My Xfinity Mobile Review: It’s Free for a Year, but Is It Worth It in the Long Run?

For all our mobile reviews, we give a rating based on four main criteria:

• Dollar value ↓
• Network coverage ↓
• Data performance ↓
• Customer service ↓

Then, we average the scores to make an overall rating.

Xfinity Mobile is an affordable, high-quality mobile service. Since Xfinity Mobile is a Verizon mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), Xfinity customers get access to the same widespread 4G LTE and 5G network coverage as Verizon customers. While a Verizon plan can go for $65 or more per month, an Unlimited plan from Xfinity Mobile only costs $40.

Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect from an Xfinity Mobile cell phone plan:

• Unlimited data and hotspot data
• Unlimited talk, text, and data in Canada and Mexico
• Free access to Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots across the country
• No contracts

Xfinity Mobile offers plenty of high-speed data on its Unlimited plans, with typical speeds ranging from 11Mbps to up to 634Mbps, depending on the network you are connected to. Jacob Burke, a former Xfinity customer, found that the data worked well, but he also doesn’t hold the highest expectations because he’s a light data user. “Some people want the 4G LTE to get crazy video speeds, I don't care about that. When it comes to mobile phone viewing, I'm happy if I can just pull up a web page or watch a video.”

Like Burke, most people will find that the 4G LTE or 5G speed range works well for their needs, as it’s fast enough to use messaging apps, take FaceTime calls, or stream YouTube videos.

After you hit a high-speed data cap, your speeds will slow down. On the Unlimited plan, that cap is 30GB, and after which your speeds are throttled down to 1.5Mbps, no matter how busy the network is. But don’t worry, 30GB is plenty of data for the average user, especially if you use your Wi-Fi when you’re chilling at home.

Xfinity Mobile isn’t the most consistent or reliable when it comes to customer service. “Every time I'd call into Xfinity tech support I'd get a different answer,” former customer Burke complains. He preferred to go to a brick-and-mortar Xfinity store for issues instead of calling because he could set up an appointment and get tailored support.

Switching from Xfinity Mobile to US Mobile was challenging for Burke. Since he originally purchased his family's phones through Xfinity Mobile, he had to request a "device unlock code" for each line to switch carriers. The process was painful: “I ran into a different problem for every line,” he remarks. Unfortunately, Burke had to call multiple times to get new unlock codes, since only some of the codes worked the first time.

I decided to try out the customer service myself via the live chat. Out of the three chats I started, I only connected with one agent that I felt was actually helpful. However, I still felt like she was vague in her answers when I asked if existing Xfinity customers also got the free mobile service deal, as pictured in the screenshot below. I wasn’t satisfied with her answer, but I did find an official press release confirming that existing customers also get the deal—which goes to show, it’s not easy to find straightforward information on the Xfinity website.

As we mentioned earlier, Xfinity Mobile’s biggest competition is providers that can offer more premium data at a lower price. Visible, another Verizon MVNO, offers unlimited premium data for only $35 per month. This is only $5 cheaper than Xfinity Mobile’s unlimited plan, but it’s likely a better fit for people who heavily rely on their cell phone data every day and could use more than 30GB.

Another top option is US Mobile, which uniquely lets you switch between AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon’s networks. This is handy if you travel often and want the best coverage in the state you’re in—perhaps Verizon while you’re on the East Coast, and T-Mobile while on the West. US Mobile also offers 70GB of high-speed data on its $44 Unlimited Starter plan, which is more than double what you get on Xfinity Mobile’s Unlimited plan.