Metronet vs. Spectrum Internet Providers Compared

Metronet offers fiber internet's superior performance with competitive pricing and rapid expansion In 2024, Metronet earned recognition as PCMag's "Fastest ISP in the United States" for both 2023 and 2024 [1]. In a significant development, a joint venture between T-Mobile and KKR completed the acquisition of Metronet in July 2025, with residential fiber customers now served under the T-Mobile Fiber brand while Metronet continues to manage network buildouts and infrastructure [2]. The company currently delivers multi-gigabit internet service to more than 3 million homes and businesses across 300+ communities in 19 states [3]. Metronet's coverage spans three major regions: a large portion of the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, the South and Southwest (including Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado), and Florida in the Southeast. With an ambitious expansion plan targeting 6.5 million homes passed by the end of 2030, Metronet is adding fiber availability to underserved markets at an unprecedented pace [4].

All Metronet connections utilize 100% fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) technology, delivering symmetrical upload and download speeds that cable and DSL providers cannot match. Metronet strategically builds in areas that lack another fiber provider, bringing high-speed options to communities previously limited to slower connection types.

States with Metronet service: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Major cities include Colorado Springs, Des Moines, Indianapolis, Lexington, Norfolk, Tallahassee, Dayton, Aurora (IL), Lansing, and Rochester (MN), with over 300 total communities served. In 2025 alone, Metronet announced fiber expansion plans in 32 new cities. Following the T-Mobile/KKR joint venture completed in July 2025, Metronet residential customers transitioned to T-Mobile Fiber branding for retail services, while Metronet focuses on network engineering, design, deployment, and installation [5]. The company maintains its commercial services business independently.

Metronet's prices start competitively with gradual increases and transparent rate structures Metronet offers fiber internet plans ranging from 500 Mbps to 2 Gbps, with promotional pricing that increases in stages rather than dramatic jumps after the first year [6]. With the entry-level plan, you’re paying roughly $0.09 per Mbps, which is a good competitive rate. Plans also include optional price locks that guarantee rates for up to 24 months. Current Metronet pricing:

• 500 Mbps: $44.95/mo for 12 months without price lock, or $60/mo with 24-month price lock
• 1 Gig: $49.95/mo for 12 months, $59.95/mo (month 13), $69.95/mo (month 25), then $89.95/mo regular rate; or $70/mo with 24-month price lock
• 2 Gig: $69.95/mo for 12 months, increasing to $119.95/mo regular rate; or $80/mo with price lock

Mandatory and optional fees: All plans include a mandatory $12.95/mo TechAssure fee that covers service calls, technician visits, and all repairs to Metronet-owned equipment and wiring both inside and outside your home. While this adds to the monthly cost, it eliminates surprise charges for technical support or equipment fixes. Installation typically costs $75, but is frequently waived during promotional periods [7]. New customers often receive the first month of service free. Metronet does not charge equipment rental fees, with an eero Pro 6E wireless router included with all plans up to 2 Gig at no additional cost. Customers must return equipment upon cancellation or face a non-return fee of up to $150. Optional add-ons: WholeHome WiFi powered by eero mesh network technology costs $9.95/mo and extends coverage throughout larger homes. The eeroPlus premium service — which includes ad blocking, parental controls, and additional security features — is available for $1/mo for the first six months with 2 Gig purchase (normally $9/mo). Metronet also offers a $25 account credit when customers enroll in ACH autopay. Unlike many internet providers, Metronet has no contracts, no data caps, and no early termination fees.

Spectrum offers great initial deals, but bundling may be the best deal ever

Spectrum is a major player in internet service, with 30 million broadband subscribers [1]. Spectrum offers attractive promotional pricing, especially their first-tier internet plan at $30/month for up to 100 Mbps.

Spectrum offers unlimited data without caps

Spectrum offers a big price advantage because it has no hard data caps, unlike many other cable and DSL providers. If you’re a heavy-data-usage household (including remote workers, real-time gamers and streaming binge-watchers), having no data caps may be crucial for your budget. If you’re living by yourself and you watch a movie once a week, the absence of data caps won’t matter as much. But for a larger household, having no data caps will offer you peace of mind and a more predictable bill without overage charges.

Spectrum One, the bundle deal of the year?

