Boston Broadband vs. Xfinity: Fiber vs. Cable

Xfinity is the dominant ISP in Boston and Brookline. This is an honest comparison — including the upload speed story they do not advertise and the fine print worth reading before you sign up.

• Boston Broadband vs. Astound
• Fiber internet in Boston
• Why symmetrical upload speed matters
• Home fiber internet plans and pricing

Questions people actually ask before switching

How do I cancel Xfinity and switch to Boston Broadband?

Get us installed first, then cancel. Order Boston Broadband, let the install finish, confirm the connection works, and only then call Xfinity to disconnect. That way you are never offline, and you are cancelling from a position where the retention offer does not matter to you.

Do I have to return my Xfinity equipment?

Yes. Any gateway, modem or set-top box belongs to Comcast and has to go back, at an Xfinity Store or by prepaid UPS return. Keep the receipt. Unreturned equipment charges are the single most common surprise on a final cable bill.

Will Boston Broadband buy out my contract?

No, and on most Xfinity internet plans there is nothing to buy out — Xfinity advertises no contract and cancel anytime on the Boston plans we checked. If you are inside a bundled term agreement, ask Xfinity what the early termination charge is before you schedule anything.

What transfers when I switch?

Your devices and your Wi-Fi habits. Not your email address if you use a comcast.net one — move to an address you own before you cancel, because access goes away with the account. We do not sell TV, so a cable TV package does not transfer either.

Is my Xfinity price going to go up?

Xfinity currently advertises a five-year price guarantee on its Boston plans, which is a real commitment. What happens after it is set out in the Residential Services Agreement: at the end of a promotional rate, the then-current standard pricing applies and you are directed to the rate card. On the Boston page we checked, everyday pricing was $75/mo for 300 Mbps and $85/mo for 500 Mbps.

Is Boston Broadband actually available at my address?

Often not, and we would rather say so. Xfinity covers an estimated 99.1% of Boston. We cover parts of Boston, Brookline and Cambridge. Check your address before you plan a switch.