Best VPNs for Comcast Xfinity in 2021

Comcast Xfinity is one of the biggest Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the United States. Unfortunately, “big” doesn’t always equal “good.” For example, Comcast customers have long been complaining about the ISP throttling internet speeds and demonstrating a general lack of respect for privacy. So, if you want to get around these problems, you will need to use a VPN.

However, with so many VPNs on the market, it can be difficult to find one that is right for you. To help you out, we have researched the best VPNs for Comcast Xfinity. Whether you are looking for great speeds, value for money, or a tool that is ideal for beginners, this guide will enable you to find a VPN that suits your needs.

VPNs for Comcast – our shortlist

1. NordVPN – best VPN for Comcast Xfinity
2. Surfshark – unlimited connections for Comcast users
3. ExpressVPN – fast and private VPN for Comcast
4. VyprVPN – cheap VPN for Comcast
5. CyberGhost – best for new VPN users

Why do I need a VPN for Comcast Xfinity?

Comcast Xfinity is an extremely popular ISP in the US, but its customers have been complaining about various problems VPNs can help with:

• Collecting (and selling) online activity and other user data. Comcast Xfinity has spent a lot of money lobbying for the right to collect user data and sell it to advertisers. This is a serious privacy and security risk, especially considering how common data leaks and breaches are in this day and age. One of the main benefits of using a VPN is that it hides your online activity from your ISP and government. It works by routing your traffic through a VPN server so your ISP can’t know what you’re doing.
• 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. Luckily, a VPN will help you get around this too! It does this either by disguising what IP address you are connected to or obfuscating the protocol (type of connection) you are using.
• 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. Connecting through a VPN server, rather than directly to the blocked website, means you can bypass these blocks.

Best VPNs for Comcast Xfinity

If you want to use Comcast Xfinity but you are worried about having your speeds throttled or your online privacy compromised, you will need to use a fast and secure Virtual Private Network. And there are loads of options to choose from. To make things easier for you, we have compiled a list of all our favorite VPNs to use with Comcast Xfinity.

1. NordVPN – best VPN for Comcast Xfinity

The most important factors to consider when choosing a VPN for Comcast Xfinity are speed and security. And NordVPN is the fastest and most secure VPN we have ever tested.

It offers lightning-fast speeds, largely thanks to NordLynx, its cutting-edge new VPN connection protocol. It also comes with 256-bit AES encryption, a customizable kill switch, protection against IP leaks, Double VPN, and more. NordVPN operates under a no-logs policy, which has been independently audited – twice. This means that your online activity will remain completely private.

Another factor that makes NordVPN stand out as an excellent choice for Comcast is that it has special servers for torrenting and other P2P connections. This is ideal if you are concerned that Comcast Xfinity is throttling your torrenting speeds.

It also has an impressive 5,500+ servers in 59 countries, which makes NordVPN perfectly suitable for streaming content from anywhere in the world. It is currently not blocked by any of the major streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu.

NordVPN supports split tunneling, custom DNS, and router setup. Up to 6 simultaneous connections will let you enjoy all those NordVPN apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV.

If you want to try it out, the service comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. Surfshark – unlimited connections for Comcast users

Surfshark is another excellent option for Comcast users because it offers great speeds and security, and is even cheaper than NordVPN. So if you are looking for a very budget-friendly option, Surfshark is about the best you can find – it even offers unlimited connections per subscription.

This VPN is extremely secure, offering 256-bit encryption and a kill switch, along with DNS and IPv6 leak protection. It has a no-logs policy, albeit this hasn’t been independently tested.

Surfshark is one of the fastest VPNs available. One of the main reasons it achieves such fast speeds is WireGuard, a cutting-edge new tunneling protocol. Along with other things, this makes it great for torrenting – something Comcast Xfinity users are looking for.

Its huge network of 3,200 servers in 65 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. And if this isn’t enough to convince you, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. ExpressVPN – fast and private VPN for Comcast

If speed and security are your top priorities as a Comcast Xfinity user (and they should be), ExpressVPN is a great choice. It has 3,000 servers in 94 countries, as well as its own tunneling protocol Lightway to ensure super-fast speeds.

For security, you get 256-bit encryption, a kill switch (Network Lock), and bullet-proof DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leak protection. This will keep your data safe from hackers and prying eyes. It operates under a strict no logs policy, which has independently audited and further strengthened through the use of RAM-only servers. Basically, all of ExpressVPN’s servers purge all data upon reset, and this is by design.

Even better for Comcast users, ExpressVPN supports torrenting on all its servers and offers split tunneling. It allows for up to 5 simultaneous connections, and it is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and Fire TV. Its very own router firmware also makes it much easier to protect all the devices in your home.

For all this, though, it is by far the most expensive VPN provider on our list. So, you might want to try it out before committing. Luckily, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

4. VyprVPN – cheap VPN for Comcast

VyprVPN is a great option for Comcast if you are on a budget because it delivers good speeds and decent security without a high price tag.

