Boost Mobile vs. Xfinity Mobile: Which carrier is better?

Boost Mobile and Xfinity Mobile are popular carriers that offer several unlimited data plans. Each carrier has its positives and negatives, but which offers better phone plans? Let’s put them head to head and see which brand comes out on top. 

In this article, we plan to discuss the ins and outs of both carriers and what they offer. We’ll also cover:

• What the coverage of both carriers looks like
• How prices of their plans compare to how much data you get
• The features each carrier offers for their plans 

Unsure of what you need out of a plan? Check out our guide on how to choose the best phone plan. 

Coverage & Reception

Boost Mobile is on several networks, while Xfinity Mobile is on the Verizon Network.

Boost Mobile and Xfinity Mobile are mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs. This means that they purchase service access wholesale from one of the three major networks that own infrastructure across the country – AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile – giving customers service at a much cheaper price. Boost Mobile is an MVNO of AT&T, T-Mobile, and Dish, while Xfinity Mobile is on the Verizon network. 

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Often, the quality of coverage comes down to your area. One carrier’s coverage may be better in New York, while another’s coverage may be better in California. It’s important to compare between providers on a coverage map of your specific city. Ookla’s coverage map allows you to see where cellular towers are located and which company owns them. This coverage map provides information about coverage from 2G to 5G for several providers.

However, T-Mobile’s 5G coverage and access is hailed as the best coverage overall. 

Plan Options

Xfinity Mobile offers premium data, and Boost Mobile offers both unlimited and limited data plans. 

Like most plans you’ll see on the market, both carriers offer unlimited talk and texting options with any plan you choose. Boost Mobile offers a wide variety of limited and unlimited plans. Xfinity Mobile offers premium data, which does not slow down no matter the amount of network traffic. Both companies deprioritize data, meaning you’ll have slower connection speeds in high traffic areas like concerts venues and sports arenas.

Boost Mobile Plans

Boost Mobile offers monthly, 3 month, and annual plans. 

Boost Mobile offers several plans with varying data caps and lengths of service. Some plans will allow you to pay for several months of service up front at a cheaper price – either 3 or 12 months ahead.

All plans at Boost Mobile are deprioritized. Boost Mobile’s QCI tier is 7 on T-Mobile, 8 on AT&T, and 9 on Dish. 

Some of Boost Mobile’s plans are for new customers only, so make sure to read the fine print.

You can have up to 4 lines on one plan. If you purchase your phone from Boost Mobile, your device will be locked for up to a year after activation. The plans they offer renew their data monthly, and taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. 

1GB Per Month Annual Plan

This plan is for new customers only.

This plan is the smallest Boost Mobile offers at 1GB of data per month. You can use all plan data as mobile hotspot data. Data stops after the cap, and you lose hotspot access. 

The plan costs $8.33 per month, and $100 annually.

5GB Monthly

This plan is for new customers only.

This plan gives you 5GB of data, and stops after this cap. You get hotspot access and can use all plan data as hotspot data. 

The plan costs $15 per month. At this rate, you get 5GB at $3 per GB. 

Boost Mobile also offers this plan for $45 per month for 3 months, which is the same rate as their monthly plan. Both versions are for new customers only. 

5GB Annual 

This plan is for new customers only. 

Like its other 5GB plan, you get 5GB of data per month that can also be used as hotspot data. Once you hit the cap, data and hotspot access stop. 

The plan costs $14 per month, and $168 per year. At this rate, you get 5GB per month at $2.80 per GB. 

15GB Annual Plan

This plan gives you 15GB per month for a year of service. 

With the 15GB plan Boost Mobile offers, you can use all data as hotspot data. Data stops at 15GB, and you lose hotspot access at this data cap.

The plan costs $20 per month, and $240 per year. At this rate, you get 15GB per month at $1.33 per GB. 

Unlimited $25 Monthly

Autopay is required with this plan.

