Ziply Fiber vs Xfinity Internet – Which One is Better?

Ziply Fiber and Xfinity’s coverage area overlaps in the country’s northwest. The two providers are going head-to-head in Oregon and Washington, each offering superfast speeds at the lowest monthly rates. 

But is that all that there is to the Xfinity vs Ziply Fiber debate? Let’s find out as we take a deep dive and explore the latest plans, prices, and perks of each. We will compare and contrast their service features to analyze which provider offers better value and demystify their network performance to help gamers select the best.  

Ziply Fiber

Ziply Fiber, incepted in May 2020, is a regional internet service provider that serves 4 states in the Northwest of the USA. The company acquired Frontier Communications’ DSL and fiber-optic networks in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington to deliver blistering-fast speeds of up to 50 Gbps (50,000 Mbps) to residential and business communities. 

Ziply Fiber’s broadband internet service starts at $20 per month. Customers can avail of added benefits like free expert installation, cutting-edge equipment, unlimited data, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and contract-free service on all monthly plans.

Being a relatively new internet provider in the broadband market, Ziply Fiber is scaling the business by offering Internet, home phone, and streaming TV bundles at rates as low as $80 per month. 

With its extraordinary multi-gigabit capabilities, Ziply Fiber is the fastest home internet provider in the United States and delivers top performance for competitive gaming, ultra-HD streaming, and cloud computing. 

Pros

• Symmetrical speeds of up to 50 Gigs
• Free expert installation (limited-time offer)
• Unlimited data 
• No annual contracts 
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

• Second-year price hikes 
• Available in only 4 states

Xfinity

Xfinity by Comcast is the largest cable internet provider in the country. Over the years, it has innovated and expanded its business to deploy hybrid fiber-cable systems around the country and deliver home internet speeds of up to 10 Gigs. Its fiber network alone spans 150,000 route miles, covering 35 states and the US capital – Washington, D.C. 

Most Xfinity customers can receive download speeds of up to 2 Gbps for a starting price of $9.95 per month. Currently, Xfinity is building its 10G network, which uses DOCSIS 4.0 technology to deliver symmetrical multi-gigabit speeds. 

Some Xfinity home internet plans include a 1.2 TB data cap, while some require annual contracts. Moreover, the low introductory prices of Xfinity internet plans spike up to $60 once the regular rates kick in. Nonetheless, its 2 to 3-year price guarantees ensure that customers enjoy the cheapest broadband service for the longest time.

Pros

• Wide-scale availability in 35 states
• Affordable monthly fees 
• Download speeds of up to 2 Gigs 
• Access to over 23 million Wi-Fi hotspots 
• 30-day free trial

Cons

• Price hikes after the promo period 
• Asymmetric speeds 
• Data caps of up to 1.2 TB on some plans 
• Yearly term commitments with some tiers

Internet Service Comparison – Ziply Fiber vs Xfinity

Here is a side-by-side comparison of Ziply Fiber vs Xfinity internet service.

Plans & Pricing Details – Ziply Fiber vs Xfinity Internet

The key difference between Ziply Fiber and Xfinity is their distinct modes of broadband transmission. Ziply uses telephone lines and fiber-optic cables to deliver DSL and fiber internet connections to its subscribers’ homes. 

On the other hand, Xfinity uses coaxial cables (existing cable TV connections) for internet access. Because of this, Ziply Fiber mostly distributes equal upload and download speeds, but Xfinity’s upload capabilities max out at 50 Mbps. 

Both, Xfinity and Ziply Fiber have a long list of internet offerings for their prospective customers to ensure that people from all walks of life can get a month-to-month plan that suits their budget and speed requirements.  

Ziply Fiber Internet Plans

Xfinity Internet Plans

The following are Xfinity’s region-specific broadband offerings. 

Additional Costs – Xfinity vs Ziply Fiber Internet

Let’s look at some add-on costs associated with Ziply Fiber and Xfinity Internet. 

Equipment

Whether you pick Xfinity or Ziply Fiber as your primary home internet service, you must bear the monthly equipment rental. Ziply Fiber’s router rental is $12 per month, and for a limited time, you will get 3 extenders free with this equipment lease. 

In the case of Xfinity, subscribers can choose between xFi Gateway and xFi Complete. The former costs $15 per month, but to lease xFi Complete (a whole-home Wi-Fi router), you will have to pay $20 each month. 

