AT&T vs. Xfinity: Comparing Two Home Internet Heavyweights – CNET

AT&T vs. Xfinity Overview.

Xfinity.

Cable.

Month-to-month cost range.

$ 55-$ 180.

$ 20-$ 300.

AT&T.

Readily available internet suppliers will vary by where you live, but if your option comes down to AT&T or Comcast Xfinity, youre in quite good shape. Between AT&Ts fiber footprint and Comcasts cable television empire, both suppliers offer access to high speeds across a significant portion of their coverage maps. Which of these 2 web service companies is the best fit for your home networking needs?

Speed range.

DSL/fiber.

Internet technology.

10-5,000 Mbps.

50-6,000 Mbps.

None.

Information cap.

Devices costs.

$ 14 per month (skippable).

None.

1.2 TB.

Agreement.

None.

1 year.

CNET review score.

7.4.

7.

AT&T boasts the most comprehensive fiber network of any company and its fiber strategies are difficult to beat: 300Mbps beginning at $55 per month, 500Mbps for $65 and gigabit service starting at simply $80 per month. Over 100 AT&T cities nationwide are qualified for the companys fastest fiber strategies: 2Gbps for $110 and 5Gbps for $180. In all cases, the costs dont instantly increase after a year, devices is included in the month-to-month expense, and all strategies have unlimited data and no contract requirements.AT&& T Internet, a copper-based service, and AT&T fixed cordless strategies are more of a variety as far as speeds and worth, however still might be worth a look depending upon where you live and what other internet alternatives may be available. Unlike AT&T Fiber, you will have a data cap with both services and your price will increase after a year.

Sarah Tew/CNET.

Read our AT&T web evaluation

Xfinity and AT&T service areas overlap in numerous areas, particularly in the Southeast, Midwest and main California. Xfinity will use more plan alternatives and will likely provide the most affordable strategy, though speeds with the stated plan will be much lower than the lowest-priced AT&T Fiber plan.

.

Sarah Tew/CNET.

Read our Xfinity internet evaluation

Strategy.

Max speeds.

Devices cost.

Data cap.

First-year promotion rate.

Term agreement.

Xfinity internet plans (West department).

Basic rate (after promotion period).

Link.

AT&T and Xfinity coverage maps compared.
FCC/Mapbox.
First, lets have a look at where both service providers provide service. A product of the countrys biggest cable television provider, Xfinity Internet, is offered in choose regions across 39 states and Washington, DC, covering about one-third of the entire population of the United States. Comcast splits that coverage map into three departments– West, Central and Northeast. Each has its own set of speed terms, rates and tiers, which gets complicated. More on that in just a minute, after we get some coffee.As for AT&T, the telecom business offers home internet strategies in 21 states, with service covering much of the South, Midwest, and West Coast. Both suppliers might be available at your address in some parts of the country, including parts of Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Memphis, Miami and San Francisco.Xfinity vs. AT&T: Plans, speeds and what youll payWe hope you like charts. Weve got a bunch of em. Blame Comcast. With a number of different speed tiers and different sets of prices and terms for each of its three primary protection areas, summing up the companys web offerings gets chart-drunk in a rush. Simply understand that the rate you pay will depend on what part of the nation you live in (and if you reside in the South, youre lumped in with the Central department).

.

50Mbps download, 5Mbps upload.

Yes (1.2 TB).

$ 20.

$ 14 entrance leasing (skippable).

$ 50.

1 year.

Connect More.

100Mbps download, 5Mbps upload.

$ 40.

$ 14 gateway rental (skippable).

$ 60.

Yes (1.2 TB).

1 year.

Quick.

300Mbps download, 10Mbps upload.

$ 14 entrance leasing (skippable).

Yes (1.2 TB).

None.

$ 70 (after 24 months).

Superfast.

$ 50.

600Mbps download, 15Mbps upload.

Ultrafast.

Yes (1.2 TB).

$ 60.

$ 80 (after 24 months).

$ 14 entrance leasing (skippable).

None.

900Mbps download, 20Mbps upload.

$ 70.

$ 90 (after 24 months).

$ 14 gateway rental (skippable).

Gigabit.

