Compare Xfinity vs. Spectrum

Is Xfinity or Charter 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.

The key difference between Xfinity and Spectrum is that while Xfinity offers more affordable plans and better customer satisfaction, Spectrum’s service is slightly more reliable and an overall better value.

Xfinity internet 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 1,000 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 size of the increase 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. For instance, you can expect entirely different plans depending on whether you live in the Central and Southern or the Northeastern and Western regions of the U.S. Spectrum internet, on the other hand, offers fewer speed options, but has better price consistency across the country.

How we scored internet providers

We evaluate broadband providers in four categories: affordability, performance, value and customer satisfaction. Each category contains multiple sub-factors, all of which are weighted differently to impact the provider’s overall score.

We evaluate broadband providers in four categories: affordability, performance, value and customer satisfaction. Each category contains multiple sub-factors, all of which are weighted differently to impact the provider’s overall score.

For each sub-factor, we score all providers on a continuous scale of 1 to 5, relative to the industry as a whole. Because the average download speed in America is currently 180 Mbps, for example, we assigned all plans with download speeds between 100 and 299 Mbps a score between 3 and 4. Xfinity’s 200 Mbps plan received a 3.50 score for download speed, while Spectrum’s 400 Mbps plan got a 4.16.

We only considered standardized data points in our scoring system. More abstract data like consistency of service and brand reputation is still part of our analysis, but we opted to let our writers address them in the context of each review.

Learn more about our methodology

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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 11/12/21.

Spectrum internet plans

*Wireless speeds may vary.
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 11/12/21.

Xfinity and Spectrum hidden costs and contracts

Another factor to consider when choosing internet service is additional costs for equipment, installation and data caps. You’ll also want to consider contract length before you commit to either provider.

Allconnect Rating

3.58 / 5

• Equipment: $14/mo.
• Free self-installation
• Professional installation fee: $40
• Data cap: 1.25TB
• Contracts: None required

Allconnect Rating

3.50 / 5

• Equipment: $14/mo.
• Free self-installation
• Professional installation fee: $49.99, plus $9.99 activation fee
• Data cap: None
• Spectrum: None

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. 

Allconnect Rating

3.58 / 5

Xfinity Performance Starter

• Speeds up to 25 Mbps
• $20/mo.*
• Cable internet
• 1.25TB data cap

Allconnect Rating

3.50 / 5

Spectrum Internet®

• Speeds up to 200 Mbps*
• $49.99/mo.*
• Cable internet
• No data cap

*Wireless speeds may vary.
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 11/12/21.

Xfinity vs. Spectrum fastest internet

Comcast Xfinity currently offers the fastest internet speeds available in residential markets — the Gigabit Pro Internet plan goes up to 3,000 Mbps in some areas. 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 1,000 Mbps are available in areas where Spectrum offers their gig internet service. Xfinity is likely the better option for Gig speed internet as its starting price is significantly lower and the lock-in price is two years compared to one year with Spectrum. 

Allconnect Rating

3.58 / 5

Xfinity Gigabit

• Speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
• $80/mo.*
• Cable internet
• 1.25TB data cap

Allconnect Rating

3.50 / 5

Spectrum Internet®

• Speeds up to 1,000 Mbps**
• $109.99/mo.*
• Cable internet
• No data cap

*Wireless speeds may vary.
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 11/12/21.

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.

Available channels for Xfinity TV 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.

• Plans starting at $20/mo.*
• 10-260+ channels available
• Record up to six shows at once
• 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
• 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 11/12/21.

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. Its starting prices are also fairly lower.

• Xfinity Standard Double Play

  • Starting at $69.99/mo.*
  • Internet speeds up to 200 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

*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 11/12/21.
**Wireless speeds may vary.

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.

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.

You can see that both providers have improved in the past three years but Xfinity has improved slightly more in the past year. Xfinity is known for good customer service since customer reps from Xfinity regularly monitor Xfinity Reddit threads to help customers with their individual needs.

Xfinity vs. Spectrum FAQs

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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

Edited by:

Robin Layton

Editor, Broadband Content

Read bio