Xfinity vs. AT&T: Which Internet Provider Is Best for You?
Xfinity offers the best value and speeds, while AT&T offers great reliability and customer service
May 21, 2026 | Share 
Internet Buying Guides, Provider Comparisons (Versus)
* Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See AT&T disclaimers | Xfinity disclaimers.
Compare AT&T and Xfinity head-to-head
Both Xfinity and AT&T are nationwide providers with a wide range of plans from the affordable to the blindingly fast. AT&T has been focusing on expanding its 100% fiber network and offering multi-gigabit plans, while Xfinity has been overhauling its fiber-rich infrastructure to provide low-latency internet and plenty of bandwidth when you need it most—during online activities like streaming, gaming, or working from home.
Services at a glance
| Provider | Services |
|---|---|
 | |
|
* Xfinity Mobile uses Verizon’s 5G network when devices are not connected to Xfinity Internet.
Pros and cons: AT&T vs. Xfinity
Pros
Unlimited data
Lots of fiber options
5Gbps internet
Cons
No bundled TV
Only DSL or fixed wireless in some areas
Pros
Five-year price guarantee
Unlimited data
Advanced Security included
Cons
Slower uploads on some plans
Limited 100% fiber availability
In this comparison:
Plans and pricing | Deals and promotions | Upfront costs | Recurring fees | Customer ratings | Final call | Methodology
In this comparison:
Plans and pricing: Xfinity vs. AT&T
Both AT&T and Xfinity offer a wide range of plans, including very affordable budget options. When comparing plans with similar speeds, the starting price of Xfinity’s plans is lower, though AT&T speeds go much higher in select areas. But you can save up to $3,600 when you bundle Xfinity’s cheapest internet plan and a mobile line compared to similar bundles from AT&T.
Xfinity plans and pricing
| Plan | Price* | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| 300 Mbps | $40/mo. for 5 yrs. | 300Mbps |
| 500 Mbps | $45/mo. for 5 yrs. | 500Mbps |
| 1 Gig | $50/mo. for 5 yrs. | 1,000Mbps |
| 1.2 Gig | $100/mo. for 5 yrs. | 1,200Mbps |
| 2 Gig | $100/mo. for 5 yrs. | 2,000Mbps |
* Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See Xfinity disclaimers.
Our favorite plan: Xfinity 500 Mbps
This plan provides enough speed for demanding tasks like video streaming while still coming in below the cost of many plans of similar speed.
But you can’t go wrong with any of Xfinity’s plans, so go with the speeds and price that fit your household needs. Xfinity’s fiber-backed network infrastructure is built to enhance bandwidth and reduce latency for a reliable internet connection, no matter which plan you choose.
See our methodology for more information.
Xfinity has a smaller selection of plans than AT&T, but it manages to cover the range where most households fall. Even if you have everyone in the house watching a different 4K movie at the same time, you shouldn’t use more than a few hundred megabits per second. And if you need to download large files for work or school, Xfinity has gigabit plans, too.
Importantly, the five-year introductory prices on all Xfinity’s plans are lower than the monthly cost for most other providers’ plans of similar speed. So if cost and consistent pricing are the determining factor in your choice of internet provider, Xfinity is a strong contender.
AT&T plans and pricing
| Plan | Price* | Download speed |
|---|---|---|
| Internet 300 | $50/mo. w/ AutoPay | 300Mbps |
| Internet 500 | $65/mo. w/ AutoPay | 500Mbps |
| Internet 1000 | $80/mo. w/ AutoPay | 1,000Mbps |
| Internet 5000 | $125/mo. w/ AutoPay | 5,000Mbps |
| Internet Air | $60/mo. w/ AutoPay | 300Mbps |
* Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See AT&T disclaimers.
Our favorite plan: AT&T Internet 500
This plan offers more than enough speed for the average household, with a pretty reasonable monthly cost. It’s also a fiber connection, which is an added bonus. See our methodology for more information.
