Bundle Deals
Both Spectrum and WOW! have crafted bundle deals to cater to the needs of their customers, each with its features and benefits. Let’s unwrap these bundles to see what they offer.
Spectrum Bundle Deals
Starting with Spectrum, they offer a range of options. Their internet and cable TV bundles are great for those who love to surf the web and catch up on their favorite shows. Then there’s the 3-in-1 bundles, which take it a notch higher by adding a home phone service into the mix, ideal for anyone looking for a complete home communication solution.
But Spectrum ups the game with its Spectrum One deal. It is an all-in-one package where you get Internet with free WiFi and Mobile services. What’s more, they recently spiced it up and launched Spectrum One Stream by adding Spectrum TV and a complimentary Xumo Stream Box for the first year. This package is a buffet of services – Internet, Advanced WiFi, Mobile Unlimited, Spectrum TV, and the Xumo Stream Box, all in one. It’s perfect for those who want everything under one roof.
WOW! Bundle Deals
On the other side, WOW! keeps things a bit more streamlined but equally appealing. They have two main bundle types: Internet + TV and Internet + Mobile. The Internet + TV option combines their Internet service with YouTube TV. This comes with the flexibility of choosing from five different plans based on your internet speed needs – a custom-fit approach for your viewing and browsing habits.
Then there’s the Internet + WOW! Mobile bundle. This one’s particularly attractive for new customers because of its affordability – starting at just $24.99 per month. It’s a straightforward combo of internet and 5G mobile service.
Spectrum goes big with a wide array of services in its bundles, especially with the all-encompassing Spectrum One. WOW!, meanwhile, focuses on providing targeted, efficient internet and TV/mobile packages at competitive prices.
Best Option for Gaming – Spectrum or WOW?
Gaming is a popular and demanding online activity that requires a fast and reliable internet connection. In fact, 3 out of 4 households in America have a gamer. Many gamers wonder which internet provider is best for gaming when they have to choose between two similar cable providers, as in the case of Spectrum and WOW. We need to look at different factors to decide which provider is a better pick for gaming.
Internet Speed
Both Spectrum and WOW! offer up to Gig internet speeds. But, WOW! has an edge over Spectrum in terms of upload speed. Spectrum generally offers upload speeds from 10 to 35 Mbps, whereas WOW! can offer upload speeds from 10 to 50 Mbps. Upload speeds are important for playing games, and also for activities like streaming your gameplay.
Latency
The lower the latency or ping, the better the gaming experience, as it means less delay, jitter, and packet loss. Both Spectrum and WOW! have low latency, averaging around 20 ms, which is well below the recommended threshold of 100 ms for gaming. However, latency can vary depending on the game, the server, the network congestion, and the distance from the provider’s infrastructure.
Data Cap
Data caps limit affect your gaming experience if you exceed them. Some providers impose these caps to manage network traffic and might charge extra if you exceed them. WOW! is one such provider, with their initial plans (100 and 200) having 1.5 TB limits and even their Internet Gig plan having a 3 TB data cap. Only their fastest cable plan, ‘Internet 1.2 Gig,’ offers unlimited data.
Luckily, Spectrum does not impose data caps, allowing you to enjoy gaming without worrying about exceeding data limits or facing additional fees. Therefore, if you use a lot of data, opting for WOW!’s initial plans is not recommended.
Wider Availability – Spectrum or WOW?
After all, the best services are of no use if they are not accessible in your area. Let’s compare Spectrum and WOW! in terms of their reach and availability to see which provider covers more ground.
Spectrum clearly has the upper hand with its service reaching 41 states. WOW!, while smaller in network size reaches six states. However, it is growing and could become more widely available in the future.
Spectrum has a wide-reaching network, serving about 32 million customers across 41 states. Spectrum’s network covers nearly a third of the country, making it one of the most accessible cable internet providers. Spectrum’s top five states with the most availability are Ohio, Maine, New York, Wisconsin, and North Carolina.
While Spectrum is widespread, like most cable internet providers, it might not reach certain rural areas. If you are in a less populated region, you may need to look into other internet service options.
In comparison, WOW! has a smaller footprint compared to Spectrum. It operates in 2 million homes in 15 markets within six states in the Midwest and Southeast US. These states include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
While WOW!’s coverage is more concentrated, they are expanding their network. They are working on constructing an all-fiber network in some regions.
Better Customer Service – Spectrum or WOW?
When picking any service, how they handle customer service is really noteworthy. Good support can make a big difference, especially if you encounter problems or have questions.
Spectrum Customer Service
Spectrum’s customer service has seen improvements over the years. They have made some progress, but there is still room for improvement.
The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) provides a broader view. Spectrum experienced an increase in customer satisfaction in 2023, reaching 64 points. It maintained this score consistently, even amidst industry-wide dips. Considering the general low ranking of internet customer service across industries, Spectrum’s score suggests it is doing reasonably well.
In a study by J.D. Power in 2023, Spectrum’s scores were not as high as other carriers in the same regions. For example, in the South, they scored 728 out of 1,000, which was behind companies like AT&T and Xfinity.
WOW! Customer Service
WOW!’s customer service seems a bit more hit or miss. They are not listed in the ACSI report. But, in the 2023 J.D. Power study, WOW! did pretty well in the North Central region of the US. They got a score of 694 out of 1,000, which is higher than Spectrum for that region.
Final Verdict – Spectrum or WOW?
Both Spectrum and WOW! offer great features like gigabit internet speeds, no contracts, and bundles. But as they say, the devil is in the details, and that is where your decision might tilt.
The lack of data caps and the availability of high-speed plans play in Spectrum’s favor. However, it is not all roses. After the first year, prices jump significantly, and if you are in a remote area, you might find Spectrum’s service lacking.
On the other hand, WOW!, though limited in its geographical footprint, stands out with competitive pricing. WOW!’s higher upload speeds are a boon for content creators and heavy uploaders. But it is not without its drawbacks – WOW! has data caps on most plans, and its customer satisfaction ratings do not match up to its claims.
So, what is the final verdict? If you value widespread availability, and flexibility, and are a heavy internet user, Spectrum is the way to go. However, if you are in an area covered by WOW! and are seeking good value for money with decent speeds, WOW! could be your ideal pick.