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Key Takeaways:
These are the best VPNs for Comcast Xfinity
ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Comcast
NordVPN — Fastest VPN for Comcast
Surfshark — Best Comcast VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections
CyberGhost — Comcast VPN with automation features
PrivateVPN — Comcast VPN with a free trial
Facts and Expert Analysis:
What to know about Comcast Xfinity VPNs
Comcast has the lowest customer satisfaction rating of any major U.S. fiber ISP according to 2023 data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Comcast customers have often accused the company of bandwidth throttling in the past, and the ISP was implicated in a 2021 report by the Federal Trade Commission that concluded that major ISPs are spying on customers.
Bandwidth throttling is a common practice for many ISPs around the world, not just Comcast. Sometimes this is done simply to optimize load-balancing during times of heavy traffic, but sometimes the motives are more nefarious, ranging from cracking down on peer-to-peer downloads to favoring certain websites or platforms over others. If you’re with Comcast or another ISP with a reputation for anti-consumer behavior, a VPN can not only protect your privacy but also help you get the internet speed you pay for.
Best VPN for Comcast Xfinity
A VPN (virtual private network) helps you access the internet at the speed you pay for, secures your connection so your internet service provider (or the government) can’t spy on you and helps you access geoblocked content. Though our best VPN picks excel at these jobs, we’re interested in a specific use case today: the best VPN for Comcast Xfinity.
Comcast Xfinity is one of America’s biggest internet service providers (ISPs), but it’s earned a bad reputation for throttling bandwidth and spying on customers. The company claims it doesn’t throttle speeds, but customers continue to experience throttling. Using the right VPN for Comcast can solve both problems. Though Comcast Xfinity has its own VPN, called Xfinity VPN, we don’t recommend it. If you’re looking for a VPN for your router, we have a guide on the best VPNs for routers you might find interesting.
Show allMeet the expertsLearn more about our editorial team and our research process.
10/18/2023 Updated the article to reflect ExpressVPN’s recent increase of 5 simultaneous connections to 8.
03/22/2024 Facts checked We rewrote this guide with more detailed analysis and changed our recommended services based on effectiveness and performance. updates
Cloudwards Editor’s Choice: ExpressVPN, Best VPN for Comcast Xfinity
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Comcast because it offers excellent security, fast speeds and an unmatched ability to unblock geoblocked content. ExpressVPN tops almost every VPN list we’ve compiled. The best part is that trying it out costs nothing. Sign up for ExpressVPN, and if you don’t like it, claim a full refund with the 30-day money-back guarantee.
How to Choose a Comcast Xfinity VPN
It’s important to consider factors like speed, security, server network, feature set and unblocking capabilities when selecting a Comcast Xfinity VPN. Here’s an overview of features to look out for:
Speed: VPNs can prevent ISP throttling and significantly improve speeds. However, you might not see a noticeable improvement in speed if you pick a slow VPN.
Security: Encryption protects your data while it travels from your device to an external server. When your data is encrypted, nobody can read it — not even Comcast. Learn how to use Wireshark to make sure your VPN is encrypting what you need.
Server network: A wide server network gives you more options. For example, if you want the option to stream a Chinese sitcom on Youku, you need a VPN with Chinese servers.
Feature set: Features like split tunneling and obfuscated servers all contribute to your data’s security. VPNs without these features still secure your connection, but they’re nice to have.
Unblocking capabilities: If you want to use a Comcast VPN to access geoblocked content, you need one that can effectively circumvent geoblocks on websites like Netflix. Check out our article on how VPN unblocking works.
The Xfinity VPN
Xfinity VPN isn’t an independent service but a built-in feature. The “advanced security on the go” option on your Xfinity router allows you to install a VPN profile on your Android or iOS device. Whenever you connect to an unsecured WiFi network using this device, Xfinity VPN will automatically switch on. If you need to disable the VPN, you can do so via the Xfinity app. Unlike independent VPN services, you don’t have the option to change your encryption protocol, route your traffic via multiple tunnels or use features like smart DNS when using Xfinity VPN. It’s also counterintuitive to trust an ISP with your security when it’s already throttling your speed and may be able to trace your IP address.
The 5 Best Comcast Xfinity VPNs
1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Comcast
ExpressVPN offers an excellent combination of speed, security and features.
Pros:
Unblocks all streaming apps
Excellent feature set
Fast & secure
ExpressVPN offers fast connection speeds, allowing you to fully utilize the bandwidth you pay Comcast for. You’re unlikely to experience any buffering even when you stream content in 4K thanks to ExpressVPN’s lightning-fast speeds. It also has a huge server network and is our favorite VPN for obtaining a German IP address.
The VPN offers three protocols to choose from: OpenVPN, IKEv2 and Lightway (ExpressVPN’s proprietary protocol). All three protocols, combined with either AES-256 or ChaCha20, ensure your data isn’t readable even if someone manages to intercept it — including Comcast.
ExpressVPN Hands-On Testing
The ExpressVPN app is easy to use. The home screen has a one-click connect button, and you can access the full VPN server list from the home screen. Everything else — general settings, VPN protocols and other options — is housed in a separate section, so the home screen looks clean. ExpressVPN offers an easy-to-use and intuitive interface.
Notes From the Lab: ExpressVPN Speed Test Results
Download Speed (Higher is better)
Upload Speed (Higher is better)
Latency (Lower is better)
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 02/25/24 to 03/24/24
ExpressVPN is fast and keeps latency to a minimum when connected to a nearby server. This means you can stream your favorite content in high definition or play games over the VPN connection without worrying about lags.
Notes From the Lab: ExpressVPN Unblocking Capability Test Results
We tested ExpressVPN on six popular streaming platforms and it unblocked all of them without problems every single time. Its unmatched unblocking capability is one of the reasons ExpressVPN tops our list of the best VPNs for streaming. Check out our article on how to watch Hulu with a VPN to learn more.
Notes From the Lab: ExpressVPN Security Analysis
We didn’t notice any DNS leaks when connected to an ExpressVPN server during our tests.
Protocol
Encryption
Devices
OpenVPN
AES-256
Windows
MacOS
Android
Linux
IKEv2
AES-256
MacOS
iOS
Lightway
AES-256
ChaCha20
Windows
MacOS
iOS
Android
Linux
ExpressVPN offers three protocols: OpenVPN, IKev2 and Lightway. The app uses AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption, depending on the protocol you choose. The app has built-in IPv6 leak protection, and our tests suggest that DNS leaks are unheard of on ExpressVPN. The app also offers various built-in security features like an ad blocker, a kill switch and split tunneling.
ExpressVPN Pricing & Value
If you don’t mind spending a little extra for superior performance, ExpressVPN is an excellent pick. The best deal (the annual plan) costs $6.66 per month, while the shorter-term plans include the six-month and monthly plans, which cost $9.99 and $12.95 per month, respectively. If you want to learn more about the service, give our ExpressVPN review a read.
ExpressVPN Plans
2. NordVPN — The Fastest VPN for Comcast
NordVPN offers the fastest speeds of any VPN on the market.
Pros:
Extensive security features
Cheap long-term plans
Fastest VPN
Cons:
No split tunneling on macOS or iOS
NordVPN is the fastest VPN on the market — if Comcast is throttling your speed, NordVPN will help you regain it in full. It also offers a massive server network and an extensive feature set. NordVPN doesn’t use speed as a tradeoff for security — it is…
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