Comcast’s NOW is an ongoing prepaid product family, not a new 2026 launch. Introduced on May 9, 2024, it offers NOW Internet from an advertised $30 a month and NOW Mobile from $25 per line. There is no annual contract or credit check, but availability is tied to eligible addresses in the Xfinity footprint, and NOW Mobile requires active Xfinity Internet or NOW Internet.
The practical trade-off is straightforward: NOW can lower a qualifying household’s fixed monthly bill, but mobile data may be managed after 20 GB per line, hotspot service costs extra and runs at 3G speeds, and some homes and existing Xfinity bundles cannot use the service.
What Comcast NOW is
Comcast launched NOW as a prepaid portfolio containing NOW Internet, NOW Mobile, NOW TV and NOW WiFi Pass. Comcast’s launch announcement describes all-in monthly pricing, no annual contract, no credit check, and the ability to pause or cancel through the Xfinity app, website or an Xfinity Store. The announcement is dated May 9, 2024; current availability and checkout pricing should be verified at the NOW portal.
“Phone plans” here means cellular mobile service, not a traditional Comcast home-phone line. NOW Mobile is integrated with Comcast home internet rather than being a generally available standalone prepaid carrier.
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Comcast says NOW uses its Xfinity network for wired internet and nationwide 5G plus Comcast’s Wi-Fi network for mobile. The launch announcement cited access to more than 23 million Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots, but hotspots do not guarantee cellular coverage or uninterrupted service. Comcast’s mobile agreement allows network operation, prioritization and speed policies to change.
“Nationwide” therefore means within eligible parts of Comcast’s footprint, not every U.S. address.
Current advertised prices
NOW Internet
| Tier | Advertised monthly price | Advertised download | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOW Internet | From $30 | 100 Mbps | Unlimited data and an Xfinity gateway |
| Faster tier | $15 more (apparently $45) | Up to 200 Mbps | Unlimited data and an Xfinity gateway |
The original launch announcement listed $30 for 100 Mbps and $45 for 200 Mbps. The current NOW page still says Internet starts at $30 and describes the faster tier as $15 more. Prices are advertised and can vary by address or change before checkout.
Comcast’s own pages conflict on the faster tier’s upload speed: one says up to 200 Mbps/20 Mbps, while another says 200 Mbps/10 Mbps. Check the speed displayed for your address during checkout rather than treating either figure as universal. Advertised speeds are not guaranteed.
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| Lines | Monthly service price | One-time setup |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $25 | $25 per line |
| 2 | $50 | $25 per line |
| 3 | $75 | $25 per line |
| 4 | $100 | $25 per line |
| 5 | $125 | $25 per line |
The current mobile disclosures show $25 per line, up to five lines, plus a one-time $25 setup fee for each line. Comcast’s launch announcement described bundled Internet and Mobile pricing “as low as $55 a month”; that was a 2024 launch claim, not a guarantee of every current cart.
Optional mobile services
- Mexico-and-Canada Unlimited Pass: $5 per month per line.
- Personal hotspot: $5 per month per line; hotspot data is unlimited at 3G speeds.
Optional services and one-time fees mean “all-in” monthly positioning does not eliminate every possible charge.
What the mobile plan includes—and what “unlimited” means
NOW Mobile advertises unlimited talk, text and data, nationwide 5G, up to five lines, no annual contract, no credit check, and the ability to pause and resume service. However, the disclosures say Comcast may reduce speeds or manage traffic after 20 GB of cellular data use per line in a month, particularly during congestion.
Service continues after 20 GB, but this is not premium, always-full-speed unlimited data. The separate $5 hotspot option is especially restrictive for laptop tethering or backup broadband because Comcast limits it to 3G speeds.
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Who is eligible?
NOW Internet
You generally must be at least 18 and have a serviceable address in the Xfinity footprint. Use the NOW address checker rather than a general Xfinity availability result. According to Comcast’s support overview, NOW Internet may be unavailable at:
- Some fiber properties.
- Bulk-video, bulk-internet, managed-WiFi or WiFi Ready properties.
- Homes retaining most other Xfinity services, apart from Xfinity Mobile.
Thus an address can receive ordinary Xfinity service and still fail NOW eligibility.
