Best VPNs for Comcast Xfinity: bypass bandwidth throttling in 2025
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Despite being one of the biggest internet service providers (ISPs) in the US, Comcast Xfinity faces major criticism for throttling internet speeds and demonstrating questionable privacy practices. Comcast users have been searching for ways to get around these issues. This is where VPNs come in. A virtual private network, most commonly known as a VPN, encrypts your internet traffic and masks your IP address, helping you mitigate connection and privacy issues with one click. With so many VPN services on the market, it’s not easy to pick the best VPN for Comcast Xfinity, especially if you’ve never used one before. That’s why I collaborated with our research team and evaluated major VPNs in terms of speed, security features, privacy practices, usability, and more to help you find the perfect fit.
Best VPNs for Comcast Xfinity — shortlist
- NordVPN – best VPN for Comcast Xfinity
- Surfshark – budget-friendly VPN for Comcast Xfinity
- IPVanish – highly secure and feature-rich Comcast Xfinity VPN
- ExpressVPN – reliable VPN for Comcast Xfinity with advanced features
- CyberGhost – specialized server VPN for Comcast
We spare no effort to test the products & their features. All information is gathered by our in-house research team & fact-checked by our team of experts. Discover the ins and outs of our testing procedures.
Why do I need a VPN for Comcast Xfinity?
Comcast Xfinity is a very popular ISP in the US. Despite its popularity, Comcast Xfinity users have been facing major issues regarding privacy, speed, and overall performance. Here are some of them:
- Collecting online activity and other user data. Like many other service providers, Comcast Xfinity stores your sensitive data. While it claims not to sell identifiable information, it’s better to be safe.
- Streaming and torrenting limitations. Xfinity bundles that include cable and streaming services limit their content libraries to a specific location. Additionally, online activity and other user data selling makes torrenting very risky.
- Speed throttling. Another problem you may have experienced if you are a Comcast user is having your speeds throttled, particularly if you are streaming or torrenting.
- Website blocking. ISPs can also censor or block specific sites you might want to access. Most of them do this by blocking sites at the IP or DNS level.
Simply put, a VPN serves as an additional layer of security. It encrypts your internet traffic and hides it from your ISP. This helps stop it from throttling your internet speed. What’s more, changing your IP makes it look like you’re connecting from anywhere in the world. This allows you to access geo-restricted content such as Japanese Netflix or BBC iPlayer which is only available in the UK.
Best VPNs for Comcast Xfinity – detailed list
Comcast Xfinity may be throttling your internet speed. To improve your internet connection, try using a VPN. I collaborated with our research team and evaluated 41 VPNs to find the best VPN for Comcast Xfinity. Read on to find the list of our top 5 VPN picks for Comcast Xfinity.
1. NordVPN – top VPN for Comcast Xfinity
| Based in: | Panama |
| Servers/countries: | 7700+ servers in 125 countries |
| Compatible with: | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Current deal: | Get 76% OFF NordVPN + free Amazon gift card |
NordVPN is the best VPN for Comcast Xfinity. With a massive server network, advanced security, and privacy features, NordVPN ensures a smooth online experience. It’s also compatible with a variety of routers, securing all of your home devices with one click.
Our NordVPN tests have shown that it’s one of the fastest VPN providers – retaining around 90% of the original internet speed. This means you will experience little to no buffering when trying to watch your favorite shows with Xfinity. It supports OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2/IPsec – all of the major VPN protocols. In addition, NordVPN offers a proprietary protocol, NordLynx, for improved speeds and privacy.
NordVPN employs the industry-standard AES-256 encryption algorithm to secure your internet traffic. Besides VPN basics like a kill switch and DNS leak protection, NordVPN offers advanced features, such as split tunneling, double VPN, and Onion Over VPN. Threat Protection comes with every subscription and includes an anti-malware suite and ad blocker.
When it comes to streaming, NordVPN simplifies the process with SmartPlay. It can also be set up on a variety of routers for convenience. Most importantly, NordVPN has P2P-optimized servers, which are great for torrenting. This is ideal if you are concerned about Xfinity throttling your internet speed and slowing down your downloads.
Last but not least, NordVPN follows a strict no-logs policy and has been independently audited five times. The most recent audit was performed by Deloitte in 2024, which once again verified NordVPN’s no-logs claims.
If you want to try it out, the service costs $3.39/month for a 2-year plan and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. For Android users, there’s also a 3-day free trial.
