I want to help you pick the best mobile carrier for your needs between Spectrum Mobile and Verizon Wireless. I have analyzed everything from data speeds to plan costs across these two popular networks in the US.
By the end of this guide, you‘ll have all the information to decide if budget-friendly Spectrum or premium Verizon is a better fit. I‘ll also share tips on how to get the best deal!
A Quick Intro to Both Spectrum and Big Red
First, some fast facts on Spectrum Mobile and Verizon so you understand their core offerings.
Spectrum is the consumer wireless brand from Charter Communications. Remember those Time Warner Cable guys? Charter acquired them and rebranded as Spectrum.
- Started operations in 2018
- Leverages mix of cellular + WiFi hotspots
- Runs on Verizon‘s network infrastructure
- Around 1.6 million prepaid subs currently
Verizon needs no introduction as a telecom industry leader. With over 100 million subscribers, Verizon spent over $48 billion to build the best network in the US!
- Invested $48B+ in network infrastructure
- 4G LTE covers over 2.4 million square miles now
- Over 175 cities with 5G Ultra Wideband
- 92 million postpaid phone connections as of Q3 2022
Spectrum Mobile uses Verizon‘s backbone to ride on the strength of coverage and reputation.
This handy table sums up the key differences in their offerings:
| Spectrum Mobile | Verizon Wireless | |
|---|---|---|
| Owned Network? | No, MVNO | Yes, fully owned |
| Infrastructure | Cellular + WiFi | Cell towers + fiber |
| Plan Types | Prepaid only | Postpaid + Prepaid |
| 5G Launch | 2021 | 2019 |
| 2022 Subs | 1.6 million | 118 million |
Spectrum depends on WiFi offloading while Verizon builds out the most advanced cellular infrastructure. But Spectrum rides on Verizon‘s network coverage either way.
Next let‘s see their plan pricing and features side by side.
Comparing Mobile Plans and Pricing
Firstly, Spectrum only offers prepaid plans without any yearly contracts. You pay month to month for what you use. Plans include:
- By the Gig: $14 per GB used
- Unlimited: $45 per month per line. Speeds capped at 20GB.
- Unlimited Plus: $55 per month per line. 30GB high speed data.
Verizon has a wider variety spanning unlimited data to capped data buckets. Pricing varies based on cloud storage, streaming services bundled etc.
For unlimited individual line plans, Verizon charges:
- Start Unlimited: $70
- Play More Unlimited: $80
- Get More Unlimited: $90
For those okay with limited data buckets, options run:
- 5GB plan – $55 per month
- 10GB plan – $65 per month
- 50GB plan – $100 per month
The above represent just baseline pricing. Actual costs may be higher once you add device financing, insurance, taxes and other fees. We‘ll break down total cost of ownership later on.
If you want additional lines beyond the first one, Verizon offers discounts of $10 per extra line. So 2 lines on Start Unlimited would cost 2*$60 = $120.
Spectrum also gives a $15 discount per line on the family Unlimited plan pricing.
I‘ll summarize the plan comparison in a neat table below so you can see differences at a glance:
| Plan Details | Spectrum Mobile | Verizon Wireless |
|---|---|---|
| Plan Structure | Prepaid only | Postpaid + Prepaid |
| Unlimited Premium | $55/line | $90/line |
| Unlimited Basic | $45/line | $70/line |
| By the Gig Cost | $14 per GB | $5 per GB |
| Hotspot Data | Not included | 15GB (premium) |
| Int‘l Roaming | Extra cost | Included |
This table helps contrast the plan types available from an apples to apples perspective. Each carrier takes a different approach but key takeaways are:
- Verizon plan rates themselves are costlier
- But Spectrum rounds up data to nearest GB
We‘ll take a closer look at what exactly you get for those higher Verizon prices next.
Plan Perks and Freebies Comparison
Beyond just data, calls and texts, wireless plans today come loaded with streaming, cloud storage and other freebies as sweeteners. This section examines what‘s bundled with Spectrum and Verizon plans.
Spectrum Perks
Since Spectrum Mobile only offers prepaid plans without contracts, the perks provided are limited. You get:
- Unlimited talk + text
- Free first SIM card
- Carry over unused data
And that‘s mostly it. There are no entertainment or cloud storage freebies. Spectrum expects you to bring your own devices as well without any promos.
Let‘s look at Verizon now.
Verizon Perks
- Disney+ Bundle – Get Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ included free
- Cloud Storage – 50GB via Verizon Cloud app
- Apple Music – 6 months free trial, then $9.99 per month
- TravelPass – $10 daily roaming access in 185 countries
Additionally Verizon keeps running cashback rewards, device promos and incentives. For example they are featuring a "Buy One iPhone 14 Pro, Get $1000 Off Second One" offer now.
