Xfinity vs. T-Mobile: Which Internet Provider Is Worth Your Money?

Xfinity is more reliable than T-Mobile 5G Home Internet, but T-Mobile has fixed prices.

Fastest speeds
Xfinity
Xfinity Internet
Our rating
3.7 out of 5 stars
3.7
Starts at$9.95/mo
Speed and reliability
4.3 / 5
Dollar value
3.8 / 5
Customer experience
3.3 / 5
Fixed rates
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
Our rating
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6
Starts at$50/mo
Speed and reliability
3.5 / 5
Dollar value
3.7 / 5
Customer experience
4.2 / 5
Kelly Huh
Nov 14, 2024
Icon Time To Read9 min read

Xfinity is a better internet service provider than T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. Xfinity has superior reliability and faster speeds through its cable connections, and it gives you a decent deal with affordable promotional prices for the first 12 to 24 months.

However, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet does offer a simpler pricing model without data caps, price hikes, or contracts. Even though speeds are slower and more variable on this fixed wireless connection, you don’t get bogged down by the fine print.

“What I need [Xfinity] for, it works. I just don’t think about it that much.” -Dylan Woolf, an Xfinity customer in Salt Lake City

Keep reading to see whether Xfinity or T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is the better pick for you, based on our research and customer feedback on speed, reliability, customer experience, and cost. 

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Want to know if Xfinity or T-Mobile 5G Home Internet are available where you live? Run a search with your zip code below to find out.
Deals

Get a free upgrade to 5G Home Internet Plus with any T-Mobile voice line

Enjoy better speeds, wider Wi-Fi coverage, and 24/7 tech support for $50/month with AutoPay and any voice line.

Deals

Get a free Unlimited Mobile line with Xfinity's Black Friday deal


Order Xfinity's 300Mbps Internet plan and get an Unlimited Mobile line—both for just $35/month for 12 months. (Valid through 12/3/2024)

Xfinity vs. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: Plans, pricing, and speed

ProviderXfinityT-Mobile 5G Home Internet
Price per month
$9.95-$105
$50-$160
Download speeds50-1200 Mbps72Mbps–245Mbps
Upload speeds10-35 Mbps15Mbps–31Mbps
Details
Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change. Data verified as of the article's publication date.

Xfinity is a cable internet provider available nationwide with affordable plans starting at $19.99 a month with introductory rates for 12 to 24 months. After the introductory period is over, monthly bills increase by $20 to $40 each month, according to Xfinity’s website. The provider offers speeds from 150Mbps up to 1,200Mbps, and plans are capped at 1.2TB of data. Most households will find 1.2TB to be more than enough, but if you go over the data cap, you can pay $30 for unlimited data (if you use your own modem), or pay a $10 fee for each additional 50GB block of data you use. In some locations, the 150Mbps and 300Mbps plans have a cancellation fee of $10 for every month left on the one-year contract.  

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is a fixed wireless internet service available everywhere in the U.S. where T-Mobile’s 5G network is available. The plans’ download speeds can vary from 72Mbps to 245Mbps, but prices are set at a fixed rate that starts at $50. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet comes with unlimited data, and there is only a one-time device connection charge of $35. If customers use more than 1.2TB of data, they might experience slower speeds during congested time periods. Apart from this, there are no surprise caveats: T-Mobile 5G Home Internet doesn’t have contracts, data overage fees, or yearly price increases.

“I’ve never had any real trouble with Xfinity.” —Xfinity customer Bill Holmes, an IT specialist in Portland, Connecticut
Our favorite Xfinity deal
Deals
Save 30% on top streaming services

New and existing Xfinity TV or Internet customers can add StreamSaverTM for just $15 per month and get Peacock Premium with ads, Apple TV+, and Netflix Standard with ads.

That's three streaming services for the price of one! And the savings are no joke—without StreamSaver, all three services would cost $29.96 per month.

Xfinity vs. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: Fees for modem and installation

Service
Xfinity fees
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet fees
Modem/routerFree for 12 mos. or $15.00/mo.5G Wi-Fi Gateway is included
Self-installation kit and service activation$0.00–$39.99Free
Professional installation $100.00None
Early contract termination feeVaries by location, $10 per each month left on your billNone
Device connection chargeNone$35.00 (one-time fee)

What makes this review legit?

Our fact-based research process centers on interviews with internet customers across the country, helping us understand how internet services hold up against diverse needs and challenges.