This VPN comes with 256-bit encryption to keep your data safe, and operates under a strict no logs policy. It uses the WireGuard protocol to deliver fast and reliable speeds, but also offers other protocol options – Chameleon, OpenVPN, and IKEv2(IPSec) protocols. Chameleon makes it a good choice for use in countries where VPN use is restricted.

VyprVPN has lately become a very torrenting friendly VPN, so it is a good choice for Comcast Xfinity. Plus, it works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, and allows for up to 5 simultaneous connections.

You will find that VyprVPN has more than 700 servers in 70 countries worldwide. This means that you can use it to unblock region restrictions on lots of major streaming services, including Netflix, ESPN, and Hulu.

It is a very budget-friendly option and provides excellent value for money. However, it does not accept cryptocurrencies or other anonymous payment methods. If you do want to give it a go, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

5. CyberGhost – best for new VPN users

If you are new to using VPNs, CyberGhost is a great place to start because it is very simple and easy to use. But it still offers the speed and security you will need if you want to use it with Comcast. It has the WireGuard protocol to deliver awesome speeds and has a huge server list (7,000+ servers in 91 countries).

It comes with 256-bit encryption to protect your online activity from hackers and it operates a strict no-logs policy. This policy hasn’t been independently audited, but CyberGhost’s home base of Romania is a privacy-friendly country that doesn’t force companies to collect communication data. As such, the lack of an audit is less concerning.

CyberGhost is a torrenting-friendly VPN, which makes it a good choice for using to get around Comcast Xfinity. It allows for up to 7 simultaneous VPN connections and you can use it on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS.

Their large network also makes CyberGhost a great choice for accessing content from around the world. You can use the service to unblock region restrictions on streaming services, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max.

For all this, CyberGhost VPN is very reasonably priced. And it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind. You can even test it out with CyberGhost’s one-day free trial.

How we tested and selected these VPNs

In order to help you decide which Virtual Private Network to choose, we tested out a lot of the available services. As we conducted our research and compiled our list of favorite VPNs, we took the following factors into account:

• Security. Online security is one of the most important factors when choosing a VPN. So we assessed each VPN to see if it offered robust protection against leaks, viruses, and other security threats.
• Privacy. If you are looking for a VPN to use with Comcast Xfinity, chances are, you are concerned about your privacy. After all, Comcast is notorious for collecting user data and monitoring the online activity of its customers. The US is not particularly privacy-friendly country in general either. So, if you value your privacy, it is important to use a VPN that can help protect your online activity. When we test out VPNs, we always look at factors, such as encryption, whether or not it operates a no logs policy, and if it is audited.
• Speed. Getting fast and reliable speeds is vital for VPN users, particularly if you are using it to watch content online.
• Good for torrenting. Throttling torrent traffic is one of the main reasons Comcast users may want to use a VPN. So it is really important to find a VPN that supports torrenting. All of the VPNs in our list support torrenting, and some of them even have dedicated servers for this.
• User friendly app. Having an intuitive, easy-to-use app can make all the difference when using a VPN, particularly for beginners. It is also a good idea to choose one that is compatible with a wide range of devices. Each of the VPNs that made our list works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
• Good for streaming. This is becoming increasingly important, as more and more people are now using VPNs to access region restricted content from other parts of the world. So we made sure that all the VPNs in our list can be used to unblock all the major streaming services.
• Customer support. In the unlikely event that anything goes wrong with your VPN, it is very reassuring to know that you can contact the customer support team. All the VPNs on our list offer live chat support.
• Price. As with any review, we have taken the price into consideration to help you find a VPN that suits your needs and your budget.

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 selling it on to advertisers
• Block some websites

This won’t come as a shock 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, 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 means you can use a VPN on devices that aren’t normally compatible with VPNs, such as games consoles and streaming sticks.

Sadly, most router models, including the xFi Gateway, Netgear, Arris, Linksys, and Motorola do not support VPNs by default. But the good news is, you can replace the firmware with something that will allow you to use a VPN. Just be sure you do it according to the instructions because messing up this process can damage your router.

If you want to replace your firmware so you can connect your VPN to your router, you can use any of the following:

• TomatoUSB
• AsusWRT
• DD-WRT
• OpenWRT

Setting up a VPN on your router isn’t all that easy, and it could cause problems with your router if you get it wrong. A good alternative is to use NordVPN’s custom firmware and router. This will make it much easier to manage your VPN connections, as it comes with pre-configured servers and an intuitive admin panel.

Can I use a free VPN with Comcast Xfinity?

While it may be possible to use a free VPN with Comcast Xfinity, it is definitely not advisable. Free VPN providers usually make their money by selling your data to third parties. In fact, if you are concerned about privacy, it is worth noting that free VPNs can 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 is a free version of a paid VPN, which 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, we recommend Windscribe’s freemium option, which comes with a monthly data limit of 10GB.

We definitely recommend paying a small monthly fee to access a reliable VPN that will be able to unblock content, offer unlimited bandwidth, and protect your online activity. Surfshark and VyprVPN both provide excellent value for money.

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