April 09, 2020
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One of the most effective ways to find the right internet provider is to compare service offerings from different companies. In this comparison, we’ll examine Spectrum vs. Verizon DSL to see which one offers you the best service, range of plans, customer service, internet speeds and more.
To gain a better understanding of what each provider offers, here’s a look at several key factors such as pricing, whether the provider has data caps and what speeds they offer.
| Provider | Type of Internet | Starting Price | Data Caps | Speeds | Extra Fees | Contracts | Availability |
 | Cable | $45 /mo | No | Up to 940 Mbps | Yes, modem rental | None | Check Availability |
 | DSL | $25 /mo | Varies by location | Up to 500 Mbps | Yes, equipment | 2 years | Check Availability |
Spectrum vs. Verizon DSL data comparison
When choosing the right company for you, the way they manage your data usage is a key concern. Some providers employ data caps, which is where if you exceed your monthly usage limit, they’ll do one of two things. Either they will throttle (slow down) your connection speeds or they’ll charge you more for use. With this in mind, here’s how both providers compare:
Spectrum
Spectrum doesn’t employ data caps, making it an ideal provider if your household streams movies or plays games online regularly. However, if you only use the internet intermittently to check your email or surf the web, you could pay for more services than you actually need.
Verizon DSL
Verizon is trickier in that it employs data caps but they vary by location. When signing up for service, it’s ideal you ask your retailer or customer service representative what the data caps are for your area and if they charge if you exceed your usage limits. With this in mind, Verizon isn’t ideal if you’re an avid gamer or have a family who loves their Netflix, as the last thing you’ll want to do is watch the usage meter every month.
Data Comparison Winner
Spectrum vs. Verizon DSL: Internet speeds
Speed is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a high-speed internet provider, especially if you work from home, stream video calls or play video games online. With this in mind, Spectrum offers a good choice of fast plans ranging from 100 Mbps to 940 Mbps, with the latter being perfect for a family of gamers or a remote worker who has to upload large files regularly.
Meanwhile, Verizon has a good mix of plans ranging in speeds from 5 Mbps to 500 Mbps. In some regards, Verizon’s plans are better because they offer basic plans with less speed, making them perfect for those who check email or browse the web occasionally. However, in general, Spectrum is going to offer much more value for your dollar with faster speeds and no data caps.
Internet Speeds Winner
Spectrum vs. Verizon DSL: Availability
Spectrum
Spectrum has a wide service availability, encompassing 46 states ranging from California to New Hampshire.
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Verizon DSL
Meanwhile, Verizon services a much smaller area, as they cover 10 states in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions such as Washington D.C., Virginia and Rhode Island.
Availability Winner
Spectrum Cable vs. Verizon DSL: Customer service
Outside of speeds and availability, customer service is arguably the most important factor to consider when choosing an internet provider. One excellent resource to use is the American Customer Service Satisfaction Index. They do an excellent job of surveying current customers on a bevy of factors including internet speeds, variety of plans, call center experience and website, to name a few.
Customer Service Winner
Spectrum vs. Verizon DSL: Bundled services
Bundling is where you package one or more services together such as internet, cable TV and/or home phone services. By bundling, you’ll receive a good mix of services with value, as you’ll typically save more money than getting those services separately. Here’s a look at some of the bundled services both providers offer:
Spectrum
Verizon DSL
Verizon Double Play
Plans Include
- Unlimited nationwide calling
- Speeds up to 15Mbps
- Order online and waive $29.99 activation fee, link below
For new eligible TV and/or Internet res. custs. Availability varies. Wired & wireless Internet speeds vary due to device limits, multiple users, network & other factors. Auto Pay (ACH or bank debit card only) & paper-free billing req’d. for Internet service. Subj. to credit approval & may require a deposit.
*Please note all other bundled services require Fios internet service
Spectrum vs. Verizon DSL: Affordability
When searching for the best value, many factors are at play, such as how often you use the internet and for what purposes, whether the provider has a service contract or data caps, and the quality of customer service you’ll receive. With these considerations, Spectrum comes out as the winner because they offer packages with great speeds and no data caps, making them perfect for many households.
Affordability Winner
Frequently Asked Questions
Which internet service provider is best for residential use?
Both providers offer a great mix of speed and plans to accommodate most users. However, the edge goes to Spectrum for two reasons. One, they’re available in more states while Verizon services those living on the East Coast. And two, Spectrum offers faster internet speeds with no data caps or contracts, making it a tough combination to beat.
Which internet service provider is best for business use?
Verizon’s customer service is tough to beat and if you live on the East Coast, they’ll have plenty of resources to ensure your company remains connected at fast speeds. That said, the data caps the company employs are not advantageous to businesses, as the last thing you need is a disruption in service due to data throttle. Because of this, Spectrum is the better choice because they allow you to use as much bandwidth as you need at faster speeds.
Spectrum vs. Verizon DSL: Which is the right for you?
Both providers offer a good mix of plans with a wide range of speeds. Which one you select comes down to where you live and how much speed you need. By prioritizing your needs for internet use, it can help you choose a plan from one of these providers that offers you the best mix of optimizing your online experiences and value.
We supplied the data; now, the decision is yours.
Get started by seeing which plans are available in your area.
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