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Spectrum Business Internet Plans, Pricing, and Review

An affordable alternative to enterprise-grade fiber internet with a few built-in perks..

Price: $64.99–$164.99/mo.*

Speeds: 300–1,000Mbps

Data cap: No cap

Contract: No contract

◊ Provider star ratings are based on user reviews and our independent customer satisfaction survey .

* Data effective 3/18/24. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Our Spectrum Business Internet review

Spectrum offers its business customers the same internet plans as residential ones. The big difference is business customers have access to unique features and add-ons homeowners don’t, like static IP addresses, custom email addresses, internet backup, and more. Plus, business customers get priority support if the internet ever goes out. However, Spectrum Business raises your rates after 12 months, so keep that extra expense on your radar.

• No data caps
• No contracts
• No modem fee

• Limited fiber availability
• Wi-Fi access fee

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Jump to: Plans and pricing | Speed and data caps | Fees |  Installation, equipment, and contracts |  Customer ratings | Spectrum Business vs. the competition | Bottom line | FAQ

• Plans and pricing
• Speed and data caps
• Installation, equipment, and contracts
• Customer ratings

Spectrum Business vs. the competition

• Bottom line

Compare Spectrum Business internet plans and pricing

Spectrum business speeds and data caps: the details.

What’s the best Spectrum Business Internet plan you can get? Does Spectrum provide enough speed for your business? What’s included with a Spectrum Business Internet plan? We go over the finer details.

Our favorite plan: Spectrum Business

Spectrum Business Internet Ultra is our favorite plan of the three. It gives you lots of speed for a decent price, and it’s perfect for a business with ten or more people. The price includes loads of perks, like malware protection and custom email addresses.

Spectrum Business Internet speeds: What’s best for you?

The best plan for your business depends squarely on your upload and download needs, the applications you use, and the services you offer. In a residential setting, we would suggest 100Mbps download speed for each user, but that may be more than what you need for each employee. However, here’s what Spectrum indicates on its website:

Spectrum Business Internet data caps: Policy, fees, and penalties

Spectrum Business doesn’t enforce data caps, so there are no worries about overage fees and throttled speeds due to monthly data limits. Your business can download and upload as much as it needs without penalty.

Is Spectrum Business Internet available where you live?

Enter your zip code below to see if you can get Spectrum’s internet services for business in your area.

Spectrum Business Internet: Other notable callouts

Spectrum Business Internet includes the following services at no extra cost to you.

Free domain name

Spectrum Business Internet customers can select and register their domain name for free. Plus, there’s no annual fee, so don’t worry about working a re-registration price into your budget every year.

Custom email addresses

This feature ties into your free domain name. Branded emails advertise your website, help give each employee credibility, and are less likely to end up in a customer’s spam folder.

Spectrum Business Security Suite

Powered by F-Secure, Spectrum’s security suite includes 25 licenses at no extra cost. It protects your company PCs from malware, spyware, hacker intrusions, and more. However, it’s only for desktops.

Spectrum Business deals and promotions

Get Spectrum Business Internet for $39.99 per month when bundled with Business Voice or Business TV service.

Spectrum Business Internet extra features

* when bundled with internet for 2 yrs, includes business phone, video meetings, and team messaging

† per line for 12 mos. when bundled with Spectrum Business Internet

‡ For 12 mos. when bundled with Spectrum Business Internet

In addition to your Spectrum Business Internet package, you can add additional features to give your business a competitive advantage.

Wireless Internet Backup

Wireless Internet Backup provides your business with a cellular connection to the internet that automatically kicks in when your cable or fiber service isn’t available. Pricing includes an LTE modem, which supports up to four devices and download speeds up to 10Mbps. You also get a battery backup for eight or more hours of uptime.

A static IP is required if you’re hosting a website or using a VPN for employee remote access or site-to-site communication. Unlike the typical dynamic IP address used in home internet service, this address never changes, so you can link it to your free domain name provided through Spectrum Business.

