Is AT&T or Xfinity internet better?
AT&T and Xfinity are two of the biggest internet providers in the country. But which one is a better fit for your home? AT&T Fiber has faster download and upload speeds, better service terms and higher customer satisfaction than Xfinity, but it also has slightly higher pricing for comparable speeds. However, fiber internet from AT&T isn't available everywhere. That makes Xfinity the better option in terms of availability, cheap internet and discounted bundle packages, at least until the introductory pricing period (typically one to two years) ends and standard pricing goes into effect.
With a combined 69% nationwide coverage, according to the FCC, and overlap in significant portions of each other's networks -- the odds of you having to choose internet service between AT&T and Xfinity are fairly high.
Xfinity's pricing and available speeds vary by location, so the provider's savings over AT&T Fiber will depend on where you live. Additionally, select Xfinity markets may also have contract requirements for some of its plans, a 1.25 terabyte data cap (with potential overage fees) and a fee for opting to rent equipment. AT&T Fiber, on the other hand, has straightforward service terms: equipment is free and there are no data caps or contracts.
Locating local internet providers
It's safe to say that whichever option you choose, both providers are among the best ISPs nationwide, so you really can't go wrong with either. In the most recent surveys from the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power Survey, AT&T and Xfinity finished with above-average ratings among major internet providers.
Which ISP better suits your home networking needs -- AT&T or Xfinity? Let's examine how they compare.
Locating local internet providers
AT&T
A frontrunner among fiber internet providers
Our take - AT&T fiber plans are tough to beat, offering top-notch high-speed internet. Five-speed tiers are available: 300, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000 megabits per second, and prices range from $55 to $245 per month. Starting prices are a bit higher than Xfinity's, but there are no set price increases after 12 months and no equipment fees to add to your bill.
Xfinity
A top choice for cable internet
Our take - With Xfinity, you can expect more plan options and a cheaper starting plan than AT&T. However, watch out for a price increase after your promotional period. It could add as much as $20 to $50 to your bill, depending on where you live and your chosen plan. In some markets, Xfinity charges a $15 to $20 equipment fee if you rent a router, but you can avoid that fee if you decide to purchase your own equipment. If you live in the West region, your equipment may be included in the first or second year of service. Finally, in select markets, Xfinity might be a faster option than AT&T Fiber, offering a 10,000Mbps fiber plan.
AT&T vs. Xfinity plans, pricing and speeds
Below is an overview of AT&T Fiber and Xfinity internet plans. Xfinity speeds, pricing and service terms may vary depending on your region and chosen plan. I included only plan details for AT&T Fiber because if your choice comes down to Xfinity and AT&T's fixed wireless services, you should go with Xfinity.
AT&T Fiber plans
| AT&T Fiber plans | Starting monthly price | Max download speeds | Max upload speeds | Equipment fee | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber 300 | $55 | 300Mbps | 300Mbps | None | None | None |
| Fiber 500 | $65 | 500Mbps | 500Mbps | None | None | None |
| Fiber Gig | $80 | 1,000Mbps | 1,000Mbps | None | None | None |
| Fiber 2 Gig | $145 | 2,000Mbps | 2,000Mbps | None | None | None |
| Fiber 5 Gig | $245 | 5,000Mbps | 5,000Mbps | None | None | None |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Xfinity Internet plans (West region)
| Xfinity Plan | Starting monthly | Max download speeds | Max upload speeds | Equipment fee | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connect | $20 | 150Mbps | 20Mbps | $15 gateway rental (optional) | 1.25TB | 1-year |
| Connect More | $40 | 300Mbps | 20Mbps | $15 gateway rental (optional) | 1.25TB | 1-year |
| Fast | $60 | 500Mbps | 20Mbps | Optional $15 gateway rental (included for 24 months) | 1.25TB | 1-year |
| Superfast | $65 | 800Mbps | 20Mbps | Optional $15 gateway rental (included for 12 months) | 1.25TB | None |
| Gigabit | $70 | 1,000Mbps | 20Mbps | Optional $15 gateway rental (included for 24 months) | 1.25TB | 1-year |
| Gigabit Extra | $85 | 1,200Mbps | 40Mbps | Optional $15 gateway rental (included for 24 months) | 1.25TB | 1-year |
| Gigabit x2 | $80 | 2,000Mbps | 200Mbps | Optional $15 gateway rental (included for 12 months) | 1.25TB | 1-year |
| Gigabit Pro (fiber) | $300 | 10,000Mbps | 10,000Mbps | $20 gateway rental (required) | None | 2-year |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Xfinity's speed tiers are fairly consistent throughout all service areas, but pricing may vary slightly from one market to the next. The plans and pricing above reflect the West region. For example, the standard speed for Xfinity Connect is 150Mbps for $20 a month in the West region, but the starting price can vary anywhere from $20 to $30 per month based on where you live.
