Shopping for home internet service in your area often means ending up with only one or two options for internet service -- and usually, it feels like you're choosing between the lesser of two evils. For many, those options are cable internet from Spectrum or fiber and DSL provider Kinetic by Windstream. If that's you, you're likely wondering which is the better choice for your home internet.
A good rule of thumb is that cable internet is faster, more reliable and has greater value than DSL. On the other hand, fiber optic service can often trump cable for the same reasons. So, given a choice between Spectrum or Kinetic DSL service, Spectrum will typically be the best option for speed and value. But if you can get fiber from Kinetic at your address, you'll find Windstream tough to beat by any cable provider, Spectrum included. There's a lot more to it than that, though, so let's take a closer look at what separates Spectrum and Kinetic.
Spectrum
Your standard cable connection
Our take - Spectrum offers just two speed tiers -- 500 and 1,000 megabits per second -- available throughout nearly all Spectrum markets. Pricing is also fairly consistent in service areas but slightly higher than some internet providers. A low equipment rental fee helps offset the relatively high starting prices, as does unlimited data and no contract requirements, but look out for a $30 price increase on all plans after 12 to 24 months.
Kinetic by Windstream
A mixed bag, but more good than bad
Our take - A DSL connection can't deliver the same speed stability as a cable connection, so speeds will vary, anywhere from 10 to 200Mbps, with Kinetic DSL. Fiber service is more consistent with 300Mbps. 1,000Mbps and 2,000Mbps speed tiers are available in most areas. Starting pricing on Kinetic DSL is lower than Spectrum and the fiber plans start at $50 -- the same as Spectrum. However, Kinetic has lower price increases after the promo period. Like Spectrum, all Kinetic plans come with unlimited data and no contracts.
Spectrum (blue) and Kinetic (orange) both have fairly wide coverage maps that overlap in several regions.
Spectrum vs. Windstream on availability and internet type
Spectrum is the second-largest cable internet provider in the US, next to Xfinity, and extends coverage to more than a third of the population through the service areas shown above in blue. The network is 100% cable, which enables Spectrum to deliver fast download speeds -- gigabit service is available in 99% of Spectrum markets -- but the limited bandwidth of coaxial cables limits upload speeds to a max of 35Mbps.
Locating local internet providers
Despite the seemingly vast coverage area shown above in orange, Kinetic is available to less than 3% of US residents, mostly because Windstream covers large rural areas via its DSL network. Speeds are often less than impressive over DSL, but Kinetic is considerably faster than most DSL providers, with speeds of 100Mbps or higher available throughout 64% of service areas.
Windstream's fiber service is available to roughly a quarter of households serviceable for Kinetic, and nearly all are eligible for gigabit speeds. Kinetic fiber offers faster speeds than DSL, but it also comes with the perk of symmetrical download and upload speeds, an advantage you won't get with cable internet service from Spectrum.
Locating local internet providers
Spectrum vs. Windstream plans and pricing
As mentioned above, starting prices will be a little cheaper with Kinetic than Spectrum and roughly the same for fiber internet plans. However, Kinetic DSL speeds and pricing vary by market and even by address, which means Kinetic could have you paying around the same or more than Spectrum's cheapest internet plan but for less speed. Here's a closer look at each provider's plans.
Spectrum internet plans and pricing
| Plan | Monthly price | Max speeds | Fees and service details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum 500 Internet Read full review | $50 | 500Mbps download, 20Mbps upload | Modem free; $10 for router (optional); no data caps or contracts |
| Spectrum Gig Internet Read full review | $70 | 1,000Mbps download, 35Mbps upload | Modem and router free; no data caps or contracts |
Regardless of your Spectrum service area, the plans listed above will likely be available with the same speeds and price. The same cannot be said for Kinetic plans, however. Those vary by price and speed depending on the market.
