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Xfinity vs. AT&T Internet: Comparing Speeds, Pricing, Deals, And More

Xfinity has the speediest internet plans available, but AT&T has the best fiber pricing on the block. Find out which one is right for you with our expert review.

Best for performance

$35.00–$115.00/mo.

Pro
Fast speeds
Pro
Affordable starting packages
Con
Poor customer service reputation

$35.00–$115.00/mo.

Pro
Fast speeds
Pro
Affordable starting packages
Con
Poor customer service reputation
Fastest

$55.00–$245.00/mo.

Pro
Excellent customer satisfaction
Pro
Stellar fiber internet speeds
Con
Limited fiber availability

$55.00–$245.00/mo.

Pro
Excellent customer satisfaction
Pro
Stellar fiber internet speeds
Con
Limited fiber availability

Data effective as of post date. Not all offers available in all areas. See full disclaimer regarding pricing and features for more information.

Is Xfinity or AT&T better?

On most fronts, Xfinity internet and AT&T internet aren’t drastically different. Xfinity’s slower internet speeds are cheaper than AT&T’s slow fiber plans. But AT&T’s high-speed fiber plans are cheaper than Xfinity’s, so you’ll get a lot of bang for your buck with AT&T.

And while both providers have a reasonably sized data cap on some plans, most of AT&T’s plans come with unlimited data. In comparison, Xfinity’s only plan with unlimited data is the superfast, uber-expensive Gigabit Pro.

And when looking at the prices, remember that AT&T includes the price of its Wi-Fi gateway, which most providers charge around $10 a month for. Renting Xfinity’s xFi Gateway will cost you $14 a month, but you can bring your own compatible modem and router instead to avoid ongoing charges.

While our survey of internet customers like you put Xfinity above AT&T in overall satisfaction, both providers offer different plans based on where you live, which makes it hard to pick a clear winner.

Go for AT&T Fiber if you want speed, but consider Xfinity if you’re looking for affordable internet (and you’re willing to buy your own modem and router). Keep on reading to find out more about our takes on each provider. 

Why should you trust us? At CableTV.com, our internet experts have spent thousands of hours testing all of the best (and worst) internet services, and hundreds more hours tracking and researching industry trends.

For this article, we drew from our existing Xfinity and AT&T internet reviews. As part of these reviews, we surveyed hundreds of real Xfinity and AT&T internet customers to see how they felt about their internet service. We also combined this data with our original research and reporting to see which internet provider comes out on top.

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Compare Xfinity or AT&T internet head to head


Customer Rating

Prices starting at
$35.00/mo.

Max download speeds up to
2000 Mbps

Service Type
Fiber

Read Xfinity Review


Customer Rating

Prices starting at
$55.00/mo.

Max download speeds up to
5,000 Mbps

Service Type
Fiber

Read AT&T Review

Pricing, speed and availability not guaranteed. Subject to change.

Xfinity vs. AT&T: internet plans and prices

If you’re the only person using your internet and you have modest internet needs, you’ll find a lot to like with Xfinity or AT&T. But things can get complicated if you’re getting internet for more than a few people—let’s break down the biggest internet plans for AT&T and Xfinity.

Xfinity internet plans

Package Prices starting at Download speed Data allowance
Connect $35.00/mo. 150 Mbps 1.2 TB
Connect More $55.00/mo. for 5 years 400 Mbps 1.2 TB
Fast $70.00/mo. for 5 years 600 Mbps 1.2 TB
Superfast Visit Xfinity.com for current pricing 800 Mbps 1.2 TB
Gigabit $85.00/mo. for 5 years 1,100 Mbps 1.2 TB
Gigabit Extra $115.00/mo. for 5 years 1,300 Mbps 1.2 TB
Gigabit X2 $115.00/mo. for 5 years 2,000 Mbps 1.2 TB

Data effective as of post date. Not all offers available in all areas. See full disclaimer regarding pricing and features for more information.