In late 2022, Spectrum introduced a new bundle deal called Spectrum One that may just change your mind about your preferred internet service provider [2]. If you are an existing Spectrum customer, Spectrum will bundle their Spectrum Mobile cell phone service with your internet and charge you only about $30/month for a line with unlimited data. You can add more mobile service at the same price. Here’s another little secret: Spectrum Mobile service is currently provided by Verizon networks. So, if you have two cell phones on your bundle, you will be getting major mobile power and coverage but saving over $80/month off the price of two typical cell phone plans. We’re betting that’s enough to send many of us to Spectrum.

All-fiber technology delivers consistently fast symmetrical speeds Metronet's 100% fiber-optic network provides a significant performance advantage over cable and DSL connections. The company earned PCMag's "Fastest ISP in the United States" designation for both 2023 and 2024, reflecting independently verified speed test results. Fiber advantages Because Metronet runs fiber directly to customer homes without using coaxial cable or copper phone lines for the final connection, customers receive dedicated bandwidth that isn't shared with neighbors. This gives symmetrical speeds where upload performance equals download speed, which is a critical feature for remote work, video conferencing, content creation, live streaming, and uploading large files to cloud storage. Real-world speed tests from Metronet customers consistently show performance that meets or exceeds advertised rates. Users report receiving 520-540 Mbps on 500 Mbps plans and over 900 Mbps on 1 Gig plans. Symmetrical speeds mean a 1 Gig plan provides 1,000 Mbps upload alongside 1,000 Mbps download, while cable internet typically offers only 30-35 Mbps upload even on gigabit download plans. Fiber connections maintain consistent performance during peak usage hours when cable networks often experience slowdowns from neighborhood congestion. The technology also remains unaffected by weather conditions that can disrupt satellite or fixed wireless services. Additionally, fiber-optic cables are significantly more difficult to tap or intercept than traditional copper wiring, providing better security advantages. Future-ready infrastructure As emerging technologies like augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and AI-powered applications demand greater bandwidth, Metronet's fiber infrastructure can accommodate these needs. Metronet reports 99.9% uptime reliability across its network. Customer reviews highlight strong consistency, with users noting reliable performance for demanding applications including competitive gaming (ping under 15ms), 4K streaming on multiple devices, and professional video conferencing.

Spectrum internet will rise to unprecedented speeds in next few years with up to 10/6 Gbps

In 2023, Spectrum was named by Speedtest® as the fastest internet provider in the United States for providing the highest average speed to customers [3]. Spectrum’s hybrid fiber-cable technology is already supplying 2000 Mbps speeds in some areas. Either way, HFC will give you faster, more reliable internet service than anything but fiber. Spectrum customers tend to report reliable, speedy performance. You don’t get glitching or freezing or network slowdowns in most cases. You’ll be well-equipped for gaming, videoconferencing, and HD streaming. On a personal note, I have been a Spectrum customer for three years, and my experience with their service has proven to be very smooth and reliable. But there’s even more innovation coming from Spectrum that will boost HFC performance to fiber-like speeds. If you sign up for Spectrum now, you’re going to get a major bandwidth boost in the next couple of years. Here’s the technical explanation with the specs. Spectrum’s upgrade to the DOCSIS 4.0 standard over the next three years will deliver a maximum 10 Gbps download/ 6 Gbps upload, which can rival any current fiber speeds. By 2025, 85% of Spectrum’s service footprint will have speeds of 5 Gbps download/1 Gbps upload [4]. Fiber has received some great press in the last few years. But hybrid fiber/cable networks like Spectrum’s may be about to have their day in the sun too.

Free router included with most plans, straightforward installation process Metronet includes a free eero Pro 6E wireless router with all internet plans up to 2 Gig at no monthly rental charge. This eliminates the equipment fees that many ISPs charge, though customers have to return the router when canceling service or face a non-return equipment fee of up to $150. The included eero Pro 6E is a WiFi 6E router that provides strong wireless coverage for most homes. Customers can optionally add Metronet's WholeHome WiFi service ($9.95/mo), which uses eero mesh networking technology to create a smart mesh network that eliminates dead zones in larger homes [8]. The mesh system automatically routes devices to the strongest signal and hands off connections as you move through your house. Tech-savvy customers on any plan can opt to use their own router instead of the provided eero. Installation Standard professional installation costs $75, though this fee is frequently waived during promotional periods. The installation process typically takes a few hours and requires an adult 18 or older to be present. Installation timelines vary, with some customers reporting quick turnaround within days, while others in new buildout areas may wait 2-4 weeks depending on infrastructure readiness [9]. The technician will run fiber directly to your home, install the optical network terminal (ONT), connect the WiFi router, and test the connection.  Metronet's mandatory TechAssure fee ($12.95/mo) covers all future service calls, equipment repairs, and technical support at no additional charge. This means if your router fails, your connection experiences issues, or you need a technician visit, there are no surprise charges — the monthly fee covers these services.

