Windstream vs. Spectrum: Which Internet Provider Is Best for You?
Comparing two fast, flexible providers with a lot of options
Oct 21, 2024 | Share 
Provider Comparisons (Versus)
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Most plan options
- Customer rating: 3.6
- Price: $24.99–$99.99/mo.*
- Speed: 50–2,000Mbps
- Internet type: DSL, cable, fixed wireless, fiber, dial-up
- Data cap: No cap
- Contract: No contract
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Best availability
- Customer rating: 3.7
- Price: $25–$70/mo.†‡
- Max Speed: 50–1,000Mbps(wireless speeds may vary)
- Internet type: Cable, fiber
- Data cap: No cap
- Contract: No contract
Data as of 10/21/2024. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
* Windstream
- With $5 Auto Pay for each month the customer is enrolled in AutoPay throughout the life of the customer. Available to new and existing customers. Promotional period pricing ending after 12 months.
- With $5 Auto Pay for each month the customer is enrolled in AutoPay. Limited-time, non-transferable offer for residential customers that may not be combined with other promotions. Credit restrictions may apply. Subject to availability.
- With $5 Auto Pay for each month the customer is enrolled in AutoPay. Limited-time, non-transferable offer for residential customers that may not be combined with other promotions. Credit restrictions may apply. Subject to availability, price duration for 24 months.
‡ Offer based on eligibility requirements. Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.
† Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Spectrum. Taxes and fees extra in select states. SPECTRUM INTERNET: Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit spectrum.net/modem. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.
Compare Windstream and Spectrum head to head
Both Windstream and Spectrum offer fast and reliable options, including speeds up to 1 Gbps. Windstream has a larger range of plans and prices, including low-priced DSL and high-speed fiber internet in some areas, giving you plenty of options. This means that whether or not you can get cheap, fast connections depends on your location. Spectrum’s internet plans all use cable connections, but it’s consistent across their entire service area, so you know what you’re getting.
Pros and cons: Windstream vs. Spectrum
Pros:
- Fiber connections
- Wide range of plans
- Coverage in rural areas
Cons:
- Limited fiber availability
- Monthly equipment fees
- Inconsistent pricing across service areas
Pros:
- Decent promo pricing
- Consistent availability
- Rent-free modem
Cons:
- Limited fiber availability
- Price hikes after 12 or 24 mos.
- Monthly WiFi charge
Want to know if Windstream or Spectrum are in your area?
Enter your zip code below to see if Windstream or Spectrum are available to you.
Plans and pricing: Windstream vs. Spectrum
Spectrum offer speeds up to 1,000 Mbps, while Windstream offers 1 gig and 2 gig plan. Windstream also has more options for low-cost plans with slower speeds and has the lower-priced gigabit plan between the two providers.
Windstream plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Speed | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinetic Internet Basic | $39.99/mo.* w/ Auto Pay | Up to 50Mbps | DSL | View Plan |
| Kinetic Internet by Windstream 100 Mbps | $50.00/mo.* w/ Auto Pay | Up to 100Mbps | DSL | View Plan |
| Kinetic Internet by Windstream 100 Mbps | $24.99/mo.* w/ Auto Pay | Up to 100Mbps | Fiber | View Plan |
| Kinetic Internet by Windstream 300 Mbps | $34.99/mo.* w/ Auto Pay | Up to 300Mbps | Fiber | View Plan |
| Kinetic Internet by Windstream 1 Gig | $59.99/mo.† w/ Auto Pay | Up to 1,000Mbps | Fiber | View Plan |
| Kinetic Internet by Windstream 2 Gig | $99.99/mo.‡ w/ Auto Pay | Up to 2,000Mbps | Fiber | View Plan |
Data as of 10/21/2024. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*With $5 Auto Pay for each month the customer is enrolled in AutoPay throughout the life of the customer. Available to new and existing customers. Promotional period pricing ending after 12 months.
†With $5 Auto Pay for each month the customer is enrolled in AutoPay. Limited-time, non-transferable offer for residential customers that may not be combined with other promotions. Credit restrictions may apply. Subject to availability.
‡With $5 Auto Pay for each month the customer is enrolled in AutoPay. Limited-time, non-transferable offer for residential customers that may not be combined with other promotions. Credit restrictions may apply. Subject to availability, price duration for 24 months.
Windstream Broadband Label available at: https://www.windstream.com/support/labels/
Windstream offers a decent range of plans at different speeds and price points, delivering service over several different types of connections. This gives you the option to choose an affordable but slow DSL plan, a fast and reliable fiber plan, or something in between. The only catch is that the availability of these plans varies by location. You’ll have to check that the plan that best fits your needs is available in your area.
Pro tip:
Not sure how much speed you actually need? Get a personalized speed recommendation based on your online activities with our How Much Speed Do I Need? Tool.
Spectrum plans and pricing
| Package | Price* | Speed | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet Assist | $25/mo.* for qualifying households | Up to 50Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | Cable | View Plan |
| Spectrum Internet Advantage | $30/mo.* for qualifying households for 12 mos. | Up to 100Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | Cable | View Plan |
| Spectrum Internet Premier w/ Spectrum Advanced | $60/mo.† for 12 mos. | Up to 500Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | Cable, fiber | View Plan |
| Spectrum Internet Gig | $70/mo.† for 12 mos. | Up to 1,000Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | Cable, fiber | View Plan |
* Offer based on eligibility requirements. Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.
† Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Spectrum. Taxes and fees extra in select states. SPECTRUM INTERNET: Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit spectrum.net/modem. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.
Spectrum has just a handful of plans to choose from, but all are solid choices. Its most basic plan starts with 500 Mbps download speeds, which is more than enough to meet the needs of an average household. Spectrum also has a gigabit plan for those with much higher bandwidth needs.
