Spectrum Business Internet Review 2023: Compare Pricing and Plan Options

Spectrum cable is worth a look as your business internet provider with its contract-free options, high speeds, and exceptional entertainment bundles.
Top No-Contract Pick
Spectrum
3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5
Starts at
$49.99/mo.
  • pro
    Cable speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
  • pro
    Contract-free options
  • con
    Slow upload speeds
  • con
    Poor customer satisfaction
Plan name
Starting price
Get started
Spectrum Internet (200 Mbps)
$49.99
/mo
Spectrum Internet Ultra
$94.99
/mo
Spectrum Internet Gig
$149.99
/mo

Data as of 12/7/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

We are committed to sharing unbiased reviews. Some of the links on our site are from our partners who compensate us. Read our editorial guidelines and advertising disclosure.

The bottom line: Consumers may be cutting their cable television cords, but cable internet is alive and kicking. And for small-business owners, cable from providers like Spectrum lets you run your online business operations at high speeds and reasonable costs.

So is Spectrum internet a good investment for your business? According to our research, that depends on what type of business you run.

Spectrum Business is best for businesses that want stellar TV packages

Spectrum offers several enticing internet bundles that include cable TV packages. Businesses that need to keep customers entertained while they wait, shop, or eat have the most to gain by taking advantage of these bundles.

But even for other company types, solo cable internet plans from Spectrum aren’t too shabby. That’s because the plans are fast and affordable, with no data caps, and they include lots of tantalizing tech features.

If you’re looking for a cheap internet option, you can’t do much better than Spectrum’s $49.99 per month Spectrum Internet plan. This plan gets you download speeds up to 300/10 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary).

The greatest thing about all of these plans and bundles? Each comes with additional services and free technology packages that can help you get more out of your internet plan.

On the other hand, if it’s speed you crave, consider the Spectrum Internet Ultra plan. For $94.99 per month, your download speeds jump up to 600 Mbps (depending on your area) with upload speeds around 35 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary). At those rates, you can connect several more devices and more easily download and upload large files.

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Things to consider about Spectrum

Broadband cable debuted in the mid-twentieth century as a way to deliver television to viewers, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that the technology was repurposed for high-speed internet.1 Since Spectrum (a Charter Communications brand) acquired Time Warner Cable in 2016,2 the company has expanded its broadband cable and other internet services across the United States.

Above, we told you what we like about Spectrum—and there’s a lot of likes to give. But what about the not-so-greats? Here’s a rundown of the good and bad of Spectrum business internet.

Strengths
pro Awesomely affordable high-speed plans
pro Truckloads of free tech upgrades
pro Special offers for bars and restaurants
Weaknesses
con Slow upload speeds
con Gloomy customer service ratings
con Fragmented fiber availability

Although cable internet can get you faster download speeds than many competitors in the DSL internet game, Spectrum’s cable upload speeds are unimpressive. The fastest upload speed Spectrum advertises is 35 Mbps, but that's a maximum upload speed—not an average. That means your actual upload speeds may not be that high.

Upload speeds are important for avoiding interruptions with large-file downloads and backups, VoIP service, videoconferences, and running cloud-based applications. If your business needs these services, you may run into trouble with Spectrum’s cable internet plans.

You should also be wary of Spectrum’s low customer satisfaction ratings, as reported by several organizations.

Ultimately, there are several things to like and dislike about Spectrum, so consider your business priorities before making a decision.

bullet
Watch out
The upload speeds for Spectrum cable plans don’t vary much from plan to plan, so only pay for more speed if you care about doubling or tripling your download speeds.

Spectrum Business Internet speeds and pricing

Spectrum offers a simple suite of internet plans—an upside or downside, depending on what you’re looking for. Cable internet plans range in download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary). Spectrum also offers fiber plans, but—as we’ll explain—details about fiber service are limited.

Comparing cable internet plans and pricing

Starting at 300 Mbps download speeds, Spectrum cable comes in many flavors: Spectrum Internet 300, Ultra, and Gig. As we mentioned above, the upload speeds are lackluster, but the download speeds pack a punch.

Plan
Starting price (per month)
Max download speed
Max upload speed
Learn more

Spectrum Internet (200 Mbps)

$49.99 Up to 200 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary)35 Mbps

Spectrum Internet Ultra

$94.99Up to 600 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary)35 Mbps

Spectrum Internet Gig

$149.99Up to 1,000 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary)

35 Mbps

Data effective 12/7/22. At publishing time, pricing and speeds are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.

Fiber internet plans

Spectrum is building a fiber-optic network across the United States, so you may be able to snag one of these lightning-speed plans in your area. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to dig up particular plan and pricing details, but we did find a list of Spectrum fiber coverage maps.

Check out the maps to see if Spectrum fiber-optic internet has reached your business’s location, and then contact the company at 1-888-692-8635 to learn more.

