Comcast Xfinity Home Internet Review: Cost, coverage and customer experience guide

Comcast Xfinity at a glance

Comcast is the country’s largest multinational telecommunications company and one of the leading home internet providers. In 2010, Comcast branded its internet, TV, phone and home security service Xfinity.

Fast facts

What we like

Xfinity’s A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau* (BBB) is a good sign. Although Xfinity internet customer reviews aren’t always glowing, the parent company has a strong record of resolving issues.

Xfinity offers high-speed internet plans starting at just $19.99 per month and many deals, perks and bundling options to bring your monthly bill down.

As streaming services continue to increase in cost, adding Xfinity’s NOW TV (starting at just $20 per month), or another internet-and-TV package may offer more value, depending on your location.

What we don’t like

Unfortunately, many of Xfinity’s positive attributes cut both ways. While having a choice among many internet types and plans is nice, it can be overwhelming and confusing to figure out the right plan for you.

Likewise, although Xfinity offers many compelling introductory offers, most require an annual contract and will lock you into a higher price after the introductory period. To be clear, even though the higher prices are very competitive in the overall marketplace, some customers may feel frustrated by the rate hike.

Finally, even Xfinity’s “Unlimited” plan is not really unlimited. In most regions, it has a data cap of 1.2TB per month. That number is so high that a typical internet-using family will unlikely surpass it, but it’s still a misnomer. To truly eliminate the data cap, you’ll have to pay extra.

* BBB ratings are accurate as of July 2024.

Comcast Xfinity pros and cons

One of the biggest pros and partly why Xfinity has a strong customer service record (for internet providers), is its brick-and-mortar stores. Customers can get in-person help with their service or even set up a plan and get the best intro offer possible with the help of a real person. Xfinity makes it easy and affordable to start using its services.

The flip side, however, is that Xfinity often locks you into plans with one- or two-year commitments that include price increases at the end. In addition to that, there is limited availability beyond urban and suburban areas, and Xfinity home internet is a lackluster or simply unavailable option in many parts of the country.

Pros

Cons

How much does Comcast Xfinity internet cost?

Xfinity home internet offers many plans. Prices vary by type of connection, internet speed and region. Costs can increase or decrease based on the introductory offer, rental equipment and professional installation.

How much Xfinity internet costs depends on where you are. West, Central and Northeast divisions have slightly different pricing depending on the plan. In the list below, we use Northeast pricing because our writer is based in the Northeast. Please note that West or Central pricing may vary, although not significantly.

What plans and services does Comcast Xfinity offer?

Comcast Xfinity home internet runs almost exclusively on its extensive cable network. Although fiber options are available, they’re rare and more expensive than other high-speed internet plans.

All Xfinity plans offer self-installation or pro installation for $100, and if you have a store nearby, it’s easy to get set up with everything you need. Self-installation is not free, however. You’ll need to order a Getting Started Kit, which costs $15 in most markets, and download the Xfinity app. Note that there are many complaints in the Xfinity Community Forum from customers who claim to have done self-installation and still received a $100 charge.

Equipment fees are typically included in the cost of your plan, but you can upgrade with an optional gateway to improve connections.

You’ll typically have to sign a contract to lock in a price for a certain amount of time to get the lowest monthly price. Comcast is notoriously cagey about contract details, which is evident in the more than 100 contract-related queries in Xfinity’s Community Forum.

Comcast Xfinity add-ons and optional features

Comcast Xfinity is not shy about offering perks and deals. Depending on where you live, you could save anywhere from $10 to $30 per month by bundling home internet with other services. Xfinity’s Double Play, which bundles internet plus TV and streaming, phone or home security service, is especially popular. You can also save $10 per month on any plan by enrolling in autopay and paperless billing.

Xfinity also offers 20 million hotspots nationwide, accessible via a Wi-Fi Pass, starting at $10 for 30 days of access.

Finally, while there are many sign-up perks at different times in different regions, a consistent nationwide perk gives a free Peacock Premium subscription to all customers who sign up for the gigabit plan or higher.

Comcast Xfinity customer service and experience

Some internet and cable providers are notorious for poor customer service. That said, Xfinity’s customer service record is comparatively solid. The Xfinity app has a rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars on the Google Play Store and a 4.3-star rating on the App Store, and the website is highly usable.

Xfinity offers live chat, phone and app customer service options, as well as a blog, community forum, FAQ pages and an outage map for customers to find their own answers to questions. The most recent American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Xfinity 68, two points higher than the national average for ISPs but behind competitors like T-Mobile and AT&T.

You can contact customer service 24/7 via the website or app. From my experience, customer service agents are generally helpful and knowledgeable. When my newly purchased home wasn’t connected to a cable line, an Xfinity technician installed a new line from a utility pole and connected it directly to the house for no extra charge.

Customer feedback

Other considerations about Comcast Xfinity

For most customers, price and internet speed are the most important considerations. However, there are a few things to note.

Additional monthly fees

Xfinity typically does not charge additional fees unless you subscribe to additional streaming services through your cable provider or rent a gateway. Gateways are optional and available for a $15- or $25-per-month fee.

Installation fees

Comcast Xfinity offers free self-installation, and most services are easy enough to DIY. If you need some help, you can pay a one-time $100 fee for professional installation.

Data caps

In the Northeast region, there are no data caps on high-speed internet. However, most plans in the West and Central regions have a 1.2TB monthly data cap. That’s significantly more than the 641GB most households will use in a month, but it’s still worth considering if you have additional high-speed internet options.

How does Comcast Xfinity compare with competitors?

Comcast Xfinity offers more plans than competitors, giving customers a lot of choices when it comes to finding the right high-speed internet plan.

Although it doesn’t have the same top speeds or availability as competitors such as AT&T Internet and T-Mobile Home Internet, it’s generally more affordable. Individuals on a budget and families interested in getting multiple services for one price may prefer Xfinity’s intro offers and choice of plans.

Comcast Xfinity vs. competitors

Methodology

We’ve used nearly 50 primary sources, including customer reviews, company materials and more to evaluate 22 internet service providers (ISPs), including Comcast Xfinity. Our rating methodology weighs company reputation, customer support, plan features, plan pricing, technology, availability and data privacy to score ISPs impartially. In this case, the author and editor are both Comcast Xfinity home internet customers.

FAQs