I’m always searching for ways to get the most value from service providers. I compiled information from various sources to help you save the most money possible with Spectrum.
Here are some deals that I’ll cover throughout this guide:
- Free Peacock Premium subscription
- Low-income internet plan
- Internet bill credit
- Phone deals
- Discounts for different groups
- Black Friday specials
- Internet plans
- TV plans
Keep reading to learn more.
#1 Peacock Premium Subscription for Free
New and existing Spectrum customers can get a free Peacock Premium streaming account.
Cable TV customers will get the service free for 12 months.
Broadband internet users will get it free for 90 days.
Here’s an explanation straight from Spectrum’s website:
To claim your free streaming subscription, follow this link. New Peacock users will need to create an account. Meanwhile, existing users can apply the promotion to their accounts by signing in.
If you’re unfamiliar with Peacock Premium, it’s a streaming service that NBCUniversal owns. It usually costs $4.99 monthly and gives you over 80,000 hours of content.
Some shows, features, and movies you’ll find in this service include:
- NFL Sunday Football
- The Office
- 50 live TV channels
- Next-day access from Bravo and NBC
- That ‘70s Show
You can watch Peacock on various smart devices like smart TVs, tablets, smartphones, computers, and media streaming devices (e.g., Apple TV).
If you want to watch content in 4K, you don’t have to worry about a data cap restricting your watch time with Spectrum. For instance, with Cox’s 1.2 terabytes (TB) data cap, you can only stream a little over 200 hours of 4K video [1].
Let’s talk about accessing a more affordable internet plan.
#2 Internet Assist: Spectrum Low-income Internet
Spectrum offers Internet Assist. It’s a $17.99 internet plan that provides 30/4.0 Mbps speeds and doesn’t have a contract or hard data cap.
But it’s only for low-income individuals who participate in at least 1 of a select few programs.
These government benefit schemes include:
- National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
- Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
To apply for this internet plan, click this link. Upon landing on the page, you’ll need to upload proof that you’re receiving these benefits.
Submit your application and wait to see if Spectrum lets you use this plan.
If you’re approved, keep in mind that you’ll still need to pay for a Wi-Fi router rental. This will cost you $5.00 monthly. Unless you buy your own hardware.
We’ve researched and compared many frugal-friendly routers. Check them out if you need help finding one that’ll give you the best bang for your buck.
Do you qualify for this plan?
The following “deal” could help you get free Spectrum internet.
#3 Affordable Connectivity Program: Monthly Internet Credit
The government offers qualifying individuals a $30 recurring internet plan credit known as the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
Those who qualify and live in Tribal Lands can save $75 monthly on internet bills.
To become eligible, you must participate in one of these programs [2]:
- Medicaid
- Reduced Price Lunch Program
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): or Tribal TANF
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
You’ll only need to meet 1 of these qualifications. Check the link above to find all qualifications.
Once you’re approved, Spectrum will apply the credit to your plan.
New and existing Spectrum customers can save $30 monthly on home internet plans if they qualify for the credit.
ISPs who partner with the federal government on the ACP often offer discounted laptops or tablets. Spectrum doesn’t [3].
You should check the previous link to maximize your value from the ACP. You’ll find internet service providers who offer discounted hardware.
Navigate to the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) online application page to apply for this credit.
Don’t want to apply online?
Follow this link to learn how to deal with your application through the mail. And follow these steps:
Now that you have cheaper internet, let’s deal with your mobile needs.
#4 Spectrum Phone Deals
Trading in a phone with Spectrum will give you your device’s trade-in value plus an extra $100. You must put this money toward a Spectrum Mobile cellular phone, though.
It doesn’t matter what type of phone you put it toward. Whether it’s a Samsung or iPhone.
Depending on the devices, you could get an extra $200, $300, or $500 to put toward a Samsung phone. I wrote a piece that details all phone models and the amount of bonus trade-in credit.
Here’s an example, though. When buying a device, you’ll get the device’s trade-in value plus an extra $500 in store credit when buying a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4.
You can also get $250 off of the Google Pixel 6a. It was $449.99, but now it’s only $199.99. That doesn’t include trade-in value or bonus credit.
So you can get this device even less. Depending on the value of the device you exchange.
What determines your smartphone’s trade-in value?
Spectrum will consider your device’s make, model, condition, and phone carrier. They won’t accept phones with visible liquid beneath your screen. Or phones with swollen batteries.
Also:
Add an Apple Watch smartwatch plan to your Spectrum Mobile account. You’ll get that plan for free for 3 months. You also won’t have to pay an activation fee.
#5 Spectrum Discounts for Various Groups
The following sections will cover whether Spectrum offers discounts to these people:
Read on and learn more.
Seniors Spectrum Deals
Spectrum doesn’t offer discounts for the elderly. They don’t provide any specials for those in the Advancement of Retired Persons (AARP).
