Jump to: Side-by-Side Comparison | Plans & Pricing | Important Features | Equipment | Customer Experience | Coverage Area | Advantages & Disadvantages | Bundles | FAQs

The Bottom Line

If you’re a gamer or just need a lot of upload speed, choose Verizon. Verizon delivers fast, reliable internet speeds over its fiber-optic network. Its upload speeds are much faster than most other internet providers, so it’s great for gaming and uploading videos.

Parents and bargain hunters should take a closer look at Xfinity for its overall value and advanced control settings. With fast download speeds on affordable packages, Xfinity offers a lot of value. Plus, Xfinity xFi gives you added security and control by enabling you to set limits on devices using your network.

Data current as of 9/10/18. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Packages & Pricing

These two giant ISPs have comparable download speeds and prices across most of the packages they offer. Xfinity gets a slight edge for download speeds on its high and low-end packages, but Verizon dominates for upload speed.

The Verizon DSL packages don’t offer a lot of speed, but they can be a reliable and affordable option if you can’t get Fios in your area.

Get Verizon Internet

Get Verizon Fios

The introductory prices listed here require signing up for Auto Pay and paperless billing. They will increase after the promotional period ends, which is usually one or two years. These listed prices also don’t include any fees.

We listed all the possible packages Verizon offers across Northeast and Mid Atlantic. Internet pricing and availability vary by location, so the exact price of some packages will depend on where you live. That’s why you see a range of pricing for the 300/300 package. Generally, customers who live in an area where Verizon offers the up to 940/880 package will also see more affordable pricing on the 300/300 package.

The Takeaway
Verizon Fios packages offer fast download speeds at affordable rates, but the upload speeds really stand out—especially for gaming and uploading video. Fios offers faster upload speeds than most other providers, including Xfinity. If you like gaming online or uploading video, you want Verizon Fios.

Enter your zip to see if Verizon Fios is available in your area.

Get Xfinity Internet

The most affordable Xfinity packages offer a bit more speed than the lower-end Verizon packages. On its top-tier package, Xfinity offers more than double the speed you can get with Verizon. However, that much extra speed won’t be worth the cost for most customers—it’s just overkill for the average household. Plus, the availability is extremely limited. Don’t count on it being available where you live.

The Takeaway
You’ll get plenty of download speed on affordable packages from Xfinity. Aside from the exceptions mentioned above, you’ll find comparable download speeds and pricing on packages from both these ISPs. Packages vary by location, so the internet package that delivers the best value will depend on what each ISP offers in your specific area. Be sure to check your availability before committing to a provider.

Important Features

Verizon

100% Fiber-optic Network
Verizon prides itself on the 100% fiber-optic network it uses for its Fios service. With most Verizon internet packages, you’ll enjoy upload speeds that match your download speeds. Fast upload speeds can give you an advantage when gaming online or reduce the time it takes to send videos to cloud storage. It’s the fiber-optic technology that makes those kinds of luxuries possible.

While newer technologies like 5G are hitting the market, Verizon’s 100% fiber-optic network is still a cutting-edge internet technology. If you can get Verizon Fios, you’re in for a reliable connection with fast speeds—even for large households with lots of devices.

Xfinity

Hotspots
Subscribing to Xfinity internet gives you access to the Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspot network. With millions of hotspots nationwide, you can get online in neighborhoods across America without using data from your mobile phone plan.

xFi Home Networking
The Xfinity xFi system lets you control your home network from your smartphone. You can see all the devices on your network and set time and data limits on each one. So, if Junior hasn’t finished his homework yet because he’s playing Fortnite, you can disconnect his device to eliminate the distraction.

You can also use xFi for more traditional parental controls and security like firewalls and password protections on questionable content. You’ll love the peace of mind that comes with knowing your family can browse the internet without putting themselves or you home network at unnecessary risk.

To use all the cool xFi features, you’ll need an xFi Gateway, which costs an additional $11.00 per month, plus some taxes and fees. If you want to extend your xFi network without losing any of its functionality, you’ll also need xFi Pods to extend the signal.

Equipment

Both Verizon and Xfinity charge comparable equipment rental fees. Verizon’s equipment charge is $12.00 per month, and Xfinity charges $11.00 per month. These fees could be higher if you need any additional or specialty equipment.

Despite these extra fees, we recommend using the ISP issued equipment for compatibility and troubleshooting purposes. The respective tech support departments from each provider can help you fix or replace equipment more easily when they’re familiar with it. If you buy your equipment from a third party, you could be on your own if it fails.

On the flip side, every month you save money by not paying a rental fee makes purchasing your equipment a better value. Tech-savvy people who can troubleshoot their own internet equipment might find buying a modem/router more cost-effective, especially when using the same ISP for a long time.

Customer Experience

Speeds and pricing are the most important, but they’re not everything. Before you sign your name on the dotted line, consider what your experience will be as a customer of either of these ISPs.