Most of Xfinity’s plans are cable internet, ranging from the basic Connect (150 Mbps) to the impressive-for-cable Gigabit Extra (1,300 Mbps). Connect is the plan to bank on if you want cheap internet—it has enough get-up-and-go to support one or two people using the internet at once, although we don’t recommend it for families who stream multiple shows at once.

We like middle plans Connect More (400 Mbps) and Fast (600 Mbps) for the average user, both of which offer plenty of speed at a more manageable price than AT&T’s starting plans.

If you’re running a home business where speed counts, Gigabit might be a wiser option. Remember that cable (and DSL) internet download speeds don’t mean equal upload speeds: for example, 200 Mbps download will get you only about 10 Mbps upload.

AT&T’s fiber plans are a much better deal than Xfinity’s high-speed plans, though, so if you have the option, we’d say save yourself a buck and go with AT&T.

AT&T internet plans

Package Price Download speed Data allowance
AT&T Internet 100 $60.00/mo. 100 Mbps Unlimited
AT&T Internet 300 $55.00/mo. 300 Mbps Unlimited
AT&T Internet 500 $65.00/mo. 500 Mbps Unlimited
AT&T Internet 1 Gig $80.00/mo. 1,000 Mbps Unlimited
AT&T Internet 2 Gig $150.00/mo. 2,000 Mbps Unlimited
AT&T Internet 5 Gig $250.00/mo. 5,000 Mbps Unlimited

Data effective as of post date. Not all offers available in all areas. See full disclaimer regarding pricing and features for more information.

Now that AT&T has discontinued their DSL internet plans, we’d recommend Xfinity for plans up to 100 Mbps. An alternative is AT&T Internet Air, which uses AT&T’s 5G cellular data network to deliver its internet service. At $60.00 per month with speeds of up-to 225Mbps it’s a solid option, but we still would say to stick with Xfinity for those lower-speed plans.

Fiber offers a more consistent internet experience than cable and DSL, in more ways than one. Fiber internet’s upload speeds mirror its download speeds—which means no more waiting for an hour for the latest episode of your Typography Talk podcast to upload.

Plus, AT&T Fiber comes with no data caps, so you don’t have to worry about going over your monthly data allowance and being slapped with a fine like you would with an Xfinity plan.

Compared to what you get with Xfinity, any of AT&T’s fiber plans offer an excellent deal price-to-speed-wise. If fiber is available in your neighborhood, we say jump on it.

Xfinity vs. AT&T: customer satisfaction

As part of CableTV.com’s annual Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey, we talked to more than 8,800 real internet customers across the U.S. to see how they felt about their internet providers.

Xfinity tied for third overall customer satisfaction in this year’s survey, placing it among fiber providers like Google Fiber and Verizon Fios. Cable internet providers haven’t typically performed this highly in our past surveys, so Xfinity’s top-5 ranking is impressive.

  • 81% of Xfinity customers were highly satisfied with their internet speeds.
  • 71% of Xfinity customers felt Xfinity customer service could effectively meet their needs.
  • 65% of Xfinity customers felt that Xfinity’s prices were excellent given the quality of their internet connection.

What do real Xfinity internet customers think about Xfinity?

They were extremely friendly, kind and helpful during the entire process of getting set up. Any time I've had questions they've answered quickly and solved my issues.

Xfinity customer in Michigan

AT&T tied for 7th in overall customer satisfaction in this year’s survey, coming in a few spots behind Xfinity. Despite AT&T’s speedy fiber plans, customers tended to be more satisfied with Xfinity at the end of the day.

  • 67% of AT&T customers felt AT&T customer service could effectively solve their problems.
  • 73% of AT&T customers were completely satisfied with AT&T’s internet speeds and reliability.
  • But just 63% of AT&T customers felt that AT&T was an extremely good deal compared to the competition.

What do real AT&T internet customers think about AT&T?

We switched to AT&T because they had the most dependable coverage in Simi Valley, CA., and my wife depends on internet for work, often having to upload huge data files to servers. Our coverage has been very consistent and I also believe they are currently updating our area to fiber, which will be even better. Overall, I am. very satisfied with AT&T.

