Fees and fine print Compare plans
Spectrum is a cable company, meaning that while they have comparable download speeds to Ziply, the upload speeds are constricted to 35 Mbps or less.
This doesn’t matter if you primarily use the internet for streaming Netflix and Facebook scrolling. However, it matters a lot if you do any upload-based activities like video chat, streaming on Twitch, moving large files from a home office, etc.
Overall, we recomend Ziply fiber if it’s available since it has a more reliable fiber-based network for a comparable price to Spectrum.
However, Spectrum is worth considering if you’re looking for the absolute lowest price, or if you want one of their sports TV bundles (currently among the cheapest on the market for local channels and regional sports + basic cable).
Ziply Fiber vs Spectrum Basic Stats
| Feature | Ziply Fiber | Charter Spectrum |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $20/mo. sign-up price | $49.99/mo. sign-up price |
| Download speed range | 25–1,000 Mbps | 300–1,000 Mbps |
| Upload speed range | 1–1,000 Mbps | 10–35 Mbps |
| Network type | Fiber | Cable |
| Contract terms | Contract-free | Contract-free |
One key thing to note when comparing Ziply and Spectrum is that while Spectrum has the same pricing and plan speeds everywhere, Ziply actually operates two different networks: a DSL network (slow but cheap, 25 Mbps) and their more popular and expanding fiber network (very fast speeds, up to 1,000 Mbps down and up).
If you’re choosing between Spectrum cable and Ziply DSL, most people are better off with Spectrum. That said, most of their overlap is in fiber areas — so this is unlikely to apply to you.
View Ziply Plans → View Spectrum Plans →
Ziply Fiber vs Spectrum Data Usage Policies
Spectrum got a lot of bad press in 2020 into 2021 for applying to the FCC for permission to add data caps (AKA usage allowances) to their home internet plans. 1
Probably thanks to all that bad press, they recently dropped the plan. So, Spectrum should be one of the few unlimited data providers in the US, at least for a few more years.
Ziply is also data cap free — so, both providers are good choices for “cord cutter” households that prefer to subscribe to Netflix rather than a traditional cable bundle.
Ziply Fiber offers internet plans with unlimited data
Spectrum offers internet plans with unlimited data
Ziply Fiber vs Spectrum Pricing and Fees
ISPs love to charge fees, and with both Ziply and Spectrum, it can add a lot to your bill on top of the sticker price. Here’s a high-level breakdown of how they compare on fees and surcharges:
| Fee | Ziply Fiber | Spectrum |
|---|---|---|
| WiFi equipment fee | ~$10/mo. | ~$7/mo. |
| Price increases | Bill increases after promo period | Bill increases after promo period |
| Early Termination Fee | Free cancellation | Free cancellation |
The easiest fee to get rid of, which both providers, is the router or “WiFi” fee. Buying your own router will save you $10/month and pay for itself in as little as six months — so it’s a good call if you are going to be subscribed for a year or more, and kind of a no-brainer if you’re a homeowner.
For renters, leasing can actually be smarter though, since when you move the new provider might not be compatible with the equipment you own.
Ziply Fiber vs Spectrum Internet-Only Plan Comparison
The most common Spectrum plan is their entry-level internet-only plan. It’s usually 200 Mbps, although in some areas it’s 100 Mbps download. In either case, it’s very comparable to Ziply’s 100 Mbps plan, which has lower download speed but much higher uploads:
| Most Common Plan | Internet speed | Sign-up price | Final price | Avg price over 2 yrs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fiber Internet 100/100 (Ziply Fiber) | 100 Mbps | $40/mo. | $60/mo. | $50/mo. |
|
Spectrum Internet (Spectrum) | 300 Mbps | $49.99/mo. | $79.99/mo. | $65/mo. |
Let’s walk through the scenarios with the “promo prices”, since the advertised price of both plans is actually lower than the actual price you pay as a long-time subscriber:
The Ziply Fiber Fiber Internet 100/100 internet-only price is $40/month when you sign up. However, the price increases after Contract-Free by 50% to the actual price, which is $60. That averages out to $50/month over your first two years as a customer.
Remember that Fiber Internet 100/100 includes the following fees when you compare pricing:
- $10/month fee for WiFi equipment
Let’s compare that to Spectrum:
The price of the Spectrum Spectrum Internet internet plan is $49.99/month for the first Contract-Free. However, the price jumps up 60% to $79.99 after that initial period.
So, the price of Spectrum internet service jumps up to $65/month, in terms of the average price you’ll pay over the first two years of service.
Spectrum Internet comes with some fees as well:
- $7/month fee for WiFi equipment
Ziply Fiber FTTH Internet Plans
Describe their fiber Fios network, Frontier // verizon history.
| Plan Name | Download Speed | Promo Price | Final Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber Internet 30/30 | 30 Mbps | $20/mo | $40 |
| Fiber Internet 100/100 | 100 Mbps | $40/mo | $60 |
| Fiber Internet Gig | 1000 Mbps | $60/mo | $80 |
Ziply Fiber DSL Internet Plans
| Plan Name | Download Speed | Promo Price | Final Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ziply DSL | 25 Mbps | $35/mo | $40 |
Spectrum Internet Plans
| Plan Name | Download Speed | Promo Price | Final Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet | 300 Mbps | $49.99/mo | $79.99 |
| Spectrum Internet Ultra | 500 Mbps | $69.99/mo | $99.99 |
| Spectrum Internet GIG | 1000 Mbps | $89.99/mo | $119.99 |
Ziply Fiber vs Spectrum Net Neutrality Policies
Ziply Fiber does not maintain a public stance on Net Neutrality at this time. However, given that the company is run by previous AT&T executives, our expectation is that they hold similar views of Net Neutrality as a regulatory burden.
Charter Communications has public statements supporting open networks, but in practice has been applying to remove network management requirements imposed by the FCC during their merger with Time Warner Cable.
