Verizon outshines Spectrum in most ways, though Spectrum is still a good service choice.
Spectrum vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet
Best cable provider
Overall Quality ⁃ 3.7/5
3.8/5 - Speed and reliability
3.2/5 - Dollar value
4.0/5 - Customer experience
More cost effective
Overall Quality ⁃ 4.3/5
4.0/5 - Speed and reliability
4.5/5 - Dollar value
4.3/5 - Customer experience 
6 min readIn a matchup between Spectrum Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet, Verizon wins because it is more cost effective and offers highly praised customer service.
But that doesn't make Spectrum a no-go—it's an excellent option for anyone who lives in its service area.
"I'm glad that Spectrum services are available here, between working from home and [being] blocked from getting much in the way of television or cellular signal,” says Spectrum customer Joel from Hazelwood, Missouri.
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Want to know if Spectrum or Verizon 5G are available where you live? Run a search with your zip code below to find out.
Spectrum vs. Verizon 5G: Plans, pricing, and speed
| Provider | | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | $24.99-$79.99 | $35–$80 with AutoPay* |
| Download speeds | 50-1000 Mbps† | 300-1000 Mbps |
| Upload speeds | 4-35 Mbps | 10-50 Mbps |
| Details | View Plans | View Plans |
Data as of 04/05/2023. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
*
w/ Auto Pay. Available in select areas.
†
Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter.
Spectrum’s download speeds range from 300 to 1,000Mbps. For those speeds, Spectrum charges 8–17 cents per Mbps of download speed each month as long as you autopay. A year or two down the road (depending on your plan), the monthly price jumps up to 10–23 cents per Mbps.
Spectrum also has a few additional fees: A five-dollar monthly equipment charge and an installation fee of $30–$65. And if you need Wi-Fi extenders, you pay a rental fee of $3 per extender per month.
Verizon’s download speed range also covers 300 to 1,000Mbps. If you don’t have a Verizon phone plan, you pay 7–17 cents a month for each Mbps. If you are a current Verizon Wireless customer, you can get internet discounts of $25 off the 300Mbps plan and $35 off the 1,000Mbps plan each month, significantly lowering the cost.
Verizon has few fees. There’s no equipment rental fee and no installation payment. If you want extenders, you buy them outright at a flat rate of $199.99 each.
“I think the price is a good deal with the $25 off discount,” says Johnothy Michael, who takes advantage of the Verizon Wireless discount.
Spectrum vs. Verizon 5G: Fees for modem and installation
What makes this review legit?
Our fact-based research process centers on interviews with internet customers across the country, helping us understand how internet services hold up against diverse needs and challenges.
To put together this review, we looked at results from our speed test, pulled data from customer satisfaction surveys, and pored over the fine print to compare prices and speeds between the two providers. To flesh out our analysis, we also interviewed Spectrum and Verizon 5G customers to get their firsthand insights. We let their experiences guide our research and shape our conclusions. We also speak with ISP spokespeople and industry experts to get insights into connection types, speed capabilities, and other technical issues related to internet service.
The matchup: How we rate Spectrum vs. Verizon 5G
For all our internet reviews, we give a rating based on three main criteria—speed and reliability, dollar value, and customer experience—which we then average to make an overall score.
Here, we compare those ratings face to face. We then offer some analysis and context for important factors to keep in mind.
Want to know more? Read our full-length Spectrum review and Verizon 5G review.
Speed and reliability
Spectrum: 3.8/5.0 | Verizon 5G: 4.0/5.0
Spectrum cable and Verizon 5G Home Internet match fairly well in speed and reliability.
Both services reach the same download speeds, though Verizon's upload speed is faster, which is a little surprising from a wireless internet connection.
Similarly, Spectrum’s physical cable connection should be more reliable than Verizon 5G’s wireless one, although Reddit user BarrelDregs, who uses both services, disagrees.
“I have Spectrum at my house,” says BarrelDregs. “It’s terrible. It’s constantly getting worked on, and it always goes down during any storm with mild wind. So I’m glad I have my 5G device as a backup.”
Dollar value
Spectrum: 3.2/5.0 | Verizon 5G: 4.5/5.0
Verizon 5G Home Internet is a better value overall than Spectrum Internet—a little better if you don't have Verizon Wireless cell phone service and a lot better if you do.
Spectrum charges customers for installation and equipment rental, while Verizon doesn’t. Verizon also doesn't have Spectrum's automatic price hikes. So while your Verizon costs may go up eventually, they aren’t guaranteed to do so.
