Google Fiber vs Xfinity - Which One is Better?

Google Fiber

Starting at

$70.00/mo.

  • Speeds Up to 8 Gbps
  • Free Equipment
  • Unlimited Data
  • Available in 19 States

Call to Order

(877) 783-2597
Xfinity

Starting at

$20.00/mo

  • Speeds Up to 10 Gbps
  • Free Equipment
  • 1.2 TB Data Cap
  • Available in 35 States

Call to Order

(877) 783-2597

There is a lot more to the Google Fiber vs Xfinity debate than their distinctive connection type. While Google Fiber uses only fiber-optic cables for hyperfast speeds, Xfinity deploys a fusion of fiber-coaxial cable to offer speeds of up to 10 Gigs.  

But which of the two is best for you? Find out as we explore Xfinity and Google Fiber internet plans, prices, gaming performance, coverage, customer service, and more in our head-to-head comparison.

Table of Contents

Google Fiber 

GFiber, or Google Fiber, is owned by Alphabet Inc. Launched in 2010, the company delivers seamless fiber internet services to homes and businesses in 19 states of the USA. The company’s slow expansion and innovation started in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Initially, customers could only choose between 1 Gig and 2 Gig internet speed tiers, but in early 2023, Google announced the addition of 5 Gig and 8 Gig tiers to its offerings. Even though these speeds are currently limited to a few markets, it is an indication of Google Fiber’s continuous growth and commitment to rise above the competition.  

Google Fiber’s ultrafast fiber internet service starts at $70 per month, and customers get unlimited data, free equipment, free professional installation, and up to 1 TB of cloud storage without contractual terms and conditions. 

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 Pros:

  • 100 percent fiber-rich network 
  • Symmetrical internet speeds of up to 8 Gigs
  • Affordable monthly rates 
  • No contracts 
  • No data caps 
  • Equipment is included in the monthly fee
  • Free professional installation


 Cons:

  • Limited availability across the country
  • No discounts on bundle deals

Xfinity  

Xfinity is the telecommunications-exclusive arm of Comcast Corporation. The brand offers high-speed home internet, cable television, telephone, and mobile phone services to over 32.3 million subscribers in 35 states and the District of Columbia. 

The provider offers a range of plans with varying prices to its vast customer base in the northeast, central, and western USA. Xfinity internet plans are available at just $20 per month, and customers can receive speeds of up to 10 Gigs on the hybrid fiber-coaxial cable network. 

Some Xfinity internet plans have data caps of up to 1.2 TB and annual contracts. Also, higher speed tiers are limited to a select few metros. 

So, it is best to call Xfinity customer service and check if your area has the provider’s ultrafast 10G network and is eligible to receive equal upload and download speeds of up to 10 Gbps through DOCSIS 4.0 technology. 

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 Pros:

  • Countrywide hybrid fiber-coaxial network 
  • Speeds of up to 10 Gigs (in select markets)
  • Low starting prices 
  • A 30-day money-back guarantee 
  • Monthly discounts of up to $80 on bundles


 Cons:

  • Upload speed of up to 35 Mbps on coaxial cable network
  • Price hikes after the promo period 
  • Some tiers have a 1.2 TB data cap
  • Some tiers require an annual contract

Internet Service Comparison – Google Fiber vs Xfinity 

Here is a side-by-side comparison of Google Fiber vs Xfinity Internet to help you gauge what the two fiber internet providers can offer.

