Compare Verizon Fios vs. Spectrum
Check out a full comparison of Spectrum vs. Fios bundles, TV packages and internet plans to find the best services for your home, or use the links below to jump right to the research that most interests you.
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Is Verizon Fios or Spectrum better for you?
If Spectrum and Verizon Fios are both in your area, your best bet is likely Verizon Fios. Verizon uses fiber optic internet for its connections, which is faster and more reliable than the cable internet that Spectrum uses. Both options will get you the speeds you need for a reasonable price, but Verizon edges out Spectrum in just about every category.
Provider | Number of plans | Overall score | Affordability | Performance | Value | Customer satisfaction |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spectrum | 3 | 3.50/5 | 2.98/5 | 4.06/5 | 3.69/5 | 3.75/5 |
Verizon Fios | 3 | 4.03/5 | 3.49/5 | 4.36/5 | 4.48/5 | 4.25/5 |
Best for symmetrical speeds
If you’re looking for the symmetrical upload and download speeds needed for real-time gaming, Verizon Fios is just what you need.
Best for flexibility and hotspots
If you are always on the move due to school or work, Spectrum’s no-contract plans that come with tons of local, secure Wi-Fi hotspots is the way to go.
Verizon Fios vs. Spectrum quick comparison

Verizon Fios overview
- Available in nine states and the District of Columbia
- Download speeds from 200 Mbps to up to 940 Mbps
- Channel counts from 85+ to 425+
- Record up to two shows at once with standard DVR, up to six shows with Multi-room DVR Enhanced Service
- No annual contract
- HD channels included

Spectrum overview
- Available in 41 states
- Triple play bundles starting at $99.97/mo.*
- Speeds from 200 Mbps to 1,000 Mbps*
- Channel counts from 125+ to 200+
- Record up to two shows at once with DVR
- No contract or one-year price guarantee with select plans
- Internet modem included
*Wireless speeds may vary. 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 10/14/21.
Compare Verizon Fios vs. Spectrum internet plans
The good news is that both Verizon Fios fiber internet and Spectrum offer similarly-priced, no-contract plans with fast starting download speeds and plans that range up to 1 Gig. However, Verizon is slightly less expensive and offers better upload speeds.
Spectrum internet packages
Spectrum plan | Download speed* | Upload speed* | Starting price | Price after 12 mos. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Internet | 200 Mbps | 10 Mbps | $49.99/mo. | $74.99/mo. |
Internet Ultra | 400 Mbps | 20 Mbps | $69.99/mo. | $94.99/mo. |
Internet Gig | 1,000 Mbps | 35 Mbps | $89.99/mo. | $114.99/mo. |
*Wireless speeds may vary. 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 10/14/21.
Verizon Fios internet packages
Plan name | Download speed | Upload speed | Monthly price | Allconnect score |
---|---|---|---|---|
300 Mbps | 300 Mbps | 300 Mbps | $39.99/mo. | 4.33/5 |
500 Mbps | 500 Mbps | 500 Mbps | $64.99/mo. | 4.18/5 |
Gigabit Connection | 940 Mbps | 880 Mbps | $89.99/mo.* | 4.43/5 |
*w/ Auto Pay + taxes & equip. charges
You also won’t have to worry about data caps with either provider, although you’ll find statements in your terms and conditions regarding congestion and excessive use. Although you won’t have a monthly data cap, you should be mindful of pushing your plan to its limit. Once you hit a certain data allotment, either Spectrum or Verizon Fios will reprioritize your network traffic in order to assist with congestion. This reprioritization may feel like your speeds have slowed, much like when you hit your data allotment with a wireless plan.
Which internet plan should you choose?
Best overall internet plan: Verizon Fios 200 Mbps
Verizon’s 200 Mbps plan is the cheapest plan available when comparing Spectrum and Verizon and offers sufficient speeds for most households. If you are looking for a great deal and have a household of four or fewer people, this is a good option for you.
Cheapest internet plans: Verizon Fios 200 Mbps and Spectrum Internet (200 Mbps)
Verizon and Spectrum both offer packages of 200 Mbps for less than $50/mo. Verizon’s cheapest plan is a slightly better deal, however, because it is $10/mo. cheaper than Spectrum and offers symmetrical download/upload speeds.
Fastest internet plans: Verizon Gigabit Connection and Spectrum Internet Gig
Verizon and Spectrum offer similar Gig plans; however, we would still recommend going with Verizon due to its lower starting price and its faster upload speeds.
Verizon Fios vs. Spectrum internet fees
Neither Verizon nor Spectrum impose data caps or require long-term contracts so you only have to consider equipment and professional installation fees when comparing additional costs.
Equipment compared
Verizon charges $15/mo. for a wireless router, whereas Spectrum only charges $5/mo. for equipment. This makes Spectrum a little more competitive with Verizon.
You may rent a router with either provider, but you can also purchase your own if you’re looking to invest and avoid monthly rental fees. Check out some routers that are compatible with Verizon Fios or Spectrum to be sure you are investing in the right equipment.
Installation compared
Spectrum also has Verizon beat when it comes to professional installation fees. While Verizon charges a $99 setup fee, Spectrum only charges $49.99.
