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Xfinity vs WOW!: Side by Side Comparison

Enter your zip code below to see if Xfinity or WOW! offers service in your area.

Xfinity vs WOW!

Broadband offerings from Xfinity and WOW! vary considerably based on location, but the big picture is the same: higher than average speeds for mid-level monthly fees. In areas where the two compete, they usually offer similar cable connections, with plan details like TV availability and customer service quality as the tiebreaker.

XFINITY from Comcast AT A GLANCE

  • Sales: (866) 736-3035
  • Support: (800) 934-6489
(866) 736-3035

$49.95-299.95/mo.

15-2,000 Mbps

Up to 2,000 Mbps

59%59%

Cable

8th ↓ (-1)

WOW! AT A GLANCE

  • Sales: (866) 956-7172
  • Support: (866) 496-9669
(866) 956-7172

$39.99-79.99/mo.

--

--

--

Cable

11th ↑ (+2)

Xfinity OVERVIEW

XFINITY from Comcast is the largest Internet provider in the country. They provide home WiFi, telephone services, and TV services.

WOW! OVERVIEW

WOW! is a prominent bundledn Internet, television, and phone company. The name "WOW" is short for “Wide Open West.”

Xfinity INTERNET DEALS †

  • $49.95 for 15 mbps Cable
    • 15 Mbps ↓ and 2.0 Mbps ↑
    • Some areas have a 1TB data cap.
    • Call (866) 736-3035 to setup service.
  • $49.99 for 300 mbps Cable
    • 300 Mbps ↓ and -- Mbps ↑
    • 2-year promo rate.
    • Contract Term: 1 year
    • Some areas have a 1TB data cap.
    • Flex 4K streaming device + Voice Remote included.
    • Call (866) 736-3035 to setup service.
  • $69.99 for 600 mbps Cable
    • 600 Mbps ↓ and -- Mbps ↑
    • 2-year promo rate.
    • Contract Term: 1 year
    • Some areas have a 1TB data cap.
    • Flex 4K streaming device + Voice Remote included.
    • Call (866) 736-3035 to setup service.
  • $77.95 for 100 mbps Cable
    • 100 Mbps ↓ and -- Mbps ↑
    • Some areas have a 1TB data cap.
    • Flex 4K streaming device + Voice Remote included.
    • Call (866) 736-3035 to setup service.
  • $79.99 for 1,000 mbps Cable
    • 1,000 Mbps ↓ and 35 Mbps ↑
    • 3-year promo rate.
    • Contract Term: 2 years
    • Some areas have a 1TB data cap.
    • Flex 4K streaming device + Voice Remote included.
    • Call (866) 736-3035 to setup service.
  • $299.95 for 2,000 mbps Fiber
    • 2,000 Mbps ↓ and 2,000 Mbps ↑
    • Contract Term: 2 years
    • Flex 4K streaming device + Voice Remote included.
    • Call (866) 736-3035 to setup service.
Show All Deals (6)
Last updated on 4/7/2020

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

WOW! INTERNET DEALS †

  • $39.99 for 100 mbps Cable
    • 100 Mbps ↓ and -- Mbps ↑ w/ no data cap.
    • 2-year promo rate. Regular rate is $59.99.
    • Contract Term: 2 years with up to $345 ETF
    • Includes a $100 Prepaid Visa® Reward Card. Save $5/mo. with AutoPay and paperless billing.
    • Setup: $0 (Free installation when ordered online.)
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo
    • Call (866) 956-7172 to setup service.
  • $49.99 for 200 mbps Cable
    • 200 Mbps ↓ and -- Mbps ↑ w/ no data cap.
    • 2-year promo rate. Regular rate is $69.99.
    • Contract Term: 2 years with up to $345 ETF
    • Includes a $200 Prepaid Visa® Reward Card. Save $5/mo. with AutoPay and paperless billing.
    • Setup: $0 (Free installation when ordered online.)
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo
    • Call (866) 956-7172 to setup service.
  • $59.99 for 500 mbps Cable
    • 500 Mbps ↓ and -- Mbps ↑ w/ no data cap.
    • 2-year promo rate. Regular rate is $79.99.
    • Contract Term: 2 years with up to $345 ETF
    • Includes a $200 Prepaid Visa® Reward Card. Save $5/mo. with AutoPay and paperless billing.
    • Setup: $0 (Free installation when ordered online.)
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo
    • Call (866) 956-7172 to setup service.
  • $79.99 for 1,000 mbps Cable
    • 1,000 Mbps ↓ and -- Mbps ↑ w/ no data cap.
    • 2-year promo rate. Regular rate is $99.99.
    • Contract Term: 2 years with up to $345 ETF
    • Includes a $200 Prepaid Visa® Reward Card. Save $5/mo. with AutoPay and paperless billing.
    • Setup: $0 (Free installation when ordered online.)
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo
    • Call (866) 956-7172 to setup service.
Show All Deals (12)
Last updated on 3/20/2020

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

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.