Deals and promotions: Spectrum vs. Windstream
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Extra fees: Windstream vs. Spectrum
| Equipment Fee | Installation Fee | Other Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| $9.99/mo. |
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Data as of 11/21/2022. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Both Windstream and Spectrum have relatively low fees compared to many other ISPs. Notably, neither has an early termination fee, which can be one of the heftiest fees customers encounter. Both also offer cheaper self-installation options for some of their plans, allowing you to avoid some of the costs of switching.
Despite their low fees overall, both providers have a few substantial fees that you should keep an eye out for. Windstream charges an extra $65 if they have to install a new phone jack during the installation process (which you only need to worry about if you’re installing DSL).
Customer ratings: Windstream vs. Spectrum
| Overall | Speed | Price | Reliability | Customer service | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 3.6/5 | 3.7/5 | 3.3/5 | 3.6/5 | 3.6/5 |
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| 3.7/5 | 3.9/5 | 3.3/5 | 3.7/5 | 3.7/5 |
Windstream performed below average in our 2023 customer satisfaction survey, coming in the bottom half of the list among nationwide internet providers. Although it generally got low ratings, Windstream fiber customers rated their service more highly than those on other connections.
Spectrum performed slightly better in our survey this year, coming in seventh overall among nationwide providers.
Internet types: Windstream vs. Spectrum
| Internet type | Details | |
|---|---|---|
|
| Fiber, DSL, fixed wireless, cable, dial-up | View Plans |
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| Cable, fiber | View Plans |
Windstream delivers internet using a wide range of technologies, depending on the area. Most important of these is fiber, which is the fastest and most reliable connection available. Its fiber coverage is small, but growing, though that doesn’t mean that those in more remote parts of the Windstream network are out of luck. Windstream can deliver gigabit speeds on every type of connection except DSL. So even if you have to wait for fiber to reach your neighborhood, you won’t be stuck with a slow connection.
Spectrum provides cable internet across its entire network. Though it doesn’t offer all the advantages of a fiber connection, cable is still one of the fastest and most reliable types of connection around. Unlike fiber, cable has slow upload speeds, which can cause problems for things like livestreaming on Twitch or uploading large files.
Data caps: Windstream vs. Spectrum
| Data Cap | Details | |
|---|---|---|
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| No cap | View Plans |
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| No cap | View Plans |
Neither Windstream nor Spectrum have data caps, which is a pretty significant advantage over many other providers. This makes them both excellent choices for households that use a lot of data. You probably use a lot of data if you have multiple people streaming or working from home in your house.
Contracts: Windstream vs. Spectrum
| Contract length | Details | |
|---|---|---|
|
| No contract | View Plans |
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| No contract | View Plans |
Neither Windstream nor Spectrum require extended contracts for their internet plans, which is yet another fact that puts them miles ahead of the competition. Since you pay on a month-to-month basis, you can cancel your service at any time and never worry about facing heavy-handed cancellation fees.
Spectrum even goes further, offering a contract buyout program that can help you switch to Spectrum, even if you’re stuck in a contract with another provider. You must keep Spectrum for at least a month before you cancel service to enjoy the discounted pricing.
Installation: Windstream vs. Spectrum
| Installation options | Details | |
|---|---|---|
|
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| View Plans |
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| View Plans |
Data as of 11/21/2022. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Windstream and Spectrum are both among the cheapest internet providers to get up and running. They both have pretty reasonable installation fees, and both offer self-install options in some cases.
Spectrum encourages new customers to opt for the self-install kit over a pro install due to COVID-19. However, pro install services are available for completely new installs, relocating modems, rewiring, and so on.
Availability: Windstream vs. Spectrum
Perhaps the biggest difference between Windstream and Spectrum is the size of their networks. While Windstream is expanding rapidly in the south and central regions of the US, Spectrum is currently over twelve times bigger, providing service coast to coast as well as in Hawaii.1
Compare the best Windstream and Spectrum plans by entering your zip code below:
Final call: Windstream vs. Spectrum
We love that Windstream and Spectrum both lack data caps and long-term contracts. But we suggest going with Windstream if you’re looking for an ultrafast gigabit connection. With no fiber option, Spectrum’s gigabit plan is less appealing.
On the other hand, Spectrum’s all-cable network handily beats Windstream’s DSL plans. So, especially in more rural locations, it’s important to know which plans are available to you before you pick a provider.
Methodology
Our HighSpeedInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on customer input from our annual customer satisfaction survey, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. To strengthen our research, we look closely at provider contracts to get hard-to-find information on price hikes, data caps, and extra fees, and we keep tabs on the latest news reports and online reviews. When applicable, we also rely on our personal experiences testing these services.
More about Windstream and Spectrum
Disclaimer
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. HighSpeedInternet.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.
Sources
Federal Communications Commission, “Fixed Broadband Deployment,” Accessed January 14, 2022.
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Author - Peter Christiansen
Peter Christiansen writes about telecom policy, communications infrastructure, satellite internet, and rural connectivity for HighSpeedInternet.com. Peter holds a PhD in communication from the University of Utah and has been working in tech for over 15 years as a computer programmer, game developer, filmmaker, and writer. His writing has been praised by outlets like Wired, Digital Humanities Now, and the New Statesman.
Editor - Rebecca Lee Armstrong
Rebecca Lee Armstrong has more than six years of experience writing about tech and the internet, with a specialty in hands-on testing. She started writing tech product and service reviews while finishing her BFA in creative writing at the University of Evansville and has found her niche writing about home networking, routers, and internet access at HighSpeedInternet.com. Her work has also been featured on Top Ten Reviews, MacSources, Windows Central, Android Central, Best Company, TechnoFAQ, and iMore.
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