It may seem like home internet service providers (ISPs) make things intentionally confusing with complicated terms of service and a wide variety of plans, so we made a guide to help you choose the best ISP for yourself. AT&T and Xfinity, the latter owned by Comcast, are both telecommunication giants. Home internet services from these providers are available to millions of American homes.
Read on to learn more about AT&T and Xfinity’s home internet service, the pros and cons of both companies and why we think AT&T is the best choice overall (assuming you’re in its limited coverage area).
AT&T
AT&T
On AT&T's Website
4.5
Our star ratings are based on a range of criteria and are determined solely by our editorial team.
Lowest Priced Plan
$55 per month
States Serviced
21 states
Speed Range
10 Mbps to 5,000 Mbps
4.5
Our star ratings are based on a range of criteria and are determined solely by our editorial team.
AT&T
Lowest Priced Plan
$55 per month
States Serviced
21 states
Speed Range
10 Mbps to 5,000 Mbps
On AT&T's Website
AT&T offers some of the fastest and most reliable internet services available today. Its primary focus is fiber internet, providing high-speed connectivity using fiber-optic cables. This service is ideal for households with high bandwidth demands, such as streaming 4K videos, online gaming and working from home.
AT&T also offers a fixed wireless service known as AT&T Internet Air, which leverages 4G LTE and 5G technology to deliver high-speed internet in areas without fiber coverage. AT&T’s commitment to providing top-notch customer service and high-performance internet is reflected in its strong customer satisfaction ratings and consistent service reliability.
For these and other reasons, AT&T is our pick for the best overall internet providers of 2024.
Learn more:
Pros & Cons
AT&T Internet at a Glance
tops our list of Best Internet Providers due to affordable pricing, decent-relative-to-competitors’ customer service and variety of internet plans. No annual contracts make it easier to change, upgrade or cancel AT&T internet service. Furthermore, AT&T offers in-store appointments that can be scheduled easily, as well as phone support and live chat. You can choose from a variety of plans, including the high-speed 1,000-plus Mbps plan for gamers and the 1.5 Mbps plan for casual email users. Regardless of how you use the internet, AT&T likely has a speed option for you.
Pricing Per Month
Customers can choose from a variety of AT&T internet speeds depending on their needs. AT&T’s plans are sorted by speed, but not all are available everywhere.
PRICING MONTHLY | ||
---|---|---|
AT&T Internet 100 | $55 | Up to 100 Mbps |
AT&T Fixed Wireless Internet | $59.99 | Up to 25 Mbps |
AT&T Internet 300 | $55 | 300 Mbps |
AT&T Internet 500 | $65 | 500 Mbps |
AT&T 1G Internet | $80 | 1,000 Mbps |
AT&T 2G Internet | $110 | 2,000 Mbps |
AT&T 5G Internet | $180 | 5,000 Mbps |
Fixed Wireless Internet is AT&T’s plan for customers with limited internet options. In areas with wireless service, it is a suitable alternative to satellite internet, with speeds up to 25 Mbps.
In most cases, we recommend starting with either 300 Mbps or 500 Mbps for new internet customers, unless you only use the internet to check your email. 300 Mbps is sufficient for one or two people streaming video, but any more people or higher internet usage would require a higher speed.
AT&T State Availability
AT&T offers two types of internet service: fiber and fixed wireless. Fiber, short for fiber optic, is much faster and significantly more reliable than other types of connections. A fixed wireless connection is typically designed for rural areas with poorer internet connection options. Areas in many states are covered by AT&T’s fiber network, including:
AT&T STATE AVAILABILITY | ||
---|---|---|
Alabama | Kansas | North Carolina |
Arkansas | Kentucky | Ohio |
California | Louisiana | Oklahoma |
Florida | Michigan | South Carolina |
Georgia | Mississippi | Tennessee |
Illinois | Missouri | Texas |
Indiana | Nevada | Wisconsin |
Other Benefits
AT&T’s larger coverage area is one of its biggest advantages. With a coverage area of nearly 45%, AT&T’s fiber network is one of the largest in the country. Though Xfinity’s overall coverage serves more homes, it has a much smaller fiber network than AT&T.
AT&T’s unlimited home internet data allowance is another major advantage over its competitors. Data usage is unlimited on AT&T’s internet plans, starting at Internet 500.
Fine Print
In spite of AT&T’s competitive prices and zippy fiber speeds, its DSL internet plans fall short. ISPs serving similar areas have similar or lower prices than AT&T. With speeds ranging from 300 to 5,000 Mbps, AT&T Fiber is perfect for anyone who works, studies or just wants to have fun online. AT&T DSL speeds, however, are too slow and iffy for us. Unlike AT&T Fiber plans, AT&T DSL plans have a one TB data cap (unless extra data is purchased). Among internet service providers, AT&T rates high for customer service—a rare designation, but a low bar.
