Fidium Fiber and Xfinity are well-known internet service providers (ISPs) in the US. Both provide high-speed home internet service, and to help you get the most for your money, both offer TV, phone, and internet bundles at reasonable monthly rates.
In this in-depth comparison, we break down the features offered by Xfinity and Fidium Fiber and walk you through the entire process (from inquiry to installation) so you can choose the best possible internet experience for your household.
- Fidium Fiber by Consolidated Communications
- Xfinity by Comcast
- Key Differences – Fidium Fiber vs Xfinity Internet
- Plans & Pricing Details – Fidium Fiber vs Xfinity
- Additional Costs – Xfinity vs Fidium Fiber
- Data Caps – Xfinity vs Fidium Fiber
- Better Option for Gaming – Fidium Fiber or Xfinity?
- Wider Coverage Area – Fidium Fiber or Xfinity?
- Better Customer Service – Fidium Fiber or Xfinity?
- Final Verdict – Fidium Fiber or Xfinity?
Fidium Fiber by Consolidated Communications
Fidium Fiber Internet is known for its reliability and symmetrically fast speeds. It is a unique fiber-based ISP that provides service to residential and business customers in 8 states, offering a 100% fiber connection to their doorsteps.
Fidium provides customer-centric internet and related services. It believes in the principle that what you desire is what you should get, which is why the company does not even force its bundles on customers while ordering the internet service.
Fidium Fiber was introduced to serve the user’s needs. It offers straightforward monthly plans and prices with blazing-fast speeds. Customers get no-contract service, unlimited data, and pay minimum hidden costs without the obligation of bundling.
Fidium Fiber’s affordable internet plans start at $25 per month, and you get equal download and upload speeds of up to 2,000 Mbps with free professional installation.
Fidium Fiber’s advanced internet solutions are ideal for power users.
Pros
- Symmetrical speeds
- No data caps
- No contracts required
- No need for bundling
Cons
- Limited availability
- Mixed customer reviews
Xfinity by Comcast
Xfinity is primarily a cable network provider but offers fiber connections in some parts of its coverage area. Its services are widely available in 35 states and Washington D.C., connecting nearly 32.3 million Americans to high-speed internet.
Some Xfinity Internet plans may require annual contracts. Signing a contract can come in handy if you want price-lock guarantees for up to 3 years.
Most Xfinity plans include unlimited data, perfect for heavy streamers and gamers. However, some plans may have a 1.2 TB data cap, and users are charged a data overage fee upon exceeding the data limit.
Xfinity offers up to 8 internet plans, ranging from $9.99 per month for 50 Mbps to $120 per month for 2 Gbps. It has launched the all-fiber Gigabit package in some locations, offering symmetrical speeds up to 6,000 Mbps. However, you must pay several hundred dollars a month for speeds that high.
Pros
- Widespread coverage across the nation
- Best promotional pricing for 1-3 years
- Multi-gigabit plans
Cons
- Data Caps of 1.2 TB on some plans
- Contract required for price guarantees
- Add-on fee for equipment lease
Key Differences – Fidium Fiber vs Xfinity Internet
| Features | Xfinity Internet | Fidium Fiber |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $9.95/mo.* | $25.00/mo.** |
| Data Caps | 1.2 TB(Applied on some plans) | No |
| Contracts | Optional | No |
| Equipment Fee | Yes | Yes |
| Internet Type | Cable | Fiber |
| Speeds | Asymmetrical speeds | Symmetrical speeds |
| Maximum Speed | Up to 6,000 Mbps | Up to 2,000 Mbps |
| Installation Fee | No | No |
| Coverage Area | 35 states | 8 states |
| Guarantee | 30-day money-back guarantee | 30-day money-back guarantee |
**Promo price with AutoPay and paperless billing. Subject to change after 12 months.
Plans & Pricing Details – Fidium Fiber vs Xfinity
In this section, we will analyze the price and additional charges of Fidium Fiber and Xfinity.
Xfinity offers contract and contract-free options depending on the type of plan and service region. As a result, customers can expect to pay early termination fees of up to $110 if they cancel their contract before the agreement ends. However, the annual contracts ensure that customers continue to enjoy discounted rates for up to 3 years.
As for Fidium Fiber, the monthly charges reflected in the table are standard prices after a 12-month introductory period. After this period, the price increases by around $15 to $20. The good thing about Fidium is that, unlike Xfinity, it offers unlimited data on all its plans.
Fidium Fiber
| Fidium Fiber Plans | |||
| Plans | Promo Price | Regular Price | Max Speed |
| 100 Mbps | $25.00/mo. | $45.00/mo. | 100 Mbps |
| 300 Mbps | $45.00/mo. | $65.00/mo. | 300 Mbps |
| 1 Gig | $65.00/mo. | $85.00/mo. | 1,000 Mbps |
| 2 Gigs | $85.00/mo. | $100.00/mo. | 2,000 Mbps |
All prices shown in the table above are with AutoPay and paperless bills.