Advanced WiFi and low equipment fees increase appeal for Spectrum

Spectrum will provide you with a free modem and either a Wave 2 router or an advanced, WiFi 6 compatible router [5]. The Charter Red-Dot Design award-winning router can support up to 200 devices simultaneously. User controls allow you to manage which devices are connected and when, and Security Shield automatically blocks online threats. You can even manage your router and your home wireless devices from the Spectrum app on your phone, with no complicated log-in. The router will automatically switch channels to optimize your internet performance.

Spectrum offers low equipment fees

Spectrum equipment fees are standardized, very low, and easy to understand. Spectrum modems come free with your service, and Spectrum routers rent for $5/month. Simple, straightforward pricing, unlike the complicated equipment fee charts you have to read for other providers.

Spectrum installation fees

Spectrum’s installation fees are middle-of-the-road for the industry. Professional installation by a technician will cost you $59.99. You can self-install Spectrum too, with a $19.99 activation fee.

Metronet earns above-average ratings with strong marks for speed and reliability Metronet does not appear in major national customer satisfaction surveys like J.D. Power or the American Customer Satisfaction Index due to its regional footprint. However, multiple independent surveys and review platforms provide insight into customer experiences. According to CableTV.com's Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey, 77% of respondents reported being fully or highly satisfied with Metronet's internet service, placing the company sixth overall among ISPs [10]. Customer satisfaction with specific aspects showed 79% approval for internet speed and 79% for reliability — scores that trailed top performers like Google Fiber and Verizon Fios by only a small margin while significantly outperforming cable providers. Metronet offers multiple support channels including 24/7 phone lines, live chat, text messaging to customer support numbers, website FAQs, and video tutorials [11]. What customers say Customer reviews consistently praise installation technicians as friendly, professional, and thorough [12]. If additional fiber construction is needed in your neighborhood, timelines may extend, but Metronet provides updates throughout the process. Reviews consistently highlight fast symmetrical speeds, reliable fiber performance, and professional installation technicians who are thorough and courteous. Many customers report smooth streaming on multiple devices, excellent gaming performance with low latency (under 15ms ping), and the ability to video conference while others in the household stream 4K content. The lack of data caps and contracts receives positive mentions, as does pricing that remains more stable than cable competitors after promotional periods. Installation delays do frustrate some customers, particularly in newly expanding markets where infrastructure work causes rescheduled appointments. The mandatory $12.95/mo TechAssure fee, while comprehensive in coverage, annoys customers who view it as a hidden charge not clearly disclosed upfront [13]. Some customers report occasional service outages, though experiences vary significantly by market. Response times for customer service receive mixed reviews. Some customers praise quick resolution of issues in under 10 minutes, while others report long wait times and difficulty reaching representatives during outages. Customer service satisfaction scored 72% in CableTV.com's survey, which is lower than technical performance ratings but still competitive for the industry. Overall assessment Fiber internet providers generally achieve higher customer satisfaction than cable or DSL competitors because the technology is newer, more reliable, and less prone to congestion-related slowdowns [14]. Metronet follows this pattern — customers who experience smooth installation and service typically express high satisfaction with performance. The company's generally transparent pricing structure and lack of data caps contribute to positive experiences, though communication about fees and installation timelines could improve based on customer feedback.

Spectrum Customer Service available 24/7

Spectrum provides customer service by phone or online chat 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Spectrum also provides an extensive online troubleshooting guide and how-to resource library. If you prefer in-person assistance, Spectrum supports brick-and-mortar stores across its coverage area. These physical locations can also be very handy when you want to exchange equipment. Your Spectrum plan will give you access to a helpful and comprehensive mobile app. The app allows you to check for outages, manage your account, and do almost anything you would do online or by phone. You can even manage your WiFi settings through the app.