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Verizon FIOS vs. Spectrum vs. Xfinity: Which Internet Provider is Right for You?

Verizon FIOS vs. Spectrum vs. Xfinity: Which Internet Provider is Right for You?

    Fiber internet is a newer technology that is generally considered to be faster and more reliable. However, that doesn't mean you should rule out cable right away. There's much more to each of these internet service providers.Verizon Fios,Xfinity and Spectrum are three of the most widely-recognized internet providers in the United States.Verizon Fios is a 100% fiber-based network and is the 2nd largest residential fiber provider whereas Spectrum and Xfinity are the leading provider of cable internet.While the three internet providers supply high download speeds and offer bundling options with TV and/or phone services, they have some crucial differences in the fine print which we cover below.

    Is Verizon or Spectrum better?"Does Verizon Fios or Spectrum have the fastest internet speed?Which Internet is better Verizon or Xfinity?Verizon FIOS vs. Spectrum vs. Xfinity:which internet provider is best for you?Within this guide, you'll be able to compare Verizon FIOS,Spectrum and Xfinity coverage, features, internet plans and priceing,speed and data caps side-by-side, so you can decide for yourself which carrier offers the best deal.Read on for more information.

Cover Photo:verizon.com
 

Verizon FIOS Review

Source:verizon.com

Verizon Fios, also marketed as Fios by Verizon, is a bundled Internet access, telephone, and television service that operates over a fiber-optic communications network with over 6.5 million customers in nine U.S. states. The name, Fios, is an acronym for Fiber Optic Service. Verizon Fios, the company's fiber-optic internet service, has captured the top spot in the J.D. Power US Residential Internet Service Provider Customer Satisfaction Study for multiple years since it launched in 2004. It consistently tops the charts for fast download speeds, competitive prices, and good customer service.

Fios is different from cable. It uses advanced network technology on a 100% fiber-optic network to deliver fast, reliable internet service, TV with amazing picture and sound quality, and crystal-clear digital voice calling to the home.

Verizon FIOS internet pros and cons

ProsCons
  • 100% fiber network.

  • Various fiber options.

  • Speed options up to Gigabit.

  • No data caps or contracts.

  • Good customer service reputation.

  • No contract price hikes.

  • Fast download and upload speeds.

  • No extra fees.

  • Mobile + Home discounts.

  • Not available in all areas.

  • Limited bundling options.

  • Complex setup/installation procedure.

  • DSL unavailable to new customers.

Spectrum Review

Source:spectrum.com

Spectrum is an American trade name of Charter Communications, used to market consumer and commercial cable television, internet, telephone, and wireless services provided by the company. The brand was first introduced in 2014.

Spectrum is one of the leading internet service providers across the nation. Its internet has fast become one of the most commonly utilized services in the majority of American households. The credit goes to the provider's aggressive approach to network expansion, and upgrading of infrastructure.

Spectrum Internet services over 28 million customers in 41 states, so there's a good chance it's available in your area or somewhere nearby. Spectrum's hybrid fiber-coaxial network benefits from the DOCSIS 3.1 technology. Which increases network capacity by 50% with a reduction in latency. And, makes it possible to serve subscribers with super-fast internet speeds. With Spectrum’s continuous effort, speeds up to 200 Mbps are now widely available even with the cheapest internet plan.

Spectrum internet pros and cons

ProsCons
  • Good performance.

  • No data caps.

  • Reliable Home Internet.

  • No contracts required.

  • No modem rental fee.

  • Simplified list of plans.

  • Available in most locations.

  • Fast setup period.

  • 10,000 On Demand choices.

  • Decent prices.

  • Avaliable in in 41 states.

  • Limited plan choices.

  • No fiber availability.

  • Gigabit setup is expensive.

  • WiFi is an extra fee.

  • Expensive standard rates once promo cycles have ended.

  • Previous customer support complaints.

Xfinity Review

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Source:xfinity.com

Comcast Cable Communications, LLC, doing business as Xfinity is a telecommunications company and division of Comcast Corporation used to market consumer cable television, internet, telephone, and wireless services provided by the company. 

With Xfinity, some plans require you to sign a one-year contract, others require a two-year commitment and some require no contract at all. Beyond that, you'll need to contend with a data cap each month, and you can expect the price of your plan to increase over time, sometimes to almost double the initial charge.Still, Xfinity is available to more than one-third of the country, and it's the fastest option available for many in that footprint.

Xfinity's prices and plans change depending on where you live, but its speed and reliability remain consistently excellent across the US. And those prices are pretty competitive compared to other internet service providers (ISPs) in the same areas.

Xfinity internet pros and cons

ProsCons
  • Runs on a cable and fiber network.

  • Fast download speeds.

  • Great availability.

  • Excellent customer service.

  • Affordable internet plans.