This plan gives you 30GB per month of full speed data, which slows to 3G speeds after this cap. You can use up to 30GB of the plan on hotspot data, and access stops after. 

The plan costs $25 per month. At this rate, you get 30GB at $0.83 per GB. Boost Mobile also offers 50% off for the first month of service with this plan. 

Unlimited $40 Monthly

This plan is for new customers only.

This plan is similar to the 3 month Unlimited plan, as it offers 30GB of full speed data before slowing to 3G speeds. The plan also gives you 12GB of hotspot data. 

The plan costs $40 per month. At this rate, you get 42GB per month for $0.95 per GB. 

Unlimited 3 Month Plan

This plan gives you 30GB before slowing down.

Your unlimited data resets at the beginning of every month, and you have up to 30GB of full speed data. Afterwards, data slows to 512 kbps, or 3G speeds. This is standard for the industry. You can still send texts and emails or scroll through social media without issue, but streaming video will be slower. This plan also gives you 12GB of hotspot data, which stops after the cap. 

This plan costs $90 every 3 months, or $30 per month. You get 42GB per month for $0.71 per GB. 

Unlimited Annual

It’s important to note that this plan requires you to buy a year worth of data.

This plan offers the best price out of all of Boost Mobile’s plans. Here, you get 30GB full speed data before your speeds slow to 3G. At 3G, you can still send emails and texts or scroll social media, but streaming video or playing games on your phone may be more difficult. This plan also comes with 12GB of hotspot data, which stops at that limit. 

This plan costs $300 per year, and $25 per month. At this rate, you get 42GB per month for $0.60

Unlimited Plus

This plan gives you 30GB of full speed data and 30GB of additional hotspot data. 

Unlimite Plus is Boost Mobile’s biggest plan. You get 30GB of data at full speeds before it slows to 3G speeds. The plan also gives you 30GB of hotspot data. 

The plan costs $60 per month. At this rate, you get 60GB at $1 per GB.

Xfinity Mobile Plans

Xfinity Mobile plans are postpaid rather than prepaid. 

Xfinity Mobile offers 3 limited data plans and 3 unlimited data plans. Each plan, except Unlimited Intro, offers premium data. This means your data will not be deprioritized in times of high traffic and network congestion. However, the data Xfinity Mobile offers will slow or stop completely once you reach your plan’s data cap. 

Unlike Boost Mobile and most other MVNOs, Xfinity Mobile’s plans are postpaid. You’ll pay for the previous month of service rather than the upcoming month because of this. As Xfinity Mobile is an MVNO of Verizon, their QCI tier is 9. You can have up to 10 lines on one account. 

If you purchase your phone from Xfinity Mobile, your device will be locked until its completely paid off and for 60 days after activation. The plans they offer renew monthly, and taxes and fees are not included with the advertised price. 

1GB

This plan stops after 1GB of premium data. 

As Xfinity Mobile’s smallest plan, this plan offers 1GB of premium data. Your connection won’t slow down. However, your data will stop after 1GB. The plan also includes hotspot access, where you can use all plan data. Hotspot access stops after the cap. 

The plan costs $15 per month. 

3GB

This plan gives you hotspot access with all data. 

This plan also gives you premium data, which stops after 3GB have been used. Users also get hotspot access with the 3GB, which stops after the data cap.

The plan costs $30 per month. At this rate, you get 3GB at $10 per GB. 

10GB 

This plan gives you 10GB of premium data. 

You get 10GB of premium data with this plan before it slows to 3G speeds. You also get hotspot access, which you can use all plan data for. 

The plan costs $60 per month. At this rate, you get 10GB at $6 per GB. 

Unlimited Intro 

This plan gives you 20GB before slowing your speeds. 

Xfinity Mobile’s Unlimited Intro plan gives you 20GB of full speed data before slowing down your speeds to 3G. With 3G speeds, users can browse the internet and send texts or emails, but streaming videos and playing games without WiFi may be difficult. Unlike other unlimited plans with Xfinity Mobile, this plan deprioritizes your data. You may experience slower speeds in high traffic areas. The plan also gives you unlimited hotspot data at 3G speeds. 