Rates on all plans, excluding the $300-per-month 10 gigabit plan, are set to increase after the first year or two of service, depending on your location and the plan you choose and the chart reflects the standard prices after the promo prices end. Note that the exact price increases may vary depending on your address. Service terms also vary by location and plan as a data cap, equipment fee (if you choose to rent) and contract may apply.
Meanwhile, AT&T Fiber plans, speeds, and terms are simple and straightforward regardless of where in the country you live. The provider's 300, 500, and 1,000Mbps plans are available in all service areas, and many will also have the choice of 2,000 and 5,000Mbps plans. There is no set price increase after 12 months and unlike Xfinity's confusing equipment fees, AT&T offers free equipment for all plans.
Fees, data caps and other potential sticking points
AT&T is much clearer about service terms and doesn't offer any hidden fees—but only for its fiber plans. Let's take a closer look.
AT&T vs. Xfinity added fees
Like most providers, AT&T and Xfinity will charge you a bit extra each month if you don't enroll in autopay or paperless billing, but those fees are easy enough to dodge if you just select autopay when you sign up.
The equipment fees are another story. With AT&T, you won't need to pay extra to use AT&T's Wi-Fi gateway. That's included in the regular monthly fee. With Comcast Xfinity, the cost to rent the xFi Gateway is $15 per month (or $20 per month for some of the faster plans), but it may be included at no extra charge with your plan. You can also bypass the fee, if there is one, by using your own compatible equipment.
You'll need to add $14 per month to your Comcast bill to use its xFi Gateway -- but you can skip that fee by using your own modem and router.
AT&T vs. Xfinity data caps
As for data caps, AT&T doesn't enforce them with any of its fiber plans or its new 5G home internet service, AT&T Internet Air. AT&T's basic fixed wireless plan does enforce a data cap, however, kicking in at 350GB. You'll still get charged $10 for each additional 50GB of data you use, but AT&T caps the charge at $200 instead of $100. Be mindful of falling asleep during a Netflix binge, AT&T Fixed Wireless customers.
Xfinity, meanwhile, has a monthly data cap of 1.25TB for certain plans, but some locations may have no data cap at all. If you have a cap, going over may cost you $10 for every 50GB of excess data used, capped at $100.
To be fair, 1.25TB is a lot of data, but it's not unreasonable to think that a busy household would occasionally need more. For example, on my network, where I work from home, stream plenty of movies in 4K and live with a roommate who's online just as much as I am, we go through about 320GB of data here in the first nine days of the month. That puts us on pace to use just over 1TB by the end of the month.
If you live with, say, two roommates -- or with a whole family of internet users -- then data caps like those might be something you'd want to steer clear of if you could.
AT&T vs. Xfinity contracts
AT&T internet service, from fiber to fixed wireless, does not require a contract. However, select markets for Xfinity may require customers to sign a one to two-year agreement for some plans. Canceling or changing your service before the term agreement is up may result in early termination fees and losing the lower introductory rate on service.
AT&T vs. Xfinity installation costs
AT&T charges $99 for professional, in-home installation, but self-installation kits are available for some addresses and AT&T typically waives the cost for installation for new customers.
With Xfinity, professional installation typically costs $100, but you don't have to "qualify" for the self-installation option like you do with AT&T. However, the self-installation option will incur a one-time charge of $40.
AT&T vs. Xfinity coverage compared
AT&T's networks (copper in pink, fiber in purple) and Xfinity's cable internet service (green) share coverage areas in the South, Midwest and parts of California.
A product of the nation's largest cable provider, Xfinity Internet, is available in select regions across 39 states and Washington, DC, covering about one-third of the entire population of the US. Most of that coverage is cable internet, but Xfinity has a small fiber network.
Areas where Xfinity's fiber internet service is available primarily include parts Indiana, Illinois and Michigan, though parts of Florida, Georgia and Tennessee may be serviceable for fiber as well.