AT&T has some of the fastest fiber plans in the country, but they also have a wide range of plan options. This means that you can get the reliability of a fiber connection without paying for more speed than you’re actually going to use.
AT&T also offers 5G internet connections through its Internet Air plans, which means that you can still get fast, affordable internet, even if AT&T’s fiber network doesn’t reach your home. DSL internet is still available in some areas, although AT&T is working to replace it with fiber or Internet Air service.
Deals and promotions: AT&T vs. Xfinity
Get a $200 Reward Card when you choose a new Fiber 1000 plan from AT&T Fiber. Terms apply
Ends 06/30/2026
Get 1 Gig internet for $50/mo. from Xfinity, with a 5-year price lock. Terms apply
Ends 06/15/2026
Upfront costs: AT&T vs. Xfinity
Neither Xfinity nor AT&T hit you with a lot of upfront costs, which is what we like to see from an internet provider. AT&T usually offers free professional installation when you sign up for a fiber plan, which is a good deal.
Xfinity’s professional installation costs $100, which is standard for the industry. If you need a technician to handle the outdoor wiring but can handle the indoor installation yourself, you can opt for a Self Install Plus kit for $39.99. If your home is already wired for Xfinity, you have the option to self-install for free. Once you have your equipment connected and ready to go, you can get connected with Xfinity’s same-day Wi-Fi.
Installation
| Installation fee | |
|---|---|
AT&T | |
XFINITY |
New or relocated fiber internet requires professional installation, so it’s nice that AT&T usually offers installation service for free when you sign up. If your home is already wired for AT&T Fiber, you can order a self-install kit when you sign up for your service.
Xfinity offers paid professional installation if your home isn’t wired for internet or if you need the current connection moved to a different location. Fortunately, Xfinity has been one of the biggest internet providers in the country for years, passing over 65 million homes across the country, so more houses are pre-wired for Xfinity than you might think.
You can also opt for a Self-Install Plus hybrid installation with Xfinity for $39.99. A technician handles the outdoor portion of the installation to connect your home to the neighborhood network, while the customer handles the indoor portion of the installation—which could include connecting and activating the modem and router, as well as setting up the Wi-Fi.
If your home already has wired Xfinity Internet, you can get a self-install kit shipped to you, or you can skip the shipping fee by getting the kit from your local Xfinity store. Once you get the kit, the Xfinity app will walk you through the self-installation process step-by-step, so you don’t need a technical background to choose this option and get online within minutes.
Want to know if AT&T or Xfinity is in your area?
Find out if AT&T and Xfinity are available where you live by entering your zip code below.
Recurring fees: AT&T vs. Xfinity
| Equipment fee | Other fees | |
|---|---|---|
AT&T | ||
XFINITY |
Neither Xfinity nor AT&T has any standard recurring fees, which is great. Internet service providers have long had a reputation for hidden fees and other sneaky tricks that would surprise customers on their bill. We like simple and transparent billing, and it’s great to see both these providers embracing that approach.
If your home is larger than the Wi-Fi signal from your router can reach, or if you have dead zones based on its location, both AT&T and Xfinity will rent you Wi-Fi extenders for an additional monthly fee. If you don’t want that recurring fee on your bill, you can also just buy your own.
Price hikes
Xfinity offers promotional pricing for the first five years. Most AT&T plans include promotional pricing for the first year. Be sure to look up the standard rate on the broadband nutrition labels displayed during checkout to find your rate after the promotional period ends.
Customer ratings: Xfinity vs. AT&T
| |
| |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | 5.9/10 | 6.3/10 |
| Most reliable | 8.7/10 | 8.2/10 |
| Customer's choice | 7.2/10 | 6.6/10 |
| Fastest | 235.5Mbps (National average) | 277.03Mbps (National average) |
| Best value | 4.3/10 | 4.5/10 |
Data based on our Annual Internet Service Provider Review.