Bundles and packages: Keep customers connected and entertained

Internet service providers love to offer bundles—and not just for residential customers. They’re savvy enough to know that if they offer discounts for combined services, you may be tempted to take advantage of the deal.

Fortunately, Spectrum’s business bundles are worth considering. These packages combine reasonably fast internet with long-distance calling or TV services—or both.

Plan
Starting price (per month)*
What you get
Learn more
Business Internet & Voice$69.98*200 Mbps internet, unlimited calling

Business Internet, Voice & TV

$89.97*200 Mbps internet, TV with 60+ channels, unlimited local and long distance calling

Business Internet Ultra & Voice

$114.98* 600 Mbps internet, phone with unlimited local and long-distance service

Data effective 12/7/22. At publishing time, pricing and speeds are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.
*Price guaranteed for 12 months when you bundle.

Technology: Extra useful and extra free

One shining facet of Spectrum’s prism of internet services is all the technology the company throws in for free. There are also a few paid services you can buy to truly tailor your business internet experience.

From cloud backups to web hosting, here are all the tech upgrades we found Spectrum serving up.

Free services

Service
Description

Cap-free data usage

Use data without limits on your business internet plan

Cloud backup

Get 100 GB free to back up your vital business data

Email

Assign 25 custom email addresses with your own domain name

Internet security

Protect your business from viruses, spyware, spam, and more with Spectrum’s unique Internet Security Solution

Modem

Lease a cable modem for free on plans up to 300 Mbps

Wi-Fi

Encourage customers to stick around by connecting to a unique Wi-Fi network

Web hosting and domain name

Create and host a professional website, including a unique domain name and 5 GB of web storage

Paid services

Service
Description

Private business Wi-Fi

Connect any employee or device to a secure and private Wi-Fi network; contact Spectrum for pricing

Static IP address

Make it easier to host your own servers, VPNs, and more with unchanging IPs; $14.99/mo.

Reliability and support: Nothing out of the ordinary

You should be able to count on a reliable connection from your business internet provider. Service outages—or downtime—result in interruptions to essential operations like email, file sharing, and point-of-sale systems.

Let’s see what kind of reliability you can expect from Spectrum business class internet.

Uptime and latency: Down with downtime

Uptime is the percentage of time you can expect working internet, and Spectrum guarantees business internet uptime at 99.9%. That figure sounds nearly perfect, but there are higher uptime guarantees in the industry, like 99.99% uptime.

What does that mean in real time? Take a look at how several uptime guarantees translate into seconds, minutes, or hours of downtime over longer periods.

Uptime
Downtime per month
Downtime per year
99.90%

43.80 minutes

8.76 hours

99.95%

21.90 minutes

4.38 hours

99.99%

4.38 minutes

52.56 minutes

99.998%

52.56 seconds

10.51 minutes

Latency is another marker of reliability. Sometimes called lag, latency is the amount of time it takes for a packet of data to make a round trip from one internet connection point to another. High latency—measured in milliseconds—is an especially noticeable problem when streaming video or conducting video conferences.

We didn’t find any information about Spectrum’s average latency, nor do they offer any latency guarantees. If latency is a top concern for your business, consider a company—such as Verizon—that offers a latency guarantee.

Technical support: Help anytime you need it

If something goes wrong with your internet connection or you’re not getting the service you expect, you need quick access to technical support.

Spectrum offers 24/7, US-based technical support by phone for its business customers. The company also provides a collection of Spectrum Business Support articles and answers to common technical questions.

Customer service: Poor ratings and reviews

Several national organizations are in the business of surveying internet service provider customers and reporting their findings to the public. Here are some recent ratings the industry gave Spectrum, which—spoiler alert—left us disappointed.

ACSI: In 2020, Spectrum received a 63 out of 100 from The American Customer Satisfaction Index—just under the average score.3

BBB: Spectrum isn’t accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has an D rating.4 Spectrum also stumbled from several government actions against it, including New York’s revocation of an approved merger between Charter and Time-Warner Cable.

J.D. Power: Across all three business segments reviewed by J.D. Power in 2020, Spectrum scored fairly low. The ISP ranked fifth place out of eight for very small businesses, fifth place out of seven for small and midsize businesses, and sixth place out of six for large enterprise businesses.5

To be fair, most internet companies have a poor reputation in the United States, but even by the industry’s low standards, Spectrum ranks on the lower end.

Spectrum vs. top competitors

Provider
Starting price (per month)
Features
Learn more
$49.99

Cable speeds up to 1,000 Mbps, reasonable costs

$69.00

Symmetric fiber speeds, affordable near-gigabit plan

$54.99

Affordable high-speed options, downloads up to 2,000 Mbps

$50.00

Downloads up to 1,000 Mbps, superior customer service

$64.99

24/7 support, competitive pricing

Data as of 4/20/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

The fine print: Fees, contracts, and equipment

Before signing up with any provider, make sure you understand any costs and other details beyond the sticker price. Up next is a breakdown of Spectrum’s fees, contracts, and equipment.