Xfinity
Xfinity
On Xfinity's Website
4.1
Our star ratings are based on a range of criteria and are determined solely by our editorial team.
Lowest Priced Plan Available
$20.00
States Serviced
39
Customer Rating
Good
4.1
Our star ratings are based on a range of criteria and are determined solely by our editorial team.
Xfinity
Lowest Priced Plan Available
$20.00
States Serviced
39
Customer Rating
Good
On Xfinity's Website
Why We Picked It
Pros & Cons
Xfinity Internet at a Glance
The largest cable company in the United States, Comcast’s Xfinity offers internet, telephone, and wireless services. Xfinity provides Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial (HFC) service in 39 states, including California, Florida, Illinois and New York, as well as nationwide public Wi-Fi hotspots. With Xfinity, cable internet plans average 1,200 Mbps and fiber internet plans reach 2,000 Mbps.
These are often the fastest download speed available in most areas. The multiple plans, promotions and prices offered by Xfinity may confuse customers used to certain services at specific prices.
Pricing Per Month
PRICING MONTHLY | ||
---|---|---|
Connect | $24.99 | 50 Mbps |
Connect More | $39.99 | 100 Mbps |
Fast | $50 | 300 Mbps |
Superfast | $60 | 600 Mbps |
Ultrafast | $70.00 | 900 Mbps |
Gigabit | $80 | 1,200 Mbps |
If you think this breakdown of Xfinity Internet’s plans is confusing, just know that in some markets and regions the plans have even less clear names, such as “Performance Select,” “Performance Pro Plus,” “Blast!”, “Blast! Pro” and “Extreme Pro Plus.” This lack of clarity is one of our biggest complaints when it comes to Xfinity and its internet pricing.
With speeds, price options and plan names varying significantly depending on your region, Xfinity may be a good choice for your home, but the slow speeds of a competitor may not be as bad when you consider the amount of time you’ll spend trying to figure out Xfinity’s marketing schemes.
Xfinity’s plans do offer fast speeds overall. In fact, for a while Xfinity’s 2,000 Mbps Gigabit Pro plan was tied with Google Fiber for the fastest home internet in America. AT&T now offers a five Gbps plan, which costs significantly less than Xfinity’s two Gbps plan and should be more than twice the speed.
Xfinity State Availability
Xfinity offers its cable internet service across 39 states and offers the most coverage for households in California, Florida and Illinois. Xfinity is the most famous and popular ISP choice in the Mid-Atlantic and Lower New England area, with thousands of households along the Atlantic seaboard using Xfinity internet. Xfinity’s fiber service is very small and only offered to approximately 18,000 homes.
XFINITY STATE AVAILABILITY | ||
---|---|---|
Alabama | Kentucky | Ohio |
Arizona | Louisiana | Oregon |
Arkansas | Maine | Pennsylvania |
California | Maryland | Rhode Island |
Colorado | Massachusetts | South Carolina |
Connecticut | Michigan | Tennessee |
Delaware | Minnesota | Texas |
Florida | Missouri | Utah |
Georgia | Mississippi | Vermont |
Idaho | New Hampshire | Virginia |
Illinois | New Jersey | Washington |
Indiana | New Mexico | West Virginia |
Kansas | New York | Wisconsin |
Other Benefits
One of the biggest benefits of Xfinity is its TV and internet bundles, which allow customers to pair up home internet plans with cable television service. Xfinity offers two plans, its SELECT+ which offers 400 Mbps and 205-plus TV Channels at just $89.99 per month, and the SIGNATURE+ which offers 800 Mbps and 210-plus TV channels at $119.99 per month. Both plans offer DVR storage and include great internet speeds. Xfinity also can bundle landline phone services if needed.
More important than landline, Xfinity also offers discounted bundles when you package your home internet plan with a cell phone plan through Xfinity Mobile. AT&T does offer wireless phone service including nationwide 5G coverage but you cannot bundle a cellular plan with a home internet plan.
Fine Print
Though Xfinity offers fast and affordable home internet service, we have a few big issues with its offerings, especially compared to AT&T. First, Xfinity has very little fiber service and though its cable internet reaches high gigabit speeds in dense urban areas, it does not have the same speed offerings in more remote areas. Xfinity also has a 1.2 TB data cap on all of its home internet plans, including its Gigabit and Gigabit Pro plans—though customers can pay for unlimited data for an extra fee.
