AT&T Internet vs. Comcast Xfinity: Which One Is Worth Your Money?

AT&T Fiber doesn’t pack as much speed per dollar as other fiber providers like Google Fiber or Metronet. “It’s kind of expensive,” says Mike Hayden, an AT&T customer who works in real estate in Oak Park, Illinois. Although the prices may seem high, you also need to consider that AT&T Fiber’s monthly price is all inclusive. All plans come with unlimited data, and there are no annual price increases, cancellation fees, router rental fees, or professional installation charges. This isn’t the same case for AT&T’s DSL plan, but even AT&T Internet Air includes all the extras.

Xfinity, on the other hand, offers some of the cheapest plans available in the country. You get a really good deal with Xfinity: Fast speeds, lots of data, and low prices for the first one to three years on a promotional term. However, after this promotional term is over, you can experience a price increase by $20 to $30 each month. Xfinity sometimes offers router rental included in promotional terms, but this reverts back to $15 per month when the term is over. You also have to pay for professional installation. Even if you opt to self-install instead, you have to pay for that too.

AT&T and Xfinity score equally on dollar value. If you’re tossing up between the two though, it’s best to go with AT&T’s fiber plan. Even though it’s more expensive, the fiber connection gets you a smoother experience overall. It’s also future proof, so as technology advances, you’re in the right position to upgrade too. Xfinity uses an older cable technology, so even if it’s cheaper, it’s not the best quality for your money.

AT&T has a great reputation for its customer experience. The provider takes first place in the American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ASCI) Telecommunications Study 2024, beating all other fiber internet service providers for performance and customer experience. The provider also does well in HighSpeedInternet.com’s 2023 Customer Satisfaction Survey, scoring above average across speed, price, reliability, and customer service. “Fantastic service and experience,” remarks Danny Flanagan, an AT&T customer in Eastlake, Ohio. Flanagan says he was impressed by the attentive customer service and swift installation.

Xfinity also scores above average in HighSpeedInternet.com’s survey across the board. However, the cable provider comes in sixth place in the ASCI Telecommunications Study among non-fiber providers. This places it behind even some 5G home internet services like T-Mobile and Verizon, which typically have more variable service than cable internet plans. Customers tell Reviews.org that Xfinity’s advertised deals aren’t available for long-term customers, so getting a discount can prove difficult. “They always say, ‘Oh, only this [plan] is available,’ and pretty much you don’t have a choice,” says Bridget Gutierrez, an Xfinity customer who lives in suburban Albuquerque with her husband and two kids. Gutierrez tries to negotiate her plan every year, but hasn’t had any success yet.

AT&T is the clear winner here. AT&T provides high quality internet services to its customers, and its consistent results across different surveys demonstrates its ability to provide good customer experience. Xfinity isn’t too bad either, but increasing prices and only offering deals to new customers is definitely a drawback.

AT&T is a great internet provider, though you get the most bang for your buck out of its fiber internet service. It’s great that the provider offers fast symmetrical speeds and a reliable customer experience. The prices are more expensive than average internet prices, but you’re paying for a top-notch service that shouldn’t let you down.

Xfinity also performs well and gets fast download speeds for an affordable introductory rate. However, it’s never a favorable experience to see your bill rising while your neighbor signs up with cheap rates. 

Overall, AT&T is the better pick if you can sign up to its fiber internet service. The provider’s customer-centric approach takes the hassle out of calculating your final bill because everything you need is included in the plan. There are no price increases to be wary of, or charges for extra data. Although Xfinity gets fast download speeds, you can’t beat symmetrical speeds that make uploading social media posts and video calls a breeze.