Is Xfinity or Spectrum better for you?

We’ve done the research on Comcast Xfinity and Spectrum, so you can easily compare and choose the best cable provider for your home. Depending on what you’re looking for in your new TV and internet service, you may find one of them better fits your internet and TV needs. Check out a full comparison of Spectrum and Xfinity bundles, cable TV and internet plans to find the best services for your home.

  • Best for internet plan options: Xfinity

    Xfinity offers the most internet package options and the fastest internet speeds with plans ranging from 25 Mbps to 2,000 Mbps where available.

  • Best for internet without data caps: Spectrum

    Spectrum internet plans come with unlimited data. Xfinity data limits vary by plan and location, or you can add unlimited data for an added monthly cost.

  • Best for TV channel packages: Xfinity

    Spectrum and Xfinity offer similar TV packages, but you’re likely to get better bundle discounts with Xfinity.

Xfinity vs. Spectrum quick comparison

  • Available in 39 states
  • Bundles starting at $64.99/mo.*
  • Speeds from 25 Mbps to 2,000 Mbps
  • Channel counts from 10+ to 260+
  • DVR up to six shows at once
  • No contract, one-year contract and two-year contract plans available
  • Available in 46 states
  • Bundles starting at $89.98/mo.*
  • Speeds from 100 Mbps to 940 Mbps
  • Channel counts from 125+ to 200+
  • DVR up to two shows at once with standard DVR, up to six shows with Enhanced DVR
  • No contract, one-year price guarantee with select bundles
  • Internet modem included

*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 10/13/20.

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Xfinity vs. Spectrum availability

Comcast Xfinity and Spectrum are the two largest cable providers in the U.S., covering nearly 69% of the U.S. population combined. Though Spectrum availability covers more states, Xfinity is available to a slightly greater portion of the population (37.5% vs 33%).

Regions where the two providers overlap include central Indiana, parts of Vermont, parts of Massachusetts, New York City, eastern Tennessee and Orlando. States where they differ include Texas, North Carolina, California and Florida. For instance, Xfinity offers internet in the Houston area while Spectrum offers services in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and other parts of Texas.

Xfinity vs. Spectrum bundle packages

Xfinity and Spectrum both offer cable internet, TV and home phone bundles. Xfinity offers more ability to mix and match internet speed options with TV channel plans. However, Spectrum offers higher starting internet speeds for bundles.

  • Xfinity Performance Starter + TV Extra bundle

    • Starting at $70/mo.*
    • Internet speeds up to 25 Mbps
    • Data cap varies by location
    • 125+ channels

  • Spectrum Double Play Select bundle

    • Starting at $89.98/mo.*
    • Internet speeds up to 200 Mbps
    • No data cap
    • 125+ channels
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*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 10/13/20.

What shoppers should consider in different regions

Both providers’ pricing and package options vary across the country. For instance, Comcast Xfinity offers different internet speeds, TV packages and pricing for its bundles in different regions. Spectrum also offers varying internet speeds with starting speeds at 100 Mbps in some locations and 200 Mbps in others.

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Xfinity vs. Spectrum internet

  • Speeds – Xfinity offers some of the fastest maximum residential download speeds, up to 2,000 Mbps, but Spectrum internet is also plenty fast with speeds up to 940 Mbps.
  • Data caps – Xfinity data caps may vary by plan and location, but are typically around 1 TB/mo. All Spectrum internet plans come with unlimited data.
  • Contract – Xfinity has no term agreement options, but signing a one- or two-year agreement may get you better pricing. All Spectrum internet plans come with no contract requirements.
  • Price increase – Expect a price increase from Xfinity and Spectrum internet after one year of service. The increase amount varies by plan, but the biggest price increases are likely to come with Xfinity plans.

Comcast Xfinity and Spectrum both offer high-speed cable internet. The two providers differ most in speed and pricing consistency. Xfinity internet speed ranges a lot and they vary quite a bit by region. Spectrum internet offers fewer speed options, but has better price consistency across the country.

Xfinity internet plans

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 10/13/20.

Spectrum internet plans

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 10/13/20.