Veterans & Military Spectrum Promotions
Veterans, disabled veterans, military personnel, and Gold Star Families won’t find deals on any of Spectrum’s products and services.
Teachers Spectrum Discounts
Charter Spectrum doesn’t offer teachers and other education institution faculty discounts.
Students Discounts on Spectrum Services
College and K–12 students don’t get discounts on any of Spectrum’s services, phones, or accessories.
Spectrum Discounts for New Customers
New customers can get up to 49% off for the first 12 months of their broadband internet and cable TV plans through promotional pricing.
Spectrum Discounts for Existing Customers
Existing customers won’t find any discounts with Spectrum.
Current Spectrum customers could try a “trick” to get the promotion rate again. It’s called negotiation.
Call the service provider’s retention department and hint that you want to switch to “X” provider to save money. Because the price after the promotional 12 months costs too much.
From there, Spectrum’s customer support MAY throw you a bone. Perhaps they’ll give you a discounted rate on your home internet or television plan.
I emphasized more on negotiating with Spectrum in a different guide. Refer to the link at the beginning of this section.
But here’s a summary:
- Research other TV or ISPs that support your area: for leverage
- Call Spectrum at (833) 267-6094
- Request to speak to the retention department
- Upon reaching someone, say you’re considering switching because your plan costs too much
If Spectrum calls your bluff, transition your call to an end. Call back another day.
You may reach someone more willing to help you with your issue of paying too much.
DO NOT ask to speak to a manager. The retention department has the only people who possess promotional codes and discounts. Thus, they’re the only ones who can help.
#6 Cyber Monday & Black Friday Spectrum Deals
Spectrum doesn’t have any announced Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
Recheck this guide often. We’ll keep it updated. You can see whether Charter Spectrum eventually adds deals for these shopping holidays.
#7 Spectrum Home internet Plans & Features
Broadband internet options you can access through Spectrum include:
| Tier | Promo Price | Post Promo | Percentage Increase | Speed (Down/Up) | Best For |
| Internet | $49.99/mo. | $74.99/mo. | 40% | 300/10 Mbps | Homes with over 7 people |
| Internet Ultra | $69.99/mo. | $94.99/mo. | 30% | 500/20 Mbps | Homes with over 9 users |
| Internet Gig | $89.99/mo. | $114.99/mo. | 24% | 1,000/35 Mbps | Homes with over 20 users |
Charter Spectrum broadband internet packages.
Spectrum’s home internet plan comes with these perks:
- Contract free
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Over 500,000 free Wi-Fi hotspots
- No hard data cap
- Access to Spectrum Mobile
- Free antivirus suite
- Free modem rental
Despite previous complaints with Spectrum, they give you a lot of flexibility regarding testing their services.
You can try their Wi-Fi hotspots free for 30 minutes under the network name ‘Spectrum Free Trial.’
Without dealing with a contract, you can cancel your service with no early termination fee. And you can get your money back if you cancel within the first 30 days of using their service.
Wi-Fi hotspots will help you conserve data and reduce your contribution to your cellular plan’s soft data cap. However, you won’t have to worry about this provider enforcing a hard data cap.
What is a hard data cap? It doesn’t matter. Let’s talk about the soft data cap, though.
Spectrum internet-only subscribers can get access to the company’s affordable cellular plan. Whether you choose the By-The-Gig or Unlimited plan, you’ll have a soft data cap.
Once you surpass “X” gigabytes (GB) of data, you’ll have slower network data speeds. The speeds and soft data cap will vary by plan.
Spectrum Mobile uses Verizon’s cellular towers. So the mobile plan also works great for anyone in rural areas.
It’s cool that you get a free antivirus program. But you may as well use Windows Defender as a Windows OS user. Because Spectrum hasn’t convinced me their software performs better.
Those with Mac devices can’t even use the software.
You’ll get a free modem. But not a router. I’ll emphasize in the next section.
Additional Fees for Spectrum Internet Plans
Here are some additional costs to consider with Spectrum’s internet plans:
| Charge | Amount |
| Advanced WiFi Router | $5.00/mo. |
| Spectrum WiFi Pods | $3.00/mo. per pod |
Spectrum broadband internet hidden fees.
Why mention these when this post covers deals?
Because additional costs lead to a higher bill. And you likely don’t want a higher bill.
I promised I’d talk about the router. Spectrum charges a monthly fee to rent their router. It comes with typical features modern-day routers would include. Like Wi-Fi user management.
It’s not worth paying $120 every couple of years for this hardware. I recommend getting your own.
You can likely find a decent router for a little over $100. It would take you about a year to pay off. Plus, you could use it with other internet service providers.
What are the WiFi pods?
They extend your Wi-Fi’s reach. And they’re best for homes that are 3,000 square feet [4]. Only get these if you’ve troubleshot Wi-Fi connection issues in your home.