WOW!: NO DATACAP FOUND

We have not found plans that include data caps. This doesn't mean WOW! doesn't have data caps, just that we haven't found them when collecting their plans. Always verify plan details before purchasing.

Xfinity's TECHNOLOGY

Xfinity services are mostly cable, meaning that they share the wiring that sends cable TV to your home.

Cable companies use copper TV wires. Cable wires can handle much more traffic compared with DSL. It's worth mentioning that cable networks usually have much higher download speeds than upload speeds.

Xfinity has upgraded to gig download speeds in some locations as of 2020, thanks to DOCSIS 3.1.

WOW!'s TECHNOLOGY

WOW! markets a variety of broadband connection types, including fiber, cable, DSL, and fixed wireless. Currently, their fiber is available in some cities and scheduled to expand based on customer demand.

Cable broadband, WOW!’s most comon choice, is usually serviced via hybrid fiber-cavle networks. In this type of setup, the majority of the distance between the ISP and consumer is spanned using high-speed fiber-optic lines. Inside the neighborhood, fiber terminates at a node which switches data packets from optic signal to radio frequency to send through copper television networks.[2]

While connections are the best among next-generation broadband technologies — offering speeds up to 1Gbps in ideal scenarios — the company is investing to bring DOCSIS 3.1 to their HFC networks. DOCSIS 3.1 is a large upgrade to the existing systems used to send binary data over copper cables. This upgrade is expected to allow HFC service areas to get gigabit speeds rivaling FTTH offerings.

Xfinity INSTALLATION

Comast self-install is the simplest option for the majority of new customers. They include a kit with simple instructions for activating the router.

Technician installation is also available, although it often requires a charge. For subscribers getting a TV package, professional installation is better, as the installation is more complex.

WOW! INSTALLATION

WOW! offers several connection types, and generally includes professional installation and setup with their packages.

WOW! doesn't allow self-installation. They do not provide self install kits similar to their competition. For professional installation, they will send a licensed technician to set up and configure the television and router.

Xfinity COVERAGE & AVAILABILITY

XFINITY from Comcast Interactive SVG Map showing broadband coverage.
Customize map

WOW! COVERAGE & AVAILABILITY

WOW! Interactive SVG Map showing broadband coverage.
Customize map

The fine print matters

Never sign a contract with fees or terms you don’t understand

Sign-up bonuses, limited-time offers, and “bundled” services are all common marketing tactics from broadband providers like WOW! and Xfinity. These are all good and can save you money, but keep in mind that not every deal is as good as it looks if it doesn’t match your needs.

For example, sign-up bonuses generally end within the year, so be sure to compare the final monthly price as well as the promotional one when you consider your options. Also, consider whether bundling TV service for a discount is a good idea — for light TV watchers, Netflix and YouTube might be more than enough, making the extra money for hundreds of TV channels unnecessary.

In some rare cases, providers will actually offer better pricing for “triple play” Internet/TV/phone service as a tactic to keep more customers connected. If you find a discounted triple-play plan, just be sure the price is locked in for the term of your contract.

Customer service is serious business

Don’t discount the value of fast, friendly service

Customer service is more than just a convenience, and broadband providers aren’t exactly well-known for their prowess at managing phone calls and customer requests. When your broadband Internet and phone connection is your primary means of communication, having a provider who reacts quickly in the event of outages, down lines, and other issues is critical for your safety. It’s also a big deal for customers who need a stable, dependable Internet connection for work.

There are two reliable ways to gauge a provider’s customer service quality: ASCI ratings and IP-verified reviews. Unlike regular reviews, IP-verified ratings use network detection technology to make sure the person leaving a review is actually subscribed to the provider in question, as well as prevent anyone from maliciously leaving multiple reviews to skew results. Customer ratings from BroadbandNow are all IP-verified.

ACSI (the American Satisfaction Index) ratings are also reliable, since they’re based on survey results collected manually by trained experts. ACSI ratings are displayed on BroadbandNow, and are the national standard for gauging quality of service.[1]

REFERENCES AND FOOTNOTES
  1. https://www.theacsi.org/industries/telecommunications-and-information/internet-service-provider ↩
  2. http://services.eng.uts.edu.au/~kumbes/ra/Access-Networks/hfc/cnethfc.htm ↩
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Last updated on 4/7/2020.