And if you’re a Verizon Wireless customer, your Verizon 5G Home Internet costs about 60%t of Spectrum’s cable plans. That’s a significant difference!
Customer experience
Spectrum: 4.0/5.0 | Verizon 5G: 4.3/5.0
ISP customer service isn’t usually anything to write home about. Spectrum is pretty average for the industry, while the Verizon 5G Home Internet customer experience is better than average.
Customer and critical opinions about Spectrum's experience are pretty evenly split between good and bad. Meanwhile, though we certainly ran into customers who had less-than-ideal experiences, Verizon 5G's customer service is well rated. The service even takes second place in HighSpeedInternet.com’s 2023 customer service survey.
Overall quality: Which internet provider should you pick?
Spectrum: 3.7/5.0 | Verizon 5G: 4.3/5.0 (average of previous scores)
When all’s said and done, Verizon 5G Home Internet is more affordable and more customer friendly than Spectrum. But Spectrum internet is still a solid option that users can certainly be happy with.
Spectrum vs. Verizon 5G: What deals and promotions can you get?
Both Spectrum and Verizon 5G Home Internet offer deals and promotions that can save you money on your monthly internet bill.
Get a free modem and antivirus software
When you sign up with Spectrum Internet, you can get a free modem (eliminating the monthly rental fee) and free antivirus software to protect your devices.
Have your early termination fees covered by Verizon
Verizon will cover the early termination fees (ETF) incurred by the internet provider you leave. Offer good up to $500.
Our favorite Verizon deal
Free NFL Sunday Ticket ($449 value)
Football season is just around the corner, and thanks to Verizon, you can catch all out-of-market games without having to spend hundreds of dollars.
Get NFL Sunday Ticket completely free when you order Verizon's Fios 1 Gig, Fios 2 Gig, 5G Home Plus, or LTE Home Plus plan.
Spectrum add-ons and perks
Sign up for a qualifying Spectrum Internet plan.
Sign up for a 300Mbps (or faster) plan.
Sign up for Autopay.
Verizon 5G add-ons and perks
Add-on to some plans
Add-on to some plans
Add-on to some plans
Spectrum vs. Verizon 5G: What do customers think?
Customers find Spectrum dependable and satisfactory. "I like that it works reliably most of the time, and they've been decently responsive over the years, between service requests and talking about my services, looking for discounts, etcetera," says Joel, a Spectrum customer in Hazelwood, Missouri.
"They're very affordable, and if I'm having an issue, they're very good about troubleshooting," says Sakia Anwar of New York City. "If needed, they'll send a technician out right away and get it resolved."
But the service isn't exactly winning hearts. We were hard-pressed to find many avowed Spectrum fans. Several Spectrum customers expressed to Reviews.org that they might not even be with the service if there were better internet options in their area.
“I miss ‘old Charter’ and wish there was more competition,” laments Joel.
Here’s what customers have to say about Spectrum:
● “They seem to respond quickly and take care of problems pretty fast.” —Conrad Burnham of Los Angeles, California
● “Spectrum is more effective in delivering internet experiences.” —BruceBDowns30
● “It’s not very customer friendly.” —Robyn Straw of St. Cloud, Missouri
● “They seem to respond quickly and take care of problems pretty fast.” —Conrad Burnham of Los Angeles, California
● “Spectrum is more effective in delivering internet experiences.” —BruceBDowns30
● “It’s not very customer friendly.” —Robyn Straw of St. Cloud, Missouri
Verizon 5G Home Internet customers like their ISP more than is typical. (Most people almost straight-up hate their internet providers.) Folks are pleased with the level of service Verizon offers its internet customers, particularly the lack of outages.
"It was an affordable option, and I've had zero problems with it," says Verizon 5G customer Clare Messink.
Johnothy Michael, another customer, also states his service has never been down since he signed up in the summer of 2023.
While customers and critics generally praise Verizon 5G Home Internet customer service, some bumps are unavoidable. Reddit user and Verizon 5G customer BarrelDregs frequently experiences "improper billing" but has failed to get the issue resolved, even at Verizon retail stores.
Here’s what customers have to say about Verizon 5G
● “It has been solid overall without being down.” —Johnothy Michael of Robinson, Illinois
● “It's a decent service, you know. I can stream on it.” —Clare Messink of Salt Lake City, Utah
● “Verizon customer service isn’t great.” —BarrelDregs
● “It has been solid overall without being down.” —Johnothy Michael of Robinson, Illinois
● “It's a decent service, you know. I can stream on it.” —Clare Messink of Salt Lake City, Utah
● “Verizon customer service isn’t great.” —BarrelDregs
See which internet services are available to you.
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