You’ll want to get a Wi-Fi pod for each wireless dead zone in your home. For instance, if you’re frequently in your garage, and it has a crappy signal, you’ll want to consider a pod.
Or mesh Wi-Fi. Getting mesh routers will kill 2 birds with 1 stone. No renting Wi-Fi pods or the router. We’ve written a guide on the benefits of using this type of Wi-Fi.
Charter Spectrum Cable TV Plans & Features
Charter Spectrum offers the following cable television plans:
| Tier | Promo Price | Post Promo | Channels | Best For | Considerations |
| TV Select | $59.99/mo. | $79.99/mo. | 125+ | Basic cable TV | No free TV box |
| MI Plan Latino | $39.99/mo. | $54.99/mo. | 145+ | Access to Spanish channels | NA |
| Spectrum TV Select + Latino View | $71.99/mo. | NA | 200+ | More multi-lingual channel options | 70+ Spanish-lang. channels and TV Select |
Spectrum cable TV plans.
There’s not too much to say about the cable TV plans. They only offer 1 option (TV Select). You can customize the channel packages you add.
And if you want Spanish-language channels, you’ll want Mi Plan Latino. To get both plans, get the Spectrum TV Select + Latino View.
You don’t get free TV boxes.
But that doesn’t matter if you have a smart device or computer. Because you can stream most of your channels through the Spectrum TV app. If you don’t have the devices I mentioned, just go to Walmart or some similar store and buy a cheap Roku streaming stick.
Or a media streaming box.
Then you can stream your channels on unlimited devices (at home). And 2 simultaneous devices while on the go.
So this plan’s excellent for smaller families who have varying channel preferences. Here’s an example. If you’re at a hotel, the parents could connect a Roku stick to the TV and watch Spectrum channels.
Meanwhile, kids could watch channels on a laptop, smartphone, or whatever device you brought them.
Additional Fees for Spectrum TV Plans
Potential extra fees for Spectrum’s cable TV include:
| Charge | Amount |
| Cloud DVR Plus | $9.99/mo. |
| Broadband TV fee | $21/mo. |
| Premium Channels | $5.00–$15/mo. |
| Other channel packages | $4.99–$29.99/mo. |
| Spectrum TV Box & Remote (per device) | $9.99/mo. |
| CableCARD | $2.95/mo. |
| Self-installation Fee | $19.99 |
Charter Spectrum cable TV hidden fees.
Whether you have cable TV or internet plans, you’ll have to pay a self-installation fee. You shouldn’t have to pay to install your own services.
But whatever.
Speaking of hardware. You could lease a cable TV box or a CableCARD. Or you can use the Spectrum TV app. The CableCARD allows you to use your own DVR or TV box.
Once you connect your services, you can choose whether you want to add premium or other channel packages.
And to record those services through a DVR, you’ll have to pay for a separate DVR storage. And cloud storage.
You’ll need to pay the broadcast TV fee no matter your plan. These will vary by area.
Spectrum Bundles: Will You Save When Bundling?
Spectrum won’t give you discounts when bundling their internet, TV, and voice services. But you will get a $29.99 monthly discount when bundling their router, internet, and a single Unlimited Mobile line.
For 12 months. Then they’ll charge you for the Spectrum Mobile plan and the router.
This is known as the Spectrum One bundle. You can bundle almost all their internet plans (except low-income internet) with the mobile line and router.
The bundle works best for anyone who only needs home internet and a cellular plan. Since you’ll save $34.99 monthly, you could also use this bundle to help you through temporary financial hardship.
Here’s what pricing for Spectrum One looks like based on the internet plan you choose:
| Tier | Promo Price | Post Promo Price | Upload Speed |
| Internet 300 Mbps | $49.99/mo. | $109.98/mo. | 10 Mbps |
| Internet 500 Mbps | $69.99/mo. | $129.98/mo. | 20 Mbps |
| Internet Gig | $89.99/mo. | $149.98/mo. | 35 Mbps |
Prices for Spectrum One offers compared.
Refer to the price chart above for the Spectrum broadband internet packages to see why the prices jumped so high.
1 line under the Unlimited plan will cost $29.99 monthly. And the Advanced WiFi router will cost $5.00 monthly.
Once the 12 months pass, you could use your own router and save $5.00 monthly. The time you’ll get the free router and cellular plan could easily give you enough money to buy a decent router.
You won’t have to worry about a modem.
FAQs: Spectrum Deals & Discounts
The following sections will cover frequently asked questions surrounding Spectrum’s deals.
How Do I Save Money With Spectrum?
You can save money with Spectrum by buying your own router and using the Spectrum TV app instead of cable TV boxes.
Wrapping Up
Spectrum’s not the most generous person when it comes to offering discounts. But every once in a while, you can find some wins.
Ensure you check this guide frequently for updates. Charter Spectrum could feel generous sometime in the future.
Meanwhile, I recommend checking out my review of all their services.