AT&T customer in California

How reliable is Xfinity or AT&T internet?

Xfinity AT&T
Latency 18.8 milliseconds 15.3 milliseconds (fiber), 29.3 milliseconds (DSL)
Internet reliability satisfaction rating 77% positive 73% positive
Internet speed satisfaction rating 81% positive 73% positive

Even though Xfinity inched out AT&T in our customer satisfaction survey, AT&T squeaked out above Xfinity in our own internet speed and reliability research.

According to latency data from our partners at HighSpeedInternet.com, AT&T’s average fiber latency ranked seventh overall and landed among providers including Optimum and CenturyLink.

By comparison, Xfinity’s average latency was in line with other cable internet providers like Optimum and Cox. Xfinity’s latency comes in just a few seconds behind AT&T, but that won’t result in a marked speed difference between providers.

Xfinity vs. AT&T customer service around the web: what do other people say?

AT&T actually has Xfinity beat on other industry customer surveys. In the 2024 edition of the American Customer Satisfaction Index, AT&T Fiber beat out Xfinity with an 80% to 67% approval rating. AT&T also beat out Xfinity across J.D. Power’s annual polling in both fiber and wired internet connections.

Is Xfinity or AT&T internet available in your neighborhood?

Xfinity internet is available across 35 states nationwide, so you’ll likely be in an Xfinity area if you’re near a major city. AT&T technically has a nationwide internet footprint, but as with other fiber/DSL internet providers, it has some gaps. AT&T’s fiber internet network has been rolled out on a city-by-city basis, so you may not have fiber coverage even if AT&T’s in your town.

  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Missouri
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • New Mexico
  • Nevada
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Wisconsin

Xfinity vs. AT&T: specs and features

Xfinity and AT&T offer vastly different services, and this extends to their internet plans. Let’s break down everything else you’ll need to factor into your decision between AT&T and Xfinity internet.

AT&T offers straightforward installation

Xfinity installation fees

Provider Pro install Self-install
Xfinity $100.00 $15.00

Both Xfinity and AT&T can mail kits to your home for self-installation, which is a cheaper route if you’re looking at a simple setup.

You shouldn’t need a technician to connect to a previously installed internet line since most of what you’ll need is already in place. But Xfinity charges an extra one-time $15 fee for its self-install kit.

AT&T installation fees

Provider Pro install Self-install
AT&T $99.00 Included

If you have no existing internet hookups, on the other hand, you’ll want a professional for that from-scratch installation. The same goes for a new fiber installation, which many homes aren’t equipped for yet. If you don’t know whether your home is set up for fiber, check with your internet service provider.

Thankfully, AT&T doesn’t charge extra for its self-install kit. But you might be on the hook for a little extra compared to Xfinity if you’re unlucky enough to need an installer for your fiber internet and don’t qualify for any free installation deals. Important note: Xfinity offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on internet service service, whereas AT&T allows only a 14-day trial period.

Does Xfinity or AT&T have good internet deals?

Xfinity internet deals

Xfinity generally throws out great deals for new internet customers, as you’ll frequently get benefits like discounted Xfinity Mobile plans and streaming service bundles alongside your internet plan.

Xfinity also offers good discounts for students and qualifying groups like teachers or military vets. Head over our Xfinity deals page for all the details.

AT&T internet deals

AT&T’s similarly generous for new customers, as online enrollees can frequently get service discounts or reward cards when they sign up for an internet plan. Visit AT&T deals page for AT&T’s current deals.

Xfinity and AT&T have a mix of annoying fees

Xfinity fees and extra charges

Fees Amount
Professional installation $100.00
Self-installation $15.00
Modem/router rental $14.00/mo.
Data overage fee $10.00 per 50 GB over 1.2 TB
Reactivation fee $6.00
Late payment fee $10.00
Taxes and surcharges Vary by area

Some of Xfinity’s one-time fees are unavoidable—but you can purchase your own modem/router to use with Xfinity internet, which eventually saves you money compared to renting month to month. Just be prepared to do most of your own troubleshooting.

