Best VPNs for Comcast Xfinity: stop bandwidth throttling in 2025

Comcast Xfinity customers complain about the ISP blocking sites, throttling internet speeds, and generally collecting more user data than is needed. These measures are all within the power of internet service providers (ISPs), but fortunately they can be avoided when you use one of the best VPNs for Comcast Xfinity and other ISPs.

By connecting to a secure VPN server, you mask your IP address, preventing Comcast from tracking your movements online. This helps to bypass bandwidth throttling, particularly when streaming or gaming, and ensures that your internet speeds remain fast and stable.

I’ve tested 20 VPN services to identify those that can most effectively bypass restrictions, avoid throttling, and keep your data secure. Read on to discover our top 5 tested Comcast VPNs.

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Top 5 best Comcast Xfinity VPNs: ranked

1. NordVPN

   Best VPN for Comcast Xfinity
   9.8
2. Surfshark VPN

   Affordable Comcast Xfinity VPN
   9.5
3. Proton VPN

   Comcast VPN with a free version
   8.6
4. IPVanish

   Xfinity VPN with router support
   8.4
5. Bitdefender VPN

   Easy-to-use VPN for Xfinity
   8.2

Why should Xfinity customers use a VPN

While Comcast Xfinity is a popular US internet service provider (ISP), customers have criticized it for shady data-harvesting behaviors and generally putting obstacles in their way:

• Privacy protection: As an ISP, Xfinity can access your online activity. They could potentially sell this data to advertisers or other third parties, too. However, a reliable VPN encrypts your internet data, making it hard for Xfinity or other third parties to intercept your activity and data.
• Bypass bandwidth throttling: Customers have reported that Xfinity may throttle your bandwidth due to network congestion – too many devices connected to the network simultaneously. A VPN can prevent ISPs like Xfinity from throttling your speeds by anonymizing your connection.
• Access to geo-restricted content: Comcast limits streaming and cable services to specific regions. A VPN with a wide server fleet, like NordVPN, allows you to bypass these regional restrictions. By simply changing your IP address, you can connect to global servers and gain access to any website or streaming service, no matter where you're located.
• Save money: Xfinity caps your monthly data allowance on many of its plans. Exceed this, and you’ll pay up to $10 per additional 50GB that you use. However, use an encrypted VPN connection and you’ll hide your bandwidth usage, which stops ISPs from charging you for exceeding data limits.

Hide your online activity with NordVPN

Best VPNs for Comcast Xfinity: A comprehensive review

My test circuit to find suitable Xfinity VPNs involved benchmarking my baseline connection speed, before measuring each VPN’s speed on 10 international servers spread across the world. With these results, I could then work out which VPN had the largest impact on my speed. After testing 20 VPN servers with Comcast ISP connections, I’m confident that these are the best VPNs for Comcast Xfinity in 2025.

1. NordVPN – best VPN for Comcast Xfinity with fastest speeds

NordVPN's the best VPN for Comcast Xfinity, with unrivaled security and unblocking. Its 7400+ worldwide servers help avoid restrictions at home and abroad.

NordVPN’s speed results are unrivaled; during my in-house tests, NordVPN peaked at 485Mbps on a 500Mbps connection, averaging around 468Mbps throughout. These speeds are consistent across devices, which is useful when you set up NordVPN on your router. NordVPN’s compatible with most modern routers, ASUS routers, DD-WRT, and more. With this single step, you’ll protect every device in your household against speed throttling and data loss.

These speeds are largely thanks to NordVPN’s proprietary and WireGuard-based NordLynx protocol. The provider has built on WireGuard to deliver not only faster speeds, but even more robust security. NordLynx’s double-NAT system offers even more powerful cloaking for your IP, reducing the chance that your ISP’s punishing measures can affect you. These protections work across NordVPN’s 7400+ servers in 118+ countries, which include P2P-optimized servers that protect you against Comcast speed throttling when torrenting.

NordVPN supports a range of other protocols, including OpenVPN, NordLynx, IKEv2/IPsec, and NordWhisper. However, I saw the fastest speeds using NordLynx. Connected with this protocol, I was able to prove NordVPN’s unblocking power during in-house tests. From the United Kingdom, I could easily bypass restrictions and unblock sites like Netflix, Hulu, and Optus Sport in the US, Europe, and Asia.

