Verizon Fios vs Xfinity: Which Internet Provider Is Better Where Both Are Available?

In much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including parts of the New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, D.C. areas, many homes can choose between Verizon Fios and Xfinity. Fios is fiber all the way to your home. Xfinity runs fiber to the neighborhood and coaxial cable the rest of the way. Both now offer long price locks, so the choice comes down to speed, especially upload speed, and what you'll pay at the tier you need.

Here's how they compare based on each provider's published plans on October 1, 2026.

Fios vs Xfinity at a glance

	Verizon Fios	Xfinity
Network	100% fiber to the home	Fiber to the area, coax to the home
300 Mbps	As low as $40/mo	$45/mo
500 Mbps	As low as $75/mo	$60/mo
1 Gig	As low as $90/mo	$70/mo
Faster tiers	2 Gig $100, 5 Gig $110	Varies by address
Price lock	3 years (300/500 Mbps), 5 years (1 Gig+)	5 years on listed plans
Upload speed	Symmetrical (1 Gig: up to 940/880 Mbps)	Lower than download on cable
Equipment	Router included; Whole-Home Wi-Fi on 1 Gig+	WiFi equipment included
Setup	$99 setup charge may apply	Self-install kit, or $100 if a technician is needed

Prices exclude taxes and fees. Fios prices include Auto Pay and paper-free billing discounts. Xfinity's prices require autopay from a bank account and paperless billing, and its current offer ends October 25, 2026.

Pricing and price guarantees

Xfinity is cheaper at 500 Mbps and 1 Gig. Its 1 Gig plan is $70 a month, $20 less than Fios. Every listed Xfinity tier comes with a 5-year price guarantee, WiFi equipment, and unlimited data. New customers also get an Xfinity Mobile line free for a year, and the 1 Gig plan adds Peacock Premium for two years.

Fios wins at the entry level, with 300 Mbps as low as $40. Fios locks prices for three years on its 300 and 500 Mbps plans and five years on 1 Gig and faster. Verizon mobile customers can add Mobile + Home perks and sometimes a setup-fee waiver, which can shift the math.

Speed and performance

This is where Fios stands out. Fiber delivers matching upload and download speeds. Verizon rates its 1 Gig plan at up to 940 Mbps down and 880 Mbps up. That matters for video calls, uploading large files, cloud backups, live streaming, and homes where several people work or learn online.

Xfinity's download speeds are strong, and fiber runs deep into its network. But the final stretch to your home is coax, and upload speeds on cable are typically lower than download speeds. For streaming, browsing, and most gaming, that won't matter much. For heavy uploaders, it can.

Equipment and installation

Both include Wi-Fi equipment. Fios includes a router on every plan and adds Whole-Home Wi-Fi coverage on 1 Gig and faster plans. Xfinity includes its WiFi gateway with its current plans.

Setup can differ on day one. Verizon lists a $99 setup charge that may be waived depending on the plan, location, and ordering method, and Fios service is subject to credit approval. Xfinity offers self-install kits for eligible homes and charges $100 if a technician is needed to complete the installation.

Which should you choose?

Choose Verizon Fios if you upload a lot, work from home on frequent video calls, want multi-gig speeds up to 5 Gig, need only an inexpensive 300 Mbps plan, or already have Verizon mobile lines.

Choose Xfinity if you want the lowest price at 500 Mbps or 1 Gig, value a five-year lock on every tier, or want to bundle a free mobile line for the first year.

For a similar matchup outside Xfinity's footprint, see Verizon Fios vs Spectrum. Comparing internet-and-phone bundles? Read Verizon One vs Xfinity Mobile vs Spectrum Mobile.

Frequently asked questions

Is Verizon Fios better than Xfinity?

For upload speed and consistency, Fios usually wins, because it's fiber all the way to your home with matching upload and download speeds. Xfinity often costs less at the same download speed and has a 5-year price guarantee on every listed tier.

Which is cheaper, Fios or Xfinity?

On October 1, 2026, Xfinity listed 300 Mbps for $45, 500 Mbps for $60, and 1 Gig for $70 a month with a 5-year price guarantee. Fios showed 300 Mbps as low as $40, 500 Mbps for $75, and 1 Gig for $90 with discounts.

Do Fios or Xfinity have contracts or data caps?

Neither requires an annual contract on these plans. Xfinity's current plans include unlimited data, and so do Fios plans.