None.

Yes (1.2 TB).

1,200 Mbps download, 35Mbps upload.

$ 14 gateway rental (skippable).

Gigabit Pro.

Yes (1.2 TB).

$ 80.

$ 100 (after 24 months).

None.

6,000 Mbps download, 6,000 Mbps upload.

$ 300.

$ 300.

Yes (1.2 TB).

$ 20 gateway rental (required).

2 years.

Xfinity web strategies (Central department).

Data cap.

Devices cost.

Max speeds.

Term agreement.

Strategy.

Connect.

Basic rate (after promotion duration).

First-year promo rate.

50Mbps download, 5Mbps upload.

Yes (1.2 TB).

$ 49.

$ 25.

$ 14 entrance rental (skippable).

1 year.

Connect More.

100Mbps download, 5Mbps upload.

$ 69.

$ 14 entrance leasing (skippable).

Yes (1.2 TB).

$ 40.

1 year.

Fast.

300Mbps download, 10Mbps upload.

$ 79.

Yes (1.2 TB).

$ 50.

$ 14 entrance rental (skippable).

1 year.

Superfast.

600Mbps download, 15Mbps upload.

Yes (1.2 TB).

$ 50.

$ 89.

$ 14 entrance leasing (skippable).

1 year.

Ultrafast.

900Mbps download, 20Mbps upload.

$ 99.

$ 60.

Yes (1.2 TB).

$ 14 gateway leasing (skippable).

1 year.

Gigabit Extra.

1,200 Mbps download, 35Mbps upload.

Yes (1.2 TB).

$ 109.

$ 14 entrance rental (skippable).

$ 70.

1 year.

Gigabit Pro.

6,000 Mbps download, 6,000 Mbps upload.

Yes (1.2 TB).

$ 300.

$ 20 gateway rental (required).

$ 300.

2 years.

Basic rate (after discount period).

Term contract.

First-year promotion rate.

Strategy.

Equipment charge.

Max speeds.

Information cap.

Xfinity web plans (Northeast department).

Performance Starter.

50Mbps download, 5Mbps upload.

Efficiency.

$ 65.

$ 14 entrance leasing (skippable).

$ 65.

No.

None needed.

100Mbps download, 5Mbps upload.

$ 14 entrance rental (skippable).

No.

$ 84.

Efficiency Pro.

$ 84.

None required.

300Mbps download, 10Mbps upload.

$ 89.

$ 14 gateway leasing (skippable).

$ 30.

No.

1 year.

Blast!

600Mbps download, 15Mbps upload.

$ 94.

No.

$ 14 entrance rental (skippable).

$ 60.

1 year.

Extreme Pro.

900Mbps download, 20Mbps upload.

$ 99.

No.

$ 14 entrance leasing (skippable).

$ 70.

1 year.

Gigabit.

1,200 Mbps download, 35Mbps upload.

No.

$ 14 entrance leasing (skippable).

$ 80.

$ 104.

2 years.

Gigabit Pro.

6,000 Mbps download, 6,000 Mbps upload.

$ 300.

No.

$ 300.

$ 20 entrance rental (required).

2 years.

Plan.

Max speeds.

The entry-level Performance Starter plan nets you top download speeds of 50 megabits per second no matter where you live. Comcasts fastest strategy, Gigabit Pro, cranks those downloads up to 6,000 Mbps– thats 6 gigabits per second– total with upload speeds to match. That entry-level 50Mbps Performance Starter plan will cost you $20-$ 25 per month in the West and Central divisions, however the expense leaps all the method up to $65 per month if you live in the Northeast.

AT&T Fixed Wireless.

Information Cap.

Devices charge.

Promo rate (very first 12 months).

Routine monthly cost (after 12 months).

AT&T house internet strategies.

25Mbps download, 1Mbps upload.

$ 70.

$ 70.

None.

350GB.

AT&T Internet 10.

10Mbps download, 1Mbps upload.

None.

$ 70.

$ 55.

1TB.

AT&T Internet 18.

18Mbps download, 1Mbps upload.

None.

$ 55.

$ 70.

1TB.

AT&T Internet 25.