NordVPN's prices are low, starting from just $3.09/month when you subscribe with a NordVPN coupon. In addition to this 77% discount, you can get a 7-day free trial if you're on Android. Regardless of your device, you can access NordVPN's 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our detailed NordVPN review for a deeper investigation.

2. Surfshark - privacy-focused Xfinity VPN at an affordable price

Surfshark's the best Xfinity VPN due to fast, unlimited connections that protect the whole household. During tests, it unblocked sites and kept my data secure.

Surfshark boasts fast speeds that averaged around 92.5 Mbps during my tests but ranged between 38 – 93% download speed retention. From my location in the UK, I achieved top speeds on servers in the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands, and France – Surfshark is fastest on servers close to you. It also supports unlimited devices, including a vast range of ASUS and other routers so that you can fully protect your home network.

Surfshark offers fast and secure protocols that include WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. This provider has also begun using ChaCha20 encryption for its WireGuard protocol. This is a faster and more lightweight option than the usual AES-256 encryption, helping keep your speeds consistent. In total, Surfshark has 3200+ servers in 100 countries, with all servers optimized for P2P file sharing to bypass ISP throttling.

Surfshark’s unblocking power with Camouflage Mode is excellent. I easily bypassed restrictions on multiple streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu, including those that are blacklisted and banned by my ISP (Virgin Media) in the UK. During heightened tensions in Eastern Europe, I have seen Surfshark representatives engaging with the Reddit community to help people bypass government censorship, so I know this provider is committed to protecting internet freedom.

Surfshark’s one of the cheapest premium VPNs for Comcast, starting from $1.99/month. You can also get a Surfshark free trial for Android or iOS. After that, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can fully test this provider out with Xfinity entirely risk free.

Our detailed Surfshark VPN review has more information.

3. Proton VPN - secure VPN for Comcast Xfinity with router support

Proton VPN’s the best Xfinity VPN due to a free tier for protected, low-data activities. Streamers need Proton VPN premium for unblocking and 90%+ speed retention.

Proton VPN boasted average speeds of 438 Mbps during my in-house tests, maintaining consistent results across its vast network of 9900+ servers in 117 countries. Subscribers to the Plus and Vision plans also get P2P-optimized servers to choose from. Also, upgrade to a premium plan, and Proton VPN works with the most common routers from brands like Asus and TP-Link, as well as the Xfinity Gateway router.

Proton VPN uses the OpenVPN protocol with forward secrecy, offering strong protection for your IP address. This protocol is widely compatible with routers, including the Xfinity Gateway router. It’s also adept at unblocking sites easily, and I was able to bypass geo-restrictions on major streaming sites like YouTube TV+ and Peacock. I could also sidestep my ISP’s native site restrictions and unblock free streaming sites with ease.

Proton VPN's pricing starts from $3.59/month when you get 64% off with a Proton VPN coupon. While it’s possible to use the free version, that’ll only cover you for day-to-day browsing. For full access to 9900+ servers and the fastest speeds, I recommend trying Proton VPN Premium with their 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Proton VPN review for a deeper dive into this Comcast VPN.

4. IPVanish - user-friendly VPN that you can use on Comcast router

IPVanish is the best Comcast VPN with Xfinity Gateway router support due to unlimited connections and WireGuard-powered speeds averaging 418 Mbps in my tests.

IPVanish speeds averaged around 418 Mbps during my in-house tests, peaking at 94% speed retention on numerous servers in the Netherlands, Sweden, US, and Canada. These WireGuard-powered speeds allowed me to sidestep geo-blocks imposed by my ISP and other websites like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO.

I also tested IPVanish with my own ISP, Virgin Media. While connected to a US server, I was able to bypass restrictions that my ISP imposes on certain adult sites and free streaming sites. By changing my IP address, every site became available – so you’ll be able to bypass Comcast Xfinity blocks in the same way.

Aside from WireGuard, IPVanish also supports IKEv2, IPSec, and the router-friendly OpenVPN protocol. I was able to install IPVanish on my home router from ASUS, though IPVanish is also compatible with Comcast’s Xfinity Gateway router. IPVanish boasts a respectable service size too, with 2400+ servers in 109 countries. While they don't have dedicated torrenting servers, you're allowed to P2P file share on all of them and avoid ISP throttling.

IPVanish pricing starts at $2.19/month, making it a very inexpensive VPN for Comcast customers. You can also get a 7-day free trial on Android devices, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee so that there’s no risk in trying it for yourself.

