What You Need to Know About Charter Spectrum Internet Service

Charter Communications is upping its game, offering Spectrum Internet with a 30-day money-back guarantee, no contracts, and no termination fees. But does this charming approach extend to even more important factors such as speed, costs, and customer service? Let us find out.

What are the available Spectrum plans?

Currently, Spectrum offers three different plans, which come with different speeds and prices. All of which have no data caps and require no contract. The specifics are summarized by the table below:

SPECTRUM PLANS AND PRICING

*Additional fees and terms may apply. All prices subject to change. As of April 7, 2021.

What type of internet connection does Spectrum rely on?

Spectrum Internet is powered by hybrid fiber-coaxial cable connections, offering download and upload speeds better than those powered by DSL, fixed wireless, and satellite. Providers like Spectrum, Xfinity, and Mediacom, which offer cable internet plans, can provide double-digit upload speeds at best.

Where is Spectrum available?

Charter Communications has made Spectrum available across 41 US States, excluding Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Iowa, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Utah (and Washington, DC).

How is Spectrum’s customer satisfaction?

According to J.D. Power US Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study in 2020, Spectrum consistently gained below-average scores. In the South region, the company had its highest score of 732 out of 1,000 points, which is still below the regional average of 738, placing it behind AT&T, Xfinity, and Cox.

In the 2020 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), Spectrum was able to increase its number by 7% compared to the previous year. Despite this, it still scored two points below the average, placing it behind Verizon Fios, AT&T, Xfinity, CenturyLink, and Optimum. On a brighter note, Spectrum nabbed 70 of 100 in its internet equipment sealing its spot in the top four along with Verizon Fios, Xfinity, and Cox.

Features of Spectrum worthy of note

Aside from having no data caps and no contracts, Spectrum internet plans also come with a free modem. However, if you opt to connect wirelessly to the network through Wi-Fi, you will be charged an additional $5 per month for the Spectrum router. Like most ISPs, Spectrum allows you to use your own compatible router, but it will not be eligible for Spectrum tech support.

Given the pandemic, in-home professional installations are suspended temporarily. Therefore, you will not be paying the one-time installation fee of $50 or a whopping $200 for the Internet Gig plan. Alternatively, you will be given a self-installation kit and charged a one-time fee of $10 for the self-installation activation and $10 for the Wi-Fi activation.

Customers can also enjoy free Spectrum Out-of-Home Wi-Fi which is powered by 500,000 hotspots across the company’s coverage area. Customers have to simply sign in with their account username and password or use the My Spectrum app for easy access.

Does Spectrum have programs for low-income households?

The company has a program called Spectrum Internet Assist which encompasses an affordable broadband plan with 30Mbps of download speed and 4Mbps of upload speed for a discounted fee of $18 monthly. Low-income households are encouraged to apply to confirm eligibility.

Another program that the company offers is a free two-month internet service for households with students that undergo remote learning.

How is Spectrum Internet speed compared to other providers?

According to Ookla, Spectrum garnered an average Speed Score of 116.29 during the fourth quarter of last year, making it the fourth-fastest provider in the US. It follows Verizon (142.66), Cox (142.64), and Xfinity (129.51). When it comes to Consistency Score, which measures the regularity of delivering broadband speeds, Spectrum bagged the second spot with a score of 87.5%, very close to Verizon’s 87.6%.