Kinetic internet plans and pricing
| Plan | Max speeds | Fees and service details | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Speed Internet | $25 ($50 after one year) | Up to 100Mbps | $11 equipment rental (optional), no data caps or contracts | ||
| Fiber 300 | $50 ($75 after 12 months) | 300Mbps down, 300Mbps up | $11 equipment rental (optional), no data caps or contracts | ||
| Fiber 1 Gig | $50 for three months ($80 after) | 1,000Mbps down, 1,000Mbps up | $11 equipment rental (optional), no data caps or contracts | ||
| Fiber 2 Gig | $100 | 2,000Mbps down, 2,000Mbps up | $11 equipment rental (optional), no data caps or contracts |
Kinetic pricing and speed tiers may vary by region but for the most part, you should be eligible for one basic DSL plan starting at $25 monthly (which doubles to $50 monthly after one year) for whatever speeds are available at your address.
Kinetic's fiber plans also feature price increases. Notably, the 1-gig tier increases to $80 after just three months of service. Kinetic does not supply free equipment for any plan options, so make sure you factor an extra $11 to your monthly costs if you're renting from Kinetic.
The better deal? Spectrum's value beats Windstream's pricing
It all comes down to the Kinetic connection type available at your address and the pricing in your area. Even in the fastest Kinetic DSL markets, speeds will be slower with DSL service than Spectrum. Though Kinetic DSL may be cheaper per month initially, that price doubles after one year. Spectrum will give you more speed for the money.
Then there's fiber service from Windstream, which starts at $50 per month for speeds up to 300Mbps. For the same price, you can get 500Mbps in download speed from Spectrum -- a much better deal. Granted, you won't get symmetrical upload speeds from Spectrum and that price will jump to $80 after a few years of service, but then again, Kinetic's price will jump to $75 monthly.
Kinetic's 1-gig plan starts at $50 monthly for three months (a cost per Mbps of 5 cents) before jumping to $80 monthly (a cost per Mbps of 8 cents). Spectrum's 1-gig plan starts at $70 monthly (cost per Mbps of 7 cents) and increases to $100 monthly after a few years (cost per Mbps of 10 cents). So initially, while Spectrum's plan is more cost-efficient, Kinetic's plan has more long term value. Plus, with 1,000Mbps of download and upload speed, you'll be getting a lot more speed for your dollar.
Both Spectrum's and Windstream's pricing is straightforward
The advantage for best speeds and monthly rates could go either way depending on the service type, but the two providers are more evenly matched regarding added costs and the fine print.
Spectrum has a slightly lower equipment rental fee at $10 per month, whereas you'll be paying $11 per month with Windstream. Another advantage for Spectrum is that your modem is included for free and customers of the 1-gig plan get the both the modem and router rental included with their monthly fees. That $10 router rental is optional for customers of the 500Mbps plan if you use your own high-performance router. Windstream also lets you use your own equipment, but you'll have to provide the modem and router.
Neither provider enforces data caps, which means no threat of overage fees added to your bill. Additionally, neither provider requires you to sign a service contract. Spectrum takes no contracts a step further with a contract buyout offer, which gives new customers up to $500 to help them out of an existing contract with another provider, but you'll have to sign up for an internet and TV bundle to qualify.
Spectrum edges out Windstream in customer satisfaction
The American Customer Satisfaction Index scored Spectrum and Kinetic's DSL service on the same scale, and Spectrum was the clear winner. Spectrum received a 68 on a 100-point scale (a four-point increase from last year) and stayed in the top 5 of ranked nonfiber providers, while Kinetic scored a dismal 56 -- a drastic drop from last year's 70. This was the first year the ACSI weighted Kinetic's fiber and DSL services separately so that high score of 70 was most likely due to overall high satisfaction for Kinetic's fiber services.
That said, Kinetic's fiber service scored a 72, which may not seem too bad compared to its DSL score but compared to other fiber providers, Kinetic ranked relatively low.
Spectrum vs. Windstream recap
Speed and value come down to the internet connection type available at your address. Like Spectrum, cable service is often a better option than DSL, though Kinetic DSL service is impressive compared to other DSL providers. If Kinetic's fiber service is available, it's faster than Spectrum but has a similar cost per Mbps. Both providers offer unlimited data, low equipment fees and no contract obligations, but Spectrum also comes with the comfort of a slightly better customer satisfaction rating. Ultimately, the choice comes down to how much speed your household will need and whether or not you can get fiber at your address.
