You will pay more upfront for Xfinity's new price guarantee. That's why it's still a reliable deal
If you're tired of seeing an increase in internet bills every year, Xfinity will launch new privileges that may buy your loyalty.
Starting today, when you sign up for a new internet plan with Xfinity, you can choose a five-year price guarantee. However, you will pay extra for this stability, as the price guaranteed plan will cost more than $10 to $30 in the first or two years than the same plan without it.
After that promotion period, Xfinity’s plans are much similar: 2024 CNET analysis found that prices increase by an average of $26 per month per month based on where you live. Once added you can always try to negotiate a better deal, but this new price guarantee allows you to get around this barrier altogether. Price guarantee does not mean you are trapped in a contract as well – you can still cancel the service at any time without paying an early termination fee.
“We are addressing two important consumer pain points – rising costs and transparency – with incredible value and easy-to-understand pricing, which has been locked in for five years,” Comcast Chief Operating Officer Steve Croney said in a statement.
This is the Xfinity plan compared to the price guarantee, with no price:
| Download speed | Price with five-year guarantee | No guaranteed price |
|---|---|---|
| 400Mbps | $55 | $40 ($69 after 12 months) |
| 600Mbps | $70 | $55 ($79 after 12 months) |
| 1,100Mbps | $85 | $70 ($99 after 12 months) |
| 2,100Mbps | $105 | $100 ($109 after 12 months) |
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In addition to cost consistency, Xfinity’s price guarantee comes with some other privileges:
- Including equipment: In all price guarantee plans, you will get Xfinity's modems and routers at no extra cost. Usually, this adds another $15 to your monthly bill.
- Unlimited data: Many of Xfinity's cheap plans in the western and central departments come with a 1.2TB data cap. On average, households consume about half of their data at 698GB. If you choose a five-year price guarantee, you don't have to worry about going beyond the ceiling and incurring any associated excess fees.
- Free mobile line for one year:Xfinity will also throw it online on your phone for a year when you choose a price guarantee plan. This itself costs $40 a month, but Xfinity also usually has a year-long free mobile program promotion, even if there is no price guarantee.
Xfinity representatives told me that a five-year price guarantee will be offered to existing customers later this month. To activate it, you can select Guarantee in your online account, call Xfinity or visit the store.
Let's do math: Is Xfinity's five-year price guarantee worth it?
I've been writing about broadband for six years and I'm still having a hard time focusing on Xfinity's plans. Prices for all plans increase one year later, and equipment fees are only included in the first year.
Let's take Xfinity's cheapest plan as an example. It allows you to download 400Mbps and 150Mbps upload speeds. With a price guarantee, you will pay $55 per month for the entire five years. Total $660 per year, or $3,300 in the five years before tax. There is no price guarantee, you will pay $40 per month and then $69 per month. In five years, if you choose to rent equipment from Xfinity, you can count $3,792 in five years, which will add $25 per month after one year.
| Download speed | Price over five years (guaranteed) | Price over five years (no guarantee, use your own equipment) | Price over five years (no guaranteed, using Xfinity devices) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400Mbps | $3,300 | $3,792 | $4,992 |
| 600Mbps | $4,200 | $4,452 | $5,652 |
| 1,100Mbps | $5,100 | $5,592 | $6,792 |
| 2,100Mbps | $6,300 | $6,432 | $7,632 |
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Of course, these prices assume that you will never negotiate a better deal when the price goes up. If you don't want to deal with this hassle, Xfinity's five-year price guarantee is a good deal – especially if you prefer to use Xfinity's modems and routers rather than buying your own.
If it were me, I guess I want to be flexible rather than paying more expectations for price guarantees. If you are using your own device – definitely should be – savings are not That Touching. I would rather roll the dice and hope that the price will rise in a year and I can regain cheaper promotions. As 5G home internet providers increasingly become viable alternatives, switching providers is not a void threat from the past.
