As for the choice of the internet service provider, traditionally it comes down to two things – speed and price. Fidium Fiber and Comcast Xfinity are two companies that provide Internet service in many areas of the United States. In this article, they will compare their internet plans, speeds, prices, and features so that you can find out which is better for you.
Internet Speeds
ISPs presenting internet connection services use download and upload speeds in Megabits per second (Mbps). The greater the speeds, the Web page downloads, video streaming, file uploads, and other things will all be much quicker.
Fidium Fiber provides fiber optic internet services with identical download and upload speeds ranging from 1 Gbps. It offers 300 Mbps in its starter package with other higher tiers going up to 500 Mbps, 1 Gbps, and 2 Gbps.
Comcast Xfinity cable internet plans provide download and upload speeds, and the download speeds are considerably faster than the uploads. Their cheapest package offers downloads of 60 Mbps and uploads of 5 Mbps. Faster plans are also provided with 100 Mbps, 200 Mbps, 400 Mbps, 800 Mbps, and 1.2 Gbps downloads. Their gigabit plan offers more with an upload speed that does not exceed 35 Mbps.
Even considering speed only, Fidium Fiber can offer a faster connection with equal upload and download speed. Even their 2 Gbps plan is faster than Comcast’s top speeds. Nonetheless, Comcast may provide speeds adequate for most households that only want to browse, stream, and play games.
Pricing and Fees
In this case, when comparing internet plans, the price may differ greatly depending on the location. The rates provided below represent the average rates for areas where both providers operate.
The price for Fidium Fiber’s 300 Mbps plan begins at $55/month. Affordable upgraded plans start at $65 per month for 500 Mbps and go up to $100 per month for 2 Gbps. This means that taxes and fees are well incorporated into the monthly rates that are being advertised for the units.
Comcast Xfinity offers the starter 60 Mbps plan at $30-$50 per month for the first 12 months, with subsequent rates of $50-$70. Their faster speed plans are from $80 to $300 per month. Regulatory surcharges, state taxes, and possible overage charges are then included in the basic rates.
There are also early termination fees for any Comcast service if the said service is terminated before any specific contract duration. Fidium has no policy of charging customers who want to leave before the expiration of the contract.
During the comparisons of basic internet rates, Comcast Xfinity provides lower initial rates compared to Fidium Fiber, but the latter has comparatively lower standard rates. But Comcast has some add-ons that can make the real price per user more than customers expect.
Bundling Options
Fidium and Comcast provide options for bundling TV and phone together with internet service.
Fidium Fiber offers Fidium Stream, an additional service that offers TV streaming options. The basic package with over 55+ channels costs $20 per month. It also provides a home phone with unlimited local and long-distance for as low as $20 a month.
Comcast Xfinity provides different cable TV options with over 140 channels for $50 monthly and above. They offer Xfinity Mobile cell phone service to accompany the internet, and Xfinity Home smart home packages as well. Your total monthly Comcast bill would be more than the internet by including services such as TV, and phone among others.
As for bundling, Fidium Fiber usually brings more choices. This way, you can opt to include only the services that you desire to have without being bound to take a TV package. Comcast bundles can be very useful and can save you time but at the same time, they can also make you spend more money every month.
Network Reliability
Since network availability directly affects the internet experience received by customers, another consideration is reliability.
Fidium is an example of fiber optic networks that offer more reliable connections than other types that are easily interfered with by the environment. They have a high availability service level agreement (SLA) of 99.99% for internet connectivity.
Comcast promises that its cable network operates at 99.9% reliability. Cable however is slightly less reliable, since cable can be affected by bad weather, cable damage, and network congestion problems. Some elements of the Comcast system are moving to fiber which might enhance future reliability.
And once more, Fidium beats Comcast for network dependability and service assurance. Customers have observed that their fiber network provides the best availability to clients.
Customer Satisfaction
Third-party satisfaction surveys can also provide a view into the service and support that customers are receiving.
Comcast Xfinity's customer satisfaction score has remained low; it scored 57/100 in 2022, below most cable service providers’ average. Daily grievances include rude staff, inability to understand bills and charges, and challenges in seeking assistance.
There is not much information on Fidium Fiber from third-party sources because Fidium Fiber is a relatively small provider. However, they boast the best local customer care and technical support personnel, who are on standby 24/7. Its high-speed fiber plans are also well received by customers on the internet.
While comparing both these providers, it looks like Fidium offers slightly better support. However, you need to search for reviews relevant to your area to be sure about the quality of their services. Comcast service can also differ on a local level.
Who is More Affordable with Better Total Benefits, the Provider or the Patient?
When weighing all factors – speeds, pricing, reliability, and service – Fidium Fiber beats out Comcast Xfinity for the best overall value:
1. Fidium provides higher maximum internet speeds with symmetrical upload and download speeds of up to 2 Gbps on fiber.
2. They have fairly low monthly Internet prices and, conveniently, taxes and fees are already incorporated. There are also no early termination fees to worry about.
3. Fiber optic network offers a very solid connection that can only be disrupted for 0.01% of the time – if that.
4. Customer and technical support: Reviews also indicate that Fidium has responsive and competent customer and technical support.
The only major strength that Comcast seems to have is availability. Their infrastructure is dominant in the nation as they are the largest cable provider thus they reach more households at the moment. However, Fidium Fiber is currently establishing it in new areas due to the increased need for fiber internet access.
Therefore, when considering all the key criteria, Fidium Fiber provides a slightly better value for money compared to Comcast. Fidium internet plan provides cheap internet on high speed and fast connections with the best and most efficient support teams. Even though Comcast offers seemingly lower rates compared to other cable providers, the fees and taxes that consumers end up paying are higher in the long run.
If the company is in your neighborhood, currently the firm may be the best provider of fiber internet in that area.
Call (844) 438-0231 to get a new Fidium connection now!
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