Spectrum Business Connect with RingCentral

Spectrum Business Connect with RingCentral combines voice, video, and messaging into one app (desktop and mobile). It also includes administration and analytics features for viewing performance reports, getting email alerts when issues arise, managing services, and more. Spectrum Business provides a downloadable list of features in a PDF .

Spectrum Business Internet fees

There’s nothing to report here. As with Spectrum’s residential internet, the equipment is free to use, but Spectrum charges a monthly fee for Wi-Fi access whether you have Spectrum’s standalone router or a gateway.

Spectrum Business Internet installation, equipment, and contracts

Here’s the skinny on what’s involved with your Spectrum Business cable or fiber internet plan.

Spectrum Business installation

Spectrum provides professional and self-install options. The former is required for new setups, while the latter is ideal if your building is wired for cable or fiber. Spectrum provides instructions on self-installing and registering its supplied modem and Advanced WiFi router for a quick and easy setup.

Spectrum Business equipment

Spectrum Business provides a modem or SONU rent-free, depending on the connection entering the premises. Technically, the Advanced WiFi router is also rent-free, but Wi-Fi access is a service Spectrum charges you each month—you’ll also see this charge if you use Spectrum’s all-in-one gateway.

Spectrum Business contracts

Spectrum Business does not require customers to sign a contract.

Spectrum Business internet customer ratings

*Based on our annual customer satisfaction survey

While we don’t have feedback on how Spectrum Business customers feel about their service, we can look at the residential side to see how Spectrum fares with its home internet customers.

According to our data, Spectrum ranks higher than the national average in speed satisfaction but is average in terms of overall satisfaction and reliability. Its lowest mark is in price satisfaction—a sore spot Spectrum will continue to endure until it drops the promotional pricing scheme and makes the standard rates more competitive.

‡ Plus taxes and fees. Ltd. avail/areas. Speeds vary, not guaranteed.

§ For first 12 months w/Auto Pay. Max speeds are wired. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary.

When we compare plans, we can see how providers like Spectrum and AT&T weave “free” features into their pricing. For example, Frontier has no extra perks, so its 500Mbps plan is a flat $70 for the first year. In contrast, Spectrum throws in things like branded email addresses, domain name registration, and more for $115 in the first year. Sure, Spectrum’s plan has 100Mbps more bandwidth than Frontier’s, but it’s also not symmetrical (at least, not yet)—even if you have its business fiber service.

Spectrum Business is the only one without multi-gig internet of the three listed above. Currently, the only way to get speeds above 1,000Mbps from Spectrum Business is to wait for the high-split upgrade or option for Spectrum Enterprise with symmetrical fiber speeds up to 100Gbps. AT&T has the most business-grade bandwidth, but does your company really need it?

Our verdict: Is Spectrum Business Internet right for you?

Spectrum Business is a good pick if you don’t need enterprise-grade fiber internet. For the money, you get good, reliable download speeds, plus a few extras, like rent-free equipment, branded emails, domain registration, and around-the-clock technical support.

But Spectrum lacks the symmetrical speeds of rivals AT&T Business and Frontier Business—at least, for now—plus your rates go up after 12 months. Be sure to weigh all your long-term expenses when shopping for the best internet for your business, especially if you need static IP addresses and internet backup service.

FAQ about Spectrum Business internet

Does spectrum business offer fiber internet.

Spectrum Business offers fiber-to-the-premises internet, but it’s not as heavily advertised as it once was. Spectrum now primarily advertises its enterprise-grade fiber internet service through Spectrum Enterprise, which offers symmetrical speeds up to 100,000Mbps (100Gbps).

Spectrum’s business-grade fiber has the same download speeds as its cable internet, ranging from 300Mbps to 1,000Mbps. The upload speeds are also identical to the residential ones, limited to 35Mbps max with the Gig plan. However, some areas now offer symmetrical (equal) download/upload speeds with cable or fiber.

Spectrum Business vs Residential: What's the difference?