25Mbps download, 2Mbps upload.

None.

$ 55.

$ 70.

1TB.

AT&T Internet 50.

50Mbps download, 10Mbps upload.

$ 70.

None.

$ 55.

1TB.

AT&T Internet 100.

100Mbps download, 20Mbps upload.

AT&T Fiber – Internet 300.

None.

$ 70.

None.

$ 55.

300Mbps download, 300Mbps upload.

None.

$ 55.

$ 55.

None.

AT&T Fiber – Internet 500.

500Mbps download, 500Mbps upload.

None.

None.

$ 65.

$ 65.

AT&T Fiber – Internet 1000.

940Mbps download, 880Mbps upload.

AT&T Fiber – Internet 2000.

$ 80.

None.

$ 80.

None.

2Gbps download, 2Gbps upload.

$ 110.

$ 110.

None.

None.

AT&T Fiber – Internet 5000.

5Gbps download, 5Gbps upload.

$ 180.

None.

$ 180.

None.

On the other hand, AT&Ts plans mercifully suit a single chart due to the fact that they use the very same costs, terms and speeds regardless of what part of the nation you live in. Per the Federal Communications Commission, the companys fiber strategies are offered to somewhat less than one-third of residential customers. AT&T pegs the number of families with access to fiber at roughly 16 million, covering over 100 city areas. The company states it plans to broaden fiber access to millions more homes by the end of 2023, including the rollout of its multi-gigabit plans.For the rest, theres AT&T Fixed Wireless, which utilizes a satellite installed at your house to receive a cordless signal, and AT&T Internet prepares, which utilize DSL copper cable connections in mix with the companys fiber infrastructure to deliver service to individualss houses, albeit it at much slower speeds. AT&T strategies dont come with service agreements, however your expense will go up after the discount period if you have DSL or repaired wireless. None of the strategies will jump by more than $20, though, so the boost isnt as steep as you might see with Comcast Xfinity. What about 5G home internet? AT&T does not currently use cellular home internet plans as Verizon and T-Mobile do. Still, in March 2021, the businesss executive vice president of technology operations, Chris Samba, informed CNET that it prepares to roll out its own AT&T cellular broadband offering later on in 2022. Itll use a mix of LTE and 5G technology when it gets here. When we discover more, well update this space. Youll require to include $14 per month to your Comcast costs to utilize the businesss xFi Gateway– but you can avoid that charge by utilizing your own modem and router..
Comcast.
Fees, information caps and other sticking points Lets return to the subject of your monthly bill because theres more to consider than the baseline expense. Both service providers will add taxes and monthly fees every month, and in some cases, youll also need to manage a data cap. Additional feesFirst, the fees. Like a lot of providers, AT&T and Comcast Xfinity will charge you a bit additional every month if you dont register in autopay or paperless billing, but those charges are simple adequate to dodge. Just, you know, enroll in autopay and paperless billing. Problem fixed. The devices fees are another story. With AT&T, you will not require to pay additional to use AT&Ts Wi-Fi entrance. Thats included in the routine monthly charge. With Comcast Xfinity, the cost to lease the xFi Gateway is $14 monthly. Still, you can bypass it by utilizing your own equipment, supplied its authorized to work with Comcast, and youre OK with the reality that Comcast will no longer be able to offer device-specific technical assistance. Information capsAs for data caps, AT&T does not utilize them with any of its fiber plans, so well provide it some credit. There is, nevertheless, a data cap for AT&Ts nonfiber strategies, which is why we stated just a bit of credit.Once youve utilized one terabyte of information (1,000 GB) in a given month of service, the cap starts. Youll start getting charged $10 for every extra 50GB of data that your house uses. That service charge gets topped at $100, so once youve consumed a minimum of 500GB of extra data, AT&T simply tosses its hands up and states, “see you next month.” If you believe you need limitless information, you can update your prepare for an additional $30 each month to avoid the information cap completely, and you can likewise ditch the data cap by bundling your home web with other AT&T services.Another point of note: the information cap with AT&T Fixed Wireless is much lower, starting at 350GB. Youll still get charged $10 for each extra 50GB of data you use, however AT&T caps the charge at $200 rather of $100. Be conscious of going to sleep throughout a Netflix binge, AT&T Fixed Wireless customers.Xfinity, meanwhile, implements the very same data cap with every plan it uses. Particularly, youll require to keep your regular monthly Xfinity internet usage under 1.2 TB of information. If you dont, youll be charged $10 for every 50GB of excess information use, topped at $100. In fairness, 1.2 TB is a great deal of information, however its not unreasonable to believe that a hectic household would occasionally need more. For example, on my network, where I work from house, stream a lot of motion pictures in 4K, and cope with a roommate whos simply as online as I am, we went through about 320GB of data here in the first 9 days of the month. That put us on pace to utilize simply over 1TB by the end of the month. If you live with, state, two roomies– or with a whole household of web users– then data caps like those may be something you d wish to avoid if you could. Installation costsAT&& T charges $99 for expert, at home setup, but self-installation sets are offered sometimes, too. Talk to the company to see if thats an option for you. If not, asking the sales representative if theyll waive the setup charge is probably worth the attempt, as AT&T often waives it throughout seasonal promos.With Xfinity, expert setup expenses less at $40, and you do not have to “certify” for the self-installation option like you do with AT&T. Point Comcast.AT&& T vs. Xfinity: Customer fulfillment ratings comparedBoth AT&T and Comcast Xfinity rank extremely for client satisfaction amongst internet providers.
American Customer Satisfaction Index.
Still, AT&T and Comcast Xfinity are relatively strong entertainers here. Each finished with an above-average rating from the American Customer Satisfaction Index in 2022, excellent enough to put both among the leading 4 of all ISPs surveyed.With a score of 69, AT&T finished in third location overall. AT&T vs. Xfinity FAQs.

