AT&T vs. Xfinity: Which Is the Best Internet Service Provider?

Compare AT&T and Xfinity head to head

What can we say? We love fiber internet, so we think AT&T is the best option in this internet service provider (ISP) duel. AT&T’s fiber plans are fast (in some cases, really fast) and affordable. Plus, you get unlimited data. Xfinity still has some nice options, though, including lower-tier plans that won’t break the bank. Also, Xfinity is much more widely available than AT&T, so it’s a solid Plan B if you can’t get fiber in your area.

Pros and cons: AT&T vs. Xfinity

Jump to: Plans and pricing | Extra fees | Customer ratings | Bundles | Internet connection types | Data caps | Contracts | Installation | Availability

Jump to:

• Plans and pricing
• Extra fees
• Customer ratings
• Bundles
• Internet connection types
• Data caps
• Contracts
• Installation
• Availability

Plans and pricing: AT&T vs. Xfinity

AT&T plans and pricing

AT&T’s multiple fiber internet packages all give you great speeds at a fair price. Even better, you get upload speeds that are just as fast as download speeds , making these plans perfect for upload-heavy activities like Zoom and hosting livestreams on Twitch.

The 5G Internet plan, meanwhile, is the absolute fastest plan you can get from a major internet provider in the United States. Do you need speeds that fast? Chances are not really, but it’s there if you live with a large group of people (think 10 or more), spend a lot of time uploading/downloading huge files, or stream your online gaming escapades on Twitch.

AT&T’s fixed wireless package is useful if you live in a rural area and want an alternative to satellite internet. It’s not as fast as the fiber plans, but it promises a minimum of 10 Mbps and gives you more data than you would get from expensive satellite plans.

Xfinity plans and pricing

* For the first 12 months with a 1-year agreement. Taxes and equipment not included. Regional price differences may apply.

Xfinity’s prices and plans vary slightly depending on the region you’re in. But wherever you are, you’ll get fast speeds and a range of price options. You won’t get the excellent upload speeds of AT&T’s fiber plans, but you can still get great performance and save some money by springing for one of the cheaper plans.

But if you want some serious speed, Xfinity might cost you more. Its gigabit plan costs more than AT&T’s similar plan (in some markets), and generally you could end up paying more for faster speeds on Xfinity.

Extra fees: AT&T vs. Xfinity

Data as of 11/14/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Most internet providers tack extra fees onto your bill. You’ll get charged extra for exceeding your data cap or for canceling your contract early, but both AT&T and Xfinity give you options for waiving fees or reducing them. If you’re late on payments, each has a grace period where you can have extra time to cover your bill before your service is shut off.

Both of these ISPs charge hefty fees for a professional installation. But with Xfinity, you can install your service for free if you opt for a self-install and pick up your self-install kit from an Xfinity retail location.

Customer ratings: AT&T vs. Xfinity

In our annual customer satisfaction survey, there wasn’t a clear winner between AT&T and Xfinity. Both ISPs scored an overall satisfaction rating of 3.7 out of 5.  Xfinity scored better for speed and reliability, but AT&T customers gave higher ratings for customer service and price.

Best TV and internet bundles

*Internet for the first 12 months with a 1-year term contract. No term contract for TV. Does not include $17.00/mo broadcast TV fee; price subject to change. Taxes and equipment not included.

**Internet has no term contract. Taxes not included. Unlimited data and WiFi equipment included for new Xfinity Customers only for 12 months. Not available in all areas. TV has no term contract. Does not include $17.00/mo broadcast TV fee and $9.00/mo regional sports fee; price subj to change. Taxes and TV equipment not included.

***Internet for 24 months. No term contract. Taxes not included. Unlimited data and WiFi equipment included for new Xfinity Customers only for 12 months. Not available in all areas. TV has no term contract. Does not include $17.00/mo broadcast TV fee and $9.00/mo regional sports fee; price subj to change. Taxes and TV equipment not included.

Since Xfinity is a cable provider, we’re not surprised that it has low prices and lots of options for bundle packages. We think the Popular TV plan is pretty groovy because it provides a good balance between price and value with over 125 channels.

Both of these providers also let you do triple-play bundles that include internet, TV, and landline phone service if you need it.

AT&T used to offer bundle packages with DIRECTV, but they are no longer available. DIRECTV still has lots of TV deals, but you’ll need to order them separately from AT&T internet plans.