Xfinity by Comcast
| Xfinity Internet Plans | |||
| Plans | Starting Price | Max Speed | Type |
| Central Region | |||
| Internet Essentials | $9.95/mo.* | 50 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Internet Essentials Plus | $29.95/mo.* | 100 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Connect | $20.00/mo. | 150 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Connect More | $35.00/mo. | 300 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Fast | $55.00/mo. | 500 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Superfast | $70.00/mo. | 800 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Gigabit | $80.00/mo. | 1,000 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Gigabit Extra | $85.00/mo. | 1,200 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Northeast Region | |||
| Internet Essentials | $9.95/mo. | 50 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Internet Essentials Plus | $29.95/mo.* | 100 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Connect More | $30.00/mo. | 300 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Gigabit | $55.00/mo. | 1,000 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Gigabit Extra | $75.00/mo. | 1,200 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| West Region | |||
| Internet Essentials | $9.95/mo.* | 50 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Internet Essentials Plus | $29.95/mo.* | 100 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Connect | $19.99/mo. | 150 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Connect More | $30.00/mo. | 300 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Fast | $50.00/mo. | 500 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Superfast | $60.00/mo. | 800 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Gigabit | $65.00/mo. | 1,000 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Gigabit Extra | $70.00/mo. | 1,200 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
| Gigabit X2 | $120.00/mo. | 2,000 Mbps | Coaxial-cable |
Additional Costs – Xfinity vs Fidium Fiber
Fidium Fiber and Xfinity charge extra fees for expert installation and internet equipment. However, their terms and conditions are different.
For example, Xfinity charges $15 per month for the lease of its Gateway, but customers wishing to rent its xFi Complete equipment are required to pay $20 each month for the first 12 months, after which the price increases to $25 per month.
In comparison, Fidium Fiber gives away free Wi-Fi 6 Gateway ($120 in value) on its Most Popular (1 Gig) and Best Value (2 Gigs) plans. However, its Essential (100 Mbps) and Advanced (300 Mbps) customers must pay $10 each month for leasing a Wi-Fi Gateway. Moreover, renting Mesh Wi-Fi extenders will cost an additional $10 per month.
| Provider | Equipment | Installation | ETF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity | $15.00 – $25.00/mo. | $100.00* | Up to $110 |
| Fidium Fiber | $10.00/mo. | $199.00** | $0.00 |
**Fidium Fiber offers free professional installation ($199 in value) on all its plans. Terms and conditions apply.
Data Caps – Xfinity vs Fidium Fiber
Fidium Fiber offers unlimited data on all its plans.
In contrast, a few plans of Xfinity include data caps that can result in overage penalties with an overage fee of $10 for every 50 GB of additional data used in the month.
These data limitations on Xfinity plans are applicable in some situations. The monthly data cap of 1.2 TB (terabytes) is more than sufficient to meet the needs of several households.
However, if your family frequently plays heavy graphic video games or streams in ultra-high-definition, the data overage fees might mount up quickly.
Better Option for Gaming – Fidium Fiber or Xfinity?
Fiber internet is renowned for its substantially lower ping rate than cable internet. Combine that with fast and symmetrical speeds to get a seamless gaming experience.
Fidium Fiber is a fiber-optic internet service that provides high download and symmetrical upload speeds, with minimal latency, making it the ideal option for most types of online games and livestreaming.
Xfinity is a cable internet service provider that does not offer symmetrical upload speeds but is still fast enough for online gaming. Xfinity’s multi-gigabit plans have an average latency of 13 ms or less, making them a good option for competitive gaming.
Given that Fidium Fiber and Xfinity both have average ping times of less than 20 ms, it would be difficult to go wrong with either option for latency-sensitive activities like online gaming or video conferencing.
Wider Coverage Area – Fidium Fiber or Xfinity?
Considering where Fidium Fiber and Xfinity deliver their services helps you narrow down your options and move you closer to choosing an internet provider that not only fits your technological demands but is also easily accessible in your location.
Xfinity Internet and TV service is available in 35 states and Washington, D.C., so there is a high chance you live in one of them. However, Fidium Fiber is available in only eight states. Thus, the prospects of its availability are slim.
| All the States Where Xfinity Internet is Available | |||
| Alabama | Illinois | Minnesota | Tennessee |
| Arkansas | Indiana | Missouri | Texas |
| Arizona | Kansas | Mississippi | Utah |
| California | Kentucky | New Hampshire | Virginia |
| Colorado | Louisiana | New Jersey | Vermont |
| Connecticut | Massachusetts | New Mexico | Washington |
| Delaware | Maryland | Oregon | West Virginia |
| Florida | Maine | Pennsylvania | Wisconsin |
| Georgia | Michigan | South Carolina | Washington, D.C. |
The coverage area of Fidium Fiber is as follows.
| All the States Where Fidium Fiber Offers Broadband Service | |||
| California | Maine | New Hampshire | Texas |
| Illinois | Minnesota | Pennsylvania | Vermont |
Better Customer Service – Fidium Fiber or Xfinity?
Fidium Fiber is yet to have a large customer base to qualify for an assessment by one of the major national customer satisfaction reviewers, such as the J.D. Power Survey or the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Nonetheless, Fidium has a good reputation for offering 24/7 customer support. Fidium users can reach an account representative faster than Comcast users.
In 2023, Xfinity stood at the top among other service providers in the non-fiber ISPs category. The ACSI has ranked them the fifth best for customer satisfaction with a score of 73/100.
Final Verdict – Fidium Fiber or Xfinity?
Let’s go over the key differences and similarities between Fidium Fiber and Xfinity. Comcast often offers lower prices with multi-year price guarantees, but Fidium provides much faster upload speeds and unlimited data on every plan.
In most circumstances, both provide a faster Internet experience, and when it comes to download speeds and latency, they are practically equivalent.
Based on this information, you may assess your needs and select any of the two options for your home or workplace.
