I’ve had plenty of bad experiences with internet service providers. I want to help you avoid the same fate. We need to start with finding a good plan.
To help you determine whether Performance (Connect More) is the right plan for you, you’ll need to read these points:
- What is it?
- Who’s Xfinity Performance (Connect More) best for?
- What can you do with 200 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload speeds?
- Where is Xfinity Performance or connect more available?
- How much does it cost?
- Features
- Contract
- Data cap
- How Performance (Connect More) compares to other Xfinity plans
- How Xfinity Performance (Connect More) compares to competitors
Keep reading to learn more.
What Is Comcast Xfinity Performance/Connect More Internet?
Both Xfinity Connect and Performance provide 200/10 Mbps (download/upload) speeds. The only difference between them is the name and supported regions. They offer the former to only areas in their Northeastern Division.
And they provide the latter to their Western and Central divisions.
Who’s Comcast Xfinity Performance/Connect More Best For?
I recommend getting Performance (Connect More) if you live in a household of 4-5 people who spend most of their time gaming (casual) and watching 1080p videos. These tasks don’t require much download speed, so it makes this plan optimal for small families.
This plan can support up to five devices running light-bandwidth tasks simultaneously. That’s according to Xfinity. I’d take that claim with a grain of salt, though.
Bandwidth varies by task. I’ll cover more on that area later.
You and a roommate or partner can simultaneously perform basic tasks online without worrying about bandwidth congestion.
The 10-megabit upload speeds will limit what you can do. I wouldn’t rely on this plan for streaming on Twitch, competitive gaming, or dealing with 4K media (cloud games and video). All these tasks demand significantly more speed to perform optimally.
Until Xfinity makes all their plans symmetric (same upload and download speeds), you must upgrade your plan for better upload speeds. Or to use a different internet service provider (ISP) entirely.
Also, ONLY choose this plan if you don’t qualify for Xfinity Internet Essentials.
Internet Essentials is Comcast Xfinity’s internet plan that adheres to the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). To participate in this program, you’ll need to meet at least one requirement.
It’s a huge list, so here’s a link to guide you in the right direction. Here’s an example of a requirement. Your income will have to fall 200% or less than the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Anyway:
Comcast offers two tiers under this program: Internet Essentials and Internet Essentials Pro.
The latter plan gives you 200 Mbps download, and 15 Mbps upload speeds for only $40 per month. With this plan, you won’t have to worry about the fees once your term agreement expires. And you won’t have to deal with equipment rental costs.
You also have more upload speed. I’d say that’s a steal.
What Can You Do With 200 Mbps Download Speeds and 10 Mbps Upload Speeds?
What can you do with Xfinity’s upload speeds?
A lot.
Here’s a chart of recommended (not minimum) upload speed requirements by task [1, 2, 3, 4]:
| Task | Download Speed (Mbps) | Upload Speed (Mbps) |
| Casual Gaming (PC) | 3 | 0.5 |
| Competitive Gaming | 50 | 10 |
| High-definition Audio Streaming (Lossless) | 2 | 0.5 |
| *Live Streaming on Twitch | 720p 60 FPS: 4.5 | Video: 2.5–4 Audio: 1.6 |
| Online Gaming While Streaming | 24.5 | 9.24 (with speed buffer) |
| Watching Netflix | Standard Definition: 1 1080p HD: 5 4K Ultra HD: 25 | NA |
| Web Surfing | 2 | 1 |
| Zoom Video Conferences | Group calling 1080p: 3.8 1:1 calling 1080p: 3.8 | Group calling 1080p: 3.8 1:1 calling 1080p: 3.8 |
| **4G Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) | 1 concurrent call: 5 | 1 concurrent call: 5 |
This table presents recommended download and upload speeds for performing various online tasks with a single device.
* When live streaming on platforms like Twitch, you’ll want to have a 35–40% speed buffer to account for potential fluctuations.
** These speeds remain the same until you reach 50 concurrent calls. Then you’ll need 20 Mbps (upload and download).
Console, PC, and Cloud Gaming Plus Live Streaming
200/10 Mbps (download/upload) gives you plenty of wiggle room to game casually. But not competitively. You could easily have at least five or six people gaming on consoles or PCs simultaneously.
Keep this in mind, though:
The only time upload/download speed matters when gaming is when you’re doing background tasks. Like watching a documentary while playing WoW. If you have one or two other users watching videos, you can also do this.
As the table above showed us, you need little upload and download speeds for gaming. The only factor that matters when gaming is ping (the distance between your computer and the host server).
No amount of internet speed will help improve that.
I’m going to contradict myself again. Though you don’t upload much while competitive gaming, an apparent Major League gaming competitor claims that you’ll need 10 Mbps upload speeds. The source is above the chart.
I suggest testing this theory.
I also don’t recommend getting this plan if you want to live stream. You won’t have enough upload speed to have a smooth and stable stream. You’d need 5.6 Mbps (upload) MINIMUM to consider live streaming.
