Comcast cable vs Verizon Fios is mostly a choice between Xfinity's five-year price lock on cheaper tiers and Fios's fiber uploads. Xfinity locks 300 Mbps, 500 Mbps and 1 Gig for five years but adds taxes and fees; Fios locks 300 and 500 Mbps for three years and says taxes are already in its price.[1][2]
Prices here are each company's posted online terms as of October 20, 2026. Your ZIP result only shows the area; both companies must confirm your exact address and apartment.
Where Xfinity and Fios meet
Verizon's Fios metro list covers much of the Mid-Atlantic and parts of New England: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Scranton in Pennsylvania; Boston; Baltimore, Bethesda and Columbia in Maryland; the Washington, DC region; Wilmington and Dover in Delaware; Richmond, Virginia; and Jersey City, Newark and Trenton in New Jersey.[3]
Our FCC data (as of December 30, 2025) lists Xfinity among providers in many of the same places, including Philadelphia, Allegheny, Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania; Suffolk and Middlesex counties in Massachusetts; Baltimore city and Montgomery County in Maryland; the District of Columbia; New Castle County, Delaware; Richmond city and Henrico County in Virginia; and Hudson and Mercer counties in New Jersey. Shared counties still do not mean both companies wire your street, so get two address checks.
The price-lock timeline, side by side
| Item | Xfinity | Verizon Fios |
|---|---|---|
| 300 Mbps | $45/mo locked 5 years, or $40/mo for 1 year[1] | $40/mo locked 3 years[2] |
| 500 Mbps | $60/mo locked 5 years[1] | $75/mo locked 3 years[2] |
| 1 Gig | $70/mo locked 5 years[1] | $90/mo locked 5 years[2] |
| Taxes and fees | Extra, and can change[1] | Included in the shown price[2] |
| Payment rule | Autopay from a stored bank account plus paperless billing[1] | Auto Pay and paper-free billing[2] |
| Who the offer covers | New Xfinity Internet customers; offer ends 10/25[1] | Lock applies to new and existing customers on an eligible plan[2] |
Two details change the math. First, Xfinity's posted price is before taxes and fees, while Verizon says its posted Fios price already includes them.[1][2] Ask Xfinity for the estimated monthly total with taxes and fees at your address. Second, both locks cover only the base internet rate.[4][2] Add-ons and later promotions are outside them.
At 300 Mbps, the Xfinity choice is between $40 for one year with regular rates after, or $45 held for five years.[1] If you expect to stay put, the longer lock is usually the safer budget choice. Xfinity also says its locked rate stays the same if you move to another address in its service area.[4] Ask Verizon how a move would affect your Fios lock before you rely on it.
Upload speed depends on Xfinity's network at your home
Fios lists 300 Mbps upload on its 300 plan, 500 Mbps on its 500 plan and up to 880 Mbps on 1 Gig.[2] Xfinity's answer depends on which network serves your home. Comcast says its cable (HFC) tiers carry uploads from up to 10 Mbps to up to 2 Gbps, and it separately offers fiber-based service with matching speeds up to 10 Gbps.[5]
So ask Xfinity three questions:
- Is my address on standard cable, an upgraded cable network, or Comcast fiber?
- What upload speed is on the broadband label for the exact plan you are quoting?
- Does my gateway support that plan's full speed?
If the quoted upload covers your household's video calls, backups and file sharing, the upload gap matters less and price may decide it. If uploads are tight, Fios has the clearer posted figure. Our guide to internet for working from home explains how to estimate upload needs.
Equipment, contracts and setup
Xfinity says its current plans include WiFi equipment and unlimited data, with no annual contract and no early termination fee.[1][4] Verizon includes a router on every Fios plan, adds Whole-Home Wi-Fi on 1 Gig and faster, and lists no data caps.[2] Verizon also notes that a $99 setup charge may apply unless you are an existing Verizon mobile customer enrolled in Mobile + Home.[2]
Ask each company which installation your address needs and whether a technician must visit. Our self-install or technician guide covers what to prepare.
Our pick, by situation
These are editorial fits based on posted terms, not hands-on testing.
- Lean Xfinity if you want a five-year lock on 300 or 500 Mbps, mostly download, and your quote's upload is enough.[1]
- Lean Fios if you need fast uploads, want taxes included in the posted price, or plan to take 1 Gig, where both lock for five years.[2][1]
- Already have Verizon or Xfinity mobile? Ask each for its bundle price, then compare against the internet-only quote.
For deeper Xfinity plan choices, see Xfinity internet-only plans.
The call line below is for plan comparison and new orders only, not support for an existing Xfinity or Verizon account.
In Virginia and nearby states, Xfinity's fiber rival may be Glo Fiber: see Glo Fiber vs Xfinity.
Frequently asked questions
Is Xfinity fiber?
Xfinity describes its standard service as powered by fiber and connected to the home by coaxial cable.[1] Comcast also offers a separate fiber-based service in some places.[5]
Which locks the price longer?
At 300 and 500 Mbps, Xfinity's posted lock is longer: five years versus three for Fios.[1][2] At 1 Gig, both posted locks are five years.
Can I cancel either one early?
Xfinity says there is no annual contract or early termination fee, and Verizon says Fios has no long-term contracts.[4][2] Return any rented equipment on time.
Sources
- Xfinity internet offers. Xfinity, Internet offers, accessed October 20, 2026. One-year and five-year prices, eligibility, payment and tax terms, network description. ↩
- Verizon Fios plans. Verizon, Fios home internet plans, accessed October 20, 2026. Prices, upload speeds, price-lock scope, taxes, equipment and setup. ↩
- Verizon home internet locations. Verizon, Home internet locations, accessed October 20, 2026. Fios metro list; not address-level approval. ↩
- Xfinity Internet service. Xfinity, Internet service, accessed October 20, 2026. Scope of the five-year lock, moving, contract and fee terms. ↩
- Comcast network management. Comcast, Network Management, accessed October 20, 2026. Upload ranges on cable tiers and separate fiber-based service. ↩
Written with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed; our data from FCC/Census as dated. FCC data as of December 30, 2025; Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024. Editorial policy