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.
Verizon FIOS Review
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
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Spectrum Review
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
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Xfinity Review
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
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Verizon FIOS vs. Spectrum vs. Xfinity: Head to Head Comparison
1. Plans and Pricing
Verizon Fios internet packages
Plan | Max. Download Speed | Max. Upload Speed | Plan Perks | Price |
Fios 300 | 300 Mbps | 300 Mbps |
| $39.99/mo |
Fios 500 | 500 Mbps | 500 Mbps |
| $64.99/mo |
Gigabit Connection | 940 Mbps | 880 Mbps |
| $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.
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Spectrum internet packages
Plan | Max. Download Speed | Max. Upload Speed | Plan Perks | Price |
Spectrum Internet | 200 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| from $49.99/mo for 12 mos |
Spectrum Internet Ultra | 400 Mbps | 20 Mbps |
| from $69.99/mo for 12 mos |
Spectrum Internet Gig | 1000 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| 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).
Xfinity internet packages
Plan | Max. Download Speed | Max. Upload Speed | Price |
Connect | 50 Mbps | 5 Mbps | $19.99/mo for 12 mos |
Fast | 300 Mbps | 5 Mbps | $49.99/mo for 12 mos |
Gigabit | 1200 Mbps | 35 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.
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 Fee | Installation 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 |
Xfinity | Equipment 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.
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.
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.
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 Fios | Spectrum | Xfinity | |
Tech Platform | 100% high-speed fiber optic cable network | Broadband cable | Broadband cable |
Download Speed | 300-940 Mbps | 200-1000 Mbps | 50-1200 Mbps |
Upload Speed | 300-880 Mbps | 10-35 Mbps | 5-35 Mbps |
Data Cap | No data cap | No data cap | 1,200 GB/month |
Internet Plan Costs | $39.99 - $89.99 | $49.99 - $89.99 | $19.99 - $79.99 |
Contracts | No contract | No contract | Contracts on many plans |
Customer Service | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 |
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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