Self-installation is available for new Spectrum customers who are looking for a cheaper alternative. Spectrum doesn’t recommend one method over the other, however customers who opt for self-installation will have thorough instructions, tutorials and online resources at their disposal.
Perks compared
The final component you should consider are perks that come with each provider. Verizon’s special offers and promotions are constantly changing, but they often include free electronic devices or credit towards one of their products.
Spectrum doesn’t offer free stuff, but they will buy you out of a contract of up to $500 if you are looking to switch from your provider to Spectrum.
Verizon Fios vs. Spectrum bundles
When it comes to TV options, Spectrum offers three TV plans — Spectrum TV Select, Spectrum TV Silver and Spectrum TV Gold — that you can bundle with any Spectrum internet plan. Although Verizon’s internet plans tend to be a better deal, Spectrum is a much more attractive option if you are looking to bundle TV since it offers a lower starting price for TV than Verizon. For instance, both Verizon and Spectrum offer a TV package with 125+ channels; however, Verizon charges $65/mo. for this plan and Spectrum only charges $44.99/mo.
If you are looking for a bundle plan with the highest channel count, you will want to go with Verizon, since Verizon offers TV packages with as many as 425+ channels. Spectrum’s channel count only reaches 200+ channels.
Additionally, Spectrum’s higher channel packages are also not particularly good deals so only choose to bundle with Spectrum if you are opting for the 125+ channel package. Verizon’s higher channel packages, in contrast, are much better value than its most basic TV plan.
Both providers offer streaming options as well. Watch all of your favorite programming on the go with the Spectrum TV app or the Verizon Fios TV app.
Provider | Starting price* | # of package options | Channel range | DVR features and costs |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fios TV![]() | $65.00/mo. | Seven | 85+ to 425+ | |
Spectrum TV![]() | $44.99/mo. | Three | 125+ to 200+ |
*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 02/14/22.
Verizon Fios vs. Spectrum availability
Verizon offers Fios internet, TV and phone services in select areas of nine states, plus the District of Columbia. Spectrum offers internet, TV and home phone services in select areas of 41 states.
Top Verizon Fios and Spectrum service areas include:
Verizon Fios major metro areas
Spectrum major metro areas
Need specific data on where Verizon and Spectrum are available?
Find full availability info here.
Verizon vs. Spectrum customer satisfaction
The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) scores internet providers based on customer evaluations on the quality of products and services. Here’s how Verizon Fios and Spectrum scored over the past three years.
Provider/service | 2021 score | 2020 score | 2019 score | Avg. past three years |
---|---|---|---|---|
Verizon Fios internet | 70 | 73 | 71 | 71.3 |
Spectrum internet | 63 | 63 | 59 | 61.6 |
Our expert’s final take Verizon Fios vs. Spectrum review
Now that you have the complete 411 on how Verizon Fios and Spectrum compare on all the details, what’s the bottom line? Which one should you choose in a head-to-head fight?
Overall, we like Verizon Fios for speed, reliability and customer satisfaction rankings. The Verizon Fios Mix & Match internet and TV packages are great in terms of value for your money. Spectrum is likely only a better option if you are looking to bundle internet and TV as cheaply as possible.
Verizon Fios vs. Spectrum FAQs
Does Verizon Fios or Spectrum have the lowest-priced internet plan?
Verizon Fios offers the cheapest internet plan with a starting price of $39.99/mo.** for 200 Mbps whereas Spectrum costs $49.99/mo.* for up to 200 Mbps*.
Does Verizon Fios or Spectrum have the fastest internet speed?
Both Verizon Fios and Spectrum offer ultra fast internet plans with download speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps where available. The biggest difference is Verizon Fios is on a 100% fiber optic network while Spectrum relies on coaxial cables. Due to the differences in fiber vs. cable technology, fiber maintains faster speeds even when more people are accessing the network.
Does Verizon Fios or Spectrum offer more TV channels?
Spectrum offers more channels in their lowest tiered TV plan (125+ channels vs. 85+ for Verizon Fios); however, Verizon Fios offers more channels overall with plans up to 425+ compared to Spectrum’s 200+ option.
Do Spectrum and Verizon Fios have unlimited data?
Yes. Both Spectrum and Verizon Fios provide internet plans without monthly data caps. However, both providers may reprioritize your data once you use a certain amount of data.
*Wireless speeds may vary. 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 02/14/22.
Fios: Offer valid thru 3.17.21 for eligible new res. custs. $15/mo. router charge applies. $99 setup and taxes & terms may apply. Auto Pay & paper-free billing required. Subj. to credit approval & may require a deposit. Fios avail. in select areas. Wired speeds advertised. Wireless speeds may vary due to device limits, multiple users, network & other factors. See Verizon.com/yourspeed for more info. © 2021 Verizon.
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Written by:
Lisa IscrupeWriter, Broadband & Data Content
Lisa uses years of experience in sales and customer service for internet-TV providers to inform her writing on broadband. Her work has been referenced by CNN and other national sources. In Lisa’s Words: Ever… Read more
Edited by:
Robin LaytonEditor, Broadband Content
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