Can you bundle a mobile phone plan with AT&T or Xfinity?

You can get deals from Xfinity by bundling an internet package with a cell phone plan through Xfinity’s wireless branch, Xfinity Mobile.

Xfinity Mobile is an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) and Xfinity offers a lot of incentives for internet customers to sign up. Depending on what’s available at the time, you can get discounts on your monthly bill, VISA prepaid gift cards, or even discounts on new phones.

Take a look at our Best Internet Deals page for the latest Xfinity Mobile bargains.

AT&T is of course also known for its many wireless offerings, including nationwide 5G service. But you have to order a cell phone plan separately from an internet package, and each comes at their respective standard prices.

Internet connection types: AT&T vs. Xfinity

AT&T plans are mostly fiber. A fiber connection gives you excellent speeds for both uploads and downloads, making this internet type ideal for high-bandwidth users who spend a lot of time streaming, gaming, or attending Zoom meetings (or doing all of the above simultaneously). The one disadvantage of fiber is that it’s not as commonly available as other internet types.

AT&T also has a fixed wireless internet package. Fixed wireless internet is geared towards customers who live in places with limited internet infrastructure. It’s especially useful for rural areas where satellite internet is the only other option since you can get faster speeds and more data over a fixed wireless connection.

Aside from its 6,000 Mbps Gigabit Pro plan, Xfinity primarily delivers cable internet. Cable is fast and reliable, much like fiber, although it can’t hit the same top speeds for uploading that fiber can. Cable is also more widely available than fiber, making it the go-to option for most internet users who need high-speed service.

Data caps: AT&T vs. Xfinity

AT&T’s fiber internet plans all come with unlimited data, so you can enjoy smooth connections and fast speeds without worries of exceeding a monthly limit. Non-fiber plans with speeds below 75 Mbps have a 1 TB monthly cap, which is still plenty. For rural customers, AT&T’s fixed wireless internet plan does have a data cap of 350 GB. If you go over your data for the month, you’ll be billed $10 for every 50 GB of data you use.

Xfinity packages all come with 1.2 TB caps. That includes the Gigabit and Gigabit Pro plans, which is kind of a bummer since a lot of providers offer unlimited data with gigabit plans. You’ll need to pay $10 for every 50 GB that exceeds your cap. Or you can spring for unlimited data for an extra $30 per month.

Contracts: AT&T vs. Xfinity

AT&T doesn’t require an annual contract when you sign up—its service runs month to month, and you can cancel any time without paying a penalty fee.

On most of its plans, Xfinity lets you choose between signing up for an annual term agreement or opting for a no-contract option. If you decide to skip the contract, you’ll need to pay $10 more per month. The Gigabit and Gigabit Pro plans have two-year contracts, while most other plans have one-year contracts.

Installation: AT&T vs. Xfinity

AT&T and Xfinity both have affordable options for installation. AT&T’s professional installation officially costs $99 (for fiber), but the provider will waive the fee if you put in an order online. If you’re ordering over the phone, you can probably haggle with customer service to do away with the installation fee.

Xfinity will mail you a self-installation kit for $15. But, you can get your kit for free if you pick it up from an Xfinity retail location.

Availability: AT&T vs. Xfinity

AT&T and Xfinity are both major internet providers in the US, with huge footprints across the country. With a network that can cover as many as 148 million people, AT&T is available mostly in California, Texas, the South, and the Midwest. Xfinity has a big presence in the East Coast, South, and Midwest, reaching potentially around 130 million people.

Are either of these providers available in your area? You can find out by entering your zip code into our tool below.

Final call: AT&T vs. Xfinity

AT&T is a perfect choice for customers who want fast speeds, fair prices, and fabulous fiber-optic performance. Xfinity, a cable provider, is also excellent when it comes to speed. And it has a much wider coverage area and plenty of options for cheap internet (but we still like fiber better).

Methodology

Our HighSpeedInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on customer input from our annual customer satisfaction survey, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. To strengthen our research, we look closely at provider contracts to get hard-to-find information on price hikes, data caps, and extra fees, and we keep tabs on the latest news reports and online reviews. When applicable, we also rely on our personal experiences testing these services.

Additional resources

• Your Guide to AT&T Internet Installation
• Self-Install or Go Pro? Your Guide to Xfinity Installation
• AT&T Fiber Availability, Speeds, and More
• Xfinity vs. Spectrum