AT&T Internet vs XFINITY: Side by Side Comparison

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AT&T Internet vs XFINITY

Consumers have a lot to consider when deciding between U-verse and Xfinity for their broadband internet, TV, and phone connection. Xfinity’s coaxial cable network and AT&T's DSL network offer different download speeds and package pricing, and both recently began offering ultra-fast fiber networks in select areas. For most buyers, making a choice comes down to technical details like promotional offers and a preference for DSL vs cable broadband.

AT&T Internet AT A GLANCE

  • Sales: (844) 602-3932
  • Support: (800) 288-2020
(844) 602-3932

$40 to $80 / mo.

18 mbps to 1,000 mbps

1.5 mbps to 1,000 mbps

64%64%

DSL

Current: 20th ↑ (+2)

XFINITY from Comcast AT A GLANCE

  • Sales: (844) 246-9494
  • Support: (800) 934-6489
(844) 246-9494

$39.99 to $84.95 / mo.

10 mbps to 400 mbps

Up to 25 mbps

59%59%

Cable

Current: 1st (0)

AT&T Internet OVERVIEW

AT&T U-Verse is a bundled broadband Internet, phone, and digital TV provider. They provide connectivity via both DSL and fiber networks.

XFINITY OVERVIEW

Xfinity by Comcast provides broadband internet, cable TV, and phone service via their hybrid fiber coaxial network. Xfinity is one of the most widely available cable Internet providers in the US.

AT&T Internet INTERNET DEALS †

  • $40 for 45 mbps Fiber
    • 45 mbps ↓ and 6.0 mbps ↑ w/ a 1000 GB/mo data cap
    • 1-year promo rate. Regular rate is $70.00.
    • Contract Term: 1 year with $180 ETF
    • Setup: $99.00 (Internet Installation Fee)
    • Modem w/ WiFi included.
    • Call (844) 602-3932 to setup service.
  • $40 for 45 mbps DSL
    • up to 45 Mbps w/ a 1000 GB/mo data cap
    • 1-year promo rate. Regular rate is $70.00.
    • 45mbps not guaranteed. Speeds vary by service area, but AT&T offers fixed pricing of $40/mo for the first year at the maximum speed that is available at your location.
    • Modem w/ WiFi included.
    • Call (844) 602-3932 to setup service.
  • $70 for 100 mbps Fiber
    • 100 mbps ↓ and 100 mbps ↑ w/ a 1000 GB/mo data cap
    • 1-year promo rate. Regular rate is $99.00.
    • Contract Term: 1 year with $180 ETF
    • Setup: waived
    • Modem w/ WiFi included.
    • Call (844) 602-3932 to setup service.
  • $80 for 1,000 mbps Fiber
    • 1,000 mbps ↓ and 1,000 mbps ↑ w/ no data cap.
    • 1-year promo rate. Regular rate is $99.00.
    • Contract Term: 1 year with $180 ETF
    • Setup: waived
    • Modem w/ WiFi included.
    • Call (844) 602-3932 to setup service.
Show All Deals (4)
Last updated on 2/1/2017

†All plans not available in all areas or to all customers. Verify details with AT&T Internet.

XFINITY INTERNET DEALS †

  • $39.99 for 25 mbps Cable
    • 25 mbps ↓ and 5.0 mbps ↑
    • 1-year promo rate. Regular rate is $74.95.
    • some areas have a 1TB data cap
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo
    • Call (844) 246-9494 to setup service.
  • $49.95 for 10 mbps Cable
    • 10 mbps ↓ and 2.0 mbps ↑
    • some areas have a 1TB data cap
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo
    • Call (844) 246-9494 to setup service.
  • $69.99 for 400 mbps Cable
    • 400 mbps ↓ and 10 mbps ↑
    • 1-year promo rate. Regular rate is $99.95.
    • some areas have a 1TB data cap
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo
    • Call (844) 246-9494 to setup service.
  • $84.95 for 100 mbps Cable
    • 100 mbps ↓ and 5.0 mbps ↑
    • some areas have a 1TB data cap
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo
    • Call (844) 246-9494 to setup service.
Show All Deals (6)
Last updated on 8/21/2017

†All plans not available in all areas or to all customers. Verify details with XFINITY.