Features  Google Fiber  Xfinity (by Comcast)
Type of Internet  Fiber-optic  Fiber and Cable 
Price Range  $70.00/mo. to $150.00/mo.  $20.00/mo. to $300.00/mo. 
Speed Range  1,000 Mbps to 8,000 Mbps  75 Mbps to 10,000 Mbps 
Availability  19 states  35 states
Contracts  Not required  Required for some plans 
Data Caps Unlimited data  1.2 TB data cap on some plans 
Installation Fee  FREE $100.00 for professional installation
Equipment Fee  Included  xFi Gateway: $15.00/mo.
xFi Complete: $25.00/mo.
Bundles  Available  Available 
Perks  1 TB of free Cloud storage  Promotional discounts
Customer Rating  4.03 out of 5 stars 3.45 out of 5 stars
Best For  Home automation  Streaming in ultra-HD

Plans & Pricing Details – Google Fiber vs Xfinity Internet

Xfinity and Google Fiber deliver up to multi-gigabit internet speeds at affordable monthly rates. But while Google Fiber promises fairly-priced internet plans throughout, Xfinity uses low introductory rates to attract customers and raises the price to high regular rates after 12, 24, or 36 months. 

Google Fiber

Google Fiber is one of the most affordable broadband internet providers in the fiber internet market. Its gigabit and multigigabit service starts at $70 per month, and users can rest assured that the price will remain the same after 12 months of service. 

Google Fiber plans include free professional installation, a Wi-Fi 6E router, mesh extenders, and unlimited data for an all-inclusive internet experience. 

Google Fiber Internet Plans
Plans Starting Price Max Speed Type
1 Gig  $70.00/mo.  1,000 Mbps  Fiber 
2 Gig  $100.00/mo.  2,000 Mbps Fiber 
5 Gig  $125.00/mo.  5,000 Mbps  Fiber 
8 Gig  $150.00/mo.  8,000 Mbps Fiber 
*The availability of Google Fiber 5 Gig and 8 Gig plans is limited to a few markets.

Xfinity

Xfinity Internet plans and prices vary based on your location within its 35-state footprint. The provider has divided its home internet service into three markets, Northeast, Central, and West, keeping in mind the infrastructural capabilities of each region. 

For as low as $20 per month, you can receive speeds of up to 10 Gbps on Xfinity’s countrywide broadband network. It must be noted that Xfinity cable internet customers will receive upload speeds of up to 35 Mbps, and there may be a data cap of up to 1.2 TB. 

Xfinity Internet Plans
Northeast Region 
Plan  Starting Price  Max. Speed Type 
Connect More  $25.00/mo.  200 Mbps  Cable 
Fast  $35.00/mo.  400 Mbps  Cable
Superfast  $40.00/mo.  800 Mbps Cable 
Gigabit  $60.00/mo.  1,000 Mbps  Cable 
Gigabit Extra  $80.00/mo.  1,200 Mbps  Cable 
Gigabit X2  $110.00/mo.  2,000 Mbps  Cable 
Gigabit Pro  $300.00/mo.  10,000 Mbps  Fiber 
Central Region 
Plan  Starting Price Max. Speed  Type 
Connect  $20.00/mo.  75 Mbps  Cable 
Connect More  $35.00/mo.  200 Mbps  Cable
Fast  $55.00/mo.  400 Mbps  Cable 
Superfast  $70.00/mo.  800 Mbps  Cable 
Gigabit  $80.00/mo.   1,000 Mbps  Cable 
Gigabit Extra  $85.00/mo.  1,200 Mbps  Cable 
Gigabit X2  $100.00/mo.  2,000 Mbps  Cable
Gigabit Pro  $300.00/mo.  10,000 Mbps  Fiber 
Western Region 
Plan  Starting Price  Max. Speed  Type 
Connect  $19.99/mo.  75 Mbps  Cable 
Connect More  $30.00/mo.  200 Mbps  Cable 
Fast  $55.00/mo.  400 Mbps  Cable 
Superfast $65.00/mo.  800 Mbps  Cable 
Gigabit  $75.00/mo.  1,000 Mbps  Cable 
Gigabit Extra  $80.00/mo.  1,200 Mbps  Cable 
Gigabit X2  $120.00/mo.  2,000 Mbps  Cable 
Gigabit Pro  $300.00/mo.  10,000 Mbps  Fiber 
*Prices are subject to change after the promotional period and include a $10 AutoPay and paperless billing discount.
**The monthly internet fees may vary by location.
***Annual contracts may be required for some plans.
****Some plans may have a 1.2 TB data cap.