The plan costs $45 per month. At this rate, you get 20GB at $2.25 per GB. 

Unlimited Plus

This plan gives you 30GB of premium data. 

Xfinity’s Unlimited Plus plan gives you 30GB of premium data, which doesn’t slow down even in high traffic. After 30GB, the plan slows to unlimited data at 3G speeds. This plan also gives you 5GB of hotspot data. 

The plan costs $55 per month. At this rate, you get 35GB at $1.57 per GB. 

Unlimited Premium 

This plan gives you 50GB of premium data. 

Unlimited Premium is Xfinity Mobile’s biggest plan, as they give you 50GB of premium data before slowing your speeds to 3G. After this initial 50GB, your slow speed data is unlimited. This plan also gives you 15GB of hotspot data. 

The plan costs $65 per month. At this rate, you get 65 GB at $1.00 per GB. 

Features

Both carriers offer add-ons for their plans. 

If you’re looking for a plan with more included features, such as international connection or domestic roaming data, it’s best to compare carriers with what they offer. Boost Mobile and Xfinity Mobile offer add-ons for their plans to include more features for an additional fee. 

Domestic Roaming Data

Boost Mobile does not include this feature, while Xfinity Mobile offers domestic roaming data on their plans. 

Mexico & Canada Connection

Xfinity Mobile offers an add-on for talk in Mexico and Canada, but does not offer text or data.  Boost Mobile offers an add-on, where you get unlimited talk and text to both Mexico and Canada as well as 1.5GB of data in Mexico for $5 per month. This add-on is included with the Unlimited Plus plan. 

International Connection

Boost Mobile does not offer international data, but texts are $0.10 per message. There is also an add on available for unlimited plans to include international talk. Xfinity Mobile offers an add-on, called a Global Travel Pass, where users pay a flat rate for international talk, text, and data.  

Video Streaming Quality

All plans from Boost Mobile stream at 480p Standard Definition, except for Unlimited Plus. That plan streams at 1080p High Definition. All Xfinity Mobile plans, with the exception of their Unlimited Intro plan, stream at 720p High Definition. The Unlimited Intro plan streams at 480p Standard Definition. 

Streaming Services

Boost Mobile and Xfinity Mobile do not offer this feature.  

Cloud Storage

Boost Mobile and Xfinity Mobile do not offer this feature.  

Device Financing

If you buy a phone from either carrier, the carrier allows you to pay for your device in installments over time.

WiFi Calling

Both carriers offer WiFi calling, which allows you to send and receive phone calls over a WiFi connection rather than cellular reception.

Spam Protection

Boost Mobile does not offer this feature. Xfinity Mobile does not offer this feature.   

Free Trial

Boost Mobile and Xfinity Mobile do not offer this feature. 

Customer Service 

Boost Mobile and Xfinity Mobile offer several retail locations across the country as well as online customer support. 

Boost Mobile offers several physical locations, and you can find the closest store to you with their store locator. They also offer support over the phone at (833)-502-6678 at 4 a.m. to 8 p.m.on Mon. through Fri. PST and 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. PST on Sat. and Sun. Xfinity Mobile offers physical locations across the country, and customers can find the closest store to them with their website’s store locator. They also offer online chat support 24/7. 

The Verdict

Boost Mobile offers a better price per GB, but Xfinity Mobile offers premium data. 

If you’re just looking for the best price for the most amount of data, Boost Mobile offers the better deal. However, if you want to invest in premium data, Xfinity Mobile is still a great option. 

We’d recommend checking your data usage before committing to a plan.

Want to compare other carriers?

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Are you still unsure which carrier to choose, or which phone plan to pick? Use really.com to compare your top choices and find the best deal to fit your needs. Really allows you to compare and sort between most phone plans on the market without the hassle!