High-speed internet is usually expensive, but not with Xfinity Essentials, which is available to low-income families.
Paying something close to a hundred bucks per month for internet can be a thorn in the side for someone who hesitates buying eggs at the grocery store. You could always have cheap cereal for breakfast, but no Wi-Fi? Not a chance!
Whether you’re running a household on minimum wage, unemployed/retired, a broke student, or a senior with limited income, Xfinity Essentials can be your ticket to affordable and reliable internet.
What Is Xfinity Internet Essentials?
Internet Essentials by Xfinity is a low-cost internet service for households on a limited budget. Following the termination of , many consumers have struggled to pay for broadband. Xfinity Essentials for low-income families has helped connect over ten million households nationwide.
The Internet Essentials program was introduced in 2011 to bridge the digital divide by offering basic broadband at a budget-friendly price. Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can choose between two featured plans:
- Internet Essentials
- Internet Essentials Plus
Xfinity Internet Essentials Plans & Pricing
Internet Essentials
$14.95/mo.
- Download speeds up to 75 Mbps
- Upload speeds up to 10 Mbps
- Free Wi-Fi gateway
- No contract
- Free access to 22 million+ Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide
Internet Essentials Plus
$29.95/mo.
- Download speeds up to 100 Mbps
- Upload speeds up to 20 Mbps
- Free Wi-Fi gateway
- No contract
- Free access to 22 million+ Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide
Who Qualifies for Xfinity Internet Essentials?
Since Xfinity Internet Essentials is aimed at assisting low-income households, you need to meet certain requirements to qualify for a plan:
- You must be located in an area served by Xfinity.
- You are not an existing Xfinity customer/haven’t used Xfinity services in the last 90 days.
- You have no pending payments/unpaid bills with Xfinity within the last 12 months.
- Your total household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
| Household Members/ Family Size | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $31,300 or less |
| 2 | $42,300 or less |
| 3 | $53,000 or less |
| 4 | $64,300 or less |
| 5 | $75,300 or less |
| 6 | $86,300 or less |
| 7 | $97,300 or less |
OR at least one of your household members is enrolled in a Federal/State assistance program such as:
a. National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
b. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
c. Social Security Income (SSI)
d. Housing Assistance
e. Medicaid
Residents of New York may have additional eligibility options with reference to the New York Affordable Broadband Act. If you’re currently living in New York, you can qualify for Internet Essentials by verifying participation in any of the following assistance programs:
a. Senior citizen rent increase exemption
b. Disability rent increase exemption
c. An affordability benefit from a utility
How to Apply for Xfinity Internet Essentials
Applying for Xfinity Internet Essentials won’t take up too much of your time, and it’s pretty straightforward. You can do it online from your phone following these steps:
Step 1: Meet the Eligibility Criteria
The standard requirements to qualify for an Internet Essentials plan have been discussed in the section above. Firstly, confirm that Xfinity services are available for your address; furthermore, customer status with the last 90 days and/or outstanding dues less than a year old automatically make you ineligible.
Whether you plan to apply based on income or enrollment in a Federal/State assistance program, make sure you have authentic documentation for verification.
Step 2: Submit the Application
Open a browser on your phone and go to apply.internetessentials.com; here you’ll have to provide your address and select “Continue”. You can change your language preference from English to Spanish from the top right of the screen.
Choose the internet plan you want (Internet Essentials or Internet Essentials Plus) and enter all the requested information to take the application forward. You may need to upload pictures of necessary documents and provide additional verification later.
P.S. You can save your application at any stage and come back to complete it later.
Step 3: Await Approval
Once the application is successfully submitted, review and approval may take up to five business days; you’ll be informed via text or email. Following approval, you can schedule installation or have a self-install kit shipped to your address.
P.S. The timeline between approval and service installation/activation is another 5-7 business days.
Xfinity Internet Essentials Speed & Performance
Xfinity Internet Essentials plans are great for basic internet usage. The delivered download and upload speeds are close to what’s advertised, and you can bet on low latency.
The Internet Essentials plan is good for connecting a few devices. You can use it for general browsing, social media scrolling, streaming music, watching videos in standard/HD quality, etc. The overall speeds and performance are suited for work from home and online classes as well.