Additional Costs – Xfinity vs Google Fiber

Add-on costs are the hidden costs of an internet service. They are added to the advertised monthly fee and often become the main reason for service switches and cancellations. 

Let’s look at the additional costs of Google Fiber and Xfinity Internet to see which provider becomes more expensive in the long run. 

Equipment

Google Fiber’s multi-gigabit internet plans come with a Wi-Fi 6E router and 2 mesh extenders. Subscribers of Google Fiber 1 Gig get a Nest Wi-Fi Pro with Wi-Fi 6E to support gigabit speeds. However, customers must bear in mind that the leased equipment must be returned within 60 days if they decide to cancel the service. 

In contrast, Xfinity customers are required to pay for the equipment. They can choose the xFi Gateway, which costs $15 each month, or xFi Complete for wall-to-wall coverage, at $20 per month.  

Installation

Google Fiber customers can enroll in any plan and avail of a free professional installation service. However, the delivery of a free self-installation kit is limited to Google Fiber 1 Gig subscribers. 

Xfinity charges $100 for professional installation. Customers can bypass this expense by ordering a free self-installation kit. Shipping charges of up to $29.95 are applicable. 

Early Termination Fee

Google Fiber customers are not required to sign an annual contract. So, they can switch to a new internet provider or cancel the service anytime without the hassle of an early termination fee (ETF). 

But in the case of Xfinity Internet, some plans have annual contracts. So, if customers cancel the service within the first 12 months, an ETF is added to their last bill. 

TV & Internet Bundles – Xfinity vs Google Fiber

Both Xfinity and Google Fiber customers can combine their internet plans with live TV packages to streamline their billing. But with Xfinity’s mega savings of up to $80 per month, the internet and TV bundle deals become sweeter.  

Xfinity

Xfinity Internet and cable TV packages can be bundled for combined savings of up to $80 per month. For as low as $71.70, customers can watch over 185 TV channels, including popular networks like ABC, NBC, TBS, and Nat Geo Wild. 

Xfinity TV and Internet Bundles 
Price  Internet  Television  Savings
$71.70/mo.  200 Mbps  Choice TV (10+ channels)  $80.00/mo. 
$119.10/mo.  200 Mbps  Popular TV (125+ channels)   $80.00/mo. 
$139.10/mo.  200 Mbps  Ultimate TV (185+ channels)  $80.00/mo. 
*Combined monthly savings include promotional, multi-product, AutoPay, and Paperless discounts.
**The monthly service fee for Xfinity TV includes Broadcast TV and Regional Sports fees.

Google Fiber

Google Fiber allows its customers to use live TV streaming services on its internet. Customers can purchase the base plans of YouTube TV, DIRECTV, FuboTV, and Sling through the provider and watch 105+ channels for a starting price of $110 per month.

Google Fiber Internet and Live TV Bundles 
Price  Internet  Live TV Service 
$142.99/mo.  1,000 Mbps  YouTube TV (100+ channels)
$149.99/mo.  1,000 Mbps  FuboTV(100+ channels)
$154.99/mo.  1,000 Mbps  DIRECTV (105+ channels)
$110.00/mo.  1,000 Mbps  Sling(50+ channels)
*Terms and conditions apply.

Better Option for Gaming – Xfinity or Google Fiber?  

If you are a gamer and have both Xfinity and Google Fiber available at your address, your avatars will love you for picking Google Fiber. Its fiber-optic cables support lightning-fast data transfers and offer ultra-low latency of between 10 and 12 milliseconds (ms), making lag-free gameplay a reality. 

Xfinity can also deliver speeds above 1,000 Mbps, but a majority of its customers’ homes use coaxial cable in the last mile, limiting the upload capabilities to 35 Mbps and increasing the latency to 25 ms and higher. 

Wider Coverage Area – Google Fiber or Xfinity?  

