UP
Our takeEditorial$20/GB on Verizon with taxes included, only for Spectrum Internet subscribers. Cheap if you use under 1 GB; expensive fast if you don't.
Spectrum Mobile
By the Gig
6.5/10 UpPhone score
Spectrum Mobile's pay-per-GB plan: $20/GB on Verizon's network with taxes included - a deal only if Spectrum Internet is already in the house.
Best for
Spectrum Mobile subscribers who want Pay-per-GB data.
LTE1 GB DataNo ContractTaxes Included
Data
Pay-per-GB
Hotspot
—
Talk / text
Unlimited
Network
Verizon's network
The verdict, & two little voices
Should you actually get By the Gig?
The editor weighs in — flanked by the optimist on her shoulder and the cynic on the other.
“Verizon network, taxes included, data pooling, no contract: that is a clean low-use plan for an already-Spectrum household.”
“Two GBs costs $40 - more than Spectrum's own unlimited plan at $30. The breakeven is around 1.5 GB.”
Pricing for By the Gig
· no autopay discount publishedAutopay discount
Many carriers offer a discount with autopay + paperless billing. Prices above may already reflect this.
Prices may vary by region, promotions, and account history. Check Spectrum Mobile's website for current offers.
View By the Gig Plans Line by Line
Our review
Spectrum Mobile By the Gig charges $20 per GB per line, with data pooling across multiple By the Gig lines on the same account.
Taxes and fees are included - the $20/GB rate is what shows up on the bill. The plan runs on Verizon's network, which gives it strong national coverage. The catch is eligibility: Spectrum Mobile is only available to Spectrum Internet subscribers.
That prerequisite is the defining constraint. For a household already on Spectrum Internet, the math on low data use works out well: 1 GB costs $20, making this competitive against prepaid options for anyone who uses under 1.5 GB per month. Above that, a flat-rate unlimited plan at $30-40 quickly beats the per-GB pricing.
What we love
- $20/GB with taxes included on Verizon's network
- Data pools across all By the Gig lines on the account
- Strong Verizon coverage nationwide
- No contract, no activation fee
- Simple billing with no surprises
What we don't
- Requires active Spectrum Internet subscription - not available otherwise
- $20/GB becomes expensive above 1.5 GB/mo vs. flat-rate alternatives
- No hotspot disclosed
- No international calling or international texting
- Not a standalone plan - tied to a home internet product
Full features
Talk + text
MinutesUnlimited
MessagesUnlimited
Intl callingMexico & Canada (2,000 min/mo)
Data
High-speed dataPay-per-GB
Hotspot—
Contract
Contract typeno-contract
RoamingMexico & Canada
Frequently asked questions about By the Gig
What features does By the Gig include?
5G on Verizon's network, pay-per-GB at $20/GB with data pooling across By the Gig lines, taxes and fees included in the rate, no activation fee, no contract. Eligible only for Spectrum Internet customers. No hotspot, no streaming perks, no international features beyond the base 2,000 minute/line international calling allowance to Canada and Mexico.
How much data, talk, and text does By the Gig include?
Unlimited domestic calls and texts. Calls to Canada and Mexico included at up to 2,000 minutes per line per month. International texting beyond that is not included. Data is charged at $20 per GB, billed in whole GB increments. Data pools across all By the Gig lines on the account, so two lines sharing 3 GB total is cheaper than two separate plans hitting 1.5 GB each.
What is the network speed on By the Gig?
Full 5G and LTE speeds at Verizon's network quality. No disclosed speed throttle or high-speed threshold - this is pay-per-GB, so there is no cap in the traditional sense. The cost per GB is the mechanism that governs use rather than a speed throttle.
Does By the Gig include mobile hotspot?
No mobile hotspot is explicitly listed for this plan. The pay-per-GB structure could theoretically allow hotspot use at the same $20/GB rate, but this is not confirmed by the source data. Tethering requirements should be confirmed directly with Spectrum Mobile.
What happens if you exceed your data on By the Gig?
There are no overages in the traditional sense: the plan charges $20 per GB as data is used, billed in advance at the start of each GB increment. Taxes are included. The data pool across lines means a family can share GB allocation without paying separately for each line.
Does By the Gig require a contract?
No contract, no early termination fee, no activation fee. Month-to-month. Requires active Spectrum Internet subscription: cancelling Spectrum Internet typically terminates Spectrum Mobile eligibility.
Compare By the Gig with similar plans
FCC Disclosure
Broadband Facts
Spectrum Mobile · Spectrum Mobile By the Gig
Monthly Price
$20.00
Additional Charges & Terms
Speeds Provided with Plan
| Technology | Download | Upload | Latency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4G LTE | 9-69 Mbps | 1-13 Mbps | 51-82 ms |
| 5G | 34-702 Mbps | 6-75 Mbps | 37-63 ms |
Typical ranges as reported by Spectrum Mobile. Real speeds vary.
Data & Features
Data included with monthly price1 GB
Data throttleAfter 5GB, After 5 GB per line, speeds reduced to 256 Kbps for remainder of billing cycle
Mobile hotspotNot included
Video streaming qualitySD 480p
Disclosures