CenturyLink vs Comcast Xfinity Internet

McCall Martin
McCall Martin | Senior Editor
CenturyLink and Xfinity have a lot in common as ISPs. As direct competitors in several areas, they have to consistently improve to at least match (if not exceed) the other provider's service. Because of this, the two share some similarities.

Comcast Xfinity and CenturyLink are prolific U.S. providers with a large coverage area. Xfinity covers 39 states and CenturyLink offers some coverage in all 50.

Both have some of the most affordable high speed plans in the industry, with fast download and upload speeds offered particularly in urban areas. Not every U.S. customer has access to multiple high speed service providers, so count yourself lucky that you have a choice between two of the best ranked.

Xfinity and CenturyLink both offer multiple connection types with some great bundling options. You have a range of broadband services available from them, and if you live in an urban area, you may even have access to Xfinity or CenturyLink fiber. Both competitors allow customers the option to bundle phone or TV service with their internet packages. In most cases, bundling with phone and cable gets you a better deal on all three.

As popular providers with widespread service, they are also more susceptible to customer criticism. A small provider that services a single ZIP code may only have a handful of negative reviews, but a large ISP serving customers nationwide is more likely to have complaints. Keep this in mind when viewing our company comparison, and read on to see a more in-depth breakdown of the two service providers. 
CenturyLink logo
#7 CenturyLink
5.8 Overall Score
2.6
star star star_half star_border star_border
(780)
Comcast Xfinity Internet logo
#3 Comcast Xfinity Internet
7.1 Overall Score
3.3
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(1,739)

Overview

CenturyLink

Monthly Price

Varies

Minimum Contract Length

No Contracts

Time in Business

55 Years

Comcast Xfinity Internet

$39.99

12 months

60 Years

Ratings

CenturyLink

Overall Score
5.8 of 10
Review Score
2.6
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Value for Money
2.7
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Quality of Product or Service
2.6
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Company Trustworthiness
2.7
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Likely to Recommend
3.8 of 10

Comcast Xfinity Internet

7.1 of 10
3.3
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3.0
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3.4
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3.1
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5.4 of 10

Reviews

CenturyLink

Number of Reviews
780
Review Breakdown
2.6
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1 star
38%
2 star
11%
3 star
18%
4 star
17%
5 star
16%

Comcast Xfinity Internet

1,739
3.3
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1 star
20%
2 star
10%
3 star
19%
4 star
22%
5 star
29%

Reviews for CenturyLink

Helpful Favorable Review

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Jenn

June 2nd, 2023

DETAILS

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Review Source

I feel like as far as internet goes, it was okay. It was fairly decent for the amount. However, if more than 3 devices were connected to the wifi at one time, the speed would really slow down. I chose the speeds the salesperson recommended to me.

Helpful Critical Review

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Jeremy Summa

May 23rd, 2023

DETAILS

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Review Source

I had them for a short time and wow did they drop service almost every day. I’m hoping it’s better now since I stopped using them because when I had them tech support was not very good and it would take a while to get a tech out or the would just say it’s an area of high demand and that equals to we over sold the market and it’s causing a speed bottleneck.

Reviews for Comcast Xfinity Internet

Helpful Favorable Review

star star star star star

Karri T

June 5th, 2023

Xfinity customer service "ROBIN" in Caribbean helpd me w/a situation & was patient, calm, and XTREMLY HELPFUL W/MY BAD XPERIANCE!! HE TURND IT AROUND FOR ME & MADE IT RIGHT.....SO "ROBIN" IN THE CARIBBEANS I SAY YOU ARE THE EMP OF THE MONTH!☆☆☆☆☆I APPRECIATE YOU...THANK YOU FROM FLORIDA....PEACE

Helpful Critical Review

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Mark

June 6th, 2023

DETAILS

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Review Source

Internet service is affecting the Xfinity Roku stream device sound and customer service fails to provide an answer. Xfinity customer complaint site is full of the same issues with no one getting a positive result

The Final Word

As you might have noticed in the side-by-side comparison, CenturyLink and Comcast Xfinity have a wealth of differences.

They seem to share low customer scores, but keep in mind that customer scores are relatively low industry-wide. In CenturyLink’s specific case, its coverage area could be the reason for numerous one-star reviews. CenturyLink specializes in serving rural areas, which are unlikely to receive a high speed connection in the United States. 

As a result, more users have cause to complain about unreliable speeds and connection. Users in urban areas who can connect to CenturyLink fiber might have a more positive experience. Keep in mind, however, that despite CenturyLink’s large coverage area, the provider is the third largest in the United States, while Xfinity is the largest despite less surface area covered.

While both share some common customer service complaints, Xfinity is slightly less likely to have complaints of delivering lower-than-advertised speeds. For those prioritizing reliable internet, Xfinity could be the winner.

However, Xfinity has less of an edge with its contract. CenturyLink offers an internet Price for Life guarantee that will lock in your rate, and the company charges by the month. For those who move frequently and for customers who are wary of ISP contracts with cancellation fees and rising rates, CenturyLink may have the more appealing plan.

The better provider can also depend on your desired download speeds and price. Xfinity’s cheapest plan is $29.99 per month for 15 mbps. CenturyLink’s cheapest is $45 per month for 20 mbps. If you prioritize a plan with the fastest possible connection, Xfinity tops off at 2,000 mbps for $299.95; CenturyLink caps at 1,000 mbps. For 2,000 mbps, you could stream on dozens of devices to your heart’s content, but it will likely be overkill for the average household.

If you’re more inclined to a modest 1,000 mbps of internet, Xfinity is $70 per month and CenturyLink is $65. This is why the fastest and cheapest plans can be deceiving; consumers will likely settle with something in the middle, and sometimes CenturyLink offers a better rate.

Lastly, you might be juggling the issue of data caps. CenturyLink has 1 TB data caps on most plans (besides for business owners and users on a 1,000 mbps plan). Meanwhile, Xfinity caps everyone out at 1 TB regardless of plan.

The ISP of your dreams will depend on what you prioritize. For high speeds that deliver consistently, you may prefer Xfinity Comcast. For consistent pricing and an affordable 1,000 mbps, you might opt for CenturyLink service.

Top Choice

Comcast Xfinity Internet Logo
Comcast Xfinity Internet

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