2. Surfshark – cheap unlimited connections for Comcast users
| Based in: | The Netherlands |
| Servers/countries: | 3200+ servers in 100 countries |
| Compatible with: | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Current deal: | Now up to 87% OFF Surfshark + 3 months FREE |
Surfshark is my second favorite VPN for Comcast Xfinity. With unlimited simultaneous connections, it’s one of the cheapest VPNs on the market. Plus, you can get the VPN for even cheaper using the Surfshark discount code: OFFCN. Despite the low price tag, Surfshark doesn’t compromise on speed and overall performance, rivaling my top pick, NordVPN.
With industry-standard AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, and DNS and IPv6 leak protection, Surfshark is highly secure. It operates under a strict no-logs policy and has been audited twice, with the latest audit performed by Deloitte in 2023.
Our in-house Surfshark tests have shown that Surfshark is one of the fastest VPNs available, retaining around 86% of the original internet speed. One of the main reasons it achieves such fast speeds is WireGuard, a cutting-edge new tunneling protocol. This, among other things, makes it great for torrenting. With it, Comcast Xfinity users can torrent without having to worry about the provider throttling their internet speed.
Surfshark’s huge network of over 3200 servers in 100 countries makes it a great choice for streaming international content. Surfshark works well for unblocking geo-restricted streaming services, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer.
All in all, considering all Surfshark has to offer, it really is fantastic value for money. You can get a subscription from just $1.99/month (24-month one). And if this isn’t enough to convince you, all subscriptions come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. IPVanish – secure and reliable VPN for Comcast Xfinity
| Based in: | United States |
| Servers/countries: | 2400+ servers in 140+ countries |
| Compatible with: | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux |
| Best deal: | Now up to 83% OFF IPVanish |
IPVanish is a great VPN for security-oriented Comcast Xfinity users who also want compatibility with streaming and torrenting. Additionally, IPVanish users can expect great speed retention and unlimited simultaneous connections, which is excellent for bigger households that all use the same Comcast network.
IPVanish’s security features include market-leading AES-256 data encryption and threat protection similar to NordVPN’s, which blocks ads, trackers, and basic malware. Multiple protocols ensure fast and stable connection – great for daily internet use and streaming. Privacy-wise, IPVanish is also very reliable, having an audited no-logs policy. This is particularly handy to avoid questionable Comcast privacy policies.
For those who opt for the Xfinity streaming bundle, IPVanish can unblock all major streaming services without slowing them down. Meanwhile, P2P support offers an opportunity to torrent safely and privately. With 2400+ servers in 140 countries, IPVanish falls a bit behind Surfshark and NordVPN but still presents enough options to stream and torrent without restrictions.
IPVanish is fairly affordable, too, costing $2.19/month for a two-year plan. If you’re not sure if you want to commit, rest assured that all users get a 30-day money-back guarantee on all subscription plans except monthly ones.
4. ExpressVPN – premium VPN for Comcast with advanced security features
| Based in: | British Virgin Islands |
| Servers/countries: | Servers in 105 countries |
| Compatible with: | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Current deal: | Now up to 61% OFF ExpressVPN + 4 months FREE |
ExpressVPN is a great solution for those concerned with security and privacy. It takes advanced security measures to ensure your sensitive information doesn’t end up in the hands of malicious actors.
ExpressVPN offers three tunneling protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2, and a proprietary protocol, Lightway. Lightway is the best in speed and performance, regardless of your device. Our in-house ExpressVPN tests have shown it retains around x of the original internet speed. ExpressVPN also uses AES 256-GCM cipher for unbreakable encryption and employs RAM-only servers.
Everything you do online is completely private because ExpressVPN doesn’t collect any logs of your activity, browsing history, personal data, or DNS queries. ExpressVPN’s strict no-log policy has been independently audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the Big Four accounting companies. Overall, ExpressVPN has been audited 18 times, with the latest audit performed by KPMG LLP in 2023.
In addition, this VPN offers a global server fleet distributed across 105 countries. With so many choices, you’ll have a more effortless experience using Comcast Xfinity, as you can easily switch between servers and find the fastest one to avoid throttling.
While ExpressVPN is slightly more expensive than other VPN providers, for $4.99/month (2-year plan), your activities and identity are secure online, protected by an excellent security feature suite. To test this VPN's benefits, use its 30-day money-back guarantee on up to 8 simultaneous connections.
5. CyberGhost – Comcast VPN with specialized servers
| Based in: | Romania |
| Servers/countries: | Servers in 100 countries |
| Compatible with: | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Current deal: | Get 83% OFF CyberGhost + 2 months FREE |
CyberGhost is a budget-friendly VPN for Comcast Xfinity with specialized servers. It’s one of the few VPN providers that has dedicated servers for streaming, torrenting, and even gaming without compromising performance.
