What Is Xfinity NOW Internet and How Does It Work?

Xfinity NOW Internet is a prepaid home internet service with two plans: 100 Mbps for $30/month and 200 Mbps for $45/month. Both include unlimited data and an Xfinity Gateway, with no annual contract or credit check.

You pay in advance, and the service automatically renews each month unless you turn off autopay. Unlike regular Xfinity Internet, NOW tops out at 200 Mbps and requires the included Gateway, so you can’t use your own modem.

I briefly covered NOW while comparing Xfinity Internet plans, but here I’ll focus on how its prepaid billing, equipment, eligibility, and cancellation actually work.

Both plans include unlimited data and the NOW Internet Gateway, with taxes and fees included. Actual speeds can vary.

Getting started is fairly straightforward:

Choose a plan → Check your address → Pay in advance → Get the Gateway → Connect it → Activate service

Your address has to qualify for NOW Internet first. Xfinity checks availability during the ordering process before you can complete the purchase. One thing necessary to understand here is what Xfinity means by prepaid.

You aren’t manually buying another month every time your service expires. Xfinity requires autopay during signup, and your plan automatically renews after each prepaid service period unless you turn off automatic payments.

So, I would describe NOW Internet as a month-to-month internet subscription paid in advance, rather than the traditional idea of topping up prepaid service whenever you need it.

You can also switch between NOW100 and NOW200. An upgrade can take effect immediately, while a downgrade takes effect after the existing prepaid period ends. Xfinity says you won’t receive a refund for the difference when downgrading.

This is where NOW Internet differs from regular Xfinity internet service: you cannot bring your own modem or Gateway. Xfinity requires you to use the equipment included with the plan.

Xfinity identifies the included device as an XB3 Gateway (TG1682P), provided with the Getting Started Kit for self-installation.

Since I’ve covered Xfinity Gateways on NogenTech, one practical point is worth mentioning: if the Gateway doesn’t connect during setup, check the power and coax connection first before moving to further troubleshooting.

Another limitation is WiFi customization. Xfinity says the default WiFi name and password printed on the NOW Gateway cannot be changed. That gives you less control than using your own router and is worth considering before signing up.

What Happens to the Gateway If You Cancel?

Surprisingly, you don’t have to return it.

Xfinity says the NOW Gateway doesn’t need to be returned after cancellation and recommends recycling it instead. The Gateway also has a 90-day warranty.

NOW Internet is available only at qualifying addresses within Xfinity’s service footprint, and customers must be 18 or older.

There are also some exclusions that are easy to miss.

According to Xfinity’s eligibility information, NOW Internet isn’t available with certain existing services, including Bulk Video, Bulk Internet, Managed WiFi, and WiFi Ready, and it isn’t offered at fiber properties.

If you already have regular Xfinity Internet, you generally can’t just add NOW Internet alongside it. You may need to disconnect incompatible existing Xfinity services first, although Xfinity Mobile can remain.

That’s why the $30 plan shouldn’t be viewed as simply another speed tier sitting underneath regular Xfinity Internet.

I’ve already compared Xfinity’s regular internet plans in detail, so there isn’t much value in repeating all of those speeds and prices here. The practical difference is simpler:

So if you need 500 Mbps, Gigabit, multi-gig speeds, or greater hardware flexibility, regular Xfinity makes more sense.

If 100–200 Mbps is enough and predictable prepaid pricing matters more, NOW becomes much more interesting.

If you turn off autopay, your connection continues working until the prepaid period you’ve already purchased ends. After that, the service is paused.

Xfinity gives you up to 180 days to restart paused NOW Internet service. Leave it paused beyond that period, and the service is canceled.

That flexibility could be useful for students, temporary living arrangements, or anyone who doesn’t need a permanent year-round connection. But there’s an important catch.

Once NOW Internet has been activated, Xfinity says service payments aren’t refundable or prorated. Its standard 30-day money-back guarantee also doesn’t apply to NOW Internet.

In other words, turning off autopay prevents the next renewal; it doesn’t refund the unused portion of the month you’ve already purchased.

For many people, yes.

Look at NOW100 if you have a smaller household mainly browsing, streaming video, joining video calls, working online, and using everyday connected devices.

NOW200 gives you more breathing room when several people or devices are using the connection simultaneously.

Keep in mind that buying a 200 Mbps plan doesn’t mean every phone or laptop will constantly measure exactly 200 Mbps over WiFi. Xfinity describes these as “up to” speeds, while your device, WiFi conditions, interference, and distance from the Gateway can all affect actual performance.

I think NOW Internet makes the most sense when simplicity matters more than raw speed.

For $30 or $45 per month, you’re getting home internet, unlimited data, the required Gateway, and predictable prepaid billing without an annual contract.

I’d consider it for a smaller household, renter, student, budget-conscious user, or anyone who simply doesn’t need hundreds of extra megabits sitting unused.

I’d probably skip it if I wanted more than 200 Mbps, my own modem, newer Xfinity Gateway hardware, or greater control over my home network.

There’s also one other limitation worth knowing: NOW Internet currently doesn’t include Xfinity WiFi hotspot access. Xfinity instead offers hotspot connectivity separately through its NOW WiFi Pass.