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We compare internet service providers side-by- side to show you the key differences to make smarter decisions when choosing your tv, internet, phone options.

XFINITY from Comcast vs Sonic.net

XFINITY from Comcast Deals and Promotions

Cheap Internet
SETUP SERVICE

(844) 319-3637

XFINITY from Comcast OVERVIEW

Xfinity by Comcast provides broadband internet, cable TV, and phone service via their hybrid fiber coaxial network. Xfinity is one of the most widely available cable Internet providers in the US.

XFINITY from Comcast TECHNOLOGY

Xfinity by Comcast offers Internet, TV, and phone service to consumers primarily via their hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network. They are also rolling out fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) installations in some regions.

Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) networks are used globally by cable providers to deliver broadband internet access to consumers. In short, HFC networks deliver a fiber optic connection to a node within a neighborhood, which then branches off to service 25-2000 homes. By using this network structure, Comcast and other cable providers are able to take advantage of their existing coaxial infrastructure to offer competitive broadband speeds at a lower up-front installation cost to the company.

In the case of FTTH installation, fiber optic cable is run directly to consumers residences or businesses. This network structure is preferred over hybrid networks. Unfortunately, they aren’t widely available due to the high costs associated with running fiber optic cable.

XFINITY from Comcast RATINGS AND REVIEWS

Cheap Internet
Cheap Internet
40.5% recommendation rating according to 145,783 verified XFINITY users.
Sonic.net Deals and Promotions
Cheap Internet
SETUP SERVICE

(888) 317-7540

Sonic.net OVERVIEW

Sonic.net is a telecommunications company providing broadband Internet plans within California, often bundled with home phone services. They offer gigabit speeds in some areas over fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connections. DSL and fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) service are also available.

Sonic.net TECHNOLOGY

Sonic.net offers broadband Internet, TV, and phone service throughout California via both DSL and fiber networks.

The company’s DSL offerings come in two technical flavors — VDSL or ADSL2, depending on a subscriber’s distance from their local office. DSL broadband Internet is delivered over the same copper phone lines that deliver landline phone service. While less advanced than coaxial cable, these lines go directly to consumer residences instead of “sharing” within neighborhoods, making the connection speed more reliable during peak use times.

Sonic.net’s fiber offerings are true fiber-to-the-home connections, the most advanced high-bandwidth low-latency option currently available. Because of the high cost of installing pure fiber cable all the way to a subscriber’s doorstep, FTTH is less widely available than DSL.

Sonic.net RATINGS AND REVIEWS

Cheap Internet
Cheap Internet
72.5% recommendation rating according to 991 verified Sonic users.
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WHAT’S IN THE CONTRACT?

Keep an eye out for extra fees in your monthly bill

Monthly bills have a tendency to creep up, and it’s not always because the provider is pulling anything fishy — broadband technology is constantly evolving, and the price often reflects advances in technology and quality of service. That said, extra fees can sometimes be added to your monthly bill in error, and if you find unexpected line items, don’t be afraid to call up your provider and ask for an explanation.

Additionally, ETFs (early termination fees) sometimes apply to service contracts, and should be considered carefully by anybody who anticipates moving or switching providers. A high ETF can quickly eat up any savings from bundling services or signing a multi-year agreement if you wind up having to relocate before it ends.

QUALITY OF SERVICE

How to know if you can trust a provider

Customer reviews online are notoriously difficult to trust. When it comes to broadband providers like Xfinity and Sonic.net, there are two sources you can trust: ACSI ratings and IP-verified customer ratings.

ACSI (the American Customer Satisfaction Index) ratings are particularly trustworthy, since the data is based on surveys manually administered by trained experts. ACSI is the nationwide “gold standard” for assessing quality of service.

In addition to ACSI ratings, you’ll see IP-verified customer ratings on BroadbandNow. These ratings are based on actual visitors to BroadbandNow, using IP-verification technology to ensure that the person leaving a review is actually using the provider in question. Providers with higher customer satisfaction ratings may be worth choosing even if their prices are higher, since you know they’ll be more dependable to quickly fix outages and other issues.

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