Xfinity vs. AT&T: Battle of the Broadband

Xfinity vs. AT&T: Overview  

As two of the most recognized names in home internet, it’s no surprise that Xfinity and AT&T are often on customers’ shortlists. And while these popular internet providers both offer fast speeds, no annual contracts or equipment fees, and special perks for add-on services like mobile or TV, they generally excel in varying categories that may make one more suited to your specific needs than the other. 

For example, Xfinity has a wider national footprint, making it more accessible to more people, more cost-effective plans and true unlimited data across all tiers. AT&T stands out for their super fast—albeit limited—fiber network, although they also offer a range of other types of internet to cover more customers. 

While we’ll be diving into the details about what sets these two top ISPs apart, here’s a quick summary of a few key factors: 

Quick Hit: Xfinity provides more accessible pricing and unlimited data nationwide, while AT&T Fiber excels in upload speeds but has a limited coverage area.

• Xfinity is better for budget-conscious users seeking low entry-level pricing and predictable costs; AT&T Fiber is better for power users needing symmetrical upload/download speeds.
• Xfinity is better for bundling with TV, mobile and streaming services; AT&T focuses primarily on internet and mobile bundles.
• Xfinity offers true unlimited data on all plans; AT&T imposes data caps on non-fiber plans with potential overage fees.
• Xfinity has wider availability across 41 states; AT&T Fiber is limited to 22 states with metro-area focus.
• AT&T Fiber delivers lower latency ideal for power users; Xfinity’s fiber-backed network performs well for the majority of households and is able to deliver sub-20 ms latency, optimal for users who value quick response time for activities like online gaming.

Xfinity vs AT&T: Plans

Both home internet providers strive to offer a variety of plans and services to meet different users’ preferences and budget. Xfinity and AT&T require no annual contracts or equipment fees, offer added savings when you bundle with other services, and provide a variety of different speed tiers that should suit nearly anyone’s internet needs. 

That said, there are key differences in the plans these leading ISPs provide.

Xfinity Internet Plans 

• Fast, reliable speeds ranging from 300 Mbps to 2 Gig 
• True unlimited data included across all plans—no overage charges, penalties or data throttling
• Entry-level pricing starting as low as $40 a month
• Five Year Price Guarantee—no surprise price hikes or annual contracts needed 
• Xfinity Gateway equipment and WiFi coverage, powered by the Xfinity network, included at no extra charge 
• Comprehensive network protection through Advanced Security, which automatically blocks billions of cyber threats annually
• Free access to Xfinity WiFi hotspots nationwide 
• Xfinity Mobile Select line included for an entire year when you sign up for Xfinity internet  

AT&T Internet Plans 

•  Fast, symmetrical speeds from 300 Mbps up to 1 Gig for most fiber customers
• Up to 5 Gig in select areas
• Internet Air 5G Fixed Wireless speeds ranging from ~90-300 Mbps; varies by location

• Expect slower speeds with hybrid DSL/copper 

• Unlimited data included with Fiber plans only; overage charges, throttling and deprioritization are possible with Internet Air 5G and other plans
• Plans starting around $55-60 a month before promotions 
• AT&T All-Fi with WiFi Gateway for maximized coverage across devices 
• AT&T ActiveArmor enhanced internet security 

Bundling 

Xfinity and AT&T both offer special savings and perks when you bundle their home internet plans with other services. While AT&T focuses mainly on bundling internet and mobile for the best savings, Xfinity adds more variety and value to their bundled options, including internet, mobile, TV and Streaming Services, featuring some of the top platforms, like Netflix, Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu and Peacock. In fact, one of their prominent promotions for new customers features bundling Xfinity reliable home WiFi with Xfinity Mobile for nationwide 5G coverage. By signing up for an Xfinity Internet plan, customers can also get their first Xfinity Mobile Select line included for an entire year, combining wall-to-wall home coverage and 5G data on the go.

