Best VPN for Comcast 2020: To Xfinity and Beyond?

Comcast Xfinity is one of the biggest cable, internet and phone providers in the United States. However, its reputation for throttling bandwidth and spying on its customers has made many subscribers turn to VPNs. We’ve put together this best VPN for Comcast Xfinity list to help you with that, as well as help you watch geoblocked content.

If you don’t have time to get into the nitty-gritty of Comcast’s ways, we recommend you download ExpressVPN. It’s loaded with top security and privacy, has fast speeds and has plenty of U.S. servers to choose from. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee, in case you’re not completely satisfied. We’re sure you will be, though.

Comcast has throttled users’ internet speeds in the past. Although it claims to not be doing that anymore, customers are still complaining about it, especially when they’re using services such as Netflix. Worse than that, though, changes to U.S. privacy laws in 2017 mean that Comcast is legally allowed to spy on your internet activity.

On top of that, in 2018, a bug was found in Comcast’s user activation website that could return sensitive information on its customers. We’ll go into more detail about all of that later on, but by using a virtual private network, you can kiss those issues goodbye.

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The Best VPN for Comcast Xfinity

1. ExpressVPN — Excellent security and privacy, ultra-fast, many U.S. servers, easy to use
2. NordVPN — Top-notch security and privacy, fast speeds, over 1,700 U.S. servers
3. CyberGhost — Great security and privacy, seven connections, inexpensive
4. PIA — Good security and privacy, 10 connections, cheap
5. Windscribe — Good security and privacy, free plan, unlimited connections
6. VyprVPN — Great security and privacy, Chameleon protocol, slow

ExpressVPN Review

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1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the best choice for Comcast, as well as being the best VPN overall. It comes with great security that’ll stop your personal information from being exposed. There’s also a kill switch, which will cut your connection to the internet altogether if the VPN fails. That’s automatically enabled, but you can turn it off. Plus, you’re covered by a strict no-logs policy.

It has the fastest speeds we’ve tested, and it comes with unlimited bandwidth. It’s also one of the easiest to use VPNs available, so a great choice if you’re new to it all. You can connect up to five devices at a time, which is not as many as some VPNs, but it’s still enough for most people. 

There are plenty of U.S. servers to choose from to watch Comcast online services. Plus, if you want to stream, ExpressVPN is our best VPN for streaming because it can get into pretty much any platform, such as Netflix and Hulu (see our best VPN for Netflix and best VPN for Hulu guides). Read more about the service in our ExpressVPN review.

ExpressVPN isn’t the cheapest option on the list, but you get a lot of value for your money. You can save money by choosing a longer plan, though. It’s an excellent service, and it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you’ve got nothing to lose.

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2. NordVPN

Another top choice is NordVPN, and it only missed out on the top spot because of its inconsistent speeds. It’s winning in the protection area, with top-notch security, including the use of its double-hop servers, which add another layer of security to the VPN tunnel. It also has a solid no-logs policy. You can read more about that in our NordVPN review.

You get unlimited bandwidth, and NordVPN’s speeds can be fast, but some servers just don’t cut it. That’s usually due to being connected to a distant server, but there’s also the issue that NordVPN’s “recommended” servers aren’t always great. If you find that things are a bit slow, your best bet is to switch the server manually, which is easy to do.

There are more than 1,700 U.S. servers to choose from, too, so you’re bound to find one with fast speeds. It’s also great at getting into streaming services if that’s something you want. It’s easy to use, and you can connect up to six devices at a time.

NordVPN’s price is better than ExpressVPN, but only if you opt for a long term plan. You get a lot for your money, and NordVPN is packed with features. Still, if you find it’s not for you, there’s a 30-day refund window.

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3. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is another great VPN. It’s not quite at the level of our first two picks, but it’s packed with features and is super cheap. It doesn’t keep any logs and it has great security. Part of that security is its permanently enabled kill switch, which is good because you’re always protected by it, but you can’t turn it off at all.

Its speeds are good, though they can be slow over long distances, and there are no bandwidth caps to worry about. There are more than 1,000 servers in the U.S., giving you plenty to choose from, and it can get into streaming services easily with its optimized streaming servers. It’s easy to use, and you can connect up to seven devices simultaneously. 

