When I moved into my new home in Providence, Rhode Island, I was excited to try out the new internet providers, Xfinity being first on the list. These days, the internet is as much of a necessity as gas or water, so it was actually the first thing I installed, if you can believe it.
In this review, I’ll walk you through my experience using Xfinity internet for a month, from the installation process to the pricing. I’ll also compare it to other providers I’ve tried to help you make your buying decision. Let’s get started.
FYI: While Xfinity internet is among the most affordable options, it’s not available everywhere. To find affordable internet in your area, read our guide to the best home internet for seniors.
Xfinity Internet Pros and Cons
Pros
- Low prices: Xfinity starts at just $25 per month for 300 Mbps download speeds. That is half the price of the same speeds with Verizon internet.
- Monthly contracts: While there are long-term contract options for two or three years, Xfinity allows you to commit on a month-to-month basis.
- Bundling discounts: While there is no senior discount with Xfinity internet, you can bundle TV with your internet for a discounted price.
Cons
- Equipment fees: Unlike T-Mobile internet, which provides equipment at no extra cost, Xfinity charges a $15 monthly fee to rent their equipment. Sure, you can avoid this fee by providing your own modem and router, but the majority of people don’t have their own equipment.
- Low customer satisfaction ratings: In J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study, Xfinity ranked below average in the East region, where I live in Rhode Island. That being said, its ratings were above average in every other region in the country: the North Central region, the South, and the West.
Xfinity Internet Plans and Pricing
When it comes to pricing, Xfinity is pretty simple. Download speeds range from 300 to 2,000 Mbps, with prices ranging from $25 to $90 per month. Note that I chose the 800 Mbps plan, which is no longer offered as of June 2024.
Xfinity Home Internet Plans Compared
| Xfinity plan by download speed in Mbps | Monthly price* |
|---|---|
| 300 | $25 |
| 1,000 | $50 |
| 1,200 | $70 |
| 2,000 | $90 |
*Prices reflect the $10 discount for enrolling in automatic payments.
Plan Availability
Xfinity home internet is available in the following states (however, I should note that the company does not service every region of these states. Additionally, the availability of plans and their pricing will vary by location):
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Washington, D.C.
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
The Fine Print
Based on the chart above, Xfinity internet pricing seems simple, right? Naturally, like most internet providers, there are a number of extra fees that may apply.
- Equipment fees: If you don’t have a compatible modem, then you’ll need to rent an Xfinity Gateway, which costs $15 per month.
- Installation fees: I installed my internet for free, but if you want someone to do it for you, it’ll cost $100. The process was super easy, so I recommend doing it yourself to save money.
- Price increases: Xfinity guarantees your monthly price for the first year. After this, your price may increase at any time. However, if you want to guarantee your price remains the same, you can pay an extra $5 monthly to lock it in.
- Discounts for autopay: Enrolling in automatic payment through a checking or savings account can save you $10 per month.
- Late payment fee: You’ll get charged $10 if your payment is late, which is why I suggest enrolling in automatic billing.
- Charge for overage data: Unlike , Xfinity does not charge for exceeding a threshold of data usage.
- Early termination fee: If you sign up for a longer-term contract to lock in your rates, you’ll have to pay $110 to get out of it.
Internet Bundles
I had the option to bundle my internet with mobile service, TV service, home phone service, or even home security. However, the only discounts I got were on mobile and TV service. I could’ve saved $20 a year to bundle internet and mobile service from Xfinity, or, with the lowest-tier 300 Mbps plan, I could’ve added an unlimited mobile line and gotten a second line for free. I already have a mobile provider, so I didn’t take Xfinity up on this offer, but it’s a good deal for couples in particular.
Aside from mobile service, I could’ve saved up to 30 percent off streaming. With Xfinity StreamSaver, which costs only $15 a month with any internet plan, I would have gotten both Netflix Standard with ads and Peaco*ck Premium with ads. I already pay for both of these services, so I didn’t take Xfinity up on this deal, but another interesting offer was called NOW StreamSaver, which added on Apple TV+ in addition to Netflix and Peaco*ck, plus over 40 on-demand and live channels like Hallmark, HGTV, TLC, and more of my favorites for only $30 a month. Not too bad for live TV and streaming built into one!
To learn more about Xfinity cable, read our guide to Xfinity TV for seniors.
Xfinity Internet Senior Plan
Unfortunately, Xfinity does not have a plan or discount for seniors. However, there is a discount for low-income individuals. For only $9.95 and no pesky equipment fee, eligible customers can sign up for the Internet Essentials plan from Xfinity. With the $9.95 package, speeds are capped at 50 Mbps, but there’s also a $29.95 option with speeds of up to 100 Mbps. To qualify, you must meet the following requirements:
- You haven’t had Xfinity internet in the past 90 days.
- You have no outstanding debt to Comcast that is less than a year old.
- You participate in one of the following programs:
- Federal Pell grant
- LIHEAP
- Medicaid
- NSLP/Head Start
- Public housing assistance
- SNAP
- SSI
- TANF
- Tribal assistance (FDPIR, TTANF, etc.)
- VA pension
- WIC
Many seniors enrolled in or eligible for Medicaid will want to choose from these discounted plans. You’ll have to show Xfinity either your Medicaid card or your last letter of eligibility for anyone in your home. I’d choose the $29.95 plan if you want to stream, but you can go with the cheaper plan if you only plan to browse the internet.