To put together this review, we looked at results from our speed test, pulled data from customer satisfaction surveys, and pored over the fine print to compare prices and speeds between the two providers. To flesh out our analysis, we also interviewed Xfinity and T-Mobile customers to get their firsthand insights. We let their experiences guide our research and shape our conclusions. We also speak with ISP spokespeople and industry experts to get insights into connection types, speed capabilities, and other technical issues related to internet service.

how we review products and services

The matchup: How we rate Xfinity vs. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet

For all our internet reviews, we give a rating based on three main criteria—speed and reliability, dollar value, and customer experience—which we then average to make an overall score.

Here, we compare those ratings face to face. We then offer some analysis and context for important factors to keep in mind.

Want to know more? Read our full-length Xfinity review and T-Mobile 5G Home Internet review.

Speed and reliability

internet speed
Xfinity: 4.3/5.0 | T-Mobile: 3.8/5.0

Xfinity is the better pick when it comes to speed and reliability over T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. Xfinity is a cable provider, which provides a more stable service than 5G, which is wireless. Xfinity comes in third place in Reviews.org’s Fastest Internet Providers report, according to our speed test results. Users who took our speed test got average download speeds of 182.50Mbps, which can handle a few people using the internet at the same time. If this isn’t enough for you, you can choose a faster plan that offers up to 1,200Mbps.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is a fixed wireless provider, connecting your home to local 5G cell towers. This is slower, less stable, and more prone to changes in speed during congestion (times of peak traffic). T-Mobile offers two home internet plans, but the only difference between them beyond the price is that the “Plus” plan comes with whole-home Wi-Fi equipment. This improves the connection throughout a large home, but it isn’t any faster.

Xfinity is faster than T-Mobile, so if speed is your main priority, choose Xfinity. However, even with T-Mobile’s slower speeds, customers who took HighSpeedInternet.com’s Customer Satisfaction Survey rank T-Mobile just second to Xfinity in terms of their satisfaction with the provider’s speed. This is above all other major internet providers, so it’s a good sign that T-Mobile is still capable of providing decent speeds to its customers.

Dollar value

dollar value
Xfinity: 3.8/5.0 | T-Mobile: 3.7/5.0

Xfinity and T-Mobile both have reasonable plan prices, but you get more speed for the money with Xfinity. Xfinity’s introductory rates last 12–24 months, giving you top speeds for less. After this intro period is over, prices can go up by $20 or more. There aren’t a ton of extra fees, but there is a 1.2TB data cap. Depending on the area where you live, the 150Mbps and 300Mbps plans may impose an early cancellation fee if you cancel before the year is up.

T-Mobile also provides good value for the money, and for an added bonus, the 5G provider is available nearly everywhere in the country. Even though cable internet beats 5G for quality, 5G offers a handy alternative to expensive satellite providers if you live in rural areas where cable and fiber aren’t available. All plans come with unlimited data and a one-time $35 device connection charge. While T-Mobile doesn’t promise top speeds, there are truly no price hikes, and you can cancel anytime without repercussions.

Xfinity and T-Mobile are similar in the value they each bring. Xfinity’s price hikes don’t look good in our book, but you are paying for top speeds. T-Mobile’s speeds are nothing to rave about, but a fixed price is a diamond in the rough these days, so we appreciate T-Mobile’s transparency.

Customer experience

customer experience
Xfinity: 3.3/5.0 | T-Mobile: 4.2/5.0

T-Mobile does better on customer experience than Xfinity. The 5G provider ranks first place overall in HighSpeedInternet.com’s Customer Satisfaction Survey, with Xfinity coming closely behind in third place. T-Mobile also gets the highest rating among non-fiber internet providers in the 2022–2023 ACSI Telecommunications Study.

T-Mobile has a remarkably simple set-up process–there is no need to go through the gymnastics of scheduling an expensive professional installation and being there during a work day to supervise it. The 5G Gateway device comes with your plan for free, and all you need to do is plug it in, download the T-Mobile app, and follow a few instructions from the app. Customer service is also helpful and responsive to fixing technical issues. “It’s always been easy to get to a real person on the phone when I call T-Mobile,” says Steve Abbott, a T-Mobile 5G Home Internet customer in Mission Viejo, California.

Xfinity customers have mixed experiences. The parent company, Comcast, has a historically negative reputation that permeates customer views on the provider. Bridget Gutierrez, who lives in suburban Albuquerque with her husband and two kids, tells Reviews.org that the internet is slow, even though she has upgraded her speed. “It seems like every time I've gone up to the next speed, it didn't make a difference,” she says. Gutierrez has tried to renegotiate her plan prices too, but to no avail. “I wish that they would treat their new customers the same as their existing customers," Gutierrez says, referring to Xfinity’s low introductory rates.