CyberGhost is an inexpensive service that doesn’t skimp on value. It has a ton of features, as you can read in our CyberGhost review. Like most VPN services, you’re better off going with a long term plan. That said, it does offer a free trial, and it has a money-back guarantee, too.

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4. Private Internet Access

Next up is Private Internet Access, which is a decent VPN at a decent price, it’s just not quite as good as our other picks. It has good security, but it’s set at AES 128-bit encryption when you install it. That’s not bad, but for extra security, we recommend that you increase it to the recommended AES 256-bit encryption. The service also has a kill switch and doesn’t keep any logs.

Its speeds are fast, but they can be inconsistent. It also comes with unlimited bandwidth. However, although it can get into Netflix, it struggles with other services. You can read more on that in our PIA review.

It has servers within the U.S. so you can access what you need. It’s easy to use, but for Windows, the interface is tied to the tray. That’s annoying because it’s small, and it’s easy to click off it. You can connect up to 10 devices at the same time.

PIA is cheap — even cheaper than CyberGhost. It’s a good service but comes fourth because it lacks in some areas. Still, there’s a 30-day refund period, in case you don’t like it.

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5. Windscribe

Windscribe is a great VPN that offers a limited free plan, so it’s technically the best free VPN for Comcast. It comes with good security and a kill switch. Its privacy policy states that some information is collected, but it’s nothing that can be tied back to you. Read more about that in our Windscribe review.

It has decent speeds and unlimited bandwidth with paid plans. The free plan gets 2GB per month, or 10GB if you enter a valid email address on sign up. It’s also easy to use and lets you connect an unlimited number of devices, even on the free plan. 

It has a decent server network, though not as large as our top picks. Only a handful of those are available with the free plan, though, but thankfully that includes the U.S. servers.

As for streaming, Windscribe can get into most services, including Netflix. Some of the standard servers don’t work and get hit by the Netflix proxy error, but Windscribe has special streaming servers, called Windflix servers, and they have no problem accessing the services.

Its free plan is one of the best free VPN services available, but it’s limited in some areas, and you can’t use the Windflix servers. If you want all of Windscribe’s features, you can opt for the Pro plan or its cheap build-a-plan option. With the latter, you can choose a specific server — including a Windflix server — and add on unlimited bandwidth for just $2 per month. It has a three-day refund window.

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6. VyprVPN

Our last pick is VyprVPN. It’s a decent provider that has excellent security with a kill switch, as well as its proprietary Chameleon protocol for extra protection. It also has a bullet-proof no-logs policy, as you can read in our VyprVPN review. 

VyprVPN’s downfall is in its speed. It’s inconsistent and sluggish. You do get unlimited bandwidth, and it’s capable of getting into streaming platforms, but the speed lets the experience down. It’s easy to use, and there are plenty of servers in the U.S. You can connect up to five devices, too. 

The monthly price isn’t great, but its annual option is pretty cheap. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee to fall back on.

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How We Chose the Best VPN for Comcast Xfinity

Though many of the providers in our VPN reviews have the same sort of features, there’s a difference in how well they’re implemented. We’ve put together a list of criteria you should go by when choosing the best Comcast Xfinity VPN.

Security and Privacy

The main factor in choosing a VPN for Comcast Xfinity is good security and privacy. Strong security will protect you from snooping by encrypting your connection. No one will be able to see what you’re up to. It’ll also prevent your information from being leaked. A kill switch is an important part of that. It’ll cut your connection completely if the VPN fails, keeping your sensitive information safe.

Privacy is separate from that, though. You need to pick a provider that doesn’t keep logs. That way, there’s no record of your online activities, either.

Speed and Bandwidth Allowance

It’s a good idea to pick a VPN with fast speeds so you’re not left waiting for a stream or other content to load. Plus, if you want to watch Netflix or another streaming service, having unlimited bandwidth will ensure you don’t hit your limit and stop being protected by the VPN.

Server Network

Because Comcast Xfinity is only for the U.S. audience, you’ll need a U.S. IP address. If you don’t you won’t be able to access any of Xfinity’s online content. A VPN with servers located in the United States will take care of that, and having several to choose from is handy in case some don’t work.

