Xfinity Internet Hidden Costs: How Much Do You Really Pay?

First things first, you should get into the habit of looking over your Xfinity internet bill every once in a while. You receive your monthly Xfinity bill in an email and you can get all the details by clicking View bill.

For the record, here is a copy of a bill from Reviews.org’s content editor, Rebecca Armstrong:

Xfinity’s itemized list of monthly charges might include:

• Regular monthly charges: Rebecca has a $99 monthly plan cost and a $2 autopay and paperless billing discount.
• Equipment and services: Rebecca has a $0 charge for equipment and services, which are included as part of her plan, although she does not actually use Xfinity’s equipment.
• Additional Information: Xfinity includes a broad disclaimer that if Rebecca is subscribed to the Deskoo and FlixLatino streaming platforms (she isn’t) they will increase in price the following month, and she can cancel beforehand if she wishes.

Rebecca is content with her bill, but wishes it could be more detailed. “Having basically one number on the bill is simple, and it's obvious how much you pay overall, but there's no way for me to know what goes into that total,” Rebecca says.

Rebecca also noticed that her service includes a filled check mark symbol for “Internet/Voice equipment” at zero cost, even though she uses her own Wi-Fi equipment. Although this free service is available for her plan, it would be more accurate to say that she’s using her own equipment.

Overall, Rebecca’s bill is fairly standard, and there isn’t too much to worry about in terms of hidden fees.

Although not included in Rebecca’s bill, other Xfinity customers may see other disclaimers on service discounts they receive, add-ons (like Xfinity Wi-Fi equipment, xFi Complete package, streaming subscriptions, internet, voice, or TV equipment), unlimited data, and any sales taxes or government fees.

Here’s a full breakdown of fees you might see on your Xfinity bill.

Not all plans include the fees above, with some newer offers including Wi-Fi equipment or unlimited data.

Your first Xfinity bill is likely to be higher than your next bill because it includes one-time startup costs like professional installation for $100 plus taxes. It also may include a prorated monthly rate for your first month in addition to your next month’s service fee.

For some customers, the day they activate their service is at the start of the monthly billing cycle, and there won’t be a prorated fee for their first month of service.

Current Xfinity customers may have signed up with a promotional deal that discounted their plan for the first one to two years of service. Although price increases vary depending on your area and plan, you can expect an increase of about $26 or higher.

New Xfinity customers have clearer terms, with a price hike after the first or fifth year of service. Customers can choose one of the following guarantee types:

• 1-Year Price Guarantee: $30 price increase in the second year of service, and then additional price increase in the third year of service to the Everyday Price
• 5-Year Price Guarantee: $10–$46 price increase after five years of service

Note, current customers can’t switch to this price guarantee deal.

Current Xfinity customers who didn’t sign up with a 5-Year Price Guarantee might experience a price increase after the first or second year of service.

Monica Yoshida, a fellow staff writer at Reviews.org, also shared her Xfinity bills with me, included below. She was paying $75 monthly for her Xfinity 2 Gig plan (formerly known as "Gigabit Extra") as seen in her November 2023 bill, and then was billed $128–an additional $53–in December 2023.

In the bill on the left, the fine print in green text on Monica’s November bill outlines the promotional discounts she had been receiving:

• $33 service discount for 24 months on her Xfinity package
• $10 autopay and paperless billing discount
• $20 service discount for 24 months for xFi Complete

The bill on the right is Monica’s December bill, which reflects the new price increase after the promotional discounts ended. The green text now only outlines the autopay and paperless billing discount and the Peacock Premium discount.

Although you can’t avoid all Xfinity fees, there are definitely ways you can reduce them … or at least plan for them in advance.

• Plan ahead: View “Upcoming charges” for your next bill by signing into your account online.
• Use your own equipment: Bypass the monthly Xfinity equipment fee by using your own modem and router.
• Cancel xFi Complete: Some customers have this package included for a year or two as part of a promotional deal, and then have to pay an extra $25–$30 per month once that deal ends.

Even the most attentive customers might find themselves tied up with an extra fee. There are several ways to lower your Xfinity bill, but the best way to approach this is to contact Xfinity customer service and get it squared away.

“We've been loyal customers paying every month, how is this acceptable?’” says Monica Yoshida, my colleague who called Xfinity after seeing her monthly price increase. A few days later, she received a phone call from Xfinity. “They said, ‘We noticed you’re cancelling, let’s get you some promo pricing.’”

Xfinity has its fair share of fees, but the ones that make the biggest impact on your bill are those that were previously free during a promotional period. This is quite a common practice among cable internet providers like Spectrum and Optimum, which also have introductory promotional discounts.

You can get a clearer picture of your monthly bill when you get an internet plan from a 5G fixed wireless provider like T-Mobile or Verizon or a fiber provider like AT&T Fiber. These providers don’t charge you extra for unlimited data and include Wi-Fi equipment as part of your package. 

Xfinity has hidden fees that aren’t super clear when you sign up, but it still offers affordable deals. At the moment, Xfinity’s 5-Year Price Guarantee is a solid deal for new customers who can avoid paying extra fees for things like data or equipment, and won’t have to worry about price increases for five years.

Current customers stuck on an older pricing schedule aren’t as lucky. If that’s you, it’s worth taking a look at other internet providers in your area. There might be a cheaper, faster, and all-round better deal out there. Simply check your zip code in the search bar below and get all the latest information about internet providers near you.