You’ll also want to consider a different plan if you want to attempt cloud gaming. Since cloud gaming requires a decent speed to stream games to your device. For instance, GeForce NOW requires 15 Mbps [5].
I don’t see 15 Mbps upload speeds on this plan.
Author note: I welcome anyone who has participated in online gaming tournaments to confirm the legitimacy of the above claim mentioning upload speeds for competitive gaming.
I’d love a credible answer for this.
Watching Netflix, Prime Video, Or Whatever Else
Most online video streaming services have identical required speeds. With 200 Mbps, you could simultaneously watch 1080p HD series or movies on at least 20 different devices.
According to the chart above, you could watch it on more devices, but you’d need to consider background tasks contributing to your bandwidth. For instance, you could have a smart TV that automatically updates its firmware.
You could also watch 4K Ultra HD content on a few devices. But I recommend against this. Because doing so will quickly fill your data cap due to the data 4K media uses.
Work From Home
You could run Zoom on two or three devices simultaneously. The low upload speed limits what you can do.
If you’re living alone and doing something online like writing, you don’t need much internet speed.
200 Mbps would suffice. Considering you spend most of your day Googling stuff. You could even run a video in the background as noise to keep you company.
But that’s about all you could do.
If you work for any other position or have multiple people in your home, you’ll NEED more speed. To accommodate various devices and run numerous programs.
Here’s a scenario.
You’re on a video call with a client, and they need you to download a 1 GB file in the middle of the conversation for review. Though that’ll take you a minute and a half, what if there are other devices in your home using bandwidth?
In my experience, upgrading internet plans is one of the best investments you could make.
Where Is Comcast Xfinity Performance/Connect More Internet Available?
Xfinity offers Connect More in areas throughout the Central and Western United States. They’ll provide Performance in the Northeast. Do you want to know what I couldn’t easily find?
The cities they offer these plans in. They vary.
You’ll have to follow this link and type your address. A search results page will appear if Xfinity provides internet in your area.
But you may see a bunch of results. So you’ll need to use the filter. Select the checkbox ‘200 Mbps.’
If nothing appears, then Xfinity doesn’t offer Connect or Performance where you live.
How Much Does Comcast Xfinity Performance/Connect More Cost?
Performance and Connect more fees will vary by region. When going into Comcast Xfinity with a term agreement, you’ll pay around $40 for the first 12, 24, or 36 months. Afterward, you’ll see your bill skyrocket by 40–53%.
These prices include a $10 discount from activating the paperless billing and auto pay features on your account. However, this discount won’t take effect until 30–45 days after activating them.
Other fees you can expect to pay with Connect (or Performance Starter) include:
- Data overage charge: $10 per 50 GB block of data they add to your account ($100 max)
- Equipment rental: $14 per month
- Unlimited Data (optional): $30 per month
- xFi Complete (modem/router combo): $25 a month, optional, and it gives you unlimited data
- Professional installation (optional): $89.99; you can install your modem yourself and save yourself the installation fee
- Late bill payment fee: $10 after a two-week grace period
- *Early Termination Fee (12-month agreement): $110; price lowers by $10 per month until the contract ends
- *Cancellation fee (24-month agreement): $230; they’ll lower the fee by $10 each month until your 24-month contract ends
* An Xfinity employee explained these fees in a forum post. Keep in mind these numbers MAY change [6].
Comcast Xfinity Performance/Connect More Features
When getting Connect More (Performance), you’ll get:
- Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots: free Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the country that won’t contribute to your data cap
- Cloud services: 7 email addresses and 10 GB of Cloud Storage
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Flex 4K streaming TV box (optional): it’s like a Roku, but not as many features
- Voice Remote: control your television with your voice
- Getting Started Kit: modem and everything you’ll need for DIY modem installation
- Constant Guard: it’s Comcast Xfinity’s in-house anti-malware suite
Constant Guard’s kind of cool.
But the most significant value (in my opinion) comes from the Wi-Fi hotspots. You can locate these by finding the network names ‘Xfinitywifi’ or ‘Xfinity.’
As mentioned, they don’t contribute to your data cap. That means if you live by one of these, you can use more data than your imagination can handle. Don’t expect the highest speeds, though.
While Xfinity doesn’t specify hotspot speeds, some people mention that they only got 30 Mbps download speeds. I honestly don’t remember how much speed I had when using them.
Comcast Xfinity Performance/Connect More Contract
Depending on where you live, Xfinity will give you a choice to enter a 12, 24, or 36-month agreement when subscribing to Connect More or Performance. In some cases, these contracts are optional.
But I recommend choosing them if you have the option. As long as you don’t plan on moving soon. You’ll save a lot of money.
However, that means you’re stuck with Xfinity for a while. And if you cancel your plan, you’ll have to pay A LOT of money. I couldn’t find the Early Termination Fee (ETF) for a 36-month contract.
You can find the Comcast Xfinity contract cancellation fees for the 12- and 24-month contracts in the ‘Costs’ section.