Similarly, Xfinity does offer month-to-month contracts, but only for an additional $10 per month. One nice feature, however, is Xfinity’s professional installation for only $39.99 compared to AT&T’s expensive home installation costs.
Xfinity offers excellent speeds and a wide coverage area, but it is neither the fastest nor the cheapest home internet option on the market. Xfinity also seems a bit behind the times when it comes to certain contract terms, such as data caps.
Key Differences Between AT&T and Xfinity
Cable vs. Fiber
The biggest difference between AT&T and Xfinity home internet service is the type of service each ISP offers. AT&T offers a high-speed DSL service (which it calls IPBB) with speeds between 25 and 100 Mbps to 121 million homes in the U.S. However, AT&T’s calling card is its fiber internet which sees speeds up to five Gigabits. Fiber internet uses fiber optic cables to transfer the service significantly faster than old telephone lines or copper cable service.
Xfinity’s home internet is almost exclusively available via cable with only a few dense urban regions in its fiber network. Cable connections deliver a much more stable internet than DSL, but are much slower than fiber.
TV and Mobile Bundles
Another key difference between AT&T and Xfinity is the bundling options. Though AT&T is a famous cellular company, it does not offer bundled plans between its home internet and its wireless, mobile service. AT&T also no longer offers the DISH network as a bundle with its home internet service and therefore customers must purchase internet, TV and mobile service separately.
Xfinity, on the other hand, does offer bundles with both its cable TV service and its mobile network. You can even bundle in a landline if you want.
Internet & Wireless Bundles
AT&T and Xfinity are significant players in the market, offering comprehensive packages integrating internet connectivity with wireless services. They’re also helping consumers make informed decisions about what they want by offering bundles tailored to their specific preferences and requirements.
You can optimize your connectivity experience by bundling AT&T’s services, providing seamless wireless reliability and swift, dependable internet. If you’re new to AT&T, the good news is that you can get fast and reliable Fiber service for just $35 per month when you combine it with an AT&T unlimited plan. And if you’re already an AT&T Wireless subscriber, you can simply add AT&T Fiber service and enjoy it at a flat rate of $35 per month.
Similarly, Xfinity presents an enticing bundle featuring both wireless and internet services. Revel in high-speed internet connectivity alongside the flexibility of up to five lines of unlimited talk and text through Xfinity Mobile. Xfinity internet & wireless bundle is priced at $39.99 monthly for the initial 24 months without any contractual obligation.
Contracts and Data Caps
Additional major differences between AT&T and Xfinity are the data caps and contracts. AT&T has listened to customers and offers uncapped data on all of its fiber home internet plans. Xfinity, on the other hand, has a 1.2 TB data cap on all of its home internet plans. While that sounds like a lot, a large internet-friendly family could easily use more than 1.2 TB of data a month.
Additionally, while AT&T offers contract-less home internet that gives homeowners peace of mind without being locked into a long-term deal, Xfinity only offers month-to-month contract options for an additional $10 fee. This fee causes Xfinity’s initially low costs to end up higher than its competitors, an unfair consequence for customers who simply don’t want contracts.
Key Similarities Between AT&T and Xfinity
Availability
In terms of overall availability, both companies have relatively similar service, with Xfinity serving 112 million people with its cable service. AT&T reaches 121 million people with its DSL (digital subscriber line). However, AT&T beats out Xfinity when it comes to fiber: the company reaches 38 million homes with its fiber service, compared to Xfinity’s 18,000.
Reliability
Both AT&T and Xfinity are dedicated to providing their customers with a reliable experience. They focus on delivering consistent and dependable connectivity, whether in terms of internet services, wireless coverage or other offerings. This dedication to reliability is a fundamental aspect that both companies share, recognizing its significance in meeting the demands of its customers, who depend heavily on seamless connectivity for various aspects of their daily lives.
Plan and Price Options
Both AT&T and Xfinity offer similar internet plan and pricing options, though Xfinity is more affordable for sub gigabit speeds. Xfinity beats out AT&T for the lowest-priced plan with a $24.99 per month sub-100 Mbps offering, while both companies offer 300 Mbps for around $50 per month. Costs stay roughly equal between the two ISPs at each speed tier until AT&T’s two Gigabit plan for $110 per month and Xfinity’s 2G plan at $299.95 per month. AT&T even has a 5G plan at only $180 per month—still cheaper than Xfinity’s slower plan.
Customer Satisfaction
While no ISP ranks well in customer satisfaction, both AT&T and Xfinity do better than their competitors when it comes to customer happiness. We compared Trustpilot, Consumer Affairs and Google Reviews and found Xfinity and Comcast both rank similarly. Consumer Affairs gave each a 3.7 out of five stars, while Trustpilot gave AT&T a 1.2 out of five stars and Xfinity a 1.5 out of five stars.
