5 in the north central region and a 3 out of 5 in the western region. DIRECTV also earned the top spot in the eastern region out of 8 major providers.

Charter Spectrum received an average satisfaction score of 3 out of 5 across the southern and western regions. In the northern central and eastern regions, Spectrum received an overall satisfaction rating of 2 out of 5. Learn more about J.D. Power Ratings and how they are calculated.

Last updated on 2/4/19.