Read our in-depth IPVanish review for more information on this provider.

5. Bitdefender VPN - reliable Comcast VPN for privacy

Bitdefender’s the best Comcast Xfinity VPN due to fast speeds, robust security, and a free version for day-to-day use, all for an inexpensive price.

When using Bitdefender VPN premium, my in-house tests saw average download speeds of 415 Mbps on a 500 Mbps connection. Some far-away servers struggled more, but overall results were consistent. Thanks to these speeds and Bitdefender’s strong unblocking potential, I could easily stream blocked content libraries in HD, like Netflix Japan and Hulu in the US. This makes it a good choice for bypassing Comcast content library blocks in certain regions.

Bitdefender relies on a powerful proprietary VPN protocol called Hydra Catapult, as well as offering OpenVPN and WireGuard. Hydra is a top choice among gamers and streamers thanks to its optimized speeds that avoid lag and high pings. While it lacks support for router installations, you can connect up to 10 devices at a time. You can also access P2P-enabled servers on the Premium plans, but not on the free version. When I tested torrenting on a handful of servers, I saw speeds close to my original baseline – Bitdefender lets you torrent on any server within its fleet of 4000 servers in 50 countries.

Bitdefender VPN pricing starts from $2.92/month when you sign up with a Bitdefender coupon code. While there’s a free version of the VPN, it limits you to just 3 locations and a 500 MB data cap – I recommend trying the 30-day money-back guarantee instead. This ensures you’ll have access to unrestricted speeds and enough servers to bypass ISP throttling on Xfinity or Cox.

There’s more on this VPN provider in our detailed Bitdefender VPN review.

Quick comparison table: Comcast Xfinity VPNs features

If you’re looking for key information to make your decision, I’ve compared the best Comcast Xfinity VPNs below, focusing on key features. Any of these providers will ensure your data can’t be tracked, nor your connection speeds throttled. They all performed well in my in-house unblocking tests with various websites, too.

How to add VPN to Xfinity router

Installing a VPN on your router means that you gain all of the benefits of your VPN on any device using that network, including unblocking, data security, and unhampered speeds. It also means you can use your VPN on devices like games consoles and TV sticks, which lack native VPN app support.

Adding a VPN to your router can be a fiddly process. Some routers don’t support VPN connections. However, Comcast Xfinity includes native VPN protections, as well as allowing third-party VPN installations. Make sure that your router is supported first, then you’ll be able to set it up quickly by following the below steps:

1. Input 10.0.0.1 into your browser URL bar to access your router remotely
2. Log into your router using the credentials printed on the back of the unit
3. Navigate to Gateway and then select At a glance
4. Enable Bridge Mode

Now, you’ve disabled the routing capabilities of your Xfinity router, allowing you to connect a VPN-enabled router of your choice. From here, you’ll need to set up your third-party VPN on that router by following the unique instructions for that provider. For example, for NordVPN:

1. Log in to your router (as with above instructions) – with my ISP, I simply visit https://192.168.01. For Comcast routers, it’s https://10.0.0.1
2. Configure your router
3. Look for the VPN client tab
4. Follow the router installation guidelines to proceed
5. Make sure to choose NordLynx as your protocol in the NordVPN app for the fastest speeds

Get NordVPN to avoid ISP restrictions

Xfinity VPN not working: 7 easy solutions

If your Xfinity VPN isn’t working, it could be due to interference from Xfinity settings, router configurations, your firewall’s configuration, or your VPN configuration. Here are some quick solutions to get you moving:

1. Disable advanced security: Check your Xfinity app for a setting called "Advanced security on the go." This could interfere with VPN connections, so try turning it off.
2. Check your router settings: If you’ve set up your VPN on the Gateway router, make sure that your router is set to “bridge mode” for it to work properly.
3. Check your VPN configuration: Double check your provider's configuration settings, your login credentials, and your connection settings.
4. Change your firewall settings: The Xfinity Gateway firewall can block VPNs, so check your firewall settings and try lowering the overall security level.
5. Adjust VPN protocol or server: Try another VPN server and protocol if you’re getting connections but can’t unblock services.
6. Try another VPN solution: Alternatively, try another VPN altogether if you’re using a VPN that isn’t recommended in this guide.
7. Contact Comcast Xfinity support: If all fails, I recommend getting in touch with Comcast. Remember, the ISP doesn’t actively block VPN connections, so you won’t get in trouble for asking for help.

