Google Fi vs. Xfinity Mobile: Which carrier is better?

Google Fi and Xfinity Mobile are popular carriers that offer premium data for cheaper prices. 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

Google Fi is on the T-Mobile network, while Xfinity Mobile is on the Verizon Network. 

Google Fi 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. Google Fi is an MVNO of T-Mobile, and Xfinity Mobile is on the Verizon network. 

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.

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

Plan Options

Google Fi and Xfinity Mobile both offer premium data. 

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

Google Fi Plans

Several plans offer unlimited data with premium data at a cap. 

Google Fi offers 2 unlimited plans and one plan with pay-per-use data. Each of its unlimited plans offer a limited amount of premium data. Each plan allows up to 6 lines and renews monthly. Google Fi is on QCI tier 6 of 9.

Image courtesy of Google Fi’s website. 

Flexible 

This plan allows you to pay for the exact amount of data you use each month. 

Google Fi’s Flexible plan is unlike a lot of other plans on the market, as it allows you to pay a set amount per month for talk and text features. Users then pay for only the amount of data they use. After 15GB of data, your speed is slowed to 256 kbps, or 3G speeds. You can still send texts, emails, and use social media with little issues. Streaming video will be much more difficult. 

The plan also includes the ability to buy mobile hotspot data, and all plan data can be used as hotspot data. 

The plan costs $20 per month, plus $10 for each GB you use. For example, you’d pay about $70 per month if you used 5GB.

Simply Unlimited 

This plan gives you 35GB of premium data before slowing down. 

The Simply Unlimited plan gives you 35GB of premium data. Premium data means your data will not be deprioritized in times of high traffic and congestion. After 35GB, data slows down to 3G speeds. 5GB of hotspot data is also included in the plan, then stops after that allotment. 

The plan costs $50 per month. At this rate, you get 35GB at $1.42 per GB. 

Unlimited Plus

This plan is 50GB of premium data. 

Google Fi’s Unlimited Plus plan has 50GB of premium data. Connection is then slowed down to 3G speeds. You can use all 50GB of plan data as mobile hotspot data, but hotspot data stops after the 50GB. 

The plan costs $65 per month. At this rate, you get 50GB at $1.30 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 Mint 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

Google Fi offers more features than Xfinity Mobile. 

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. 

Domestic Roaming Data

Google Fi and Xfinity Mobile both offer domestic roaming data on their plans. 

Mexico & Canada Connection

Google Fi offers talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada included with both its unlimited plans. However, only text is included in their Flexible plan. Talk and data are pay-per-use. Xfinity Mobile offers an add-on for talk in Mexico and Canada, but does not offer text or data. 

International Connection

Google Fi’s Unlimited Plus plan includes international text and data. Calling internationally is pay-per-use outside the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The Simply Unlimited plan does not include international connection, and the Flexible plan includes international texting, but talk and data are pay-per-use. Calling costs $0.20 per minute. 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

Google Fi offers 4k Ultra High Definition streaming for their Flexible plan and 480p Standard Definition streaming for their unlimited data plans. 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

Google Fi’s Unlimited Plus plan offers a free subscription to Youtube Premium. Xfinity Mobile does not offer this feature.  

Cloud Storage

Google Fi’s Unlimited Plus plan offers 100GB of Google One. Xfinity Mobile does 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

All Google Fi plans offer spam protection included. Xfinity Mobile does not offer this feature.   

Free Trial

Google Fi offers a 7 day free trial. Xfinity Mobile does not offer this feature.   

Customer Service 

Google Fi does not have physical stores, leaving all of their customer service to online support. Xfinity Mobile offers retail locations across the country as well as online customer support. 

Google Fi is a  digital-only carrier, meaning they only offer customer support online. Google Fi offers 24/7 customer support over chat and over the phone at 1-844-TALK-2-FI. 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

Xfinity Mobile offers a better price, but Google Fi’s included features make up for the difference.   

Since Google Fi offers Youtube Premium and Cloud Storage features with Unlimited Plus, the more expensive price is justified. However, if you’d prefer additional hotspot access over Youtube Premium and Google One, Xfinity Mobile may be the better option for you. Xfinity Mobile is also the better option when it comes to limited data plans, as the Flexible plan Google Fi offers is very expensive.

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

Want to compare other carriers?

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