Cutting the Cord with Xfinity

There are many cuts in life we stress over, from stinging paper cuts to can’t-grow-out-fast-enough bad haircuts. But in recent years, the cut that’s a cut above the rest in terms of “Should I, or shouldn’t I?” is most likely a new kid on the block – cord-cutting.

Whether you’re already an Xfinity subscriber, or are including them in your home entertainment considerations, we recommend making a pros and cons list comparing overall costs and benefits for Xfinity and a top streaming service provider. This can help in determining which is the best fit for you and your family considering the elements of home entertainment that are most important to you.

Pros of Staying Plugged In

To help in getting your list off the ground, we’ve compiled some advantages that Xfinity’s cable offering provides over a streaming service:

Lower Internet speed requirements since your favorite shows & movies won’t be competing for bandwidth
Reliable connection, no matter how many other users are watching at the same time
Easy access to all your favorite local news and local sports programming

Xfinity Internet Packages

In addition to a number of attractive options for cable and Internet bundles, Xfinity offers an impressive selection of standalone Internet plans perfect for streamers. Let’s take a closer look at what some of those plans offer, and how many users and simultaneously running devices Xfinity recommends as a good range for each…

Performance Starter Internet – 15 Mbps

Xfinity recommends their lowest Internet speeds as a good fit for single-person households that won’t be using a lot of devices at once. If your general Internet usage includes checking email, browsing the web, and watching a television show or movie, these speeds may meet your needs just fine. However, if you are also into online gaming, consider stepping up to the next package level.

Performance Internet & Performance Pro Internet – 100 & 200 Mbps

The 100 to 200 Mbps range is the “sweet spot” for most 2-3 person households, and is recommended for those who will be using up to 8 devices at a time. While that may sound like a lot, consider how often you multitask, simultaneously watching a television show in the background while catching up on work on your laptop, taking social media breaks on your phone. If you have 2 people in a household doing just that, you’ll have 6 devices running at once. If one or both of you are also gamers, the next package level may serve you best.

Blast! Internet – 300 Mbps

Xfinity recommends their 300 Mbps Internet plans for those who will be using up to 11 devices at one time, or 2-5 person households. These speeds will provide you with the necessary bandwidth to stream in HD across multiple devices, download shows and movies very quickly, and engage in bandwidth-hogging multiplayer gaming.

Extreme Pro Internet – 600 Mbps

With Internet speeds of up to 600 Mbps, most households shouldn’t experience any speed-related issues at all. These speeds will provide the needed bandwidth for 12 or more devices to run seamlessly and simultaneously, including multiplayer games.

Gigabit – 1000 Mbps (1 Gig)

If you want to be sure speed is truly never an issue, 1 Gig Internet is the best fit for you! While not yet available in all areas, 1 Gig speeds are becoming more widely accessible, and are a strong option to consider for homes where not only the people inside are heavy Internet users, but the house itself is as well. If you have a large home outfitted with Internet-enabled security and smart home devices, your need for speed can increase quite a bit, with 1 Gig Internet being up to the challenge.

Xfinity Bundle vs. Leading Streaming Service

Cable and Internet go together like peanut butter and jelly, with bundles presenting an opportunity to get the best of both services from a single provider. Not only is this one less bill to keep track of, but Xfinity bundles offer other important advantages that a la carte services can’t compete with, including…

Budget-friendly bundles can save you money on overall cable & Internet costs, offering a “multiple service discount” baked right into the price
If you’re experiencing any issues, or have questions about your services, you can connect with Xfinity’s extended help team quickly via chat, email, or phone
Because both services are part of the same contract, you have better insight into your current and future expenses, whereas opting for an array of individual streaming services can mean dealing with price fluctuations across several hitting all at once
Reviews.org ranked Xfinity as the “Best for Most” bundle in their Best Cable TV and Internet Bundles 2020 list