Don’t want to pay an early cancellation fee? Under these circumstances, Xfinity will reimburse the ETF as a credit on your account:
- You have to cancel Comcast because of a natural disaster
- Active service person who must relocate
- Reactivate your Xfinity internet service within 90 days of canceling your plan
- The account holder died
Anything else can happen that may force you to cancel your Xfinity account abruptly. Use one of these many ways to contact Xfinity customer service. See whether they can make an exception.
Comcast Xfinity Performance/Connect More Data Cap
Xfinity Performance (Connect More) has a 1.2 terabyte (TB) bandwidth cap. That means once you exceed this limit, you’ll have to pay for additional data you use. They won’t charge you the first month you bypass this cap, though.
Afterward, Comcast Xfinity will charge $10 per 50 GB of data you use. They can charge you $100 max. Here’s an example.
You can use a petabyte of data and still pay $100 for your data overage fee.
To avoid this bandwidth cap, you COULD pay an additional $25 a month for an xFi Complete gateway. That gives you unlimited data, but you’re bound to using Xfinity’s devices.
You can also shell out an additional $30 a month and get the Unlimited Data add-on.
But I don’t recommend either option. If you’re getting this plan, you likely want to save money and don’t use bandwidth-intensive tasks. I don’t believe you’ll have an issue staying under the data cap.
If you need reassurance, check out how many hours of everyday online activities you can do with 1.2 TB:
| Task | Hours |
| Online Gaming | 1,650+ |
| Music Streaming | 8,500 |
| *Online Browsing | 2,000+ |
| 1080p Video Binging | 350 |
* The number of data people use online will vary. AT&T (the calculator’s source) says people only use 15 MB per hour.
It would take 354 days of listening to music to exceed 1.2 TB. I wouldn’t worry too much about the data cap if you’re getting this plan. The data cap sucks, but we have to live with it.
Though you’ll likely never surpass 1.2 TB, you can monitor your data usage if you’re still worried.
You can either use the Xfinity My Account app or log into your account using your browser.
How Performance/Connect More Compares To Other Xfinity Plans
I recommend comparing the speeds you’ll get from this plan (and the price) with other Xfinity packages. While you may pay more, you’ll get better value.
Here are the various plans you’ll find with Comcast Xfinity:
| Plan | Price* | Download Speed | Upload Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connect/Performance Starter | $20-$40/mo | 75 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| Connect More/Performance | $40-$60/mo. | 200 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| Fast/Performance Pro | $50-$60/mo. | 400 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| Superfast/Blast Pro! | $65-$70/mo. | 800 Mbps | 20 Mbps |
| Extreme Pro/Ultrafast | $70-$80/mo. | 1000 Mbps | 20 Mbps |
| Gigabit | $80-$110/mo. | 1200 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| Gigabit X2 | $120/mo. | 2000 Mbps | 200 Mbps |
| Gigabit Pro | $299.95/mo. | 6000 Mbps | 6000 Mbps |
This table compares various Xfinity plan speeds (upload and download) and prices (before- and after your term agreement).
I didn’t include local and state taxes in this post. These will vary by your location. I did include the $10 discount you get from enabling auto pay and paperless billing.
Connect (Performance) lands in a weird spot amid Xfinity’s pricing versus the speed each plan offers. Depending on your region, you’ll get more value by paying more for Performance Pro (Fast).
Since you’ll have way more download speed to play with.
How Xfinity Performance/Connect More Compares to Competitors
Xfinity didn’t perform the best in this speed tier compared to the competition. Here’s what I found when checking out other internet service providers:
| Provider and Plan | Download Speeds (Mbps) | Upload Speeds (Mbps) | *Price (New Customer) | Data Cap (TB) |
| Performance/Connect More | 200 | 10 | $40–84 | 1.2 |
| AT&T (Internet 100) | 100 | 20 | $55 | NA |
| Optimum | 100 | 30 | $29.99 | NA |
| CenturyLink | 100 | 30 | $50–65 | NA |
This table compares the price, speeds (upload and download), and data caps of Xfinity, AT&T, CenturyLink, and Optimums 100-200 Mbps plans.
* None of these prices include additional fees (e.g., installation fee). They also only account for contract plans.
There’s no flawless victor in this chart.
None of these providers have symmetrical internet speeds (same download/upload speeds).
Optimum has the best price and doesn’t have a data cap. But it doesn’t have much accessibility throughout the US. Despite my complaints about Performance (Connect More), it does offer the best prices in this category.
You also get Xfinity’s Wi-Fi hotspots. These technically give you unlimited data.
Conclusion
Xfinity Performance internet is an excellent plan for households with up to five light internet users. Or a single user who needs a lot of bandwidth. It doesn’t have the best upload speeds, though.
Before getting this plan, check whether you qualify for Xfinity Internet Essentials Pro. It costs less while giving you the same download speeds.
If you want to try this plan, check whether it’s available in your area.
