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Google Fiber vs Spectrum in Austin
Austin’s trade-off is simple: Google Fiber delivers much faster uploads where available, while Spectrum reaches more homes at a lower starting price.
Spectrum is the better overall pick in Austin because it reaches about 92% of the city and starts at $30/mo, making fast service easier to get and cheaper. Google Fiber wins on speed where it reaches your address, with 8,000/8,000 Mbps reaching about 45% of the city; Spectrum wins on coverage and price. Spectrum’s 1,000/1,000 Mbps tier reaches about 91%, while Google Fiber’s speed score is 99/100 versus Spectrum’s 80/100. Choose Google Fiber for maximum performance if available; choose Spectrum for broader access and value.
At a glance
Google Fiber vs. Spectrum, side by side.
| Provider | Type | Top speed | City coverage | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Fiber |
Fiber | 8 Gig 8 Gig upload |
50% | $70/mo | Top fiber speeds |
| Spectrum |
Cable | 1 Gig 1 Gig upload |
92% | $30/mo | Widest availability |
Coverage map
Two different questions, two views. Top speed shows who offers the faster plan where you can actually get it. Coverage shows who reaches more of each ZIP. Or pick a single provider to see just its footprint.
Neighborhood breakdown
The better choice can shift by ZIP code and neighborhood because coverage varies block to block in Austin. Spectrum reaches about 92% of the city overall, while Google Fiber reaches about 50%, so check your exact address before prioritizing its faster tiers.
| ZIP | Neighborhoods | Coverage | Top speed | Rank score | Winner | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Fiber | Spectrum | Google Fiber | Spectrum | Google Fiber | Spectrum | |||
| 78745 | South Austin, Cherry Creek, Sunset Valley (adjacent), Garrison Park | 92% | 98% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 91 | 78 | Google Fiber |
| 78738 | Bee Cave, Lakeway (edge), Falconhead, Rough Hollow | 0% | 82% | — | 1 Gig | — | 65 | Spectrum |
| 78759 | Great Hills, Balcones Woods, Milwood, Jester Estates | 32% | 96% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 32 | 77 | Spectrum |
| 78748 | Shady Hollow, South Austin, Tanglewood, Cherry Creek | 64% | 98% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 63 | 78 | Spectrum |
| 78744 | Franklin Park, McKinney, Southeast Austin, Onion Creek (area) | 34% | 82% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 34 | 66 | Spectrum |
| 78724 | Colony Park, Johnston Terrace, Northeast Austin | 1% | 85% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 1 | 68 | Spectrum |
| 78737 | Dripping Springs (edge), Belterra, Circle C (west), Highpointe | 1% | 96% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 1 | 77 | Spectrum |
| 78702 | East Austin, Holly, East Cesar Chavez, Chestnut | 80% | 92% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 79 | 74 | Google Fiber |
| 78753 | North Lamar, Georgian Acres, Heritage Hills, Walnut Creek | 81% | 93% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 80 | 75 | Google Fiber |
| 78704 | South Congress (SoCo), Zilker, Bouldin Creek, Travis Heights | 93% | 96% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 92 | 77 | Google Fiber |
| 78703 | Tarrytown, Clarksville, Old West Austin, Pemberton Heights | 46% | 93% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 46 | 75 | Spectrum |
| 78746 | West Lake Hills, Rollingwood, Westlake, Lost Creek | 18% | 93% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 18 | 74 | Spectrum |
| 78701 | Downtown Austin, Rainey Street District, Sixth Street, Warehouse District | 13% | 70% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 13 | 56 | Spectrum |
| 78747 | Onion Creek, McKinney, Southeast Austin, Bradshaw Crossing | 51% | 92% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 51 | 74 | Spectrum |
| 78754 | Harris Branch, Pioneer Crossing, Windsor Park (north) | 38% | 84% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 38 | 67 | Spectrum |
| 78717 | Avery Ranch, Brushy Creek, Anderson Mill | 62% | 96% | 2 Gig | 1 Gig | 62 | 77 | Spectrum |
| 78723 | Mueller, Windsor Park, University Hills, Pecan Springs | 86% | 94% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 85 | 75 | Google Fiber |
| 78734 | Lakeway, Lakewood, The Hills, Hudson Bend | 0% | 96% | — | 1 Gig | — | 77 | Spectrum |
| 78735 | Barton Creek, Oak Hill, Travis Country, Lost Creek (edge) | 67% | 93% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 66 | 74 | Spectrum |
| 78750 | Anderson Mill, Balcones Village, Spicewood at Balcones Canyonlands | 69% | 97% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 69 | 77 | Spectrum |
| 78758 | North Burnet, Gracy Woods, The Domain, Wooten | 62% | 92% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 61 | 74 | Spectrum |
| 78727 | North Austin, Scofield Farms, Milwood, Gracywoods | 76% | 95% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 76 | 76 | Spectrum |
| 78741 | Riverside, Montopolis, Pleasant Valley, East Riverside | 77% | 94% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 76 | 75 | Google Fiber |
| 78739 | Circle C Ranch, Meridian, Shady Hollow (edge) | 54% | 98% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 53 | 78 | Spectrum |
| 78757 | Crestview, Allandale, Wooten, Brentwood | 89% | 94% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 89 | 76 | Google Fiber |