Xfinity outranks AT&T in three out of five categories in our latest Internet Service Provider Review, scoring high marks in Overall, Fastest, and Value. And while Xfinity falls less than half a point behind AT&T in Reliability, Xfinity doesn’t flinch when it goes head-to-head with its 100% fiber rivals. Still, in the end, users find Xfinity the better value based on our proprietary data.
Ready to switch to AT&T or Xfinity?
Enter your zip code below to see if these two providers are available to you.
Final call: Xfinity vs. AT&T
Both Xfinity and AT&T offer good speeds at competitive prices. If you’re a power user looking for the fastest speeds in your area, a fiber plan from AT&T is going to be one of the best options you can find.
If you’re looking for an internet service that fits your budget while still comfortably meeting your household needs, Xfinity will have a plan that’s a good fit for you.
FAQ about Xfinity and AT&T
Is there a contract requirement for Xfinity internet services?
Is there a contract requirement for AT&T internet services?
What is Xfinity’s 5-Year Price Guarantee?
Methodology
Our HighSpeedInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on customer input from our Annual Customer Satisfaction Survey, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. To strengthen our research, we look closely at provider contracts to get hard-to-find information on price hikes, data caps, and extra fees, and we keep tabs on the latest news reports and online reviews. When applicable, we also rely on our personal experiences testing these services.
Our favorite plan
The average household needs internet speeds of at least 300Mbps but not more than a gig (1,000Mbps), so the best plan we recommend for each provider is always within that range. We also consider plan specifics, like added costs or included perks, and compare all the options from each provider to national averages. Finally, we account for tech type differences, since you might not need as much speed on a fiber plan as you would on a less-reliable fixed wireless or cable plan. Learn more about how much speed you need, and enter your zip code in our provider lookup tool to see what you can get in your neighborhood.
A note about pricing
The prices you see may not reflect the standard rates after the promotional period ends. You’ll see the standard rates, along with equipment fees, installation fees, contract requirements, and data caps (if any), on broadband nutrition labels displayed during checkout. Always view this information before you sign up for internet service.
Plans disclaimers
AT&T Fiber plans
Internet 300 | Internet 500 | Internet 5000 — Price includes $10/mo. discount when you sign up for paperless billing and AutoPay with a debit card or bank account. Or $5/mo. with a credit card.
Internet 1000 — New AT&T Fiber customers will receive $15 off the monthly recurring charge for 12 mos on an AT&T Fiber plan (300Mbps or higher). $10/mo if enrolled in Autopay & paperless billing w/ your bank account or the AT&T Points Plus® Card from Citi. Discount reduced to $5/mo when enrolled with a debit card. No discount if enrolled with any other credit card.
AT&T Internet Air plans
Internet Air — Includes $5 off with AutoPay and Paperless Bill
Xfinity plans 300 Mbps — For 5 years, no term contract. Restrictions apply. Autopay w/ stored bank account and paperless billing req’d. Taxes and fees extra and subj. to change. Reduced speeds after 30 GB of usage/line. Data thresholds may vary. All other plans — N/A
Author - Peter Christiansen
Peter Christiansen writes about telecom policy, communications infrastructure, satellite internet, and rural connectivity for HighSpeedInternet.com. Peter holds a PhD in communication from the University of Utah and has been working in tech for over 15 years as a computer programmer, game developer, filmmaker, and writer. His writing has been praised by outlets like Wired, Digital Humanities Now, and the New Statesman.
Editor - Jessica Brooksby
Jessica loves bringing her passion for the written word and her love of tech into one space at HighSpeedInternet.com. She works with the team’s writers to revise strong, user-focused content so every reader can find the tech that works for them. Jessica has a bachelor’s degree in English from Utah Valley University and seven years of creative and editorial experience. Outside of work, she spends her time gaming, reading, painting, and buying an excessive amount of Legend of Zelda merchandise.
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