Verizon and Xfinity both charge for setting up internet service. Verizon setup will cost you $99.00, while the Xfinity installation fee will generally be about $60.00. These costs are for the standard installation scenarios. If your installation requires above-average material or labor, the fees could be higher.

Both these ISPs offer self-installation options on some packages. If you have this option and know your setup will be simple, we recommend self-installation. It will save you money and, for most customers, the process is easy. Use this handy article to get more information if you want to self-install Xfinity internet.

Both Verizon and Xfinity offer 24/7 customer support. You can access troubleshooting guides and online chat assistance from both Verizon and Xfinity. If you’d rather speak to a person, you can do that too. You’ll find the customer service phone numbers for each of these providers on their respective support pages listed below.

Verizon Price Guarantee
Along with its fantastic fiber-optic technology, Verizon also offers peace of mind by guaranteeing your price won’t go up during your contract or the promotional period. Some packages come with one-year guarantees while others come with two-year guarantees, so you can choose how long to lock in your low rate.

Promotional offers with sign-up bonuses change all the time. For instance, at the time of publication, the promotional offers included a year’s subscription to Amazon Prime and an Amazon Echo. Past promos have included Google and Nest smart devices, prepaid gift cards, and free equipment rentals. These promotional offers are almost always for a limited time. So what’s currently offered could be different from what you see listed here, but these are the types of sign-up bonuses Verizon generally offers.

Xfinity Student Discounts
Xfinity is a solid option for college students. Not only will you get a student discount on your Xfinity internet service, but you can also use the xFi home network to turn off your internet for focused study time every night.

Security

Verizon
Verizon helps keep your network safe with TechSure, its network security software.

TechSure
You can add TechSure to your internet service starting as low as $10.00 per month, but that only gives you tech support without the extra bells and whistles you can get with upgraded options.

TechSure Plus
If you’re committed to internet security, you’re better off opting for TechSure Plus for $15.00 per month so you can get tech support along with LifeLock™ identity theft protection, in-home wire maintenance coverage, and McAfee security software and parental controls.

TechSure Premium
This option is twice the price of TechSure Plus but adds only device protection and password management from LastPass. If passwords and identity theft are your biggest concerns, TechSure Premium might be worth it for you, but most people will be happy with what they get from the TechSure Plus package.

Xfinity Security Features
Along with the spectacular parental controls you get with xFi, Xfinity also offers security options to protect your network.

Your Xfinity internet subscription comes with Norton™ Security Online, which prevents viruses and malware from infecting your computer and other devices.

If you want more security than that, add Norton Wi-Fi Privacy to your Xfinity service. This service will encrypt your data to create a virtual private network (VPN). This protects your data from public view and lets you browse the web anonymously. Xfinity customers can add Norton Wi-Fi Privacy protection for one year for just $29.99. After the first year, the subscription will renew automatically at full price ($79.99) unless you cancel it.

Xfinity customers can also get discounts on LifeLock identity theft protection. This service will alert you to potential threats to your personal information. It can also help you resolve any issues and potentially even reimburse you if someone uses your stolen identity to steal your funds. Ask your sales rep about adding this service and the value it brings when you sign up for your Xfinity internet package.

Availability and Coverage

Verizon offers residential internet service in ten states. Xfinity offers it in forty. These are two of the biggest companies in the industry. They don’t compete in as many areas as some other ISPs, but when they do, it’s a heavyweight bout.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Verizon and Xfinity

Add TV to your internet service for an entertainment bundle.

Bundling your TV service with your internet is a great option because it will save you money and hassle. With a bundle, you can manage your TV and internet services on one bill, so you have one less thing to worry about. Plus, that bill will most likely be lower than if you ordered the services separately. You’ll be amazed at the money bundling can save you over the course of a year.

Both of these companies offer great TV services that you can bundle with your internet service. You can get Fios TV from Verizon, and Xfinity is a leading cable TV provider.

FAQs about Verizon and Xfinity

Is Verizon Fios cheaper than Xfinity?
Verizon and Xfinity packages vary by location. Getting the most download speed for your money will depend on the specific packages offered in your area. However, you will get much more upload speed from Verizon Fios than you would on similarly priced Xfinity packages.

Is Xfinity better than Verizon?
Xfinity offers more download speed on both its highest package tier and its lowest package tier, but on most packages, the download speed is comparable. Verizon has far better upload speeds than Xfinity, but Xfinity xFi home networking offers unique and useful controls you’ll find valuable.

Our Verdict

You can’t really go wrong with either provider here. Generally, they both offer good download speeds and affordable prices, but Verizon has a big advantage in upload speeds. The superfast upload speeds from Verizon make it great for gamers or people who like to upload or broadcast videos.

If you’re concerned only with download speeds, Xfinity packages can be a better deal. Xfinity also has better network monitoring and controls that parents will find refreshing and useful.