These perks and free trials help justify Verizon‘s higher rates. But remember to cancel add-ons manually once the trial period completes.
To see an organized view:
| Plan Perks | Spectrum Mobile | Verizon Wireless |
|---|---|---|
| Int‘l Roaming | Extra cost | $10 daily TravelPass |
| Entertainment | None | 6 months Apple Music |
| Cloud Storage | None | 50GB Verizon Cloud |
| Other Freebies | 1st SIM card | Cashback rewards |
While Spectrum covers just basics, Verizon goes all out to bundle media subscriptions and overseas roaming.
Here‘s Why Verizon Mobile is Expensive
You must be wondering why Verizon charges nearly double or triple for flagship unlimited data plans over Spectrum? What exactly are you paying a premium for?
There are a few key reasons why Verizon costs more:
1. Leading Network Coverage and Performance – Verizon has the best coverage footprint, download speeds and lowest latency based on independent testing firms like RootMetrics, OpenSignal etc. Spectrum piggybacks on Verizon‘s network.
2. High Spectrum Holdings – Verizon bid over $45B in recent FCC auctions on premium mid-band and mmWave 5G spectrum. This translates into capacity for blazing fast, low congestion 5G.
3. Postpaid Plans – Unlike prepaid accounts, postpaid plans require credit checks and have extra fees tacked on like line access charges, taxes etc. But you get priority support and network access.
4. Retail Footprint/Support Costs – With stores nationwide, Verizon maintains extensive physical retail infrastructure and personnel expenses that have to be covered.
5. Marketing Spend – Big red spends billions on advertising and celebrity endorsements every quarter to attract the lucrative premium subscriber segment.
In summary – you pay a premium for Verizon‘s top rated infrastructure, retail presence and brand aura.
But Spectrum NOW leverages the same network while cutting costs via:
- Prepaid self-service model
- Online only distribution
- Less advertising spend budget
So if you don‘t need priority access and postpaid frills, Spectrum delivers huge value riding on Verizon‘s backbone!
Data Analyst Perspective: Verizon‘s industry leading metrics on network quality and speed support its pricing power. But MVNOs like Spectrum allow budget buyers to access similar infrastructure at fraction of costs for basic needs.
We‘ll next analyze how both stack up when considering essential criteria consumers care about.
Spectrum vs Verizon – How Do They Compare on Key Metrics?
Let‘s analytically examine a few key aspects that matter to consumers when choosing a wireless provider:
- Network Coverage Area
- Speeds and Performance
- Plan Cost Factors
- Customer Satisfaction
I‘ll take an impartial data driven approach to compare Spectrum Mobile and Verizon‘s strengths and weaknesses across these facets.
Network Coverage Comparison
Verizon operates America‘s largest, most reliable 4G LTE and 5G networks measuring by overall coverage area.
Some key verified facts on Verizon‘s network breadth:
-
4G LTE covers over 2.4 million square miles, available to over 300 million Americans.
-
Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband service live in 175+ cities today, targeting 175 million POPs coverate by EOY 2022.
-
Verizon 5G Nationwide covers over 230 million people in over 2700 cities in the US.
Since Spectrum leverages Verizon‘s infrastructure as its backbone, it matches Big Red‘s 4G LTE and 5G mobile footprint by default.
But Spectrum‘s big differentiator is they offload cellular data usage onto their extensive national WiFi hotspot network:
- Spectrum WiFi hotspots blanket key metros with over 500,000 locations nationwide
- Seamlessly hands off data from cellular to WiFi backhaul
This saves costs for Spectrum and allows them to offerprepaid plans at a discount.
The Bottomline: Spectrum and Verizon have similar coverage thanks to shared infrastructure. But Spectrum‘s WiFi offload strategy gives it a unique advantage.
Speed and Performance Metrics
Given Verizon and Spectrum both leverage the same mobile network, you would expect reasonably similar real-world download speeds and performance.
Let‘s examine some actual data from independent third party testing and research firms.
According to Opensignal‘s latest USA Market Report Oct 2022:
- Verizon ruled with 7 awards out of 8 metrics including overall Download Speed Experience and 4G Coverage Experience.
- AT&T, T-Mobile and Spectrum trailed on metrics like Download Speeds, Upload Speeds, Latency Experience etc.
Separately, Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data for Q3 2022 ranks carriers on overall national median download speeds:
| Carrier | National Median Download |
|---|---|
| T-Mobile | 118.33 Mbps |
| Verizon | 115.22 Mbps |
| AT&T | 53.67 Mbps |
Verizon also leads in nearly every geographic division from West to Northeast to South regions, confirming its network advantage.
