Xfinity Internet Review: More Cable Internet Choices Than Any Other

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Xfinity Internet rating

How we calculated our rating

7.0/10

CNET Score

We score internet providers for speed, value and customer care. Our data sources include the FCC, J.D. Power, The American Customer Satisfaction Index and extensive in-house research.

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7.0

/ 10

SCORE

Speed

7.5/10

Value

6.5/10

Customer Care

7/10

Pros

• Good variety of plans
• Some of the fastest residential plans available
• Above average scores in almost all customer satisfaction metrics

Cons

• Data caps for some plans
• Contracts often required to get the lowest price
• Steep jump from promo price to regular rates

See more pros and cons

Xfinity Internet is the home broadband service of Comcast, a major media and technology company. Late in 2022, the company announced that Xfinity was immediately rolling out multi-gigabit tiers to approximately three dozen cities and many more by 2025. Earlier this year, Comcast began deploying DOCSIS 4.0 technology across its network, which allows over 40 markets to experience faster, multi-gigabit internet speed options. This summer, Xfinity boosted the speeds of its fastest internet tier, Gigabit Pro, from 6 gigabits per second to 10Gbps. Finally, this fall, Comcast announced it would soon begin offering symmetrical speeds to Xfinity cable internet customers in Colorado Springs, Atlanta and Philadelphia.

What does all this mean for you? Xfinity is the nation's largest cable internet service provider, but does that automatically make it the best? It's easy to be impressed by the variety of internet speed plans, but my eyes glazed over a bit as I dug into the details. Is there such a thing as too many options?

With Xfinity, some plans require you to sign a one-year contract, others require a two-year commitment, and some require no contract at all. Beyond that, you'll need to contend with a data cap each month (again, not on all plans, but with some), and you can expect the price of your plan to increase over time, sometimes by more than 50% of the initial charge.

Headaches like that are par for the course with ISPs, making it difficult to tell if you're getting a good deal on your home's internet connection. Still, Xfinity is available to more than one-third of the country, and it's the fastest option available for many in that footprint. It's worth understanding what you might get, especially if you feel the need for speed and fiber isn't an option for your area or address.

Plans and pricing for Xfinity Internet

Depending on where you live, Xfinity offers up to seven different internet plans, and if you want the best price, you'll likely have to shackle yourself to a contract. Also, all prices in the charts reflect the automatic payment option. Otherwise, you'll need to add $10 monthly if you choose to forgo the paperless billing discount. Here are the specifics.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Xfinity Internet plans and pricing vary by region

Yep, Comcast offers slightly different rates depending on your area. Some differences are negligible, but some stark variances can be found on the cheapest plans. In the West and Central regions, it's the Connect plan (75Mbps) for $20 per month, but in the Northeast, it's Connect More (200Mbps) for $25 monthly. Why so confusing? What gives?

"We're a regional provider and market and price our products based on individual local market dynamics," an Xfinity spokesperson told CNET. "That's why our costs can be different on a market-by-market basis."

These varying prices won't be of much concern or consequence to the average consumer. But considering Xfinity is available in 39 states, it may come into play for those moving from one part of the country to another and facing some significant sticker shock.

Breaking down Xfinity's pricing and value per Mbps

One big consideration with Xfinity plans is the sometimes stark contrast between your enticing promo price and a more costly regular rate. Most ISPs try to lure customers with competitive introductory prices that eventually balloon into a high monthly fee. That's not singular to Comcast Xfinity, but you might be surprised at how steep those price increases are sometimes. 

For example, if your household wanted a higher-tiered selection like the gigabit plan, you would initially pay $67 monthly (the average between the three regions). That's a competitive rate. However, once your promo period passes, your monthly bill will jump between $90 to $99. Even more dramatic is the jump for customers trying to keep their costs down with the Connect More plan. It goes from a promo rate averaging $32 monthly to an average of $71 per month between the three regions. That's more than just a tiny blip: That's a hefty bounce of more than 120%!