Fees

Spectrum charges a one-time activation fee of $99 for its cable internet service, which is lower than several competitors we’ve reviewed. We couldn't find any information on possible termination fees.

Contracts

Spectrum Business class has some contract-free options. The only other business ISP we reviewed that offers no-contract business internet is AT&T, which offers the perk only for fiber plans.

What’s more, Spectrum will buy out your contract—up to $500—with your current provider, making the switch even easier.

You also have 30 days to try out Spectrum business internet. If you’re not satisfied, just contact Spectrum before those 30 days are up, return your equipment, and you’ll get a refund for the plan charges. However, the refund doesn’t include the $99 installation fee.

Equipment

Unlike most business internet service providers, Spectrum will lease you a cable modem for free. This may make up for the fact that the company doesn’t allow you to use your own modem or TV equipment, even when trying out the limited-time offer.

Wondering if Spectrum allows self-installation with your account credentials? Read our FAQ section below.

The takeaway

Unless poor customer satisfaction ratings are a deal breaker, Spectrum is an affordable and fast option for your small business.

Lagging customer reviews are worth thinking twice about before you sign up your business for Spectrum internet. But because these plans come with contract-free options, if you experience serious trouble, it’s possible that you can simply cancel under Spectrum’s terms and conditions. Also, there are plenty of other great ISP options out there.

Not sure if Spectrum is right for you? Check out our top business internet picks to see how Spectrum measures up.

Related reading

FAQs about Spectrum business internet

You might still have questions about business internet from Spectrum. Maybe our research will help answer your concerns.

Spectrum offers two Wi-Fi options for business customers. The first is free and allows you to set-up a basic Wi-Fi network for employees and customers. However, this connection isn’t monitored by Spectrum and is less secure than managed Wi-Fi.

The other option is managed Wi-Fi for business, which Spectrum offers for a fee. This service lets you set up a secure wireless network that your customers and employees log in to. Spectrum technicians—available 24/7—monitor your managed hotspots and Wi-Fi speeds for security and performance. The service can also scale to fit the physical size of your buildings.

If you’re looking to shave off some up-front costs, you may want to consider self-installation. Spectrum advises you to take the following steps to install your own business internet:

  1. Contact Spectrum to find out if your plan is eligible for self-installation. Ask whether there are surcharges to install your own connection.
  2. Order a self-installation kit, which includes a welcome and installation guide plus a modem, power cord, coax cable, ethernet cable, and splitter. You may also pick up your kit at a Spectrum store.
  3. Once your service is active, connect your equipment following the details in your welcome kit or this online installation guide with video.

What's the difference between Charter, Spectrum, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House?

Spectrum is the brand name Charter Communications uses for its broadband communications services, including phone, TV, and internet. In 2016, Charter made two big acquisitions for approximately $71 billion: Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks. With this mega-merger, Charter internet grew its customer base to 25 million, expanding its footprint to 41 states and earning it second place in the US broadband internet market share.6

Cable vs. DSL internet: Which is better?

Depending on your business’s area, you may have the option to choose between a cable business internet service provider—like Spectrum—or one that offers high-speed internet via digital subscriber line (DSL).

The truth is that neither internet type is better—each has its advantages and disadvantages. The better choice is whichever offers the best solution for you and your business’s needs.

Here are the main advantages and disadvantages of cable internet:

Strengths
pro Doesn't use phone lines or dial-up connections, which means your connection is always on
pro Is less affected by your physical distance from the connections origin
pro Has faster speeds than dial-up and satellite (and often faster speeds than DSL)
Weaknesses
con Has slower speeds than fiber internet
con Shares your connection with other users, risking slowdowns during peak hours
con Costs more than dial-up and satellite (and often more than DSL)
con Has limited availability in rural areas

Cable internet uses coaxial cables, just like the ones used to deliver cable television to millions of customers and connect to your business using a cable modem. Meanwhile, DSL internet is provided over the same copper wires used to provide phone lines. But unlike dial-up internet, DSL doesn’t interfere with phone service.

Here are the key advantages and disadvantages of DSL internet:

Strengths
pro May be more secure than cable due to the ability to create discrete network connections
pro Is more commonly available than cable in many rural areas
pro Has faster speeds than dial-up and satellite
Weaknesses
con Has slower speeds than fiber internet (and often slower speeds than cable)
con Is prone to slowdowns the farther you are from the connection origin
con May require purchasing phone services to lower rates

Methodology

To determine the star rating, we looked at Spectrum's pricing,  bundles and packages, average internet speeds, and overall value, among other factors.

Disclaimer

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.

Sarah Ryther Francom
Written by
Sarah Ryther Francom
Sarah is Business.org’s senior content editor. She has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing business-focused content. As the former editor-in-chief of Utah Business magazine, Sarah oversaw the state’s premier business publication, developed several custom publications, and managed all business-to-business content. She also co-authored a business book with FJ Management CEO Crystal Maggelet. Sarah is passionate about helping small-business owners reach sustained success.
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