Categories: Cell Phones & Smartphones

Xfinity Mobile vs. Republic Wireless: Which cell phone plan is a better deal?

Money expert Clark Howard has said that prices for cell phone plans are changing so quickly that if you haven’t shopped for new service in the last six weeks, you’re paying too much!

Two low-cost options are Xfinity Mobile and Republic Wireless, but how do they compare?

Comparing Xfinity Mobile and Republic Wireless cell phone plans

I had Republic Wireless in the past (specifically, in 2014) and switched to Comcast’s Xfinity Mobile just a few months ago, so I’ve had experience with both of these affordable cell phone providers.

Here’s what you should know if you’re trying to decide between the two!

Price

Republic Wireless just introduced the new “My Choice Plan.” You pay $15 a month for unlimited talk and text, then just $5 per GB of 4G LTE data.

Xfinity Mobile offers two options: $12 per GB or $45 a month per line for unlimited data.

Here’s a key difference: You must have internet service through Xfinity to sign up for the mobile deal. It includes unlimited nationwide talk and text, 100 MB of shared data and no line access fees on up to five lines.

Extremely light data users (less than 100 MB per month) could potentially have a $0 monthly bill with Xfinity!

Wi-Fi and cellular network

Republic Wireless utilizes T-Mobile and Sprint’s networks for cellular data, plus Wi-Fi for calls, texts and data where cell service can’t reach.

Xfinity Mobile runs on Verizon’s 4G LTE network and connects to Xfinity’s 18 million Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide.

Phones

Republic Wireless sells a number of budget-friendly Android devices on its website, including the Samsung Galaxy J3, Alcatel A30 and Moto E4 — all for under $100.

You can also bring your own phone from a list of compatible devices. Read more here.

Xfinity Mobile doesn’t currently allow users to bring their own phone. It has about 15 of the latest smartphones for sale on its website, such as the iPhone X, iPhone 8, Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and Samsung Galaxy S8.

The most affordable phone it offers is the LG X charge, which is $180 or $7.50 a month for 24 months.

Final thought

Xfinity Mobile and Republic Wireless are two of the cheapest options for cell phone service going into 2018, particularly if you’re a light data user.

Here are links to the support forums for Republic and Xfinity, which may help as you’re researching the latest deals.

Have you been able to lower your cell phone bill by switching to Republic Wireless, Xfinity Mobile or another carrier? Share your experience on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments below.