If none of these tips work for you, I recommend switching to a VPN that I’ve tested with Comcast Xfinity to ensure success. NordVPN is the best Comcast Xfinity VPN and is straightforward to set up.

Is there any free VPN for Xfinity?

Xfinity offers a free built-in VPN tool called "Advanced Security on the Go." This gives you encrypted browsing on mobile devices for stronger protection on unsecured, public Wi-Fi networks. Unfortunately, it has drawbacks that include a lack of support for home networks, no option to switch servers, and an inability to effectively bypass geo-blocks.

As a result, you might choose to set up a VPN on your router. This is a simple process and offers protection for every Wi-Fi enabled device connected to the router, without the need for an individual installation on every device. However, free VPNs tend to not support router installation or will chew through data limits fast, so you’ll need a reliable alternative.

Instead of relying on limited free VPNs, I recommend using a premium VPN for Comcast that offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. This will let you use a fast and highly secure VPN for free so that you can test it out for yourself. Based on my in-house tests, NordVPN is the best choice for installation on a Comcast Xfinity Gateway router or third-party hardware.

Get NordVPN for Xfinity Gateway routers

How I found the best Comcast Xfinity VPN: testing methodology

I tested more than 20 VPNs for their security, speed, compatibility, and streaming/torrenting support to find the best Xfinity VPN. Only those with strong encryption, fast speeds, and reliable device compatibility made the cut.

1. Security and privacy: 30%

To ensure robust security, I tested each VPN to look for AES-256 encryption, secure VPN protocols like WireGuard and OpenVPN), and a strict no-logs policy. I also checked for IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks to confirm that your true location won’t be leaked when bypassing Xfinity restrictions. The best VPNs had kill switches, obfuscation features, and multi-hop connections for added anonymity.

2. Speed: 30%

Comcast Xfinity customers need fast speeds to avoid speed throttling that can impact on downloading, gaming, and streaming. I ran speed tests on several U.S. servers using Ookla Speedtest and measured the impact on my native 500 Mbps connection. VPNs had to maintain at least 80% of my base speed to be considered, though the best retained up to 96%. Providers with WireGuard or in-house protocols scored the best, while I excluded those with slow or inconsistent speeds.

3. Compatibility: 20%

I tested each VPN with multiple devices, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and various hardware routers to make sure they worked with Xfinity connections. VPNs that had dedicated router support scored higher in my in-house tests, while those requiring complex manual setup scored lower. I awarded extra points for unlimited simultaneous connections or generous device limits.

4. Streaming and torrenting support: 20%

Since speed throttling and content blocks can be a problem according to customers, I tested each VPN with Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Prime Video, besides other streaming services. I also vetted P2P performance on BitTorrent clients. My chosen VPNs had to consistently unblock content, and I awarded bonus points for optimized servers for streaming or torrenting.

Comcast Xfinity VPNs: FAQ

What is the best VPN for Xfinity?

NordVPN is the best VPN for Xfinity, offering the fastest available speeds, powerful anti-detection and data-encryption security measures, and the ability to unblock any site. During my in-house tests, NordVPN peaked at 468Mbps, while allowing me to access US streaming services from the UK.

Does Xfinity VPN slow down internet speed?

Yes, Xfinity VPN and all other VPNs slow your connection a little, as your internet traffic has to be routed first through the VPN server, before reaching its destination. However, the best VPNs minimize this speed impact. NordVPN, for example, retained 96% of my original download speeds during in-house tests.

Does NordVPN bypass Xfinity throttling?

Yes, NordVPN effectively bypasses Xfinity throttling by hiding your IP address and thus your online activity. Comcast will not be able to identify you, nor the online activities you’re engaged in. This means they won’t be able to throttle your connection and impact on your gaming, streaming, and torrenting.

Does Xfinity block VPN connections?

No, Xfinity does not block VPN connections, so you’re free to choose a reliable VPN to bypass blocks, avoid throttling, and keep your data secure. I recommend NordVPN, which performed well on all fronts during my in-house tests.

How do I install NordVPN on my Xfinity router?

You can install NordVPN on your router by logging into the router admin, locating the VPN setup tab, and choosing the option to add a server. You'll need your VPN credentials, so choose a reliable VPN and check out our guide to installing a VPN on your router if you get stuck.