XFINITY Overview
XFINITY by Comcast is the largest cable internet provider in the US. They use a hybrid fiber-coaxial network to deliver internet, TV, home security, and home phone services. On this page you'll find XFINITY's latest deals and promotions along with consumer reviews and actionable advice on how to choose the best deal for your needs.
How to Compare Xfinity Plans
The key to getting a good deal with Xfinity is understanding what you're buying and why it's priced the way it is. Follow these steps, and see below for information on how to get service installed once you've signed up.
- Understand your bandwidth and download speed needs.
- Be aware your equipment and add-on fees.
- Only buy bundled services you use regularly.
- Compare the “final price”, not the “promo price.”
Which Xfinity Plan is Enough?
Picking a plan can be difficult if you aren’t a techie who’s familiar with terms like “megabits per second” or “ping.” Here are some easy rules of thumb to follow:
Cord cutters: if you would rather streaming you entertainment on Netflix rather than susbscribe to a TV plan, you should look for plans with a minimum download speed of 10 Mbps.
Authorities online often say you only need 2 Mbps or so to stream video. In our experience, once you factor in the distance between your laptop and the Wi-Fi router, other devices hogging bandwidth, and the possibility of other users in your household, that 10 Mbps gets eaten up pretty quickly. If you want to stream HD video on a large screen without buffering and issues, look for closer to 50 Mbps.
Keep in mind that the more people are sharing a connection, the slower it gets for every user. In simple terms, you can imagine it as a pipe: when only one person is drinking from it, they get all the water. When it’s shared, everyone only gets a trickle. For a household of more than 4 people, a connection above 20 Mbps minimum is advisable.
Techies, gamers, and other “power users” should look at plans in the 100–200 Mbps range (or higher if you’re one of the lucky few with access to Xfinity’s gigabit speeds).
Renting vs Buying an Xfinity Modem
Xfinity charges a $10/month gateway fee in most areas. This is reasonable enough for short-term customers since upgrades and support are included. However, long-term customers can save several hundred dollars long-term by purchasing their own gateway device(s) up front.
For an example, a quick look at Amazon shows that customers that need support for speeds above 150 Mbps can get a capable Netgear DOCSIS 3.0 modem for $44.99 and a separate TP-Link router for $59.99. That’s a total of $104.98, compared to $120 a year of Xfinity leasing fees.
In this example, the investment pays for itself after ten and a half months. This is more than most customers need to spend though — it’s possible to get a much cheaper modem/router gateway unit in the $50 range, especially if you only need support for speeds below 100 Mbps, and reclaim your money even faster.
Xfinity Contract vs No-Contract Internet and TV Plans
Xfinity pricing tends to vary from area to area. Customers in their “Western” region generally get the better prices, but there’s an easy way to shave $10/month off your bill no matter what region you live in: by signing a 1–2 year contract. This is a good deal for customers who plan to stick around long-term anyway, but it’s important to be aware of the early termination fee (ETF) you’re responsible for if you break the contract early.
Xfinity doesn’t list a standard nationwide ETF, but customer reports and reviews we’ve collected generally cite figures around $5–10 for each month remaining in your contract. For example, assuming a $10/month fee, you’d be on the hook for $180 if you canceled after the first six months.
The takeaway: be sure to confirm the fine print of your ETF in writing before signing up for Xfinity’s Internet or TV, and consider purchasing a month-to-month plan if you are a renter or student who’s likely to move before the year is over.
Promotional vs Final Pricing
The price that’s listed for Xfinity plans is rarely set in stone. Like most cable providers, Xfinity will offer “promotional prices” for new customers that are dramatically lower than the “final price” you can access as an established customer.
The theory behind this strategy is sort of like free samples: once people have a taste of the product, hopefully they’ll want to stick around and pay the full price. This strategy can be frustrating for long-term customers paying more than new customers. For existing customers, we recommend that you call in once a year and request discounts and fee reductions.
The deal you get probably won’t be as strong as the “new customer” package, but in our experience the “final price” is rarely 100% final.
Xfinity final pricing changes from region to region, so the only way to get a finalized quote is to call and ask about service options at your address.
Xfinity Installation
There are two options for installing Xfinity service: self-installation and professional installation.
Professional installation is required if your house has never had Comcast Xfinity service before, as the technician will need to install wiring and check that everything is compatible and ready to go. In some cases this requires drilling holes or installing coaxial wiring on the side of a builing, so renters are advised to get permission from their landlords before scheduling installation. (And access to areas such as the basement where the technician may need access.) Xfinity will usually provide the landlord permission form as part of the sign-up process.
Self installation is recommended if your house is already wired for Xfinity (most in their service area are). They will provide a box with all the equipment needed and simple, detailed instructions. You can have the box shipped to you, or pick it up in person at a local Comcast store. Keep the box handy as you’ll have to return any rented equipment at the end of your service term.
If you’re using your own modem and router, simply call the Comcast help line and follow instructions to reach their technical assistance department through the keypad. A technician will walk you through the steps to confirm the MAC address on your device and test that it is working as they activate service.
Xfinity X1: Worth the Hype?
One of the more exciting equipment upgrades Xfinity has rolled out recently is the x1 cloud DVR, which is quickly eclipsing their traditional cable service as the go-to digital TV platform. The small, unobtrusive black box sits on you TV or shelf and functions like a souped-up DVR. A few of the x1 features:
- 500 GB of storage (60 hours of HD content)
- 6 tuners
- Live TV rewinding up to one hour
- Cloud storage of recorded shows for mobile viewing
Xfinity Home Secure Security Sytem: Worth Bundling?
They aren’t often listed with their plans online, but there’s a strong chance that when you call to sign up the rep will offer you a deal on Xfinity’s home security and smart home platform, Home Secure.
Home automation and home security can make a huge difference for your peace of mind when implemented correctly. Xfinity Secure is Comcast’s answer to the trend, and while many Xfinity services get mixed reviews the response to Home Secure has been overwhelmingly positive, even from hard-to-please security experts.
If you’re only interested in home security or smart home automation, you might be happier with a standalone provider elsewhere. But if you want both, Xfinity does an excellent job of combining dozens of products and services (Nest, Lutron, etc.) into a single interface with multi-device support.
The main catch with Xfinity Home Secure is that the additional Xfinity-branded devices (cameras, thermostats, etc) can add considerably to the monthly bill if you have a large home, so be sure to confirm a final price including leased hardware when you talk to an Xfinity rep. ?
User Ratings and Reviews of XFINITY
There are few internet service providers that consumers unanimously love and unfortunately XFINITY (formerly known as Comcast) is not at the top of that list.
To date, we've surveyed 155,979 IP verified XFINITY users to ask them if they would recommend XFINITY to a friend and our results show that 40.8% said that they would.
The Technology That Powers XFINITY: Fiber Coaxial Hybrid Network
Most XFINITY installations are delivered via a hybrid fiber network. While XFINITY is rolling out true fiber-to-the-home networks in some areas coverage is still minimal. Essentially this type of network runs a fiber optic connection close to the final destination, then finishes the "last mile" of the network with coaxial cable. In many instances their hybrid fiber network may be the fastest service that is available for many consumers.
XFINITY Availability
XFINITY by Comcast has large availability across the USA, covering 111.2 million people in 39 states including California, Florida, Illinois, and 36 other states. That said, if you are in doubt use the search box at the top of this page or reference our XFINITY availability map.