Verizon vs Xfinity Mobile: Plans Compared

Deciding between Xfinity Mobile and Verizon for your cell phone plan? We’ve dived deep into the nitty gritty details of every plan Verizon and Xfinity Mobile offers, including hotspot data, international options, pricing, and perks, so you know exactly what’s on the table for you no matter how much or how little data you need. 

Try our Plan Finder to compare phone plans across the most popular carriers.

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Verizon vs Xfinity Mobile: Similarities

• Nationwide 4G LTE and Ultra Wideband 5G network coverage. (Always check the network’s coverage map before making a decision!) 
• Some hotspot data is included with Verizon’s mid-level and premium unlimited data plans, and all Xfinity’s plans come with a baseline of unlimited 3G hotspot data – more on this below.
• Xfinity Mobile gives customers unlimited talk and text to and in Mexico and Canada; Verizon adds unlimited 3G data as well.
• The ability to bundle in multiple services, such as home internet and TV, to the mobile phone plan.
• No taxes and fees are included in plan pricing for either Verizon or Xfinity Mobile. 

Verizon vs Xfinity Mobile: Differences

• The main difference: Xfinity is an MVNO, or Mobile Virtual Network Operator. This means it leases network infrastructure from Verizon. Verizon is a wireless carrier first and foremost. 
• Xfinity Internet customers are eligible for Xfinity Mobile plans at the advertised prices. If you're not a customer, you can still get these plans, but you'll have to pay an expensive additional surcharge. Verizon plans are open to all. 
• Verizon offers multi-line discount pricing, so every additional line is cheaper to add. Each Xfinity Mobile line is added at a flat rate.
• Xfinity Mobile doesn’t bundle in extra perks, while Verizon’s mid-level and premium plans bundle in some streaming services.

Verizon vs Xfinity Mobile: Coverage

Verizon’s 4G LTE network is generally considered the best in America, ahead of the AT&T and T-Mobile. Verizon’s 5G network, while smaller and less far-reaching, is growing quickly and where available offers the fastest 5G around.

Since Xfinity Mobile provides wireless services via the Verizon network, Xfinity coverage is similar to Verizon coverage. One caveat: during busy network times, Verizon prioritizes its customers first.

To check Verizon and Xfinity Mobile coverage in your area, simply enter your address into our Verizon coverage map below. In place of an Xfinity Mobile coverage map — just use Verizon as a proxy.

Verizon vs Xfinity Mobile Entry-Level Unlimited Plans

These two carriers offer some great entry-level unlimited plan options. Many carriers consider this the most basic plan, so these plans were created with light data users in mind. For example, if you’re not a big hotspot user, you mostly use your phone to check the news, you only scroll a bit on social media, and you don’t tend to upload a lot of content, then you could be considered a light data user. If so, these data options could be a good fit. 

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Verizon vs Xfinity Mobile Mid-Level Unlimited Plans

For someone who wants to save money, but still wants to have access to a good amount of high-speed, premium data, then these mid-level plans are a good fit. If you find that you only make Wi-Fi hotspots around three times a week, perhaps watch one or two weekly Netflix shows on your phone stream, upload some video content to Facebook or YouTube, and like to play mobile games on your commute, then these plans are probably a good choice for your lifestyle. 

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Verizon vs Xfinity Mobile Premium Unlimited Plans

For the heavy data user, these plans are typically the right fit. We define heavy data usage as using your mobile hotspot more than three times per week, uploading lots of content to social media, streaming multiple hours of Netflix, YouTube, Twitch, or other videos, and playing graphic-intensive games. 

If that sounds like you, then you probably agree that you’ll want a plan that can keep up with you. To make things a little easier, there’s no comparison here – Xfinity Mobile doesn’t offer comparable premium unlimited plans. However, Verizon’s Premium Unlimited plans come with truly unlimited premium data, with no restrictions on speed or amount.  

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What Is an Unlimited Plan? An unlimited data plan is a phone plan that includes unlimited data, but not all the data in an unlimited plan is necessarily of the high-speed variety.Lower-priced unlimited plans tend to include unlimited deprioritized data that slows down when networks are busy. While some entry-level plans include some amount of high-speed data, many do not. Mid-level unlimited plans typically include a mix of high-speed data, capped at a certain amount, and unlimited deprioritized data. The priciest unlimited plans are where you'll find truly unlimited premium data.

Verizon vs Xfinity Mobile Capped Plans

Every major carrier provides unlimited data plans, but only a few continue offering the older capped data plans, too. Xfinity Mobile is one of the carriers that provides consumers with a simple By the Gig plan model, where you pay a flat fee per GB of data you use. Plus, if you have multiple lines, you can share that data allotment across all of them.  

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What Is a Capped Plan? Also sometimes called “By the Gig” plans, capped plans offer customers a set amount of data per month instead of unlimited data. All the data on capped plans is deprioritized, which means you may experience data slowdowns when the network is congested. Capped data plans can be a cost-effective alternative to unlimited plans if you don’t mind deprioritized data and know how much data you use in a typical month. The key is not to exceed your cap, as doing so can result in significant fees.

Verizon vs Xfinity: Hotspot Data

We’ve discussed how the meaning of “unlimited” and “premium” are not always set in stone. How does that affect hotspot data on unlimited data plans?

Some carrier plans provide a separate hotspot allowance to your overall data budget. For instance, on mid-level and premium plans, Verizon includes a hefty amount of high-speed hotspot data. This is completely separate from your mobile premium data. After you use your hotspot data allowance, your hotspot speed will be slowed right down. However, data speeds on your mobile device won’t be affected.

Other carriers include hotspot data in your overall data allowance. This only matters for plans that only offer up to a certain amount of high-speed data before your speeds are restricted on your mobile phone. If you’re allowed to use 20 GB of unlimited data before you’re slowed, and you use 5 GB of hotspot data, then you only have 15 GB left at normal speeds until the end of the month, when your data budget resets.

In short, for heavy hotspot users, this is something to closely investigate with each plan you consider. If you’re not a big hotspot user, then don’t worry about this too much as it’s not that relevant for you.

The Bottom Line

If you’re feeling like you need a degree in Cell Phone Plans to truly understand all your options and pick the right one, try out our free, unbiased Plan Finder. Just give us a few key details – like what streaming services you want, how many lines you need, and whether you want phone upgrade options – and we instantly sort through thousands of options in seconds to show you the best plans to meet your needs.

Wondering what factors to consider when picking a phone plan? Our guide on how to choose the best cell phone plan lays it all out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which service is better, Verizon or Xfinity?

Choosing between Verizon and Xfinity Mobile? Verizon offers more perks and premium plans, while Xfinity Mobile is a budget-friendly option for Xfinity Internet customers. If you need lots of data and extras, go with Verizon; if you want something simple and affordable, Xfinity Mobile is a great choice.

Does Xfinity Mobile use Verizon towers?

Yes, Xfinity Mobile does use Verizon's towers for its service since it operates as an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). This means Xfinity leases Verizon's network, giving you the same 4G LTE and 5G coverage. However, unlike Verizon, Xfinity Mobile is only available to Xfinity Internet customers, which means you'll need their home internet service to access their mobile plans at their advertised rates.

Does Xfinity have good mobile service?

Xfinity Mobile offers solid service since it runs on Verizon's 4G LTE and 5G networks, giving it strong coverage across the country. It's a great option if you already have Xfinity Internet, and while it doesn't include premium perks like Verizon's higher-tier plans, Xfinity Mobile's affordable options—especially the By the Gig plans—can be a smart choice for light data users or families sharing data.