Overall quality: Which internet provider should you pick?

overall quality
Xfinity: 3.8/5.0 | T-Mobile: 3.8/5.0 (average of previous scores)

Xfinity and T-Mobile might score equally in our reviews, but in the end, Xfinity is the better pick for most people. Xfinity provides faster speeds, low introductory rates, and a more reliable internet service overall. The plans do increase by $20 or more after a year or two, but users get plenty of data to work with throughout the month and can count on a cable connection most of the time.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is still a great provider, and you get fixed rates at $50–$70 per month for the foreseeable future with no hidden fees. Even though T-Mobile offers decent speeds and helpful customer service, you’re more likely to have times where service is slow and unstable on a 5G wireless connection versus cable.

deals badge

Xfinity vs. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: What deals and promotions can you get?

New Xfinity customers who sign up for the 300Mbps Connect More internet plan can pay $30 a month for two years when they sign up. For more tips on how to get the most out of your plan, check out our guide to lowering your Xfinity bill.

Existing T-Mobile Go5G Next, Go5G Plus, or Magenta® MAX voice line customers who add T-Mobile 5G Home Internet can pay as little as $40 per month for the internet plan.

Xfinity add-ons and perks


Pay $30/mo. for unlimited data to your plan for customer-owned modems.



Download the app after signing up for an Xfinity service and log in with your Xfinity ID.


Join through your Xfinity account after signing up for an Xfinity service.


T-Mobile add-ons and perks


Try 5G Home Internet for 15 days, and get your money back if you decide not to sign up.


Get your last month of service for free if you get a price hike on your bill.


Sign up for 5G Home Internet to get a free trial of the following streaming services:

  • ViX Premium for 1 year
  • SiriusXM Streaming for 6 mos.
  • Pandora Premium for 4 mos.

Download the T-Mobile Tuesdays app to get the scoop on regular deals related to food, gas, and entertainment.


Xfinity vs. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: What do customers think?

Xfinity

Xfinity customers vary on how they feel about the provider’s speed, reliability, and prices.  Bill Holmes, an IT specialist who lives with his wife in Portland, Connecticut, is fairly satisfied with his Xfinity plan. “I’m one of those guys who tests their plans a lot to make sure I’m getting what I’m paying for. Overall, I’ve been very happy.”

Since new customers get the best rates, Holmes shared a life hack with Reviews.org that could help other Xfinity customers. In August 2022, Holmes went into a brick-and-mortar Xfinity shop to return his Xfinity Flex streaming box and cancel his account. He then signed up for a new Xfinity plan under his wife’s name after they came back from a vacation. “She’s a brand new customer, so we got a two-year [deal] for $39.99 a month,” he said.

Rachel Marsden, another Xfinity customer who lives in Utah, previously enjoyed her Xfinity internet plan, but then ran into technical issues when she moved into a neighboring city. "Since moving to Farmington, it has been awful. Not sure why, but in this area, the internet is going out pretty often,” she says. “We have an outage at least once or twice a month, which impacts my ability to work from home."

“We have an outage at least once or twice a month, which impacts my ability to work from home." –Rachel Marsden, Xfinity customer in Farmington, Utah
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet

T-Mobile customers also have mixed reviews, with some having difficulties with streaming. “We could barely stream Lakers and Dodger games, let alone shows on Netflix,” says Steve Abbott, a T-Mobile 5G Home Internet customer in Mission Viejo, California. Even though it’s not the most reliable, his 5G Home Internet is much better than his previous DSL connection. “[Switching to T-Mobile] took us from low-quality streaming on a single TV to being able to stream two different shows in two different rooms with high definition,” he says.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet service relies on a cellular connection that broadcasts over 5G transmitters, which means that speeds fluctuate, especially in areas where a user’s cell service isn’t as strong. In times of peak usage hours, T-Mobile may also slow down a customer’s internet speed.

“Overall it’s pretty solid, especially if you don’t have other options,” says Jordan Rivera, a T-Mobile 5G Home Internet customer in Las Vegas, Nevada. Even though Rivera lives close to a 5G tower, he experiences high ping when he’s playing Apex Legends. “I would die before knowing anything hit me. I mostly play single player games now, ha.”

“Overall it’s pretty solid, especially if you don’t have other options.” –Jordan Rivera, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet customer in Nevada

Want Xfinity or T-Mobile 5G Home Internet? Find it in your area

You can get Xfinity and T-Mobile 5G Home Internet throughout the U.S., and T-Mobile has availability in all 50 states. Enter your zip code below to see if they’re available in your area.

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Kelly Huh
Written by
Kelly Huh is a journalist who covers internet service providers for Reviews.org. Originally from New Zealand, Kelly bought a one-way ticket to America to study at Brigham Young University, where she graduated with a BA in Communications. Since college, Kelly has gone on to write and edit featured content for technology companies in the Economist, Forbes, Vox, Bloomberg Green, and industry trade publications.

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