Pro Tip: If you don’t qualify for the low-income plan, you can still find affordable internet for $20 per month. Read our guide to the best cheap internet to learn more.
My Experience With Xfinity
Because the nearest Xfinity store isn’t in my state, I ordered my Xfinity internet plan and Gateway online. It was really easy for me to enter my address and choose from one of their plans. Once I chose my plan and entered my credit card information, I rented the Gateway because I didn’t have a compatible modem. Shipping was free. Next, I had the option to add streaming and TV, which I passed on. And voilà! My Gateway came in the mail about three days later.
Installation
Getting my Xfinity internet up and running was a quick and easy process, and my Gateway came with printed-out instructions. First I downloaded the Xfinity app onto my iPhone and created an account. Then I clicked on my Account tab and, under devices, clicked on the Gateway. From there, the app told me what to do to activate my internet, step by step. It was as easy as plugging my gateway into my wall outlet and my cable outlet, choosing a Wi-Fi name and password, and waiting about 10 minutes. After that, I was online!
Xfinity App
I used the Xfinity app not only to install my Gateway, but also to check my internet connection if something was down. I just had to click “Test my internet connection,” and the app would make sure that all of the devices on my network, from my laptop and TV to my smart light bulbs and switches, were connected. I also used the app to view my internet data usage, manage my billing, and change my subscription. The app worked well and has a 4.3 rating in the Apple App Store and a 3.9 in the Google Play Store.
Using My Internet
My partner and I work from home, meaning our internet is always working hard to keep us connected. Typically, I don’t have any speed issues, unless there is a rare network outage. When I did a random test at the end of June through the Xfinity app, I found that I was actually getting 116 percent of my plan’s speed, meaning speeds that were 16 percent faster than I paid for.
Was this the case, or was Xfinity just telling me what I wanted to hear? To check with a third party, I also took Google’s speed tests. See my results below.
While I paid for speeds of up to 800 Mbps, the speed I got was only 518.7, which is actually 54 percent below what I pay for. Still, I’m not too mad about this, as I never notice latency with my internet connections, except (for some reason) when Netflix auto plays trailers.
My Bill
When I signed up for Xfinity in August of 2023, prices were slightly different from what I detailed above. My internet subscription costs $110 a month. However, I got $40 per month off for signing up for a long-term contract, plus $10 a month off for signing up for automatic payments and paperless billing. That brings me down to $50 a month, before you add back in the $15 a month for the Gateway, plus the $1.20 a month for taxes, surcharges, and fees.
Altogether, I pay $76.20 a month for Xfinity internet, although it would have only been about $60 without the Gateway. These prices are pretty reasonable considering the speeds I get.
Xfinity vs. Verizon Internet
There’s no doubt that Xfinity is more affordable than Verizon, starting at $25 a month compared to $49.99. Xfinity also has higher maximum download speeds: 2 Gbps compared to 1 Gbps with Verizon. Neither provider charges overage fees, but while Verizon includes equipment in its costs, Xfinity’s equipment costs add on another $15 a month, assuming you don’t already own a compatible modem.
For the fastest, most affordable internet, choose Xfinity over Verizon, particularly if you already own a modem. However, Verizon may be a better option if you want to get a price-lock guarantee without having to commit to a two-year or three-year contract.
| Xfinity | Verizon | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $25 | $49.99 |
| Price hikes | After first year unless you pay $5 extra a month for a price lock of 2 to 3 years | Price is guaranteed for either 2, 3, or 4 years |
| Overage fees | $0 | $0 |
| Long-term contracts | With 2 to 3 year price guarantee, 12 month commitment required. Otherwise, monthly | Monthly |
| Fastest download speeds | 2 Gbps | 1 Gbps |
| Cost of equipment | $15 a month (or free if you have a compatible modem) | $0 |
Bottom Line
Xfinity is a solid internet provider, providing fast speeds for relatively reasonable prices. It is especially good for someone who wants lower speeds of only 300 Mbps, as they can get away with paying only $25 per month for the internet. It’s also ideal for someone who wants to install their own internet and already owns a compatible modem, or someone who wants to bundle internet with mobile, TV, or streaming.
However, Xfinity is not ideal if you don’t have a compatible modem, as your monthly costs will go up by $15 a month. It’s also not for you if you don’t want to pay extra for a price lock of more than 12 months. To learn more about your options, read my rundown of the best internet providers for seniors.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does Xfinity internet cost?
Xfinity internet costs between $25 and $90 a month. However, you can save $10 a month by enrolling in paperless automatic billing and payments, bringing costs down to $15 to $80 per month.
- Does Xfinity have an internet plan for seniors?
No, Xfinity does not have an internet plan for seniors, specifically. However, seniors enrolled in or eligible for Medicaid or other government programs like SNAP can get home internet for only $9.95 a month.
- Do you have to pay extra for Xfinity internet equipment?
Yes, you have to pay $15 a month for the Xfinity Gateway if you don’t already own a compatible modem. Or, for $25 a month, you can get the Gateway lease plus WiFi Boost Pods, which are Wi-Fi extenders for someone with a larger home. However, if you have a compatible modem, you won’t have to pay extra for Xfinity equipment.
- How much does it cost to cancel Xfinity internet?
You can cancel your Xfinity internet for free if you didn’t pay extra for the price lock. However, if you did pay extra for the price lock and you cancel early, you will pay an early termination fee of $110.