Spectrum provides identical speeds and connection types to its business and residential customers. However, business customers get priority support (24/7/365) and access to free features homeowners don’t need, like branded emails and domain name registration. Plus, business customers can tack on extra features such as static IP addresses and Wireless Internet Backup.

Spectrum Business vs Enterprise: What's the difference?

Spectrum Business targets small and medium-sized companies, so you’ll see some basic similarities with Spectrum’s residential internet. Currently, the fastest plan is 1,000Mbps.

Spectrum Enterprise provides customized fiber internet for organizations with multiple locations and hundreds of employees. Spectrum Enterprise offers plans with symmetrical speeds up to 100Gbps.

Methodology

Our HighSpeedInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on customer input from our annual customer satisfaction survey , results from our speed test tool , and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. To strengthen our research, we look closely at provider contracts to obtain hard-to-find information on price hikes, data caps, and extra fees. We also monitor the latest news reports and online reviews. When applicable, we also rely on our personal experiences testing these services.

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Spectrum Business Internet Review and Pricing

Table of Contents

• Spectrum has simple, high-speed fiber plans with month-to-month contracts.
• There are no data caps or speed throttling with Spectrum internet.
• The vendor offers bundled discounts for internet, phone, mobile and television services.
• Spectrum’s maximum upload speed of 35 Mbps could be too slow for some people.
• With a minimum speed of 300 Mbps, it feels like the company is missing an entry-level plan for businesses without demanding internet needs.
• There’s no option for a dedicated internet connection through Spectrum.

Spectrum keeps its business internet service simple by offering three fiber plans with download speeds of up to 300 Mbps, 600 Mbps and 1 Gbps, none of which require an annual contract. If you only care about download speeds with your fiber connection, Spectrum is more affordable compared to rivals AT&T, Comcast and Verizon. You needn’t worry about sacrificing reliability either, which is usually listed at 99.9 percent with any dedicated internet or fiber provider like Spectrum. Spectrum’s add-on options include wireless backup internet, static IP addresses and a business Wi-Fi connection with the latest router. All of the company’s business internet packages include 24/7 U.S.-based customer support and a 30-day, money-back guarantee. If you switch from another internet service provider (ISP), you may even be able to receive up to $1,000 to help with early-termination fees. For these reasons, Spectrum is the best option for business owners seeking month-to-month internet service.

Spectrum Business Editor's Rating:

Why we chose spectrum for month-to-month contracts.

Avoiding lengthy software and service commitments is critical for lean and flexible businesses with strict budget controls. Spectrum grants businesses the freedom of a month-to-month broadband internet contract with the assurance of a 12-month price guarantee to plan for the future accordingly. Spectrum’s simple billing approach is also reflected in its three straightforward fiber internet offerings, with download/upload speeds of 300/10 Mbps, 600/35 Mbps and 1 Gbps/35 Mbps. While you can also find month-to-month fiber-optic network options with AT&T, you’ll likely pay a higher rate for the inclusion of faster upload speeds that you may not require.

Month-to-month options like those provided by Spectrum are also great for home offices and remote workers who don’t feel comfortable committing to an annual or multiyear contract. We also appreciate that while the vendor offers residential and business plans, anyone with a residential address in an area supported by Spectrum can purchase one of the business internet plans.

Spectrum’s bundles for television, phone, mobile and internet service could be cost-efficient. Source: Spectrum

Spectrum Business Features

Simplicity, fast fiber speeds and low monthly prices are what make Spectrum such an attractive ISP, but that doesn’t mean you have to go without a few other important connectivity features offered by larger, more expensive companies. However, be aware that Spectrum’s upload speed caps at 10 Mbps for its lowest plan and 35 Mbps with its mid- and top-tier plans. For media-focused companies or large offices conducting webinars for big groups, these slower upload speeds could present an issue. Fortunately, for most business users, this won’t be a significant concern, as the internet speed your business needs varies by company.