  • Wide availability

  • Reliable connections

  • More bundling options

  • Wi-Fi hotspot locations nationwide

  • Diverse internet package options

  • Mobile phone service add-on option

  • Available in 40 states.

  • Data caps.

  • Slow upload speeds.

  • Contracts on many plans.

  • Extra monthly fee for unlimited data.

  • Monthly equipment rental.

  • Requires a contract to obtain the best deals.

  • Unlimited data costs extra.

Verizon FIOS vs. Spectrum vs. Xfinity: Head to Head Comparison

1. Plans and Pricing

Verizon Fios internet packages

PlanMax. Download SpeedMax. Upload SpeedPlan PerksPrice
Fios 300 300 Mbps300 Mbps
  • $100 Verizon Gift Card (online only)

  • The Disney Bundle for 12 months

  • $300 off Stream TV Soundbar

  • Save $20/mo with Unlimited Wireless

$39.99/mo
Fios 500500 Mbps500 Mbps
  • $50 Verizon Gift Card (online only)

  • The Disney Bundle for 6 months 

  • Save $10/mo with Unlimited Wireless

$64.99/mo

Gigabit Connection

940 Mbps880 Mbps
  • $50 Verizon Gift Card (online only)

  • The Disney Bundle for 6 months 

  • Save $10/mo with Unlimited Wireless

$89.99/mo

*w/ Auto Pay + taxes & equip. charges

Verizon's listed download speeds fall in line with most ISPs, and thanks to the Fios fiber network.With Fios, Verizon offers both speed and simplicity. Its upload speeds are as fast or almost as fast as its downloads in each of its three tiers, there are no data caps or contracts to worry about.Verizon doesn't do promotional pricing, so your monthly rate won't automatically go up after a year as it will with most internet providers.

>>Click here for more details

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Spectrum internet packages

PlanMax. Download SpeedMax. Upload SpeedPlan PerksPrice
Spectrum Internet200 Mbps10 Mbps
  • FREE Internet modem

from $49.99/mo
for 12 mos
Spectrum Internet Ultra400 Mbps20 Mbps
  • FREE Internet modem

from $69.99/mo
for 12 mos

Spectrum Internet Gig

1000 Mbps35 Mbps
  • FREE Internet modem

from $89.99/mo
for 12 mos

Spectrum keeps the choices simple, and that’s what we like. There’s no confusion about various plans at different prices, all offering the same maximum speed. 

Spectrum Internet Ultra will be the best option for most customers, because the package offers better home internet speeds for the price. With maximum download speeds of 400 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary), more people at your house can download files or watch Netflix without a hiccup.

Spectrum Internet Gig can be a fit if your house has multiple heavy internet users, and it’s priced the same as Verizon Fios’s gigabit plan (though Spectrum doesn’t have the same fast upload speeds).

>>Click here for more details

Xfinity internet packages

PlanMax. Download SpeedMax. Upload SpeedPrice
Connect 50 Mbps5 Mbps$19.99/mo
for 12 mos
Fast300 Mbps5 Mbps$49.99/mo
for 12 mos
Gigabit1200 Mbps35 Mbps$79.99/mo
for 12 mos

*With 1-year agreement.

Xfinity divides its internet, TV, and phone coverage into three regions: West (states from California to Nebraska), Central (Midwest and Southern states), and Northeast (New York and New England region). Xfinity's prices depend on which region your state is in.Xfinity will end up being cheaper than Spectrum if you can navigate their pricing plans and find the right one for you.

Unfortunately, most Xfinity plans are in the 5–15 Mbps range for uploads, which is enough to support video calls but can be challenging for heavier use, such as multiple users relying on upstream bandwidth or moving video files to the cloud.

>>Click here for more details

2. Bundles

Verizon Fios

When you're ordering Verizon Fios internet, you can add Verizon's TV packages.Verizon FiOS digital cable service ranges from 30 to 425 different channels, depending on the bundle you choose.The prices are from $35.With Verizon's no-contract pricing, you won't have to worry about surprise price hikes after a year. On paper, you’ll get more channels from Verizon compared to Spectrum, but popular sister channels like Disney XD and CBS Sports Network are behind The Most Fios TV package. You'll have to upgrade to The Most Fios TV to get as many of the best channels compared to Spectrum.

Spectrum

Spectrum's Double Play bundles add 125 cable TV channels on its Select package for an additional $49.99 monthly, 175 channels for $79.99 on the Silver package, or 200 channels for $99.99 on the Gold package. After one year, your monthly price for all three packages will go up around $30.But even with the price increase, Spectrum's TV bundles still win out over Verizon.

Xfinity

Xfinity generally offers the best value on bundled TV and internet deals, which makes sense considering they started as a cable TV company. Their X1 streaming platform brings a lot of on-demand functionality and advanced features into the mix.Xfinity offers anywhere between 10 and 260 different channels. 

