Verizon vs Xfinity Mobile: Plans Compared

Trying to decide between service with Xfinity Mobile or Verizon? While both carriers use the Verizon network to provide coverage to their customers, the similarities pretty much end there. 

Xfinity Mobile is a smaller provider that sells very inexpensive plans that tend to be a bit pared-back when it comes to extra features. The service is limited to customers who are already signed up for Xfinity Internet—if you don’t have it, you can’t sign up. Verizon, by contrast, is America’s largest cell phone carrier, and is available to anyone. Their plans are comparatively expensive, and feature-packed. 

In this article, we’ll break down the plan offerings from Xfinity Mobile and Verizon so you can decide which one makes the most sense for you.

Xfinity Mobile vs. Verizon: Cheap Unlimited Plans

If you prioritize affordability in your quest for a cell phone plan, these cheap unlimited plans are likely to fit the bill.

First up: Xfinity Mobile Select. This plan is $0/month for the first year, and just $30/month thereafter. It gives you 50GB/month of premium cellular data, after which your speeds are subject to deprioritization (meaning potential slowdowns during times of network congestion). It also features a handy 15GB high-speed mobile hotspot data allowance, enough to keep you covered if you periodically need to send some quick emails from your laptop and you’re away from a WiFi signal.

On the other side we have Verizon’s Simplicity plan. This is the latest addition to Verizon’s plan lineup, and it’s a very affordable way to jump on the network. It costs $30/month from the jump, and includes fully unlimited premium cellular data—no slowdowns, ever—along with 10GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data. If you want extra features, Verizon allows you to choose from a wide menu of them for $20-$30/month. This includes streaming subscriptions, Travel Pass days, Apple One, and more. 

Verizon also sells a plan called Unlimited Welcome. It will be a less appealing option for most would-be subscribers, coming in at $55/month and lacking any premium cellular data or high-speed mobile hotspot data allowance. As with Simplicity, you can add features on to Unlimited Welcome, but at a cheaper price point ($10-$15/month). 

Bottom line: if you're looking for a cheap way to jump aboard either the Xfinity Mobile or Verizon networks, Select (Xfinity Mobile) and Simplicity (Verizon) include nice features for their respective prices.

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Xfinity Mobile vs Verizon: Mid-Priced Unlimited Plans

Looking for better features from your cell phone plan? These options from Xfinity Mobile and Verizon may fit the bill, as they’re designed to appeal to those who are willing to spend a few more dollars in exchange for more high-speed cellular data, mobile hotspot data, and international features.

We should point out that, once again, mid-priced means two very different things for these two carriers. Xfinity Mobile’s Plus plan costs just $15/month for the first 12 months, and $45/month thereafter; Verizon’s Unlimited Plus plan costs a comparatively expensive $80/month from the jump. 

Beyond that, there are some similarities between Xfinity Mobile’s Plus and Verizon’s Unlimited Plus plan. Both give you unlimited premium cellular data to use each month—that is, no deprioritization, ever. Also, both offerings include decently high high-speed mobile hotspot data allowances: Xfinity Mobile Plus includes 50GB, while Verizon Unlimited Plus gives you 30GB. 

Both plans include excellent international usage perks: Xfinity Mobile’s Plus gives unlimited talk, text, and data in 215+ countries (just like Select); Verizon’s Unlimited Plus plan includes unlimited talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada, along with unlimited texting from the U.S. to 200+ countries.

Bottom line: Xfinity Mobile's Plus and Verizon's Unlimited Plus plans are designed to appeal to those looking for some nice features to go along with their cell phone plan—at very different price points. 

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Xfinity Mobile vs. Verizon: Premium Unlimited Plans

This is the simplest comparison on this page, because Xfinity Mobile doesn’t offer a comparable premium unlimited plan. This is simply a discussion of Verizon’s Unlimited Ultimate plan, which is one of the most feature-packed—albeit very pricy, at $95/month—plans on the cell phone market. 

As with the carrier’s Unlimited Plus plan, Unlimited Ultimate features unlimited premium cellular data that is never deprioritized. It also includes a whopping 200GB mobile hotspot data allowance, talk, text, and 10GB high-speed data in 208+ countries, and unlimited texting from US to 200+ countries. You can add-on a number of streaming services and other extras for an additional $10-15/month.

Bottom line: if you’re seeking the best features and the purest coverage from your cell phone plan, Verizon’s Unlimited Ultimate is worth considering—assuming you’re willing to pay its high price of $95/month.

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Verizon vs Xfinity Mobile: Coverage

Verizon’s 4G LTE network is generally considered the best in America, ahead of the AT&T and T-Mobile. Verizon’s 5G network, while smaller and less far-reaching, is growing quickly and where available offers the fastest 5G around.

Since Xfinity Mobile provides wireless services via the Verizon network, Xfinity coverage is similar to Verizon coverage. One caveat: during busy network times, Verizon prioritizes its customers first.

To check Verizon and Xfinity Mobile coverage in your area, simply enter your address into our Verizon coverage map below. In place of an Xfinity Mobile coverage map — just use Verizon as a proxy.

Verizon vs Xfinity Mobile: Similarities

• Nationwide 4G LTE and Ultra Wideband 5G network coverage (always check the network’s coverage map before making a decision!) 
• The ability to bundle in multiple services, such as home internet and TV, to the mobile phone plan.
• No taxes and fees are included in plan pricing for either Verizon or Xfinity Mobile.
• Both Verizon and Xfinity Mobile offer plans with fully unlimited premium data.

Verizon vs Xfinity Mobile: Differences

• The biggest difference is that Xfinity Mobile is an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) that leases network access from Verizon, while Verizon owns and operates the network.
• Verizon offers multi-line discounts, while Xfinity Mobile charges a flat monthly rate for each line.
• Verizon also offers Simplicity, a lower-cost build-your-own unlimited plan that lets customers customize their service with optional add-ons, while Xfinity Mobile sticks to a more traditional plan lineup.

The Bottom Line

Xfinity Mobile and Verizon offer access to the same network, but at very different prices. Xfinity Mobile's plans are very inexpensive, thanks to first-year promos, offering enough data and features to make them worth recommending to the budget-minded shopper.

Verizon's plans cost considerably more, but offers some advantages: you get service directly from the network operator, a wide range of add-ons, and premium options that Xfinity Mobile simply doesn’t match. Verizon’s new Simplicity plan also makes the price gap much smaller for shoppers who want a more affordable way onto the network.

For most price-conscious Xfinity Internet customers, Xfinity Mobile offers the better value. But if you want Verizon service directly from Verizon, have multiple lines, or want access to its most feature-packed plans, Verizon may be worth paying more for.