As for AT&T, the telecom company offers home internet plans in 22 states, covering much of the South, Midwest and West Coast. Both providers may be available at your address in some parts of the country, including Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Memphis, Miami and San Francisco.
AT&T pegs the number of households with access to fiber at approximately 21 million, spanning over 100 metro areas. The company plans to expand fiber access to millions more homes by the end of 2025, including the rollout of its multigigabit plans.
For the rest, there's AT&T Internet Air and AT&T Fixed Wireless, which use a portable modem or satellite mounted at your home to receive a wireless signal, and AT&T Internet, which uses DSL copper cable connections in combination with the company's fiber infrastructure to deliver service to people's homes, albeit it at much slower speeds.
AT&T and Xfinity perks and promos
AT&T typically has limited-time offers for new fiber customers. Currently, AT&T Fiber customers can receive a VISA gift if they sign up online. You may receive a reward of $50, $100 or $150, depending on your chosen tier. Additionally, wherever you are in the country, you'll have access to AT&T's nationwide network of 30,000 hotspots available.
Xfinity is no slouch either. It offers a number of enticing promos upon signing for service. For those who are eligible for an Xfinity mobile line, you can shave off $10 to $30 a month from your internet bill for the first two years. Similar to many cable ISPs, Xfinity also gives you several options to bundle your internet with TV package or a mobile line, saving you $10 or more per month. Even better, Xfinity introduced StreamSaver last year, a new streaming service bundle combining Netflix, Peacock and Apple TV Plus for just $15 monthly. If you sign up for the 1,000Mbps and faster plans, Peacock Premium is already included with your service. Like AT&T, Xfinity has over 20 million hotspots nationwide, allowing you to stay connected to the internet wherever you are.
AT&T vs. Xfinity customer satisfaction scores
Everyone loves to hate their internet provider, so it's no surprise that customer satisfaction scores for the ISP industry aren't anything impressive. Still, AT&T and Xfinity are relatively strong performers here. AT&T remained at the top year-over-year with an 80 out of 100 from the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index. Xfinity's non-fiber score dropped a bit from 68 to 67 (bringing it just below the industry average of 68), but its fiber rating improved from 73 to 75. Not great, but not bad, either.
Meanwhile, AT&T grabbed the top spot in the North-Central and West regions (while Xfinity scored second-highest in both) in the most recent J.D. Power US Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study for 2024. Notably, Xfinity just narrowly beat AT&T in the South with a score of 565 to AT&T's 564.
AT&T vs. Xfinity recap
If your options are AT&T's fixed wireless service and Xfinity, the latter will be the best choice for speed, value, and reliability nearly every time. On the other hand, if your address is serviceable for AT&T Fiber and Xfinity, you're likely to get a better value with more favorable service terms from AT&T Fiber than Xfinity. Given the choice of the two, Xfinity stands out for its broad availability and low introductory pricing, but AT&T Fiber has the advantage in virtually every other category.
AT&T vs. Xfinity FAQs
Which is better: AT&T or Xfinity?
It depends on whether you can get AT&T Fiber at your address. Xfinity has the fastest plan between the two (the Gigabit Pro plan at 10,000Mbps), but at $300 per month, it's also the most expensive. AT&T has a 5,000Mbps plan that's a bit cheaper at $245 a month. We might lean toward AT&T because of its fiber internet plans, but those aren't available to all customers within its footprint. Others might have to settle for its slower, fixed wireless plans. In those cases, Xfinity and its cable internet plans would be preferable.
Is Xfinity cheaper than AT&T?
Among its regular offerings, Xfinity's cheapest plan, depending on where you live, ranges from $20 to $30 per month in the first year. AT&T Fiber's cheapest tier starts at $55 monthly. However, both providers also offer discounted plans for low-income households. Access from AT&T has a 100Mbps plan for $30 per month, while Xfinity has Internet Essentials and Internet Essentials Plus, offering 75Mbps for $15 a month and 100Mbps for $30, respectively.
Can you get fiber internet service from AT&T or Xfinity?
Yes. AT&T's fiber internet offerings are more widely available. Per the FCC's latest information, AT&T provides fiber internet to about a third of its customers. Meanwhile, Xfinity is mostly a hybrid of cable and fiber, though its Gigabit Pro tier is a 100% fiber connection.
