Xfinity’s NOW Internet Fills the Gap the ACP Leaves Behind
Customers tied to a budget should find great value in Xfinity's new offerings
Nov 15, 2024 | Share 
Brand Guides, News
Now that the Affordable Connectivity Program has concluded, internet providers are finding ways to offer customers a budget-friendly alternative. Xfinity is doing just that with NOW Internet, starting at $30 per month.
But that’s not all. Need mobile service, too? You can pair the affordable NOW Mobile Unlimited or Tablet Unlimited plan with any standard or NOW Internet plan. If you’re ready to ditch the cable TV box, Xfinity has a new streaming TV service, too.
We’ll dig into the details so you can decide if these new services are right for your budget.
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Enter your zip code below to see if Xfinity’s new budget-friendly plans are available to you.
On this page: Pros and cons | NOW Internet plans | NOW Internet Availability | NOW Mobile plans | NOW TV plans | FAQ
On this page:
NOW Internet—The pros and cons
Pros:
- No credit checks
- No contracts
- No data caps
- Included gateway
- Included monthly taxes and fees
Cons:
- No support for other services
- Self-install option only
- Extra fee for hotspot access
- Pay-in-advance requirement
NOW Internet is a pre-paid service, so there are no credit checks, contracts to sign, or hidden fees. However, unlike Xfinity’s postpaid internet, Wi-Fi Hotspot access is an extra monthly fee. You can’t add additional services, either, including NOW TV, Xfinity TV, Xfinity Home Security, or Voice Premiere—NOW Mobile is the only exception.
According to Xfinity, NOW Internet is only available to homes pre-wired for internet. Xfinity also doesn’t provide professional installation for this new service. Instead, it ships a self-install kit at no extra charge. A technician is available free of charge if customers experience issues installing the kit.
NOW Internet—The Plans
| Download speed | Upload speed | Price | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100Mbps | 10Mbps | $30.00/mo. | Shop Plans |
| 200Mbps | 10Mbps | $45.00/mo. | Shop Plans |
See disclaimer.
Xfinity supplies customers with the XB3 cable internet gateway at no extra charge, which is included in the self-install kit. Customers cannot use store-bought modems with Xfinity’s NOW Internet service.
And while the supplied gateway supports 600Mbps, the fastest NOW Internet plan (for now) is 200Mbps, which is a good amount for a small family. With that bandwidth, you can stream video, play games online, and browse the internet with room to spare. Superfast speeds are generally ideal for large families with a dozen devices.
NOW Internet—Availability
NOW Internet became available to all Xfinity customers as of April 30, 2024.
Are you ready for NOW Internet? Let's go!
Enter your zip code to see if Xfinity is available where you live.
NOW Mobile Unlimited complements Xfinity’s new budget internet
Xfinity also offers NOW Mobile Unlimited, a new budget-friendly mobile plan that complements NOW Internet and is compatible with any Xfinity postpaid internet plan.
Like with NOW Internet, there are no contracts and no credit checks. However, Xfinity charges a one-time $25 setup fee per line (five lines max) and a $25 restocking fee. You can even bring your own device or purchase a new one at full cost—financing is not available. Xfinity also offers its Tablet Unlimited plan that includes access to all Xfinity WiFi hotspots and unlimited data for $25 per month (five lines max).
NOW Mobile Unlimited is not eligible with Buy One Get One promotions or multi-product discounts.
| Plan | Price | Data | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $25.00/mo. | Unlimited | Shop Plans |
| Tablet Unlimited | $25.00/mo. | Unlimited | Shop Plans |
See disclaimer.
Xfinity has a new NOW TV and streaming service, too
NOW TV and streaming is a new service for customers who prefer streaming over the traditional cable TV box. Cable internet relies on abandoned TV channels to deliver internet, so getting customers off traditional cable TV boxes and using NOW TV helps Xfinity recover unused channels to deliver faster speeds.
Here’s a summary of the four plans available:
| Plan | Price | Channel count | Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOW TV Latino | $10.00/mo. | 25+ |
|
| StreamSaver | $15.00/mo. | N/A |
|
| NOW TV | $20.00/mo. | 125+ |
|
| NOW StreamSaver | $30.00/mo. | 125+ |
|
See disclaimer.
Install the Xfinity Stream app on your smart TV or mobile device to watch NOW TV channels included in your plan. The app is already installed on the Xumo Stream Box and Xfinity Flex.
Other eligible devices and services include Google Chromecast, Apple Airplay, and Amazon Fire TV.
NOW Internet FAQ
NOW Internet vs. Internet Essentials: What's the difference?
Disclaimers
NOW Internet
- Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Limited to NOW Internet service, speeds up to 200 Mbps/10 Mbps. Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. For factors affecting speed, visit xfinity.com/networkmanagement. Requires self-installation and activation of refurbished gateway. Payments must be made online only via credit, debit, or prepaid card. Autopay and paperless billing required. Pricing subject to change. Service limited to a single outlet and subject to Xfinity Residential Services Agreement (xfinity.com/policies). Xfinity 30-day money-back guarantee does not apply to service. Warranty/return information for NOW Internet equipment available at xfinity.com/support/articles/now-internet-faqs.
NOW Mobile
- Restrictions apply. Xfinity post-paid or NOW Internet required. One-time line set up fee of $25 waived between 11/6/24-12/3/24. Intl. and roaming charges extra. Payments must be made online only via credit, debit, or prepaid card. Autopay and paperless billing required. Pricing subject to change. Reduced speeds after 20GB of usage/line. In times of congestion, your data may be temporarily slower than other traffic.
NOW StreamSaver
- Price includes all applicable discounts. Taxes and fees extra. Pricing and programming subject to change. To access Netflix, Apple TV+, and Peacock, activation for each service required. Subject to terms of each streaming service. Management of any existing Peacock and Apple TV+ subscriptions may be required to avoid multiple active subscriptions and corresponding charges. NOW Internet required. Payments must be made online only via credit, debit, or prepaid card. Autopay and paperless billing required.
Author - Kevin Parrish
Kevin Parrish has more than a decade of experience working as a writer, editor, and product tester. He began writing about computer hardware and soon branched out to other devices and services such as networking equipment, phones and tablets, game consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom’s Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others. At HighSpeedInternet.com, he focuses on network equipment testing and review.
Editor - Aaron Gates
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