Wireless Internet Backup

You can avoid interruptions to critical tools like point-of-sale systems and credit card readers with a wireless internet backup option. Spectrum’s wireless, battery-powered LTE modem can keep your business running during a power outage thanks to its automatic backup connection and unlimited data to support up to four devices for more than eight hours. Once power is restored, your connection will automatically revert to its standard settings. You can add this backup service to your Spectrum Business Internet plan for $20 per month, without any additional fees or equipment charges. Comcast has a similar backup offering that can power operations for up to 16 hours, but as noted in our review of Comcast’s business internet , it’ll set you back $39.95 each month.

Using Spectrum’s backup modem, you can power essential devices during an outage. Source: Spectrum

All Spectrum Business Internet clients receive 25 licenses for F-Secure Desktop Security software. This online security solution for Mac and Windows devices provides real-time protection against cyber threats, including spyware, malware and hacker intrusions, with automatic updates. F-Secure is a Finland-based cybersecurity company founded in 1998; it has a global network of more than 170 partners representing 16 million protected customers. [Learn how to understand cyber risks .]

Business Wi-Fi

Spectrum Business Internet users can add on secure business Wi-Fi with the latest router for $7.99 per month. You can use your Wi-Fi network to securely connect all of your business devices and offer visiting customers a separate secure connection. However, if you’d prefer to purchase a compatible high-speed router for your Wi-Fi network, you could spend around $100 to $500 for the equipment and avoid the recurring monthly fee that Spectrum charges.

Static IP Addresses

Spectrum offers static IP addresses as one of its add-on services, but you’ll have to speak with a sales representative for a custom price quote. Unlike the dynamic IP addresses most often included with internet service, static IP addresses do not change. Once a device like a computer is assigned a static IP address, the address doesn’t change until it’s decommissioned from your network. With a static IP address, businesses can make it easier for remote employees to securely connect to a virtual private network (VPN), use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone systems and manage DNS servers. [See our picks for the best business phone systems .]

Spectrum Business Pricing

While speed and costs for all business ISPs can vary by region, we found Spectrum to be among the least-expensive fiber service providers. What makes the company stand out even more is its month-to-month contracts. We love that Spectrum doesn’t lock you into a long-term agreement. That flexibility can be very important in a world where business needs are always changing.

Spectrum’s three business internet plans all include the same 24/7/365 dedicated support, 99.9 percent network reliability, free Wi-Fi for your customers, 25 email addresses with a custom domain name and a 30-day, money-back guarantee. Beyond that, the chart below outlines how the plans compare in speed and price.

Business owners can add private, secure Wi-Fi to their business internet package to connect employee devices with Spectrum’s newest router for $7.99 per month. Pricing for other add-ons, including wireless internet backup and static IP addresses, is not publicly listed and requires contacting the company. Impressively, in addition to its money-back guarantee, Spectrum will offer you up to $1,000 to help with early-termination fees if you’re switching from another provider.

The savings calculator on Spectrum’s website can help you determine how much money you could potentially save by switching to Spectrum. Source: Spectrum

Implementation

Spectrum internet customers can make an installation appointment for the same day they sign up for the service or the following day if there’s availability, but it typically takes “no more than a week from the day you make your purchase,” according to a Spectrum representative. That’s faster than some competitors, including AT&T and Verizon. The implementation itself could take anywhere between one and three hours to complete, while service calls generally take about an hour.

After you place an order and schedule your installation appointment, you can elect to receive notifications by email, text or phone, which you’ll need to confirm your appointment with some services. If you select email as your form of communication, you may need to call to confirm some service appointments. The day before your appointment, you should receive a reminder notification, and if you don’t confirm, you’ll receive another reminder on the day of your appointment.

Customer Service

You can call Spectrum directly to get started with the buying process or fill out an online form to request a sales representative call you. Associates are available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET. When we spoke with the provider’s staffers, we received knowledgeable responses that helped us explore the available offerings.