| 78752 | St. Johns, Highland, Coronado Hills | 76% | 88% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 75 | 70 | Google Fiber |
| 78705 | West Campus, North Campus, University of Texas, Hyde Park (south) | 62% | 94% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 62 | 75 | Spectrum |
| 78736 | Oak Hill, Scenic Brook, Thomas Springs | 38% | 98% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 38 | 78 | Spectrum |
| 78751 | Hyde Park, North Loop, Hancock | 87% | 94% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 86 | 75 | Google Fiber |
| 78731 | Northwest Hills, Allandale, Rosedale, Bull Creek | 28% | 95% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 27 | 76 | Spectrum |
| 78749 | Circle C Ranch, Maple Run, Legend Oaks, Village at Western Oaks | 88% | 98% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 87 | 78 | Google Fiber |
| 78728 | Wells Branch, North Austin, Pflugerville (adjacent) | 58% | 86% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 57 | 68 | Spectrum |
| 78719 | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Del Valle (area) | 0% | 83% | — | 1 Gig | — | 66 | Spectrum |
| 78756 | Brentwood, Crestview, Rosedale | 88% | 93% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 87 | 74 | Google Fiber |
| 78729 | Milwood, Jollyville, Anderson Mill, Northwest Austin | 37% | 95% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 37 | 76 | Spectrum |
| 78726 | Canyon Creek, Four Points, Anderson Mill West | 33% | 91% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 32 | 72 | Spectrum |
| 78722 | Cherrywood, French Place, Mueller (south edge) | 91% | 97% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 90 | 77 | Google Fiber |
| 78733 | Bee Cave (edge), Cuernavaca, Lake Hills, Rob Roy | 0% | 98% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 0 | 78 | Spectrum |
| 78721 | East Austin, MLK-183, Springdale | 58% | 93% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 57 | 74 | Spectrum |
| 78725 | Hornsby Bend, Del Valle (area), East Austin | 2% | 80% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 2 | 64 | Spectrum |
| 78732 | Steiner Ranch, River Place, Comanche Trail | 0% | 94% | — | 1 Gig | — | 75 | Spectrum |
| 78730 | River Place, Long Canyon, Steiner Ranch (edge), Northwest Hills | 0% | 93% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 0 | 74 | Spectrum |
| 78762 | Austin (PO Box/administrative) | 73% | 90% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 72 | 72 | Spectrum |
| 78768 | Downtown Austin (PO Box/administrative) | 1% | 58% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 1 | 47 | Spectrum |
| 78767 | Downtown Austin (PO Box/administrative) | 1% | 58% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 1 | 47 | Spectrum |
| 78765 | Austin (PO Box/administrative) | 91% | 95% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 90 | 76 | Google Fiber |
| 78716 | West Lake Hills area (administrative) | 6% | 98% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 6 | 78 | Spectrum |
| 78763 | Austin (PO Box/administrative) | 67% | 99% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 67 | 79 | Spectrum |
| 78715 | South Austin (administrative) | 98% | 100% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 97 | 80 | Google Fiber |
| 78766 | Austin (PO Box/administrative) | 95% | 96% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 94 | 77 | Google Fiber |
| 78711 | Downtown Austin (administrative) | 0% | 69% | — | 1 Gig | — | 55 | Spectrum |
| 78714 | North Austin (administrative) | 2% | 78% | 8 Gig | 1 Gig | 2 | 62 | Spectrum |
| 78742 | Montopolis, Austin-Bergstrom (area), Del Valle (edge) | 0% | 90% | — | 1 Gig | — | 72 | Spectrum |
| 78755 | Northwest Austin, Balcones Park area | 0% | 92% | — | 1 Gig | — | 74 | Spectrum |
Rank score (0–100) is each provider’s Speed Score, discounted for weak upload, times the share of that ZIP it reaches — the same rule that orders providers on the Austin city page, so it moves as availability changes street to street.
Which is better for…
The right pick comes down to what you actually do online.
Get connected
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- 8 Gig down · 8 Gig up Fiber
- 2 Gig down · 2 Gig up Fiber
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Check my addressFrequently asked questions
Is Google Fiber available at my Austin address?
Google Fiber reaches about 50% of Austin overall, while Spectrum reaches about 92%. Google Fiber’s 8,000/8,000 Mbps tier reaches about 45% of the city, so check your exact address before choosing a provider.
Which is cheaper, Google Fiber or Spectrum, and what will I actually pay?
Spectrum starts at $30/mo, while Google Fiber starts at $70/mo. These are promotional starting rates, so confirm the post-promo rate, equipment fees, and any contract before signing; then choose based on the full cost at your address.
Which is faster for gaming, working from home, or 4K streaming?
Google Fiber is faster where available, with an 8,000/8,000 Mbps tier reaching about 45% of the city, while Spectrum’s 1,000/1,000 Mbps tier reaches about 91%. Check your address and match the available upload speed to your gaming, work, or streaming needs.
More Austin comparisons
How Austin’s other qualifying providers stack up head-to-head.