Xfinity's X1 platform rolls up streaming services and devices alongside their traditional cable offerings, which makes it a great choice for households with multiple people watching completely different types of programming.Live sports is one of the main reasons to have TV. That said, sports fans will get a better price with an Xfinity bundle than Verizon Fios.

3. Extra fees(Equipment +Installation )


Equipment FeeInstallation Fee
Verizon Fios$15/mo. router charge (waived with Fios Gigabit)$99.00 (waived if you order online)
Spectrum$5/mo. for WiFi (no charge with Gigabit plan)$49.99 for pro install
$19.99 for self-install
XfinityEquipment rental fee: $14/mo

$89.99 for pro install

Free for self-install

4.Coverage Area

Verizon Fios Home Internet can be found in metro and suburban areas of the mid-Atlantic, including Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia,with the most coverage in New York City and throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Check Fios availability

Spectrum Internet is offered in 41 states across the country: Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Iowa, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Utah (as well as Washington, DC). If you live anywhere other than that, then there's an above-average chance that you're in Spectrum's coverage map, or close to it.

Check Spectrum availabilty

Xfinity is available in 40 states across the US, with Delaware, Maryland, and Massachusetts having the most zip codes served by Xfinity internet.Xfinity's most prominent coverage areas include: Connecticut,Delaware,Florida,Indiana,Maryland,Massachusetts,Northern,California,Pennsylvania,Rhode,Island,Virginia,Washington State.

Check Xfinity alailability

It's unlikely that you'll see Spectrum and Xfinity both available in one neighborhood. There is usually only one cable provider available per neighborhood, even if there is more than one available in the same city. But in the rare case that both providers are available to you, you'll have a choice to make!

5. Speed and Data

Fiber is the backbone of the internet and is faster because data travels at the speed of light. It also offers symmetrical download and upload speeds.Verizon Fios network is the fastest due to its use of fiber-optic infrastructure. Fiber supports equal upload and download speeds.Verizon's fastest fiber plan reaches up to 940 Mbps.But Verizon's DSL service is the slowest of the three. It uses telephone wiring already installed in most areas and supports a maximum speed of 115 Mbps. 

Xfinity and Spectrum are mainly cable internet providers.Cable internet is in the middle when it comes to speeds. It relies on the same cords used for cable TV and doesn't support symmetrical upload and download speeds like fiber. Coaxial cable has been around for decades and is installed in most homes. It offers top speeds but can get congested if everyone in your neighborhood is online at the same time. 

Xfinity's maximum residential cable speed is 1,200 Mbps, while Spectrum maxes out at 1,000 Mbps on its residential cable plans. If you don’t need a connection faster than a gigabit, then the plans offered by these two companies should suffice.Spectrum doesn’t offer fiber to homes (businesses only) while Xfinity offers just one residential fiber plan: its Gigabit Pro topping out at 2,000 Mbps (or 2 Gbps).

6. Data Caps

Verizon Fios doesn't have data caps, which means it's truly unlimited for you to use as much as you want, and it's perfect for gaming if you choose 400 Mbps or the Gigabit Connection speed.

Spectrum does not enforce any data caps. Unlimited data for all!

Most of the 40-state Xfinity market locks the data limit to 1.2 TB per month (unless you pay extra, of course). Xfinity customers who go over their monthly data allotment will see a $10 charge for every 50 GB over until they reach $100 for the month. 

7. Contract

Verizon and Spectrum do not enforce annual contracts or early termination fees. Spectrum, however, offers discounted pricing for 12 or 24 months, depending on the plan or bundle. 

Xfinity offers both monthly and contracted plans, but you can save a little money each month if you opt for a contract. Like Spectrum, Xfinity's contract-free plans offer a discounted rate for 12 months. 

Comparison Table


Verizon FiosSpectrumXfinity
Tech Platform100% high-speed fiber optic cable networkBroadband cableBroadband cable
Download Speed300-940 Mbps200-1000 Mbps50-1200 Mbps
Upload Speed300-880 Mbps10-35 Mbps5-35 Mbps
Data CapNo data capNo data cap1,200 GB/month
Internet Plan Costs$39.99 - $89.99$49.99 - $89.99$19.99 - $79.99
ContractsNo contractNo contractContracts on many plans
Customer Service24/724/724/7 

Verizon FIOS vs. Spectrum vs. Xfinity: Which is Best for You?

If you can get it in your area, Verizon Fios Home Internet is the way to go. It elbows past Xfinity with low prices, no annual contracts, faster, more reliable internet speeds and better customer service. (It may also come with no data caps, but the ISP neither confirms nor denies that.)

Spectrum is much more widely available and offers niceties like public Wi-Fi hotspots, but its latency is a bit higher, and you won't get the fast upload speeds that Verizon's fiber service provides.

But Xfinity is still a great choice for low promotional prices and fast internet speeds, plus you're more likely to find it in your neighborhood.

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2022-03-10 22:52511