Comcast vs Starlink: As the internet becomes a staple in many homes, more and more ISPs continue to invade the already crowded market.
Two of the most popular services are Starlink and Comcast, which have varying business models and offerings.
Having been fortunate to test various ISPs, I will give you a detailed comparison of Comcast vs Starlink today.
I will cover their performance, availability, pricing, and other factors to help you choose the best for your needs.
Comcast vs Starlink: Service Availability
Being a satellite ISP, Starlink is virtually everywhere. The company aims to provide speedy internet in remote and underserved areas worldwide.
Starlink has over 4,000 satellites and plans to launch many more in the quest to be available globally.
With this ISP, you do not expect the service to drop in performance despite where you reside. It also has a roaming plan you can use while on the go.
However, Starlink services may be at full capacity in some areas, which puts you on a waitlist when you apply.
I would recommend visiting their website and entering your areas to check availability in your location.
In contrast, Comcast, which owns Xfinity, is a fiber and cable internet service available in about 40 states in the US.
While it is the largest internet service provider in the US, it is most limited to urban and suburban areas.
The fiber optic and cable infrastructure required to provide its services does not exist in rural and remote areas.
Therefore, Starlink internet service has a wider coverage than Comcast
Comcast vs Starlink: Data Delivery
Since Comcast is a cable and fiber optic ISP, it delivers its data through copper coaxial cables.
It also uses fiber optical cables made of glass to deliver data at the speed of light for fiber internet.
These cables and fiber optics are usually buried underground to keep them safe and prevent interferences.
Using wired technologies helps the company to deliver data at a higher speed than wireless internet.
However, fiber optics is much more stable and faster than traditional cable.
On the other hand, Starlink uses satellite to provide its services and hence the global reach.
Starlink, unlike other satellite companies, uses LEO satellites launched near the Earth to enhance data transmission speed.
These satellites communicate to a ground station, and a phased array technology antennae is installed at the customer’s terminal.
Fiber optic cable
Comcast vs Starlink: Latency and Stability
Latency is the time between sending and receiving data from your computer to a server.
It determines how well you perform VoIPs, Zoom calls, and other latency-reliance activities like gaming.
Generally, fiber has the lowest latency of even one digit, followed by cable.
For this reason, you can expect Comcast latency to be below 25 ms, which is good for real-time online activities.
Moreover, this latency is stable and does not often fluctuate without network congestion.
Conversely, traditional satellite internet has the highest latency, usually more than 500ms, making it unsuitable for real-time tasks.
The figure is mainly due to the time taken for a request to travel from your device to a satellite in space and back.
However, using satellites only 550 km from the Earth, Starlink has lowered its latency to 20 to 40 ms.
On the downside, this figure is unstable and can be affected by weather, obstructions, and electromagnetic interference.
Satellite internet
Comcast vs Starlink: Data Caps
Data caps in ISPs determine how much internet data you can use per month.
In this regard, Starlink wins the data cap battle as it does not have any in its residential plan.
You can, therefore, use as much data as you require, which is an advantage for heavy internet users.
The ISP does not throttle your speed if you reach any threshold. However, some plans, such as aviation and maritime, have data caps and speed throttling.
In contrast, Comcast’s plans feature a monthly 1.2TB data cap unless you are on its business package.
While this may seem a lot for an average user, it can be depleted easily if you are a game.
The good news is that the company offers an unlimited data plan for an extra $30 per month. Also, consider opting for an additional 10GB for just $10.
Comcast vs Starlink: Equipment
To enjoy any ISP service, you will need their equipment and installation. For Starlink, you require a Starlink kit, which comprises a dish, router, cable, and a tripod mount.
You can get these gadgets by ordering from the Starlink shop or buying used equipment.
You may also require extra Starlink accessories, such as specialized mounts, WiFi extenders, and ethernet adapters, depending on your installation requirements.
In contrast, you will only need a gateway that combines a modem and a router to access the Comcast internet. You can opt to purchase permanently or rent this device from the ISP.
If the fiber terminal is not in your home, you will also require installation.
Starlink equipment
Comcast vs Starlink: Pricing
Regarding pricing, Starlink takes the type of equipment approach rather than speed. For example, residential and roam plan equipment goes for a one-time fee of $599.
However, roaming/RV is more expensive in terms of monthly subscription, going for $150 compared to $120 for residential. The company also offers a business plan package for $2500 for equipment and $250 monthly.
It also has other plans, such as Maritime and Aviation, which have varying costs. The maritime costs are the same as the business plan but come with tight data caps.
Its Aviation plan price ranges between $12,000 to $25,000 per month plus a one-time equipment fee of $150,000.
In contrast, Comcast plans are based on speed, with higher-speed plans being more expensive than low-speed plans. Its plans range between $40 to $120 per month, depending on your location and chosen plan.
You may also incur extra costs in installation and purchasing /renting the gateway device. However, the overall cost of Comcast seems cheaper than that of Starlink.
Comcast vs Starlink: Internet and Gaming
When you want an internet service for gaming, you will consider factors such as ping/latency and speed. While both networks are good for gaming, according to my research, Comcast is more suitable.
For starters, it has very low pings of even a single digit, which can be the determining factor in winning real-time games. It also features high speeds of even more than 1Gbps with no downtimes or interferences.
On the other hand, while Starlink can be used for gaming, it may not be suitable for real-time professional ones. It is only good for low-demanding home recreational games.
Although the service has a lower ping than conventional satellite ISPs, it is still insufficient for an excellent gaming response time. Additionally, its speeds are lower and are dependent on factors such as weather.
Gaming control
Comcast vs Starlink: Customer care
Customer care is vital, especially when you encounter internet problems. For Starlink, there is no way to contact them via email or a dedicated phone number.
You must log into your account and raise a ticket with your issue. The good news is that they respond and will help you solve your problem.
Conversely, Comcast has a dedicated 24/7 phone number that you can call for support. However, the problem is you may have to wait for long before anyone can receive it.
Even then, according to my experience, most Comcast customer care agents do not know the network well. Therefore, between the two services, Starlink has better customer support.
Comcast vs Starlink: Which One is Best for Your Needs?
Generally, the best internet for your needs depends on where you live and your intended usage.
Bearing this in mind, I would recommend Comcast if you are an urban dweller with low latency speedy internet for gaming. According to our discussion, it is cheaper, faster, and with very low latencies.
However, if you reside in remote areas where other services are limited or nonexistent, try Starlink. After all, it’s also very fast, with considerable pings and uncapped data plans.
Conclusion
My research shows Comcast seems miles better than Starlink regarding pricing, speed, latency, and reliability.
However, that is not to say Starlink is a bad network, especially considering availability.
It keeps improving its performance, and we can only hope it improves once it achieves its constellation launch target.