Its users receive the best security and speed ratio with a market-leading WireGuard protocol and the gold standard AES-265 encryption algorithm. It doesn’t offer many advanced features, but you will find a kill switch, split tunneling, and Smart Rules for a better experience.
Most importantly, CyberGhost stops Comcast from throttling your internet speed, allowing you to stream geo-restricted content without buffering. What’s more, its P2P servers are particularly good for torrenting, ensuring your download speeds hardly slow down.
Like every other VPN on this list, CyberGhost also underwent independent audits. The most recent audit was done by Deloitte in 2024, which proved that CyberGhost follows its no-logs policy.
CyberGhost has servers in 100 countries. Unfortunately, the exact server count is not currently disclosed. However, our CyberGhost tests have shown that the VPN easily unblocks geo-restricted content and most major streaming platforms, like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, proving that it has enough servers to ensure a good streaming experience.
This VPN has servers in 100 countries. While the true number is not currently known, it used to be 11500+, which is remarkably high.
All in all, CyberGhost is a budget-friendly solution. It costs only $2.19/month for a 2-year plan, allowing 7 simultaneous connections per account. You can try CyberGhost with its extended 45-day money-back guarantee.
Best VPNs for Comcast Xfinity compared
| Comcast Xfinity VPN | Rating | Servers | Simultaneous connections | Privacy policy | Based in | Speed retention |
| NordVPN | 7700 | 10 | No logs, independently audited 5 times, most recent audit by Deloitte in 2024 | Panama (outside the Fourteen Eyes alliance) | 90% | |
| Surfshark | 3200 | Unlimited | No logs, independently audited twice, most recent audit by Deloitte in 2023 | The Netherlands (in the Fourteen Eyes alliance) | 86% | |
| IPVanish | 2400 | Unlimited | No logs, Independently audited by Leviathan in 2022 | United States (in the Fourteen Eyes alliance) | 80% | |
| ExpressVPN | Undisclosed | 8 | No logs, independently audited 18 times, most recently by KPMG in 2024 | British Virgin Islands (outside the Fourteen Eyes alliance) | 77% | |
| CyberGhost | Undisclosed | 7 | No logs, independently audited twic e, most recently by Deloitte in 2024 | Romania (outside the Fourteen Eyes alliance) | 86% |
How we tested the best Xfinity VPNs
In order to help you decide which virtual private network to choose, I collaborated with our research team and evaluated 41 VPNs. Then, we selected the top 5 VPNs and further tested them, following our VPN testing process. As we conducted our research and compiled our list of favorite VPNs, we took the following factors into account:
- Security and privacy (25%). Comcast is notorious for collecting user data and monitoring their online activity. That is why security and privacy are the leading factors when choosing a VPN provider. Those VPNs that could provide protection against leaks, trackers, and malware and had strong encryption and a no-logs policy were rated higher.
- Speed (20%). Getting fast and reliable speeds is vital for VPN users, particularly if you are using it to watch content online.
- Server locations and network size (15%). The more servers a VPN has, the better its speed, stability, and privacy. A larger number of locations also ensures better streaming and torrenting opportunities. So, I ranked higher those VPNs that had a fair number of servers and their locations.
- Compatibility (15%). As Comcast is essentially an ISP, it’s important that a VPN covers any of your devices that could be linked to it. The greater the OS and device compatibility, the better for Xfinity a VPN provider is.
- Streaming and torrenting support (10%). A VPN is usually used by those who want to access geo-restricted content. However, Comcast does not provide opportunities to access foreign content libraries. Not to mention ISP speed throttling, which makes streaming and torrenting very frustrating. Hence, only those VPNs that are known for their P2P support and geo-unblocking made it to the list.
- Pricing and subscription plans (10%). I took the price into consideration to help you find a VPN that suits your needs and your budget. VPNs that offer money-back guarantees, free trials or versions, or simply affordable subscriptions were ranked higher.
- Personal experience (5%). As I got to test these VPNs myself, I took my own user experience into account. I focused on app usability, customer support responsiveness, and other matters that regular customers might experience day-to-day.
Comcast and Xfinity – what are they?
Comcast is the largest internet service provider in the US. Xfinity is a separate brand owned and operated by Comcast. It bundles broadband internet, cable TV, and landline phone services. According to various reports, Comcast and Comcast Xfinity have been known to:
- Throttle P2P connection speeds, which means they may slow down torrent downloads
- Throttle streaming service traffic, which can slow down streams on platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video
- Collect user data and sell it to advertisers
- Block some websites
This likely won’t be surprising to a lot of Comcast users, particularly considering that the ISP is one of the main opponents of net neutrality. In fact, it has heavily invested in the repeal of net neutrality in 2017, as well as the legalization of the sale of user data. In total, it has spent $15,000,000 on such lobbying efforts.