If you somehow surpass Xfinity’s monthly internet data cap (1.2 TB), you’ll be charged $10 for every 50 GB you go over. How much is a TB (terabyte) of data? To give you an idea, you’d have to stream over 11 hours of Hulu shows every day for a month to hit it.

AT&T internet fees and extra charges

Fees Amount
Professional installation $99.00
Self-installation Included
Modem/router rental Included
Data overage fee $10.00 per 50 GB over 1 TB
Reactivation fee $35.00
Late payment fee $9.99
Taxes and surcharges Vary by area

Unlike Xfinity, AT&T includes the cost of its modem/router combo in your internet plan, so you don’t have to worry about that as a hidden fee.

Except for the lack of equipment fee and the $35 reactivation fee (ouch), AT&T’s extra costs are fairly similar to Xfinity’s. Check the table above for all the details.

But AT&T offers an important equipment freebie

Xfinity equipment

Provider Rental fee
Xfinity
xFi Wireless Gateway
$14.00/mo.

Xfinity and AT&T make their own modem/routers available as an option for new customers, which can be helpful. Both providers offer 24/7 support and regular software updates, but Xfinity’s router comes with a $14 monthly rental fee.

AT&T equipment

Provider Pro install
AT&T
Wi-Fi Gateway
Included

By comparison, AT&T throws in a free router for all customers. Unfortunately, AT&T doesn’t let you bring a third-party modem to your service.

Xfinity’s bundle options offer slightly more value

Xfinity bundle options

Want to save some cash on TV and internet? Bundling your Xfinity services is the way to go—you’ll save $20 per month, based on what the services would cost alone. Xfinity also offers a litany of services like TV, cell phone, landline, and home security coverage. Cord-cutters won’t be left out of the party either thanks to Xfinity’s StreamSaver bundle, which offers Apple TV+, Peacock, and Netflix for a discounted rate.

AT&T bundle options

AT&T no longer offers any TV bundles with DIRECTV or DIRECTV STREAM. You can still purchase a TV plan from DIRECTV while you checkout with your AT&T internet package, but the bills will be separate and there will be no bundling savings.

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Xfinity vs. AT&T FAQ

Is AT&T better than Xfinity?

It’s safe to say AT&T Fiber is better than Xfinity Internet. Compared to Xfinity, AT&T Fiber gives you better download speeds, faster upload speeds, and no data caps.

Is Xfinity Internet any good?

Xfinity Internet isn’t bad—it offers fast download speeds and data caps with plenty of breathing room. Plus, it’s gotten a lot better at customer service over the years. We don’t think it’s quite as good as AT&T Fiber, but it’s not a bad service overall.

What’s the difference between DSL, cable, and fiber internet?

DSL (digital subscriber line) uses telephone wires to send you your internet, while cable internet is delivered through cable TV lines. Fiber uses fiber-optic glass strands to transfer internet data as bursts of light.

How do I find out if Xfinity or AT&T is available in my area?

You can use CableTV.com’s handy availability map to see if Xfinity or AT&T (or another internet provider) services your zip code.

Does Comcast own AT&T?

AT&T is the world’s largest telecommunications company, and Comcast is the second-largest, so nah, Comcast doesn’t own AT&T. Comcast does own Xfinity, though, which is why you may sometimes see it referred to as Xfinity from Comcast.

Why you should trust us

Our experts compared Xfinity and AT&T’s bang for your buck, reliability, features, and customer satisfaction. We compared plans and prices side by side, along with hidden fees and extra perks, to best picture how the two providers stack up. For more information on our methodology, check out our How We Rank page.

Disclaimers:

AT&T Fiber Internet: Above pricing is after $10/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount with a debit card or bank account; if using a credit card, then price is $5/mo more. Pricing includes Equipment Fee. Up to $99 install fee may apply, plus tax where applicable.
Xfinity internet: For 12 months, no term contract. Taxes not included. Incl. up to $10/mo. auto-pay & paperless bill discount.

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