All Spectrum Business plans include 24-hour dedicated, U.S.-based support every day of the year as well as advanced access to on-site technicians. If you’re having an issue with your business connection, a customer service representative can first attempt to troubleshoot it remotely. If a remote solution cannot be found, an on-site service technician will address the problem in person.

If you’d prefer to resolve any issues on your own, the company has an online Spectrum Business Support & Help Center. This database houses numerous guides, educational articles, FAQs and tools, like the Spectrum Speed Test, which can measure your upload and download speeds. There are also step-by-step instructions for various troubleshooting procedures.

Limitations

Though Spectrum’s pricing and monthly contracts are appealing, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that the vendor’s fiber upload speeds are far behind those of competitors, including AT&T and Verizon. Spectrum’s fastest upload speed is 35 Mbps, while AT&T and Verizon can achieve over 800 Mbps for large file transfers or video conferences . When we talked with Spectrum’s product specialists, we were told faster upload speeds and synchronous speeds are in the works with a 10 Gbps network planned for the future, but not every business owner may be willing to wait.

Additionally, Spectrum doesn’t offer any dedicated internet plans. Businesses that need a dedicated internet plan with constant access to cloud applications to connect global offices and increase security should consider AT&T and Verizon. Find out why in our review of AT&T and our Verizon review .

Methodology

To determine the best business internet service providers , we researched and analyzed a variety of companies. As part of this process, we spoke to product specialists when possible, and we compared and contrasted different aspects across vendors, such as pricing, the installation process, speed and connectivity type, additional services, and the quality of customer support. For most businesses without demanding uploading requirements, Spectrum shines as a cost-effective ISP with no long-term contracts, data caps or speed throttling.

How are Spectrum Residential and Spectrum Business different?

Is spectrum business internet reliable, where does spectrum offer service, bottom line.

We recommend Spectrum Business Internet for …

• Business owners who want to keep their internet plans flexible without long-term service contracts.
• Businesses looking for the highest fiber speeds at the lowest cost.
• Companies that want to bundle internet, phone and television services at a discounted rate.

We don’t recommend Spectrum’s Business Internet for …

• Business owners who want a guaranteed price for multiple years.
• Businesses that require a dedicated internet plan.
• Organizations, such as media enterprises, that could be hampered by a maximum upload speed of 35 Mbps.

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Home > Services > Internet

Spectrum Business Internet Review 2023: Compare Pricing and Plan Options

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Paid services, 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

• AT&T vs. Comcast: Which Internet Provider Is Best for Small Businesses?
• Best High-Speed Internet Providers for Small Businesses of 2024
• AT&T Business Internet Review 2023
• Verizon Business Internet Review 2023
• Best Business Internet Service Providers of 2021

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:

• Contact Spectrum to find out if your plan is eligible for self-installation. Ask whether there are surcharges to install your own connection.
• 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 .
• 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:

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:

Methodology

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

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.

1. California Cable & Telecommunications Association, “ History of Cable .” Accessed December 7, 2022. 2. CNN, “ Bye, Bye Time Warner Cable. Hello Charter ,” May 18, 2016. Accessed December 7, 2022. 3. ACSI, “ Benchmarks By Industry: Internet Service Providers .” Accessed December 7, 2022. 4. Better Business Bureau, “ Charter Spectrum .” Accessed December 7, 2022. 5. J.D. Power, “ 2020 US Business Wireline Satisfaction Study ,” July 9, 2020. Accessed December 7, 2022. 6. Los Angeles Times, “ Charter Completes Purchase of Time Warner Cable, Bright House ,” May 18, 2016. Accessed December 7, 2022.

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Disclaimer: The information featured in this article is based on our best estimates of pricing, package details, contract stipulations, and service available at the time of writing. All information is subject to change. Pricing will vary based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the customer’s location, package chosen, added features and equipment, the purchaser’s credit score, etc. For the most accurate information, please ask your customer service representative. Clarify all fees and contract details before signing a contract or finalizing your purchase.

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