And remember – Spectrum actually rides on Verizon‘s infrastructure! The speed difference arises because Verizon prioritizes its direct retail customers traffic at a QoS level over MVNOs like Spectrum.
So Verizon subscribers enjoy lower congestion and lag during peak usage thanks to network policies favoring its core user base.
The Bottomline: Verizon is the undisputed speed champion across technical testing and actual consumer experience. Spectrum leverages the same infrastructure but tends to see slightly laggy performance at busy times.
Plan Cost and Bill Impacts
Given Verizon‘s premium positioning, it‘s no surprise that Verizon Wireless monthly recurring costs are nearly 50% or higher than comparable Spectrum plans in most cases.
But there are additional cost factors that make the total bill wider including:
Taxes and Surcharges
Postpaid Verizon plans average anywhere from 15% to 27% extra in taxes plus administrative fees. Prepaid options have minimal taxes so Spectrum saves there.
Family / Bulk Discounts
Verizon offers bill credits ranging from $10 to $20 for additional lines. Spectrum also gives $15 off per line. So gap closes at higher line counts.
Device Offers
Verizon is generally more aggressive about device promos – recently they offered Apple Watches or Samsung tablets free with data plans. Spectrum lacks similar strong device kickbacks.
Taking all contributors together, a back of the envelope tally looks like:
The base service plan difference is already 2X between Spectrum and Verizon unlimited. Add other costs and you‘re looking at nearly a 120% premium for Verizon!
Of course Verizon also bundles those value-adds like Disney+ we discussed earlier. But adjusting for costs, Spectrum Prepaid can deliver significant savings without compromising network quality AS MUCH thanks to infrastructure sharing with Big Red.
The Bottomline: On an apples to apples basis, Spectrum comes out 60% or cheaper over equivalent Verizon plans based on total cost of ownership.
Customer Satisfaction and Support
In this era of rising inflation, consumers are cutting back on discretionary wireless spend and holding brands more accountable to get bang for their buck.
Let‘s examine how Spectrum Mobile and Verizon stack up on customer satisfaction scores as assessed by ACSI and JD Power surveys recently.
ACSI Telecommunications Report 2022
The American Consumer Satisfaction Index is considered one of the most comprehensive evaluations of US brands spanning communications, entertainment and other sectors.
As per their 2022 telecom industry report, Verizon Wireless leads Spectrum and all other mobile carriers with a customer satisfaction score of 71 out of 100.
Spectrum itself scores 64, which is lower than second placed T-Mobile at 66. The prepaid category averages just 62.
So Verizon mobile clearly outpaces Spectrum when it comes to satisfying subscribers.
JD Power 2022 US Wireless Purchase Experience
Focusing specifically on the sales experience, JD Power‘s 2022 Wireless Purchase Experience Study also places Verizon on top nationally with a score of 848 out of 1000. Spectrum lags with just 687, though that still beats rivals like AT&T.
The report evaluates satisfaction across phone selection advice, facility appeal, store representative courtesy and other areas.
So Verizon sweeps this retail dimension too.
The Bottomline: Verizon Wireless easily beats Spectrum and rivals in customer satisfaction thanks to service quality, store representation and brand reputation. But Spectrum still does decently for a budget prepaid offering.
Which Carrier Is Right For YOU?
We‘ve covered a lot of ground when it comes to comparing Spectrum and Verizon wireless on paper across factors like cost, network availability, speeds etc.
But what does it mean for YOU and YOUR specific usage needs?
Here is my personalized recommendation based on consumer profiles:
Choose Spectrum Mobile if:
- You want lowest cost prepaid plans
- Already use Charter Spectrum for in-home broadband
- Need 1 to 2 lines max
- Don‘t care about contracts or device deals
Go With Verizon Wireless if:
- Need consistently fast data speeds
- Travel overseas frequently
- Like entertainment perks eg. Disney+ bundled free
- Demand top notch customer service
Also Consider Spectrum Over Verizon for:
- Basic phone users or minimal monthly data needs
- Using your existing device (or buying third party unlocked models)
- Families with 4+ line requirement
The thumb rules are:
- Spectrum for budget prepaid requirements
- Verizon for demanding users eyeing premium experience
Spectrum actually makes for a very compelling choice to access high grade infrastructure and connectivity at nearly half the market rates IF you manage expectations around potential throttling at peak times.
Personally as a tech consultant, I happily use Spectrum Mobile as my value daily driver while relying on Verizon for mission critical business usage!
I hope this guide clearly presented capabilities of both brands considering your unique preferences. Please feel free to reach out with any other questions.
Happy decision making and savings on your next wireless plan!