The Internet Essentials Plus plan offers a bit more room, i.e., it can support an extra device or two/allow streaming on multiple devices simultaneously. However, if your household consists of a large number of active users and devices, the speeds may fall short.
Note: If your current internet plan offers much higher speeds and multiple users in your home engage in high bandwidth activities (multiplayer gaming, 4K streaming, etc.), Internet Essentials is unlikely to work out.
However, you must check out Xfinity’s standard internet plans that offer download speeds up to 1 Gbps. You can score a great price and lock it for 5 years!
Benefits of Xfinity Internet Essentials
Limitations You Should Know
Xfinity Internet Essentials vs Other Low-Income Internet Options
It’s no secret that several other internet providers besides Xfinity have options for low-income households. Here’s an overview of how Internet Essentials compares to similar plans on the market:
| Xfinity Internet Essentials | AT&T Access | Spectrum Internet Assist | Optimum Advantage Internet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $14.95/mo.1 | $30/mo.2 | $25/mo.3 | $15/mo. plus taxes and fees4 |
| Download Speed | Up to 75 Mbps | Up to 100 Mbps | Up to 50 Mbps | Up to 100 Mbps |
| Equipment Fee | No | No | Free modem; router charges apply | No |
| Installation | Free | Free | Professional installation fee may apply | Free |
| Additional Perks |
|
|
|
|
1- Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Limited to residential customers meeting certain eligibility criteria. Subject to Internet Essentials program terms and conditions. Professional installation extra. Advertised price applies to a single outlet. Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. For factors affecting speed visit xfinity.com/networkmanagement.
2- Price plus taxes & fees. AT&T Fiber: Limited availability/areas. Maximum speed available based on service address. Application links lead to a third-party website. See offer details
3- Limited time offer; subject to change; available to new (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and existing Spectrum Internet Assist customers in good standing with Spectrum who meet eligibility requirements. Taxes and fees extra in select states. SPECTRUM INTERNET ASSIST: Additional charge for installation may apply. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. Customers may be eligible for an additional discount to get SIA for $15/mo, click spectrum.net/internet-assist to apply (New York state customers may qualify with expanded eligibility criteria, learn more at spectrum.net/internet-assist-ny).
4- Terms. Not available in all areas. Advertised max speed for wired connection. Actual speeds, including over WiFi, may vary and are not guaranteed.
The Verdict: Is Xfinity Internet Essentials Worth It for Low-Income Families?
Affordable starting price, including equipment, decent speeds, and free installation, certainly makes Xfinity Internet Essentials worthwhile for low-income households. Not to mention, access to millions of Wi-Fi hotspots and the low-cost computer option make it even better.
You should definitely choose Internet Essentials if you need affordable internet for basic internet usage at home. On the contrary, it’s best to look elsewhere if the offered speeds are too low to match your requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Xfinity Internet Essentials free of charge?
Xfinity Internet Essentials is a program that offers cheap internet to qualifying low-income households. Featured plans come with free equipment and installation, but the service itself is not entirely free of charge.
Can existing Xfinity customers apply for Internet Essentials?
Existing Xfinity customers or those who have used Xfinity services within the last three months are ineligible for Internet Essentials.
Does Internet Essentials include Wi-Fi?
Yes, Internet Essentials plans come with a free Wi-Fi gateway.
Can I still use Internet Essentials if my income changes?
Assuming that you were approved for Internet Essentials on an income basis, it can affect your eligibility. However, you can reapply if you’re enrolled in a Federal or State assistance program.
Table of content
- What Is Xfinity Internet Essentials?
- Xfinity Internet Essentials Plans & Pricing
- Who Qualifies for Xfinity Internet Essentials?
- How to Apply for Xfinity Internet Essentials
- Xfinity Internet Essentials Speed & Performance
- Benefits of Xfinity Internet Essentials
- Limitations You Should Know
- Xfinity Internet Essentials vs Other Low-Income Internet Options
- The Verdict: Is Xfinity Internet Essentials Worth It for Low-Income Families?
- Frequently Asked Questions
