There's a lot to like about Spectrum Internet. Speeds are decent, pricing is fairly transparent and the service has no data caps or contracts. That, combined with improving customer satisfaction, places Spectrum at the top of our picks for the best cable internet service providers.
The ISP recently earned further favor by voluntarily increasing speeds, offering a lower monthly rate on internet bundles and eliminating Wi-Fi costs with gig service.
Branded as a new Customer Commitment initiative, Spectrum boosted download speeds on its Spectrum Internet and Internet Ultra plans from 300 and 500 megabits per second to 400 and 600Mbps, respectively, without raising the monthly price.Â
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Of the new direction, Cliff Hagan, the executive vice president of customer operations for Charter Communications, Inc., said: "This new commitment to our customers goes beyond words; it is about action." He added, "If we are charging for a service, it should work all the time; if it doesn't, our customers should trust that we'll make it right."
Existing customers with either the Spectrum Internet or Internet Ultra plan should have received an automatic speed increase. If you’re a Spectrum customer, I’d recommend taking a good speed test to confirm your speeds have indeed improved.
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Additionally, Spectrum introduced a new Internet Premier plan with speeds up to 500Mbps starting at $50 a month, while gig service remains at $70 monthly in most locations. The extra $20 a month for gig service doubles your potential download speed, but it also now comes with free Wi-Fi service, a $10 monthly value.
The cheap introductory rates on both plans are priced right, but be prepared for a $30 monthly rate increase after 12 months.
To counter the eventual price increase, consider bundling internet with Spectrum TV service or two mobile phone lines for a newly introduced discount. Building such a bundle will drop what you pay for internet by $20 or $30 a month, bringing the rate down to $30 for speeds up to 500Mbps or $40 for gig service. At that price, either plan is a good internet deal and among the lowest costs per Mbps I’ve seen from any ISP.
Check out our Spectrum Internet review to learn more about the internet provider, how it compares to other ISPs and what to expect on your bill. For more on how you can lower your internet bill, improve your Wi-Fi signal or find a better ISP for your needs, be sure to visit CNET’s Internet hub page.