Xfinity snagged 3.8 out of five stars from Google with 707 users submitting reviews while AT&T got a 1.6 out of five stars with only 14 review submissions. With so few user submissions, we can’t fairly compare the Google rankings.
Equipment
AT&T and Xfinity have a lot in common when it comes to providing customers with the equipment they need to maximize their connectivity needs. Both companies offer a wide range of modems, routers and set-top boxes that are tailored to their specific internet and television services. Whether it’s AT&T’s range of options accommodating DSL and fiber-optic preferences or Xfinity’s emphasis on cable modems for internet connectivity, both strive to cater to diverse user needs.
Additional Considerations
Many factors can impact your overall internet bill. To avoid additional charges, ensure you read the fine print of your contract and familiarize yourself with these potential hidden fees:
Early Termination Fees (ETFs)
Typically detailed in your contract, early termination fees are charged by your provider if you need to terminate your service before your contract expires. AT&T’s early termination fee is$15 per month(contract plans only), while Comcast Xfinity may charge you up to$10per monthin early termination fees if you cancel your service before your contract expires.
Modem Fees
When you sign up for any internet plan, you will require a modem or router to establish your Wi-Fi connections. Therefore, most internet service providers charge modem and router rental fees. AT&T’s equipment fee for one modem is$10 per monthif renting,or you can purchase it for$150 plus taxes and shipping. Xfinity equipment fee for one modem is$14 per monthif renting,or you can purchase one for approximately$170 to $350, depending on the modem type.
Data Overage Fees
If you choose an internet plan that does not offer unlimited data, you must be mindful of your monthly data allowance. AT&T’s data overages are billed at$10 per 50 GBof data you go over. For Xfinity’s 1.2 Terabyte Internet Data Usage Plan, if you exceed 1.2 TB following your one courtesy month, a block of 50 GB will be added to your account, and a $10charge will be applied to your bill automatically.
How AT&T Stacks Up Against Xfinity
Company | Company - Logo | Lowest Price Available | Number of States Services | Customer Rating | Learn More CTA text | Learn more CTA below text | Learn More |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AT&T | $35 | 21 | Good | Learn More | On AT&T's Website | ||
Xfinity Internet | $24.99 | 39 | Good | Learn More | On Xfinity's Website |
Bottom Line: Internet Providers Roundup
Of the two internet service providers we considered, AT&T was the better choice if available. Assuming you are within its fiber network, the speed to cost ratio advertised by AT&T can’t be beaten by most other ISPs. On top of that, AT&T offers better customer service, no data caps and no contracts.
Is AT&T or Xfinity Right for Your Home?
If you are not within AT&T’s fiber area, Xfinity may be the best choice for your home. Xfinity offers lower-priced cable internet plans to a significantly wider range of customers than AT&T’s fiber network. Xfinity also offers TV and mobile service bundling with its home internet plans. Xfinity does require a one- or two-year contract and has data caps on all of its home internet plans. If these limitations don’t work for you, AT&T will be the better option. Compare to other available ISPs in your area before making a final choice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How often should you change routers?
Like any other kind of technology, routers should typically be upgraded every few years as technology improves and changes. If you’re renting a router from your ISP, it may automatically send you a new one or you may be able to request an upgrade.
Is Xfinity faster than AT&T?
When it comes to overall top speeds, AT&T’s five Gigabit plan hasn’t yet been beat for speed. Xfinity’s cable service, which sees speeds up to 1,000 Mbps, is available to more of the U.S. than AT&T’s fiber network—meaning Xfinity may be the fastest ISP in your area.
Is Xfinity cheaper than AT&T?
With the averagecost being$30 to $80 per month for their plans, Xfinity is cheaper than AT&T’s plans, which range from $55 to $180 per month.
Is AT&T good for gaming?
If you are within AT&T’s fiber network, it is likely the best choice for online gaming. With speed offerings up to five Gigabits, AT&T’s stable, strong fiber optic connection is loved by gamers and streamers alike.
What's a good internet speed?
The best internet speed for your home depends greatly on the activities that you enjoy and how many devices, and/or members of your home will be accessing the internet at the same time. While 300 Mbps is good for one or two devices streaming HD video, but it will be too slow for playing online video games or for larger households.
Who has better service - AT&T or Xfinity?
AT&T and Xfinity are both great choices for internet service, but which one is right for you depends on your needs and preferences. Determining which service is superior often depends on what you’re looking for in an internet provider, so it’s important to take a look at factors like internet speeds, customer service and bundle offerings before making a decision.