Article Summary
Spectrum – one of the largest internet companies around – offers fiber-powered coax internet services in several areas of the country. Windstream – which sells residential internet under the Kinetic brand – provides fiber and legacy DSL internet to smaller cities and rural areas. If both companies provide service in your area, you may be wondering which one you should sign up with.
We compare Spectrum and Windstream in key categories like speed, cost/value, and customer satisfaction.
Spectrum vs Windstream
Spectrum vs Windstream: Internet Speeds
Winner: Spectrum
Spectrum's plans run from 100Mbps up to 2Gbps, with a 7Gbps tier in select markets. Windstream's Kinetic fiber reaches symmetrical speeds of up to 2Gbps where its network has been built out, so the two are evenly matched at the top of Windstream's range and Spectrum pulls ahead above it.
When comparing speeds offered by Windstream and Spectrum, you have to consider what's actually available at your address. Spectrum runs a fiber-powered coax network across its whole footprint, while Windstream is still upgrading from legacy DSL to fiber, and DSL areas can be capped around 50Mbps. Where Windstream has fiber, its symmetrical uploads beat anything Spectrum's coax network can deliver, so check which technology serves your street before you decide.
Cost, Data and Value for Money
Winner: Spectrum
Monthly Cost
Spectrum and Windstream don't offer the most budget-friendly internet prices on the market, but they aren't the most expensive either.
Spectrum starts at $30/month for Spectrum Internet 100, $40/month for Internet 500, and $60/month for Internet 1 Gig, with those rates locked for the first year. Windstream's Kinetic fiber starts around $39.99/month, and its legacy DSL plans start lower at about $24.99/month for 50Mbps. Spectrum has the edge at most speed tiers, though Windstream's DSL entry price is hard to beat if slow speeds work for you. Both companies lock introductory rates for 12 months, after which prices rise to standard rates.
Installation and Other Fees
Both Spectrum and Windstream charge installation fees and equipment fees. Spectrum charges $50 for professional installation, which Charter waives in certain situations, or $0 if you set up service yourself with the Express Connect Kit, and it adds a $20/month service activation fee. Windstream charges roughly $5.99/month for its Kinetic Gateway modem and router.
While both companies charge for installation and equipment, Spectrum and Windstream often offer deals that could save new customers from paying part or all of these additional fees.
Data Allowance
A key feature that Spectrum and Windstream share in common is that neither internet provider enforces a data cap on their internet plans. Customers of both companies don't have to worry about how much data they use and can feel free to game and stream without boundaries.
Deals
Throughout the year, Spectrum and Windstream offer deals especially designed to attract new customers. Anybody shopping for new internet service may find deals on installation and equipment available to them. This is on top of the introductory rates offered by each company.
Spectrum and Windstream may even offer prizes such as gift cards to people signing up for new service.
Availability: Spectrum vs Windstream
Winner: Spectrum
Spectrum is available in over 40 states, compared with Windstream's 18. That alone puts Spectrum over the edge in this category but there is more to the story.
Spectrum vs Windstream availability is a story of rural vs urban. Spectrum has much more presence in highly populated cities whereas Windstream is available in much more rural areas where broadband coverage has been historically scarce.
Although Spectrum wins this category in a general sense, those who can only get high-speed internet from Windstream may feel that they are the winners.
Customer Reviews: Spectrum vs Windstream
Winner: Spectrum
Neither Windstream nor Spectrum have been overwhelmed by positive reviews. This can be said of essentially all internet providers.
Where Spectrum customers aren't happy with price hikes that seem to come out of nowhere, Windstream customers seem to be displeased by inconsistent connections and poor customer service. Rural customers of Windstream especially feel that they are shortchanged by a company who knows that they are basically the only option in town.
Bundle Packages: Spectrum vs Windstream
Winner: Spectrum
Both Windstream and Spectrum offer bundles that include other services provided by each company. Spectrum bundles internet with TV, home phone, and Spectrum Mobile, while Windstream pairs its internet with home phone and a streaming service rather than a traditional TV package.
Windstream might have a very slight edge over Spectrum when factoring price on similar bundles. However, Spectrum's wider range of services, particularly its mobile plans, gives it the broader set of options and the win in this category.
Winner: Spectrum vs Windstream
Inconsistency in Windstream's legacy DSL areas is a big reason why Windstream doesn't quite match up with Spectrum in this comparison. These inconsistencies are reflected in the negative reviews Windstream receives, though its newer fiber markets are a different story.
Availability is also a reason why Spectrum is a winner. Spectrum is one of the biggest internet companies in the country and is available in more areas than its counterpart. However, Windstream customers may often find that Windstream is the only option they have for wired broadband internet service. In those cases, Windstream would probably feel like the winner.
You don't have to take our word for it. Your specific needs might dictate that any given provider is better than the other. Compare Spectrum and Windstream plans to see which is the right internet provider for you.
Spectrum Internet Plans
|
Spectrum
Spectrum Internet® 100
$30/mo
for 1 year
+ $20 Upfront
|
|
Spectrum
Spectrum Internet® 500
$40/mo
for 1 year
+ $20 Upfront
|
|
Spectrum
Spectrum Internet® 500 + Spectrum Mobile
$40/mo
for 1 year
+ $20 Upfront
|
|
Spectrum
Spectrum Internet® 2 Gig
$80/mo
select markets only
+ $20 Upfront
|
|
Spectrum
Spectrum Internet® 1 Gig
$60/mo
for 1 year
+ $20 Upfront
|
Windstream Internet Plans
|
#1
|
Kinetic
100 Mbps
$19.99/mo
for 1 year with AutoPay
|
|
#2
|
Kinetic
300 Mbps
$34.99/mo
for 1 year with AutoPay
|
|
#3
|
Kinetic
1 Gig
$49.99/mo
for 2 years with AutoPay
|
|
#4
|
Kinetic
2 Gig
$59.99/mo
for 2 years with AutoPay
|
|
#5
|
Kinetic
Fiber Max Up to 2 Gig
$79.99/mo
for 3 years with AutoPay
|
Angelo Ilumba
Senior Writer
Enter your address to find the best internet providers available in your area.
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