Compare Spectrum vs. Windstream

Is Spectrum or Windstream the provider for you?

Considering Spectrum or Windstream internet for your home? Compare provider features like pricing, internet speeds and more to get the right service for your home. Take a look at our breakdowns of both providers.

• Spectrum is available in far more areas than Windstream, covering 33% of the U.S. population compared to Windstream at 3%.
• Spectrum offers cable internet and TV service. Windstream internet uses a DSL or fiber-optic network, depending on location.
• Windstream offers cheaper internet plans than Spectrum, but Spectrum is likely to give you more speed options.
• Spectrum and Windstream include unlimited data with their internet plans, and require no contract.
• Spectrum offers internet, TV and home phone bundles. Windstream bundles include DIRECTV as the TV provider.
• Spectrum internet scored slightly higher than Windstream in customer satisfaction in 2019, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index.

See more information on Spectrum and Windstream availability, internet speeds and channel ranges that may be available near you.

Spectrum vs. Windstream availability

Spectrum is available in more than twice as many states as Windstream and offered in more major metropolitan areas nationwide. Windstream serviceability covers a mix of rural and more densely populated areas.

States and areas where Spectrum and Windstream availability overlap may include:

Which internet providers and plans are available in your area? Click “Check availability” below to see if Spectrum, Windstream or other internet providers are available in your ZIP code.

Spectrum vs. Windstream cheap internet plans

Since the starting speeds of either provider vary so greatly from region to region, you won’t have much say in what speeds you’ll get with the most basic internet plan. Price point, installation options and equipment included will be the biggest point of comparison between Spectrum and Windstream’s cheapest plans.

*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 12/03/19.

Windstream’s cheapest internet plan comes at more than half the price of Spectrum’s cheapest plan. However, the speeds you get with Spectrum’s cheapest internet plan are much higher than the speeds you’ll get with Windstream. When you consider cost per Mbps, Spectrum is likely to offer the better deal with their cheapest internet plan.

Spectrum vs. Windstream customer satisfaction

Based on consumer feedback, J.D. Power gives TV and internet service providers like Spectrum and Windstream an annual power circle score rating of one through five. Consumer factors include billing and customer service, communication, programming, cost of service and overall satisfaction.

In TV service, Windstream’s DIRECTV earned fours and fives over all categories across the country and the top spot in the West out of eight major providers, including a category labeled “other” that contains multiple provider scores. Spectrum received an average of three in all categories across the country, except for billing and customer service in which it earned threes and fours in various regions.

Spectrum internet service earned an average score of three in all categories across regions, while Windstream is not one of the providers ranked.