Deciding Between AT&T Internet and Xfinity: An In-Depth Comparison

So you‘re trying to determine which internet service provider makes the most sense for your household – AT&T Internet or Xfinity from Comcast.

This definitive guide will arm you with everything you need to make the right choice. I‘ve done the legwork comparing plans, performance, availability and value across over a dozen different factors.

By the end, you‘ll have the insider knowledge to confidently pick the provider that best fits your connectivity needs and budget.

Brief Background on the Companies

First, let‘s look at a quick historical overview of the two competitors.

AT&T dates back to 1899 under various names as primarily a telephone service provider. More recently:

Launched internet service in 1999
Unveiled U-verse high-speed internet bundled with TV in 2006
Currently serves 15.4 million internet subscribers nationwide

Comcast began broadcasting TV as a community antenna television provider back in 1963. Key milestones include:

Entered high-speed internet market in 1996
Acquired media giant NBCUniversal in 2011
Now serving over 26 million residential internet customers

Both companies continue major efforts to upgrade infrastructure for cutting-edge fiber optic connectivity beyond traditional DSL or cable networks.

Fiber expansion allows delivery of gigabit internet speeds at affordable rates. Let‘s compare where AT&T and Comcast Xfinity stand currently…

Fiber Optic Internet Availability

Expanding high-performance fiber networks is a race between top providers – and an indicator of their commitment to future-proof infrastructure able to meet surging bandwidth demand.

As of 2022, AT&T Fiber passes over 14 million customer locations with availability in 70 major metro areas across dozens of states.

However, that still only represents 12% of households eligible for AT&T internet service in their territory.

Xfinity fiber lags even further behind, reaching less than 1% of the areas where Comcast provides cable TV and internet according to latest data.

Clearly AT&T holds a commanding lead vs Xfinity/Comcast when it comes to fibre internet coverage, with over 10x as many households in upgraded fiber neighborhoods.

This extensive fibre growth gives AT&T a substantial strategic advantage over cable competitors in the long run.

Types of Internet Service Compared

Another key differentiator is the underlying network technologies used by each provider to deliver home internet access.

The kind of connection available at your address determines factors like speed, reliability, latency and how future-proof it is.

AT&T relies mostly on older DSL networks using copper phone lines for the "last mile" to households. However they continue expanding faster, more reliable fiber in parts of their service territory.

AT&T Internet = DSL + Fiber
Max speed: 100Mbps (DSL), 1Gbps (Fiber)

By comparison, Xfinity leverages widespread cable infrastructure supplemented by some fiber rollouts.

Xfinity = Cable + Fiber
Max speed: 1Gbps (Cable), 2Gbps (Fiber)

Industry analysts agree that both cable and fibre beat telephone company DSL for performance.

So out of the gate, Xfinity has better connectivity for more households by using advanced cable networks compared to AT&T still relying heavily on outdated DSL in many regions.

Speeds and Data Caps

You want fast enough speeds to support all your household‘s online activity without slowdowns. But internet providers also place limits on how much you can use each month before your connection gets throttled.

How do AT&T vs Comcast Xfinity compare when it comes to these two key factors?

AT&T delivers the following peak internet speeds and monthly data usage allotments:

Connection Type	Speeds	Data Cap
DSL	up to 100Mbps	1TB
Fiber	up to 1Gbps	Unlimited

Xfinity, on the other hand, offers these maximum speeds paired with identical data caps regardless of whether you have coax cable vs fiber:

Connection Type	Speeds	Data Cap
Cable	up to 1Gbps	1.2TB
Fiber	up to 2Gbps	1.2TB

Reviewing the numbers above shows a couple clear conclusions:

Xfinity provides faster top cable speeds than even AT&T Fiber
But AT&T fiber stands out with unlimited data – a huge perk Xfinity can‘t match

So it depends which factor you value more. Xfinity is the way to go if you want max performance with 1Gbps cable plans. Meanwhile AT&T fiber eliminates worrying about overage fees from blowing past your monthly data allowance.

Pricing and Fees Comparison

Your choice between providers likely depends partly on getting internet service at a reasonable price. Comparing AT&T and Xfinity costs takes some digging into regular rates plus extra fees.

First, here is how AT&T plans and pricing shake out for typical internet-only service charges and additional modem/activation fees:

And for Xfinity, here are two equivalent standalone plan options with Xfinity‘s extra equipment and regulatory fees tacked on:

Plan | Monthly Price | Setup Fees | Added Fees | Total
—|—|—|—
200 Mbps Cable | $40 | $0 | $14/mo | $538 (1st year)
1000 Mbps Cable | $80 | $0 | $14/mo | $1014 (1st year)

Comparing entry-level as well as high-speed gigabit plans shows AT&T enjoying a clear price advantage over similar Xfinity/Comcast service.

The main savings comes from AT&T waiving equipment charges for their fiber gateways vs Xfinity renting cable modems at $14 monthly.

Now keep in mind – bundling services like wireless or TV can net you further discounts with either provider.

Still, all factors considered, AT&T comes out notably cheaper whether you just need basic internet speeds or want an affordable yet blazing fast fiber optic connection.

Pros and Cons of Each Provider

Let‘s summarize the key advantages and potential downsides when evaluating AT&T Internet vs Xfinity as your home ISP.

I‘ve ranked factors like price, data caps, and bundles in order of importance for most households.

AT&T Internet

Pros

Lower prices for fiber internet
Unlimited data with fiber
Wide range of bundle discounts
Large fiber coverage footprint

Cons

Slower DSL base speeds
Few areas eligible for fiber
Longer base contracts

Xfinity

Pros

Fast top-tier cable internet speeds
Discounts when bundling multiple services
Widely available cable internet

Cons

Limited fiber access
All plans have data caps
Requires yearly contracts

Reviewing their respective pros and cons makes choosing between AT&T and Xfinity pretty straightforward based on your priorities…

If you want the absolute fastest internet, go with Xfinity cable service.

But if you value uncapped data and long-term savings from widespread fiber growth, then AT&T Fiber is the better fit.

Which Provider Is Better for You?

So circling back to the original question – when comparing AT&T Internet vs Xfinity overall, how do you determine the right provider for your home?

The answer depends mainly on two factors:

Fiber availability at your address
Whether you prioritize blazing speeds or unlimited data

Here is my straightforward advice to simplify deciding between AT&T and Xfinity:

👉 If AT&T fiber internet is available where you live, choose them for better technology, truly unlimited data, and bigger cost savings.

👉 If AT&T only offers slow DSL speeds in your area, go with Xfinity cable for faster performance today – but you‘ll pay more for capped data.

👉 Use each company‘s availability tool to check if your neighborhood is fiber-enabled. That answer makes your decision easy.

Whichever high-speed internet provider you select, be sure to research all options for your address to find the best service meeting your household‘s needs.

I hope this comprehensive AT&T vs Xfinity comparison has equipped you to determine the right internet provider for your budget and connectivity preferences. Let me know if you have any other questions as you weigh your options!