Which is much better– AT&T or Xfinity?

It depends upon how you evaluate “better.” Xfinity remains in more states throughout the United States (39 to 21), however AT&T is available to more people (around 41% to 36% of United States locals). Xfinity has the fastest strategy in between the two (the Gigabit Pro plan at 6,000 Mbps), however at $300 monthly, its likewise the most pricey. AT&T has a 5,000 Mbps plan thats quite a bit more affordable at $180 a month. We may lean towards AT&T because of its fiber internet strategies, but those are not offered to all customers within its footprint. Others might need to go for DSL. In those cases, Xfinity and its cable television internet plans would be more suitable..

Is Xfinity less expensive than AT&T?

Among their routine offerings, Xfinitys cheapest plan, depending upon where you live, ranges from $20-$ 30 monthly, while AT&Ts most affordable tier starts at $55 monthly. Nevertheless, both suppliers also provide reduced prepare for low-income homes. Access from AT&T includes a 100Mbps prepare for $30 each month, while Xfinity has Internet Essentials, a 50Mbps prepare for $10 a month.

Can you get fiber web service from AT&T or Xfinity?

AT&Ts fiber web offerings are more extensively available. Per the FCCs newest information, AT&T supplies fiber internet to about a 3rd of its customers.

Xfinity will use more strategy alternatives and will likely provide the most affordable strategy, though speeds with the stated strategy will be much lower than the lowest-priced AT&T Fiber strategy. The company says it prepares to broaden fiber access to millions more houses by the end of 2023, consisting of the rollout of its multi-gigabit plans.For the rest, theres AT&T Fixed Wireless, which uses a satellite mounted at your house to get a wireless signal, and AT&T Internet prepares, which utilize DSL copper cable connections in combination with the businesss fiber infrastructure to deliver service to peoples homes, albeit it at much slower speeds. With AT&T, you wont need to pay additional to use AT&Ts Wi-Fi gateway. If you believe you require endless information, you can update your strategy for an additional $30 per month to avoid the data cap completely, and you can also ditch the information cap by bundling your house web with other AT&T services.Another point of note: the information cap with AT&T Fixed Wireless is much lower, kicking in at 350GB. If not, asking the salesperson if theyll waive the installation charge is most likely worth the attempt, as AT&T typically waives it during seasonal promos.With Xfinity, expert setup expenses less at $40, and you dont have to “certify” for the self-installation choice like you do with AT&T.

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