Although the net neutrality repeal has not impacted US customers yet, it could lead to a ban on certain internet traffic, services, and sites based on how much you pay for your internet plan.
Setting up a VPN on Comcast Xfinity routers
Using a VPN on your router is a good idea because it means that your traffic will be protected across all your devices. It also allows you to use a VPN on devices that aren’t normally compatible with VPNs, such as game consoles and streaming sticks.
Setting up a VPN on a router can be a bit difficult. For starters, not all routers support a VPN. Luckily, Comcast Xfinity does. As long as your VPN is Xfinity-compatible (check with your chosen provider), you can set up a third-party VPN using either a wireless gateway or specific VPN configurations.
- Go to the Admin Tool
- Enter the default username and password
- Go to Gateway and then At a Glance
- Enable Bridge Mode
For specific VPNs, you would need to follow its specific router installation instructions. For example, here’s how it works with NordVPN:
- Log in to your router (same as with gateway instructions)
- Configure your router
- Look for a VPN client tab
- Follow the guidelines to proceed
Can I use a free VPN with Comcast Xfinity?
While it may be possible to use a free VPN with Comcast Xfinity, I don’t recommend it. Free VPN providers usually make money by selling your data to third parties. In fact, if you are concerned about privacy, it is worth noting that free VPNs care even less about your privacy than Comcast. They are also known for having slow speeds and are not great at unblocking restricted content. So, even if you manage to get one to work, it probably won’t solve any of your issues with Comcast.
A slightly better alternative is a freemium VPN. This free version of a paid VPN comes with various limitations, including data caps. It also likely won’t be able to unblock various streaming services. All in all, it is not a viable solution. However, if you want to try it out, I recommend the Proton VPN free version, as it doesn’t have any data caps or speed limits and is fairly secure.
All in all, I recommend paying a small fee to access a reliable VPN that will be able to unblock content, offer far more servers, and protect your online activity. For example, Surfshark and NordVPN both provide excellent value for money.
Final thoughts on the best Xfinity VPN
There are many reasons to get a VPN for Comcast Xfinity, most notably Comcast’s less-than-friendly attitude toward user privacy. But not every VPN will do – you need one that’s affordable, compatible with Xfinity, and offers good privacy and security features.
I recommend NordVPN. It’s compatible with a wide variety of routers and platforms. It also offers exceptional security and privacy features, like independently audited no-logs policy and Threat Protection. Its server count and P2P support also make it a great choice for streaming and torrenting. So, if you want to take back some privacy with your online activity, NordVPN and others mentioned in this article are good options to pick.
FAQ
Can I install a VPN on the Comcast Xfinity router?
Yes, though it might be a bit difficult. Xfinity primarily supports its own VPN, which, due to Comcast’s history with privacy protection, is not entirely trustworthy. Third-party VPN users need to follow specific guidelines and ensure their VPN is compatible with Comcast before installing it.
Which VPN works with Xfinity?
Luckily, there are plenty of reliable VPNs that work with Xfinity. Our favorite is NordVPN because it is incredibly fast and secure. But we have also found that Surfshark, CyberGhost, and VyprVPN work really well.
Does Xfinity have a VPN?
Yes, Comcast Xfinity has Advanced Protection on the Go, which is essentially a VPN. It’s available to all Comcast users. However, while it offers similar privacy and protection as a VPN, it does not allow users to change their DNS and server location. To do so, you need to get a third-party VPN service, such as NordVPN.
Can Comcast see your internet history?
Yes, Comcast is able to view your internet history. It can then sell this information to advertisers and other third parties. So, if you want to protect your online activity, you will need to use a VPN to keep your data hidden from Comcast.
Can Comcast detect a VPN?
Yes, Comcast can see the IP address of the VPN server you're connected to. However, while it might know you're using a VPN, it can't track your browsing activity, the websites you visit, or what you download. With a reputable VPN for Comcast, such as NordVPN, you can bypass all the restrictions.
Does Comcast care about torrenting?
Yes, Comcast is known for throttling torrenting speeds. This means that it can slow down your torrent downloads. To get around this, you need to use a reliable VPN for Comcast Xfinity, such as NordVPN or Surfshark. This will hide your online activity from Comcast, which means it can’t throttle your bandwidth.
