Comcast Xfinity, Character Spectrum, and Cox Communications are three of the largest ISPs in the US (in that order) primarily providing cable internet in urban and rural areas. Windstream, on the other hand, is a rural internet provider serving only about 2.6% of US households. Because most of Windstream’s markets don’t have cable, it provides internet connection via DSL, with its new builds providing fiber-to-the-premises internet.
However, the difference in technology is only partly how Windstream separates itself from its much larger competitors. While it adopts some less-than-ideal ideal strategies from its larger contemporaries, Windstream Internet is overall more consumer-friendly than the market leaders that retain most of the market power.
Let’s take a closer look at Windstream and how it stacks up against Spectrum, Xfinity, and Cox.
Windstream vs. Spectrum
Windstream uses fiber technology in some areas and DSL in others while Spectrum primarily uses cable technology for its internet services. DSL isn’t as fast as cable, but as we’ll see repeatedly in this comparison, Windstream fiber is superior to Spectrum cable any way you look at it. Here are the major differences and similarities between Windstream and Spectrum.
Differences
Speeds
Spectrum provides cable internet with speeds max speeds from 300 Mbps to 1000 Mbps depending on the speed tier. Windstream offers speeds up to 100 Mbps with DSL and symmetrical speeds ranging from 500 Mbps to 8 Gbps with fiber. However, not all speeds are in all service areas. We’d suggest talking to Windstream customer service for details specific to your location.
Reliability
Windstream’s fiber-optic internet is categorically more reliable than Spectrum’s cable internet. Fiber has more bandwidth which keeps speeds consistent throughout the day, while its susceptibility to external factors ensures it’s not affected by weather conditions and electromagnetic interference.
Spectrum is the most reliable ISP according to Ookla Speedtest Intelligence with a Consistency Score of 91.9%. However, this number only indicates the percentage of time the speeds are at least 25 Mbps, which isn’t what most people mean by “high-speed internet” nowadays.
Latency
It’s not possible to associate a certain measure of latency to Spectrum or Windstream, as it depends on a number of factors beyond the ISP’s control. But we’d bet our money on Windstream as fiber typically has lower latency than cable.
Cost
Both DSL (100 Mbps) and fiber (500 Mbps) products of Windstream start at $39.99 a month for 12 months. Spectrum’s 500 Mbps plan costs $69.99 a month.
Similarities
Unlimited Data
Both Windstream and Spectrum include unlimited data with all internet plans. There’s no data cap or overage fees.
No Annual Contract
An annual contract isn’t required for Windstream or Spectrum Internet. You can cancel anytime without any penalty fees.
Pricing Structure
Both providers have a promotional pricing structure where you get the service at a discounted price for the first 12 months.
Windstream vs. Xfinity
Like Spectrum, Xfinity also mainly provides cable internet, which is better than Windstream’s DSL service but falls short of the benefits of fiber. Windstream looks even better compared to Xfinity than Spectrum. Here are the major differences and similarities between the two ISPs.
Differences
Speeds
Xfinity offers speeds ranging from 100 Mbps to 2 Gbps, with plans to bring symmetrical speeds with DOCSIS 4.0 technology. Windstream already offers symmetrical speeds ranging from 500 Mbps to 8 Gbps.
Reliability
While Xfinity is using emerging technologies such as AI to better manage its network, it’s yet to meet the reliability afforded by fiber ISPs such as Windstream.
Latency
Xfinity is trying out Low Latency DOCSIS to lower latency caused by queuing delays for latency-sensitive activities such as gaming and video calling. However, fiber’s higher bandwidth allows it to keep queuing delay to a minimum for all traffic.
Cost
Xfinity’s basic plan (100 Mbps) starts at $25 per month for 12 months compared to Windstream’s DSL plan (100 Mbps) which costs $39.99, so Xfinity is cheaper than Windstream DSL. However, Windstream Fiber Internet (500) Mbps also costs $39.99 while Xfiniy charges $50 per month for its 400 Mbps speed tier.
Data Cap
Xfinity has a 1.2 TB data cap in most service areas. You have to pay $30 more per month or get xFi Complete for $25 per month to enjoy unlimited data. Windstream, on the other hand, is free from any data caps.
Contract
All Windstream plans are free from term contracts. Xfinity also doesn’t require term contracts, but you have the option to get into a contract for a discount on monthly fees.
Similarities
Pricing Structure
Both Xfinity and Windstream have a promotional pricing structure that includes discounts for new customers.
Symmetrical Speeds
Comcast Xfinity is bringing symmetrical speeds to cable internet in a world-first deployment of DOCSIS 4.0 technology. When Comcast starts rolling out DOCSIS 4.0 in late 2023, Xfinity Internet will match fiber in terms of upload speeds.
Windstream vs. Cox
Windstream and Cox are the closest contestants in this comparison to the point that the better ISP for you depends on your unique needs. The following differences and similarities explain why:
Differences
Speeds
Cox offers max speeds ranging from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps in 99% of its service areas, with a 2 Gbps plan offered in some markets. It also offers fiber-to-the-premisses internet, but the footprint is significantly smaller than Windstream’s 8-gig capable network.
Reliability
Cox uses a significant percentage of fiber in its backbone network to make its service more reliable and its speeds more consistent. However, Windstream’s fiber-to-the-premises connections are more reliable.
Latency
Cox scores the same multi-server latency as Xfinity on Speedtest intelligence, and just like Xfinity, it’s unable to match the consistently low queuing delay afforded by fiber.
Pricing
Windstream’s starter plan (100 Mbps with DSL and 500 Mbps with fiber) costs $39.99 per month compared to Cox Go Fast (100 Mbps) costs $49.99.
However, Windstream’s rates go up after 12 months, but Cox Internet plans are offered at standard rates that don’t hike. Windstream has lower introductory prices than Cox, but Cox may deliver more value for money in the long run, especially if Windstream only has DSL in your area.
Data Cap
Cox has a 1.25 TB data cap on all internet plans. This amount of data should suffice for most users, but having to pay $59 per month for unlimited data is a deal breaker for power users. Windstream includes unlimited data with all its plans at no additional cost.
Similarities
No Term Contracts
Signing an annual contract isn’t required with either Windstream or Cox. Cox allows you to switch speeds anytime with no repercussions as all plans are offered at standard prices, but you may lose promotional privileges with Windstream if you change tiers in the first 12 months.
Expanding Fiber Network
Windstream and Cox primarily offer DSL and Cable internet respectively, but both are bringing fiber internet to new areas and plan to overbuild their existing networks with fiber.
To Sum Up,
Windstream Fiber internet is overall better than Xfinity, Spectrum, and Cox. It has symmetrical speeds, includes unlimited, requires no term contracts, and costs less for the same speeds. Windstream DSL internet, which only has max speeds of 100 Mbps, may not be as suitable for bandwidth-requiring tasks such as 4K streaming as high-speed cable internet.