Price jumps aside, Xfinity's regular rates -- the amount you'll pay each month after the cost goes up -- aren't all that unreasonable. For instance, the cost per Mbps of the regular rate across all plans is 39 cents, which is right about in the middle of what customers can expect to pay for cable internet service. It's not as low as Spectrum's 25 cents per Mbps standard cost but much more affordable than Cox's average 80 cents per Mbps for its regular rates. 

Which Xfinity Internet plan is right for you?

Many ISPs offer three or four plan options, so you could get overwhelmed when looking at the seven across the Xfinity grid. But there's no need to panic. We've got a helpful primer on how much speed you really need. Give that a read, pick a plan that aligns with your average usage, and don't be afraid to be conservative. If your plan is insufficient for your needs, Xfinity will always be happy to bump you to a faster (and more expensive) plan.

What type of internet connection is Xfinity Internet?

One detail you may have noticed in the plan tables is the discrepancy between the download and upload speeds. This is because Xfinity Internet relies almost solely on hybrid fiber-coaxial cable connections to service subscribers' homes. HFC offers speeds much faster than those typically offered by DSL, satellite and fixed wireless networks. Still, due to the asymmetrical nature of the connection, your download speeds will always be much higher than your upload speeds. That's the main reason cable falls short of the performance of fiber-to-the-home networks.

Most of us pay closer attention to download speeds because they affect our ability to watch movies, listen to new music or stream our favorite shows without that nagging buffering. That said, as more of us work from home, our ability to upload files is becoming more critical. For example, Zoom recommends at least 2Mbps for single-screen usage of its platform. If you have two people on separate Zoom calls simultaneously or on an important work call while the kids are gaming online, you could run into issues quickly on some of these plans.

While most of its footprint features HFC, Xfinity offers an FTTH option with its top-speed plan, Gigabit Pro. That plan is only available in select homes equipped for it, so you'll need to request a site survey to ensure that serviceability is possible. Our Comcast sources also tell us that Xfinity is focusing on utilizing existing cable connections to achieve the symmetrical speeds we commonly associate with fiber rather than chasing after additional fiber deployments. As we mentioned at the top of this article, that goal is becoming a reality for select Xfinity neighborhoods in Atlanta, Colorado Springs and Philadelphia.

Where can you get Xfinity Internet?

Xfinity home internet plans are available in 39 states and Washington, DC. Here's the full lineup:

Do you live in one of these states and are trying to determine whether you're eligible for Xfinity service? You can check your address using the internet serviceability tool at the bottom or top of this page.

It's always a good idea to take some time to read the fine print. If you're planning out your budget, you want to ensure you've allotted the proper amount for your internet service. After all, it's not just about the starting monthly fee. 

Additional monthly fees

Regarding monthly fees, the promo rate assumes a $10-per-month discount for enrolling in automatic payments and paperless billing. If you choose not to go that route, you can expect an additional $10 monthly charge. Also, as mentioned above, your monthly rate will convert to a much higher regular rate after your promo rate ends. 

You'll also be charged another $15 per month for the xFi Gateway, a sleek modem-router combo exclusive to Xfinity that features free security measures, parental controls over your home's Wi-Fi and full tech support.

Or, you could go with Comcast's xFi Complete, which includes unlimited data and a complimentary gateway upgrade after three years. That'll run you $25 per month, though Xfinity currently has a deal (on some plans) where your equipment is included for two years.

Finally, Xfinity allows you to use your own modem and router, but your equipment must be compatible with its service. Even if it is, you won't get the same technical support or device upgrades as the xFi. On the positive side, if you use your modem and router with the 400Mbps plan or above, you'll get a $10 monthly discount on your monthly bill in several of Comcast's regions. However, you'll be tethered to Xfinity's 1.2TB data cap -- unless you pay an additional $30 per month for unlimited data.