Installation

Until April 30, 2024, Ziply Fiber is offering free professional installation on all its plans. However, after the promo period, subscribers will be required to pay between $90 and $600 for technical installations, depending on their plan. 

In contrast, Xfinity subscribers can opt for self-installation and have the ‘Getting Started Kit’ delivered to their homes for free. But if they encounter problems or go with professional installation for ease, they must pay $100 out of pocket. 

Early Termination Fee

Ziply Fiber offers non-contractual service throughout. It means that its DSL and fiber internet customers are not obligated to sign annual contracts or pay hefty early termination fees if they cancel the service mid-contract. But the same cannot be said for Xfinity. 

Some Xfinity Internet plans, like the ones offered in Maryland (Northeast), require a 12-month contract. So, if you cancel the service or switch plans within the first year, an early termination fee of $110 will apply. 

Perks – Ziply Fiber vs Xfinity Internet

Both Ziply Fiber and Xfinity offer promotional pricing and allow new customers to test drive the service for 30 days. But in the case of Xfinity, the introductory rates are locked in for up to 3 years. Whereas, Ziply Fiber’s promo rates are valid for the first 12 months.

All Ziply Fiber plans (DSL and fiber) include unlimited data, allowing customers to perform unrestricted data-intensive online activities. In comparison, some Xfinity Internet plans have a 1.2 TB data limit, and customers must pay data overage fees upon exceeding the cap.

The most noteworthy perk of Xfinity is getting free access to more than 23 million out-of-home Wi-Fi hotspots scattered around the country. So, using a reliable high-speed connection while on the go is a problem of the past.  

Better Option for Gaming – Ziply Fiber or Xfinity?

Ziply Fiber and Xfinity guarantee multi-gig speeds on their home connections, but when scrutinized, this promise translates differently for each provider. Ziply’s fiber-rich plans offer equal download and upload speeds, and the maximum speed available is 50 Gigs! (25x faster than the maximum speed delivered by Xfinity). 

In contrast, Xfinity’s upload speed can only reach up to 50 Mbps, making it harder for gamers to livestream their gameplay on Twitch. 

Similarly, the average latency of a fiber internet connection is between 10 and 12 milliseconds (ms). However, the median latency for a coaxial cable connection with asymmetric speeds is between 13 and 27 ms, resulting in possible lags and increased response time.  

Therefore, if stuck between Ziply Fiber or Xfinity, gamers should opt for Ziply. 

Wider Coverage Area – Ziply Fiber or Xfinity?

Xfinity and Ziply Fiber’s coverage areas are incomparable. Xfinity is a renowned national broadband carrier delivering exceptional service in 35 states. Its cable network is the largest in the USA, reaching most major cities and towns.  

Ziply Fiber was formed on the remnants of Frontier’s northwest cable system. Therefore, the service area is limited to 4 states. However, in the 4 years since its formation, Ziply has added 100 new markets and 1,700 miles of additional fiber cable to reach nearly 270,800  residential and small business subscribers. 

Better Customer Service – Ziply Fiber or Xfinity?

It is unclear if the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) has omitted Ziply Fiber from its listing because of its ‘new’ status or its ‘regional internet provider’ tag. Whatever the case may be, it bars us from presenting an objective view of Ziply Fiber’s customer service rating.

However, the testimonials on its website and its 4.02-star rating on Better Business Bureau indicate that customers are highly satisfied with the service.   

On the other hand, Xfinity scored the lowest in the fiber internet category on ACSI with 73 out of 100 points and was the 5th best in the non-fiber internet providers list, scoring 68 out of 100. 

Final Verdict – Is Ziply Fiber Better than Xfinity?

So, if you live in Oregon or Washington and your options are narrowed down to Ziply Fiber or Xfinity, follow this simple 3-step rule to pick the right provider for your home. 

First, decide if your online activities need symmetrical speeds or asymmetric. Next, consider if a gigabit connection or slower makes more sense for your home, or does it have to be multi-gig speeds as fast as 5, 10, or 50 Gigs? The third and last thing to be mindful of is the price point. Evaluate which provider offers more value for the money paid and go with that. 

So, while Ziply Fiber may be the fastest provider in your town, its high regular prices, and ultrafast speeds may be unnecessary for your household’s needs if none of the family members are power internet users.