AT&T Internet: DATACAPS From 1000 GB/mo.

We have found plans that include datacaps. AT&T Internet offer plans with data caps regionally or nationwide. Be sure to verify plan details before purchasing.

XFINITY: DATACAPS From 1024 GB/mo.

We have found plans that include datacaps. XFINITY offer plans with data caps regionally or nationwide. Be sure to verify plan details before purchasing.

AT&T Internet's TECHNOLOGY

AT&T offers fiber optic and hybrid DSL internet connections to many residential consumers and businesses across the US. They also offer a variety of “triple play” plans with bundled TV and home phone service.

Their DSL offering, historically known as AT&T U-verse, leverages a fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) layout where fiber optic cable terminates at a point near consumers, with the final stretch to the subscriber residence reached via telephone, ethernet, and in some rare cases coaxial cable. This hybrid fiber network has allowed AT&T to offer higher bandwidth plans than traditionally expected from DSL.[3]

In addition to their DSL offering, AT&T also offers fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) in some areas. FTTH is considered the “gold standard” for strong, fast, and reliable home internet connection.

XFINITY's TECHNOLOGY

Xfinity by Comcast offers Internet, TV, and phone service to consumers primarily via their hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network. They are also rolling out fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) installations in some regions.

Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) networks are used globally by cable providers to deliver broadband internet access to consumers. In short, HFC networks deliver a fiber optic connection to a node within a neighborhood, which then branches off to service 25-2000 homes.[4] By using this network structure, Comcast and other cable providers are able to take advantage of their existing coaxial infrastructure to offer competitive broadband speeds at a lower up-front installation cost to the company.

In the case of FTTH installation, fiber optic cable is run directly to consumers residences or businesses. This network structure is preferred over hybrid networks. Unfortunately, they aren’t widely available due to the high costs associated with running fiber optic cable.

AT&T Internet RATINGS AND REVIEWS

42%42% Customer Rating

41.5% recommendation rating according to 74,586 verified users.

XFINITY RATINGS AND REVIEWS

40%40% Customer Rating

40.2% recommendation rating according to 110,817 verified XFINITY users.

AT&T Internet COVERAGE & AVAILABILITY

AT&T Internet Interactive SVG Map showing broadband coverage.
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XFINITY COVERAGE & AVAILABILITY

XFINITY from Comcast Interactive SVG Map showing broadband coverage.
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Promotional offers and early termination fees

Timing is everything when shopping for broadband

Depending on the plans selected, U-verse and Xfinity have two “gotchas” in common: limited-time promotional offers and early termination fees.[1]

U-verse often offers steeper sign-up discounts than Xfinity on bundled Internet/TV/phone packages. However, these savings can evaporate quickly if the final cost is even a little higher than the competition’s once that promotional period ends.

Additionally, consumers considering Xfinity and U-verse have to check the fine print for ETFs (early termination fees) that could make it difficult to switch providers if unsatisfied, or cancel a contract if the household has to relocate. Students, young professionals, and anyone else who regularly relocates should strongly consider plans with no ETFs, even if the promotional prices are more attractive.

Cord cutters and data caps

Friendliness to streaming video is a top concern

TV is much more complicated than it used to be, largely thanks to on-demand streaming services like Netflix and Hulu.

When you purchase a TV subscription directly from the cable company, there’s no limit on how much TV you can watch. Video streamed as data over an Internet connection, however, is often subject to “data caps” — limits a provider sets on how much data an individual subscriber can upload and download within a month period. Xfinity and U-verse differ in the fine print of how they measure and enforce data caps.[2]

The important point for consumers to keep in mind are: know your caps, and know how much data you’re likely to use when you shop for a plan. For binge TV watchers, it’s often better to purchase a bundled “double play” Internet/TV plan than risk triggering high overage fees for streaming more data than an Internet plan allows.

REFERENCES AND FOOTNOTES
  1. https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/consumer-labels-broadband-services ↩
  2. http://broadbandnow.com/report/providers-with-data-caps/ ↩
  3. https://www.fcc.gov/general/types-broadband-connections ↩
  4. http://services.eng.uts.edu.au/~kumbes/ra/Access-Networks/hfc/cnethfc.htm ↩
  3. AT&T Internet vs XFINITY
Last updated on 8/21/2017.

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