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Xfinity vs. Spectrum cheapest internet plans

If you’re shopping for the absolute cheapest internet plan, Comcast Xfinity will likely be your best option as the starting price for their cheapest plan is less than half the cost of Spectrum’s. After the first year of service, however, monthly pricing for each provider’s lowest plan is about the same. 

  • Xfinity Performance Starter – starting at $20/mo.* for up to 25 Mbps
  • Spectrum Internet – starting at $49.99/mo.* for up to 200 Mbps

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 10/13/20.

Xfinity and Spectrum equipment costs

Another factor to consider when choosing a cheap internet service is additional costs for equipment. 

  • Xfinity Wi-Fi service and equipment rental fee: $14/mo.
  • Spectrum Wi-Fi service and equipment rental fee: $5/mo.

Spectrum includes a modem at no extra cost with all internet plans, while the Xfinity xFi router is a modem and router in one. Both providers allow you to use your own compatible equipment and save the monthly equipment rental cost, but tech support and service features may be more limited.

Xfinity vs. Spectrum fastest internet

Comcast Xfinity currently offers the fastest internet speeds available in residential markets — the Gigabit Pro Internet plan has 2,000 Mbps. However, the high speeds are expensive and availability is highly limited. Xfinity also offers internet plans with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps where available.

Spectrum offers gig internet in select areas. Speeds up to 940 Mbps are available in areas where Spectrum offers their gig internet service.

  • Xfinity Gigabit Pro

    • Speeds up to 2,000 Mbps
    • $299.95/mo.*
    • Fiber internet connection
    • No data cap

  • Spectrum Internet GIG

    • Speeds up to 940 Mbps
    • $109.99/mo.*
    • Cable internet
    • No data cap
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*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 10/13/20.

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Xfinity vs. Spectrum TV

Spectrum and Comcast Xfinity both offer cable TV service. Spectrum offers three main TV packages, plus an array of sports, premium and international channel add-ons. Xfinity offers three to five channel packages, depending on location, and similar add-on packages to Spectrum.

Xfinity also offers a “basic” TV package, an economy package that has little more than local channels for a low monthly cost. In select locations, this package is not available as a standalone package and must be bundled with Xfinity internet. Spectrum does not have a similar “basic” cable package.

Xfinity vs. Spectrum TV packages and pricing

  • Plans starting at $20/mo.*
  • 10-260+ channels available
  • Record up to six shows at once
  • HD DVR device included, starting at $5.99/mo.* for each additional
  • No contract required for standalone TV
  • Plans starting at $44.99/mo.*
  • 125-200+ channels available
  • Record up to two or six shows at once, depending on device
  • HD DVR device included, starting at $7/mo.* for each additional
  • No contract required

*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 10/13/20.

Available channels for Xfinity and Spectrum TV services will vary by location. Use our Xfinity channel guide and Spectrum channel guide to find and compare channels in TV packages from each provider.

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Xfinity vs. Spectrum customer satisfaction

The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) takes feedback from real customers of major internet and TV providers and gives annual customer satisfaction for those providers. Here’s how Comcast Xfinity and Spectrum scored over the past three years for their internet and TV services.

Xfinity vs. Spectrum FAQs

Is Spectrum owned by Comcast?

No. Spectrum is the brand name for the internet, TV and home phone services offered by Charter, not Comcast.

No. Time Warner was acquired by Charter. Time Warner services including internet, TV and home phone are now part of the Spectrum brand.

Between Xfinity and Spectrum, Xfinity offers faster speeds and is available to more people. Spectrum, however, gives you more speed for the money on most plans and does not have any data caps.

Xfinity offers a low-cost “basic” cable package, making it a cheaper cable option than Spectrum. When it comes to more standard cable TV packages, Xfinity and Spectrum offer similar packages and pricing.

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David Anders

Written by:

David Anders

Senior Writer, Broadband Content

David joined the Allconnect team in 2017, specializing in broadband and TV content. His work has been referenced by a variety of sources, including ArcGIS, DIRECTV and more. As a Senior Writer, David is motivate… Read more

Robin Layton

Edited by:

Robin Layton

Editor, Broadband & Wireless Content

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