Ease of Use and Devices

If you’re a beginner, you’ll appreciate an easy to use interface that can get you connected quickly. On the other hand, you may want a decent settings menu so you can play around with it. Either way, make sure that the VPN is compatible with your devices. 

If you’re trying to connect the family, you should pick one that has enough simultaneous connections. That said, there’s always the option of getting a VPN router, too (read our top VPN router guide).

Why Should I Use a VPN for Comcast Xfinity?

There are many reasons why people don’t like Comcast, and some of those reasons warrant the use of a virtual private network. We’ll run through them now so you have a better understanding.

Comcast and Net Neutrality

Although Comcast claims to be in full support of net neutrality, it has been known to slow down internet speeds if you’re doing something it doesn’t like, such as torrenting and streaming. It has previously prevented users from using peer-to-peer protocols or seeding files on multiple occasions. 

Comcast interfered with users’ internet traffic so much that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) investigated the complaints. It was then reported that Comcast hired people to hold seats at the hearing so that backers of advocacy group Free Press couldn’t attend. The FCC later announced that Comcast must stop the use of its unfair network management.

That was in 2008, but customers were still complaining that Comcast was throttling their internet speeds years later, especially with Netflix. Netflix ended up reaching an agreement with Comcast to stop the slowdown. Doing a quick search through Reddit and other forums will still find disgruntled customers, though. 

If there is still an issue with throttling, a VPN will prevent Comcast from seeing what you’re doing. That means you can do as much bandwidth-hungry activity as you like.

Comcast’s Sneaky Snooping

The 2008 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Amendments Act requires telecommunication companies to cooperate with the Federal government. With that, the government can search through electronic communications, such as email and phone conversations, sent through the companies’ services. The purpose of this spying is to uncover terrorist threats, but the judicial oversight for it all is lacking. 

A quick search on Google will turn up tons of articles on how Comcast is invading privacy and monitoring its customers. Within those, there are claims that Comcast was considering installing cameras into its cable boxes. That would allow the company to view people’s living rooms and identify viewers with body-form-recognition, something that is said to aid in providing a custom-tailored service.

Privacy Issues with Comcast

In 2017, privacy regulations that would have made ISPs get customers permission to sell their data were repealed. That means that ISPs can continue to track your online activities and sell the information on to other companies. By using a VPN, Comcast and other ISPs cannot see what you’re doing, and so there is no data to sell on.

Also, in 2018, a bug was found in Comcast’s user activation site. The site is used by Comcast users to set up their internet and cable service, but it was found to have security issues. Router login information was not encrypted, and simple information such as a house number and street name could be used to access the service.

The number of flaws meant that anyone could easily access your router and spy on your internet traffic. Comcast took the service down to rectify the issue, but a VPN would protect you from snoopers if the problem occurred again.

Can I Use a Free VPN for Comcast Xfinity?

There are many free VPNs on the market, but we recommend steering clear of most of them. Although they’re free, they still earn money, but often in shady ways. You might be bombarded with ads, it might keep logs and sell your data to third parties, or it might be waiting to infect your device and steal your sensitive information, such as your credit card.

There are also some that slow your connection far too much, and some that claim to protect you don’t implement any security at all. You can read more in our worst free VPN providers guide.

Final Thoughts

With Comcast’s reputation, it’s essential to use a VPN. It’ll protect you from being spied on, and also any vulnerabilities within the network. Plus, you’ll be able to stream and do other bandwidth-hungry activities without being penalized. For all of that, you need a VPN with great security and privacy, fast speeds and servers within the U.S.

ExpressVPN is the best Comcast Xfinity VPN. It has excellent security, doesn’t keep any logs whatsoever, is speedy and has plenty of servers within the U.S. It can also get into all the streaming platforms, and is super easy to use. Why not give it a try with its 30-day money-back guarantee?

Have you used a VPN with Comcast Xfinity? Are there any Comcast Xfinity issues we’ve missed out? Let us know in the comment section. Check out our other VPN articles, too. As always, thank you for reading.

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