Xfinity's one-time installation fee

If you would like a technician to activate your service and verify all your home connections, then you'll incur a charge of $100. Xfinity does let you bypass this additional cost by selecting self-install, meaning it'll ship you a Getting Started kit, and you can activate the service on your own using the Xfinity app. That will cost you $15 in most markets, though some areas will see no charge.

Xfinity Internet data-usage plan

Sadly, Xfinity enforces a monthly data cap set at 1.2TB (1,200GB). That said, data limits do not apply to customers in the Northeast market and certain plans across all three regions. It should be noted that several other ISPs -- including Frontier, Verizon and cable competitor Spectrum -- offer unlimited data with your monthly fee. So Xfinity falls behind some of its challengers regarding data caps.

That said, what does 1.2TB of data get you? If you want to binge all four seasons of Stranger Things in glorious 4K, you can expect to use up to 7GB per hour of viewing time. The latest report from OpenVault notes that the average monthly household bandwidth usage is approximately 550GB, so most customers should be able to stay under Xfinity's monthly data limit.

If your household uses more than the given 1.2TB of data per month, you'll be charged an additional $10 for each increment of 50GB you exceed. The maximum monthly overage charge is $100. Xfinity does have an Unlimited Data Option, which will cost you an additional $30 a month, but it'll keep you well under that $100 monthly overage threshold. Still, it's only worth it on average if you incur at least three monthly overage charges.

Bundles, freebies and perks with Xfinity Internet

We've talked about the not-so-hidden additional fees you might expect to incur when signing up for internet service. You will also find freebies or enticing extras when you sign up for broadband with Xfinity. 

First, since Comcast Xfinity offers multiple services, you can potentially get another $10-$30 a month off your internet bill for two years if you have an active, qualifying Xfinity Mobile line.

Next up, because Xfinity also offers TV, home security, voice and mobile services, several bundle deals can help you knock $10 or more a month off your regular bill. Like the tables above, the bundle deals vary by region. Still, all customers should have the option of nearly 10 types of bundles, ranging from Double Play options (internet plus another service) to premium bundle packages that include internet, TV and streaming, phone and home security.

Third, you'll have access to over 20 million Xfinity hotspots nationwide. That means you'll have free Wi-Fi connectivity on the go.

Fourth, Xfinity customers who sign up for the gigabit plan or higher will also receive a free Peacock Premium subscription.

Decent customer satisfaction scores for Xfinity Internet

Over the last few years, Comcast Xfinity has done relatively well in customer satisfaction metrics. When you look at the most recent American Customer Satisfaction Index numbers, Xfinity remains above the industry average. Its current score is 68 out of a possible 100 points. That puts it above the industry average of 66 for nonfiber ISPs, but not quite as high as T-Mobile Home Internet, AT&T, Sparklight and Kinetic by Windstream.

Hopping over to the J.D. Power 2023 US Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study, Xfinity consistently ranked in the top third for overall customer satisfaction. The study uses a 1,000-point scale and breaks the country into four geographic regions: West, South, North Central and East. Xfinity did well overall, with an average score of 713 points across all of them. That was good enough for third place in the East (behind Verizon and Cox), third in the North Central (behind AT&T and CenturyLink), fourth in the South (behind Google Fiber, AT&T and Frontier) and third in the West (behind AT&T and Frontier).

What's the bottom line on Xfinity Internet?

Comcast Xfinity is the largest cable internet provider in the country, with relatively strong customer service scores and gigabit service available across the entire coverage map. Addresses equipped with a fiber-to-the-home connection might even be able to sign up for speeds of 10,000Mbps, one of the faster residential internet plans you'll find. Unless a dedicated fiber provider offers service in your area, the odds are good that Xfinity is your fastest option.

Just watch out for the company's price hikes after your promo period. Though most providers will raise your bill after the first year, Xfinity's increases can be particularly steep, especially in the Northeast and Central divisions. You'll also need to contend with Xfinity's data cap, though at 1.2TB, most households should be able to manage just fine without going over. If all of that sounds workable, then Xfinity is well worth consideration.

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