AT&T vs. Xfinity

Compare AT&T vs. Xfinity

AT&T vs. Xfinity highlights

• Xfinity has faster speeds, but you’ll pay more for gig service: Xfinity’s fastest plan comes with speeds up to 2,000 and plenty of sticker shock with a starting price of $299.99/mo.* Their more reasonable gig plan offers speeds up to 1,000 Mbps, but has a starting price $20/mo. higher than AT&T’s Fiber 1000 plan. 
• Both offer bundle discounts, but AT&T gives you more TV options: You can choose to bundle AT&T internet with an AT&T TV or DIRECTV plan for a discount on your monthly bill. Bundling Xfinity internet and TV will also get you a monthly discount, but there are fewer TV packages to choose from.
• AT&T boasts slightly higher customer satisfaction ratings: The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) scored AT&T higher than Xfinity for internet service in 2020. AT&T received a 68/100 while Xfinity came in at 66/100. However, AT&T’s score declined one point from 2019 to 2020 whereas Xfinity’s score increased five points over the prior year.

Is AT&T or Xfinity better for you?

Compared to AT&T, Xfinity internet has a lower starting price, plus higher max speeds in many areas. If you’re looking for faster speeds, AT&T internet is likely to be the cheaper option as their higher-tiered plans are likely to come at a lower monthly price than similar Xfinity plans. Additionally, monthly equipment fees are lower with AT&T than Xfinity, that is unless you opt to use your own Xfinity compatible modem. 

If you are trying to decide between AT&T or Xfinity services for your home, looking at their plans side by side is a good idea. Below, we compare AT&T vs. Xfinity pricing, plans and features. 

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AT&T vs. Xfinity internet

Provider	Starting price*	Speed range	Connection type	Data cap
AT&T Internet	$45.00/mo.	5-75 Mbps	DSL	1 TB/mo.
AT&T Fiber	$35.00/mo.	100-940 Mbps	Fiber optic	None
Xfinity internet	$29.99/mo.	25-2,000 Mbps	Cable	1 TB/mo.

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 10/26/20.

Internet technology

AT&T uses a DSL or 100% fiber optic network, and the service type you are eligible for depends on your location. Note: In October 2020, AT&T announced their copper DSL service, with speeds up to 6 Mbps, will no longer be available to new customers.

Xfinity primarily uses a cable network, but some areas may have access to their cable/fiber hybrid network which can deliver faster, more reliable speeds. 

Data caps

If you have DSL service from AT&T, you’ll have a data cap of 1 TB/mo. Exceeding your data cap can result in a $10 additional charge for each 50 GB block needed to compensate for your overage, with a max fee of $50. AT&T Fiber customers, on the other hand, can enjoy unlimited data with any plan.

Xfinity plans come with a 1 TB/mo. data cap. Exceeding your limit will result in added fees similar to AT&T’s, or you can sign up for unlimited data for an extra $30/mo.

Contracts

AT&T internet plans do not come with contract agreements, although promotional pricing may expire after one year. 

Term agreements for Xfinity are less black and white. Some regions, such as the West and Northeast, may not require a contract to get the lowest pricing on select plans. Others, such as the Central and South regions may require a one or two-year contract to get the lowest monthly pricing. If you have a contract and cancel before it expires, you may be charged an early termination fee. The termination fee will be prorated based on the internet plan you choose.

AT&T vs. Xfinity bundles

Both AT&T and Xfinity have several popular TV and internet bundles. Xfinity has a variety of Double, Triple and Quad Play bundles which include home security. AT&T also offers Double and Triple Play deals, and you can choose between AT&T TV and DIRECTV in select areas.

Popular AT&T and Xfinity bundles side by side

Here’s a look at two comparable internet and TV bundles from AT&T and Xfinity. What makes these two plans so popular? They both have fast internet speeds to support a household of devices and have extended basic cable with popular channels, such as Animal Planet, Disney and HGTV.

Additional bundles with varying internet speeds and channel counts are available from both providers and can vary by location.

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 10/26/20.

What should you consider when selecting a bundle?

Shoppers in different regions of the U.S. will have varying options for internet speeds, TV packages and pricing, especially with Xfinity. Additionally, some TV packages and internet speeds from Xfinity may only be available with a bundle.

AT&T TV vs. Xfinity TV

AT&T TV offers more channels and TV package options than Xfinity. Plus, DIRECTV is part of the AT&T family, giving you more AT&T internet and TV bundle possibilities.

Xfinity has fewer TV plan options than AT&T, but they do have some cheaper alternatives. Available Xfinity TV packages vary by location, and some packages may only be available with an Xfinity bundle. 

AT&T TV vs. Xfinity TV packages and pricing

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of 10/26/20.

AT&T TV, DIRECTV and Xfinity TV are ideal for watching TV at home and on the go. Each provider offers an app for streaming live and on-demand programming on your mobile device.

AT&T vs. Xfinity availability

If you are trying to decide between AT&T and Xfinity service at your home, you are probably in an area where both services are available. And you’re not alone, because AT&T and Xfinity are two of the largest internet providers in the U.S. 

Xfinity’s main serviceable areas: the Great Lakes areas, the Northwest and Eastern U.S.

AT&T’s main serviceable areas: the South and Northeastern U.S., most of California and select areas of Nevada.

AT&T and Xfinity coverage overlaps in many metro areas in the South, such as Atlanta, Houston, Little Rock, Miami and Nashville. Residents of select areas in the Midwest, including Chicago, Detroit and Kansas City, may also have access to AT&T and Xfinity. Coverage also overlaps in parts of California, including Fresno, Sacramento and San Francisco.

Learn more about AT&T and Xfinity availability near you.