Additional Fees

Both ISPs have ways of minimizing fees to make that monthly bill more transparent. While both have gotten rid of equipment fees and annual contracts, Xfinity helps customers avoid price hikes with their five year price guarantee, allowing customers to lock in their monthly rate for as long as five years for more predictable pricing in the long run. Xfinity also now offers unlimited data across all of their home internet plans, doing away with overage charges that can be frustrating for customers. 

AT&T does unlimited data on their fiber plans, but some of their other options still carry added fees tied to data caps. 

Both ISPs charge around $100 for professional installation, with ways to waive or self-install for free available. 

Xfinity vs. AT&T: Performance 

As two of the most popular ISPs, both Xfinity and AT&T deliver fast, reliable internet to millions of customers across the country. But each provider’s performance is influenced by the type of internet technology available in your area, as well as your location—and even the plan you choose.

Quick Hit: According to a recent Opensignal report, Xfinity was the clear winner when compared to AT&T when it came to download speeds, reliability and consistent quality.1 

Speed 

Since 100 to 300 Mbps is typically considered sufficient for the average household to be able to casually browse, stream or work across a few different devices, Xfinity and AT&T can easily deliver, with Xfinity offering download speeds starting at 300 Mbps and AT&T speeds starting at around 90 Mbps with 5G plans. While Xfinity outperformed AT&T (and all other leading ISPs) in download speeds in an independent report from Opensignal,1 AT&T took the top spot for upload speeds. That’s because fiber internet stands out for being able to deliver symmetrical download and upload speeds, making it better suited for heavy users who do a lot of video calls or large cloud backups. Xfinty’s fiber network infrastructure delivers sub-20 ms latency for optimized competitive gaming and streaming.

Reliability 

While fiber internet has had the edge on reliability over any other form of internet technology, Xfinity is challenging that perception. Recently named the most reliable WiFi in the Opensignal Fixed Broadband report,1 Xfinity runs on fiber-backed infrastructure that delivers the low latency and high bandwidth required to support multiple devices simultaneously, so customers can enjoy streaming, gaming, and working from home without interruptions. 

Reliability on AT&T’s newer 5G wireless plans can vary widely based on your exact address and can be impacted by things like weather and landscape, making Xfinity the clear choice if both are available in your area.  

Data 

Many of the main fiber and cable internet providers have jumped on the unlimited data bandwagon, and Xfinity and AT&T are no exception. Xfinity includes unlimited data as a standard perk across all of their home internet plans, which means you can stream, game and work without worry. 

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for AT&T. The AT&T Fiber and 5G Internet Air plans do include unlimited data, but many of their other plans still come with data caps and the unpopular overage charges or intentionally slowed speeds (known as throttling) with them. 

Xfinity vs. AT&T: Availability 

Xfinity and AT&T are two of the country’s largest internet providers, covering about 70 percent of the country combined, with the odds of customers having to choose between the two fairly high. 

As the nation’s largest internet provider, Xfinity internet is available across more than 40 states, with their largest areas of concentration being in Pennsylvania, California, Florida, Illinois, Washington, Colorado, Maryland, New Jersey and Michigan. While most of Xfinity’s network is hybrid fiber-coaxial, they do offer 100 percent fiber (FTTH) in limited major metropolitan areas.

AT&T has a much smaller national footprint overall, but is expanding their 100 percent fiber internet presence, which currently spans 22 states with a focus on metro areas in the Midwest, Southeast and California. AT&T’s other internet plans may also be available in more areas, but most customers agree that these are only worth considering if fiber or cable internet are off the table. 

The Final Verdict

While AT&T Fiber is a strong choice for power users (large connected households, competitive gamers or remote workers who regularly upload large files) thanks to their symmetrical speeds and low latency, its limited infrastructure and higher price point make it less accessible to many customers across the country. 

Beyond being more widely available, Xfinity outperforms AT&T in download speeds, reliability and consistent quality according to independent reports and user experience.1 With top speeds that can easily handle everyday tasks, fewer fees and true unlimited data, better bundling options and some of the lowest entry-level pricing you’ll find for the level of performance—plus their own 100 percent fiber internet in limited areas—Xfinity is a clear winner for households looking to maximize value, flexibility and performance.