Google Fiber’s high speed and competitive pricing make it a standout choice for home internet, but Xfinity Internet’s wide coverage and reliable service make it a solid choice as well.
Xfinity Internet vs. Google Fiber: Which Is Best?
Best performance
Overall Quality ⁃ 4.8/5
5.0/5 - Speed and reliability
4.8/5 - Dollar value
4.5/5 - Customer experience
Wider coverage
Overall Quality ⁃ 3.8/5
4.3/5 - Speed and reliability
3.8/5 - Dollar value
3.3/5 - Customer experience 
9 min readGoogle Fiber is the runaway choice for best home internet service between these two providers. The fiber brand can get you connected and running at speeds that outpace most competitors on the market, and at a price that offers much more for your dollar than what you pay for Xfinity Internet or other providers. Google Fiber customers we spoke to gave Alphabet’s internet service high marks across the board.
Yet while Xfinity Internet doesn’t rate as high overall among customers as Google Fiber does, it still has some of the fastest speeds among cable internet providers, and at reasonable rates. Xfinity Internet is also more widely available throughout the country, and it offers additional perks when you get service through its cellular brand, Xfinity Mobile.
Want to find out which provider’s plan is best for you? Read our head-to-head comparisons on speed, value, customer experience and more.
“Google Fiber was basically the same price as Xfinity. But I was getting faster speeds across the board with Google.” —Chance Carter, a Google Fiber customer in Provo, Utah.
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Want to know if Google Fiber or Xfinity are available where you live? Run a search with your zip code below to find out.
Google Fiber vs. Xfinity—plans, pricing, and speed
| Provider | | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | $70-$150 | $9.95-$75 |
| Download speeds | 1000-8000 Mbps | 50-1200 Mbps |
| Upload speeds | 1000-8000 Mbps | 10-35 Mbps |
| Details | View Plans | View Plans |
Data as of 04/05/2023. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
Google Fiber boosts your connection speed right from the get-go. Its introductory plan is $70 per month and provides speeds of up to 1,000Mbps. And it only gets faster from there, with its top-tier plan offering speeds as high as 8,000Mbps for $150 per month. Yet its baseline plan offers the best deal for new customers, especially since its lowest-tier plan is as fast as many other internet providers’ highest speeds. And on top of that, Google Fiber doesn’t include any extra charges, overages, or fees for equipment or installation. There’s no surprise when it comes time to pay your monthly bill.
“Xfinity had many plans available, which made it possible to find one to fit our budget.” —Xfinity customer Derek Marsden.
Xfinity Internet’s speeds don’t accelerate up to Google Fiber’s level—you don’t get symmetrical speeds, nor can you get multi-gigabit speeds. But this major cable provider still offers a good deal at a low monthly cost, with prices starting at just $30 per month. Its baseline is a bit slower at 150Mbps but still fast enough for most home internet use, including streaming and downloads. And at $30 per month, it’s also one of the most affordable.
While some Xfinity plans require a one-year term contract, not every plan does. New customers get promotional rates, but once the promotional term expires, the price goes up—usually by $20-30 per month. Yet while the monthly pricing is low, Xfinity also adds fees for activation and installation. You also have to cover Wi-Fi equipment rental fees, but you can waive them by using your own modem.
Google Fiber vs. Xfinity Internet: fees for modem and installation
What makes this review legit?
Our fact-based research process centers on interviews with internet customers across the country, helping us understand how internet services hold up against diverse needs and challenges.
To put together this review, we looked at results from our speed test, pulled data from customer satisfaction surveys, and pored over the fine print to compare prices and speeds between the two providers. To flesh out our analysis, we also interviewed Google Fiber and Xfinity Internet customers to get their first-hand insights. We let their experiences guide our research and shape our conclusions. We also speak with ISP spokespeople and industry experts to get insights into connection types, speed capabilities, and other technical issues related to internet service.
The matchup—how we rate Google Fiber vs. Xfinity Internet
For all our internet reviews, we give a rating based on three main criteria—speed and reliability, dollar value, and customer experience—which we then average to make an overall score.
Here, we compare those ratings face to face. We then offer some analysis and context for important factors to keep in mind.
Want to know more? Read our full-length Google Fiber review and Xfinity Internet review.