Google Fiber and Xfinity are considered national internet carriers as their coverage area spans from the east to the west coast. But if you look at the numbers, Google Fiber’s combined service area is not even one-third of Xfinity’s footprint. 

Currently, Google Fiber is expanding its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network in 19 states, and only 16 cities are actively enjoying the service. Seven cities, including Oakland, San Francisco, Chicago, and Seattle, can subscribe to the Google Fiber Webpass, offering speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps for $63 per month. 

Remaining cities like Chandler, Westminster, Jefferson City, Omaha, and Logan will soon be connected to the Google Fiber network. 

Cities Where Google Fiber is Available 
Alabama 
Huntsville 
Arizona 
Chandler  Mesa  Queen Creek 
California
Oakland  Orange County San Diego  San Francisco 
Colorado 
Denver  Golden  Lakewood Westminster
Wheat Ridge 
Florida 
Miami 
Georgia 
Atlanta 
Illinois 
Chicago 
Idaho 
Pocatello 
Iowa 
Council Bluffs  Des Moines  West Des Moines 
Nevada 
Metro Las Vegas 
Kansas 
Kansas City 
Missouri 
Jefferson City  Kansas City
Nebraska 
Bellevue  Omaha 
North Carolina 
Charlotte  The Triangle 
South Carolina 
Tega Cay
Tennessee 
Murfreesboro Nashville  Smyrna 
Texas 
Austin  San Antonio 
Utah 
Logan  Provo  Salt Lake Valley 
Washington 
Seattle 

Xfinity offers home internet and related services in 35 states of the USA and the District of Columbia. Its countrywide fiber-cable network covers 60 million homes and businesses in urban, suburban, and rural communities. 

All the States Where Xfinity Internet is Available 
Alabama  Georgia  Maine  Oregon 
Arkansas  Illinois  Michigan  Pennsylvania 
Arizona  Indiana  Minnesota  South Carolina 
California Kansas Missouri  Tennessee 
Colorado  Kentucky  Mississippi  Texas 
Connecticut  Louisiana  New Hampshire  Utah 
Delaware  Massachusetts  New Jersey  Virginia 
Florida  Maryland  New Mexico  Vermont 
Washington  West Virginia  Wisconsin and… District of Columbia

Better Customer Service – Google Fiber or Xfinity?

Both Google Fiber and Xfinity are raising the bar for customer service excellence in their own categories. Xfinity is lauded as the best and biggest cable internet provider in the country. Whereas, Google Fiber is paving the way for a fiber-fast future with its hyperfast speeds. 

In the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) for 2023, Xfinity scored above-average points in the non-fiber internet service providers (ISPs) category. But in the fiber internet category, it ranked last with a score of 73 out of 100 points. In comparison, Google Fiber ranked 3rd on the same list with a score of 76 points. 

Similarly, in the J.D. Power customer satisfaction study for 2023, Google Fiber and Xfinity went head-to-head in the nation’s south, and Google Fiber topped the charts with 839 points out of 1,000. Xfinity was the fourth-best on the list with 735 points. 

Provider  Category ACSI Score   J.D. Power Score 
Google Fiber  Fiber ISPs 76
Xfinity  Fiber ISPs 73
Google Fiber  South Region  839
Xfinity  South Region 735

Final Verdict – Google Fiber or Xfinity?

Google Fiber and Xfinity are setting a new benchmark for blistering-fast internet connectivity with their affordable monthly plans. However, the type of internet connection affects the quality of their service, making one provider better than the other. 

If you prefer a consistently fast internet connection, symmetrical speeds, low latency, and zero add-on costs, then Google Fiber has it all. Its 100 percent fiber-optic network can deliver equal upload and download speeds of up to 8 Gbps in 19 states starting at $70 per month.

Moreover, its award-winning customer service and superior gaming performance make it a must-have internet connection. 

On the other hand, Xfinity offers the comfort of wide-scale availability, cheapest internet deals, and cost-saving bundles. 

So, in the battle of Xfinity vs Google Fiber, your preferences will help you select a winner. 

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