Speed and reliability
Google Fiber: 5.0/5.0 | Xfinity Internet: 4.3/5.0
Google Fiber is in a league of its own when it comes to speed. It’s the top ranked provider in our Fastest Internet Providers report, surpassing every other fiber and cable internet provider in the United States. In fact, its slowest plan—the 1Gbps plan, which costs $70 per month—hits the fastest speeds that many competing providers offer. Google Fiber also offers symmetrical upload speeds that are optimal for live streaming, video conferencing and cloud uploads.
While Google Fiber is the fastest, Xfinity Internet isn’t far behind, ranking third in our Fastest Internet Providers report. As a cable provider, it doesn’t offer the kind of speed that fiber can. Yet among cable internet providers, it’s the fastest in its field, with plans that offer up to 1,200Mbps. It also offers an even faster 2,000Mbps plan, which runs on fiber and is available in select areas.
Google Fiber also beats Xfinity Internet in terms of reliability. Fiber-optic infrastructure is better protected from electromagnetic interference than DSL or coaxial cables, and is better equipped to offer consistent speeds throughout the day. Xfinity Internet is more vulnerable to disruptions, and some customers did report slow service or regular outages. Yet while Google Fiber performs better, Xfinity still offers more than respectable speeds, and customers who spoke with us were satisfied with the dependability of its service. “I have had a couple outages, but they’re so infrequent that I don’t generally notice them,” says Dylan Woolf, an Xfinity customer in Salt Lake City.
Dollar value
Google Fiber: 4.8/5.0 | Xfinity Internet: 3.8/5.0
Google Fiber is a little bit pricier than most home internet providers, with its baseline plan set at $70 per month, whereas Xfinity begins at $30 per month. But when you take a look at how much faster Google Fiber’s lowest-cost plan is, it ends up being a much better value overall. Google Fiber’s lowest speed is 1,000Mpbs compared to Xfinity’s 150Mbps—giving you a big leap in speed for a comparatively modest increase in price.
Xfinity also adds more fees into its pricing, which aren’t initially included in the monthly cost. First-time customers will be charged an installation fee, even if you set up the modem yourself, and there are additional fees for data overages or early contract termination. Xfinity offers promotional rates for new customers that typically increase after the first year of service. However, subscribers can forgo modem rental fees by using their own equipment.
Google Fiber customers aren’t charged any additional fees for data overages, installation, or early termination. There’s no unpredictability in your monthly bill. While Google Fiber is the best bang for your buck, Xfinity does offer other perks—including Xfinity Rewards, which gives customers access to discounted movie rentals, discounts on Universal Studios tickets, giveaways, and other exclusive offers.
Customer experience
Google Fiber: 4.5/5.0 | Xfinity Internet: 3.3/5.0
Customers can expect a smooth customer service experience with Google Fiber. The internet provider received the highest marks of the 25 services surveyed in HighSpeedInternet.com’s 2023 customer satisfaction survey. However, Google Fiber is still being set up in some markets, and service might not be available in areas with lower demand. Still, when Reviews.org reached out by phone to Google Fiber to test out that service, we spoke to an actual human within two minutes.
Xfinity Internet customers gave mixed reviews, however. While many subscribers had no complaints, some customers expressed their disappointment about the lack of flexibility with the provider’s plans. Others also didn’t like that Xfinity directs customers to its mobile app for customer service issues, rather than over the phone, and that its AI chatbot doesn’t always have the answer for a specific problem that a human representative would be better equipped to handle. While Xfinity might offer service in more areas, Google Fiber fares better when it comes to the customer service experience.
Overall quality: Which internet provider should you pick?
Google Fiber: 4.8/5.0 | Xfinity Internet: 3.8/5.0 (average of previous scores)
Google Fiber is too good to pass up. It offers the fastest speeds of any internet provider in the country, and at a price that’s friendly to your budget. It’s incredibly reliable, without being susceptible to the vulnerabilities of cable internet lines, and its connection speeds are ideal for gaming, video conferencing, and streaming video. Plus, with no hidden fees, you know up front exactly how much you’re paying.
Xfinity Internet is a solid runner-up to Google Fiber, available in most states in the country and at slower but still respectable Wi-Fi speeds. While it comes up a little short in terms of customer service, its pricing and plans are both reliable and reasonable, and the addition of perks such as free mobile plans and other rewards make it an attractive option. Xfinity’s coverage area is more widespread than Google Fiber as well, so you’re more likely to get it. While it might not earn the same kind of rave reviews, Xfinity is still a solid option for internet users.
Google Fiber vs. Xfinity Internet—what deals and promotions can you get?
Google Fiber doesn’t offer deals in addition to its standard services. But considering it provides such fast speeds at a fixed rate with no surprise fees or overages, the service itself is the deal. However, Xfinity offers additional promotions such as free mobile plans, free Wi-Fi equipment, or discounted plan upgrades for new customers.
No extra fees for Google Fiber installation or equipment
Unlimited data, symmetrical speeds, and gigabit capabilities. Google Fiber prices start at $70 per month.
Free Unlimited Xfinity Intro mobile line for two years
Sign up for a qualifying plan through Xfinity Internet to receive this generous deal. Available for Internet plans at 400 Mbps or faster. Prices start at $50 per month.
Xfinity Internet add-ons and perks
Pay extra to add unlimited data to your plan (price and availability vary based on location)
Sign up for the X1 add-on
Download after signing up for an Xfinity service and sign in with your Xfinity ID
Join with your Xfinity account after signing up for an Xfinity service and receive discounted Universal tickets, sports giveaways, and more
Google Fiber vs. Xfinity Internet: What do customers think?
Google Fiber customers express positive experiences across the board
Andy Phillips, a network architect in Austin, Texas, enthusiastically told Reviews.org about his home internet when we interviewed him for our full Google Fiber review. He pays $150 per month for the 8 Gig plan—which gives customers some of the highest speeds in the country. “Not many can take advantage of speeds over 1Gbps,” Phillips says, acknowledging that customers may need a high-powered router and an ethernet hookup to actually hit multi-gig speeds. “Most people struggle because they only use Wi-Fi, or have hardware limited to 1Gbps.
“But if you have the hardware,” he adds, “Google is not going to hold you back.”
Google Fiber customers also prefer the reliability of its service and the relatively low cost for some of the fastest internet speeds in the country. “Google Fiber was basically the same price as Xfinity. But I was getting faster speeds across the board with Google,” says Chance Carter, a Google Fiber customer in Provo, Utah, whom we also write about in our review.
The consistency and quality of Google Fiber’s performance has also made long-term subscribers out of customers like RJ Bass, an IT specialist. “This year marks the tenth year I have been a Google Fiber customer—across four different homes, in three distinct areas of Kansas City,” he says.
“With Google, we got more than enough bandwidth to do anything we needed online.” - RJ Bass
Customers’ takes on Xfinity internet are a bit more mixed
We spoke with several customers for our Xfinity review, and while some weren’t enthusiastic about Xfinity’s service, others expressed satisfaction with its reliability. “My parents had Xfinity Internet, and there were no problems,” says Chantel Buchi, an Xfinity customer in Salt Lake City. “So when we got our own place, Xfinity was the first internet service I thought of ordering.”
Dylan Woolf, a customer in Salt Lake City, says his 200Mpbs monthly plan up until recently offered him exactly what he needed for streaming and remote work. “What I need it for, it works. I just don’t think about it that much,” he says. “I have had a couple outages, but they’re so infrequent that I don’t generally notice them.” However, months after his initial interview with Reviews.org, he said in a follow-up chat that a recent Xfinity outage across the city compelled him to cancel his service and switch to Google Fiber instead.
Some customers shared their frustrations with Xfinity’s customer service to Reviews.org, expressing dissatisfaction with tech support’s lack of responsiveness. Rachel Mabey, a customer in Bountiful, Utah, said that Xfinity offered little help when she became the victim of a data breach in October 2023. “[Xfinity] didn't do anything while it was happening. I reached out to customer service and they acted like everything was fine. I, however, knew it wasn't,” Mabey says. “About a week later, they put a message on their website talking about the breach.”
"I've not had many good experiences with Xfinity” -Utah customer Rachel Mabey
Want Google Fiber or Xfinity Internet? Find it in your area.
Google Fiber is the best choice between these two providers, offering some of the fastest connection speeds at competitive prices—with no surprise fees. Right now, it’s available in 35 cities in the United States, including San Francisco, Austin, Seattle, and Miami. But Xfinity Internet also offers reliable service throughout the country. It’s available in 35 states, including California, Arizona, Georgia, and Michigan, as well as Washington, D.C.
Need some internet? Run a search with your zip code below to see if you can get either of these providers at your humble abode.
Find Google Fiber or Xfinity Internet in your area.
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