NOW Mobile
NOW Mobile generally requires active NOW Internet or active Xfinity Internet. The NOW Mobile FAQ confirms that customers in Comcast’s footprint with one of those qualifying services can apply. Someone seeking only a prepaid phone line, with no qualifying home internet, will normally need another carrier.
Prepaid operation and equipment
Payment is made in advance online with an accepted credit, debit or prepaid card. Current terms and purchase screens indicate autopay and paperless billing are required. There is no credit check or annual contract, and Comcast advertises pause and cancellation controls, but the retrieved terms do not establish whether cancellation ends service immediately or at the end of the paid period.
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NOW Internet normally requires self-installation and activation of a refurbished gateway. Comcast’s support overview indicates professional installation is generally unavailable, although another sales page contains conflicting language; confirm the installation option shown for your address. The Internet terms also describe service limited to one outlet, a maximum advertised tier of 200 Mbps, unlimited data, and no standard Xfinity 30-day money-back guarantee. Review the applicable equipment policy for warranty and return details.
Phones, BYOD and number transfers
The purchase flow supports buying a phone from Comcast or bringing a compatible device. If you bring your own phone, Comcast lets you check compatibility with the device’s IMEI. Number transfers from another U.S. carrier are supported through the mobile setup flow.
- Confirm the phone is unlocked and, if financed, fully paid off.
- Check IMEI compatibility before ordering.
- Verify whether the handset uses eSIM, a physical SIM or both.
- Confirm supported network bands for your specific model.
- Keep the old carrier active until the number transfer completes.
The official pages establish IMEI checking and number portability, but not a universal list of handset-specific requirements.
Switching from regular Xfinity
Downgrading to NOW Internet may require removing other Xfinity services first. That can affect television, voice, premium add-ons, promotional discounts, equipment and existing billing. Before changing service, ask Comcast for the final monthly bill, equipment-return instructions and confirmation of what happens to any device financing, credits or bundled discounts. Eligibility for Xfinity Mobile can also change if qualifying home internet is disconnected.
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Do not assume a current promotional rate, TV package or gateway can carry over automatically. Get the result in the cart or in written account documentation before canceling anything.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How NOW compares with alternatives
| Need | NOW’s position | Alternative to investigate |
|---|---|---|
| Low-cost wired home internet in the Xfinity footprint | 100 or 200 Mbps advertised tiers, unlimited data, prepaid billing | T-Mobile 5G Home Internet or Verizon 5G Home Internet, subject to address-specific availability and terms |
| Standalone prepaid phone service | Usually unavailable without Xfinity or NOW Internet | Visible, Metro by T-Mobile or US Mobile |
| Qualifying low-income household | NOW eligibility and pricing still apply | Xfinity Internet Essentials; verify eligibility and current price |
Competitor prices, promotions, coverage and prioritization are not stated here because they vary and were not verified for the same date. Compare each provider’s address-specific cart, taxes, equipment, hotspot terms and post-promotion price.
Who should consider NOW?
Potentially good fit
- A household at an eligible Xfinity address that wants a predictable prepaid bill.
- Renters, seasonal users or people avoiding a credit check and annual contract.
- Light-to-moderate internet users satisfied with 100–200 Mbps download.
- An Xfinity or NOW Internet customer adding an inexpensive second mobile line.
- Someone who prefers wired broadband to fixed wireless and can self-install.
Likely poor fit
- Anyone outside the Comcast footprint or in an excluded fiber, bulk or managed property.
- A shopper seeking a standalone prepaid phone plan.
- People who regularly use more than 20 GB of cellular data per line.
- Anyone needing fast hotspot tethering, gigabit download or materially faster upload.
- Customers who need professional installation or must retain incompatible Xfinity services.
- Users requiring international service beyond the available add-on and applicable terms.
- Anyone unwilling to use online card payments, autopay and paperless billing.
How to sign up without surprises
- Open the NOW shopping portal.
- Select NOW Internet, NOW Mobile or another NOW product.
- For Internet, enter the address and select Check address; review the 100 Mbps or 200 Mbps option actually offered.
- For Mobile, select a new phone or bring your own device and enter its IMEI for compatibility checking.
- Review recurring prices, the $25-per-line mobile setup fee, add-ons and any displayed taxes or terms.
- Provide the requested information and create or use an Xfinity ID.
- Pay with an accepted card and confirm autopay and paperless-billing requirements.
- For Internet, self-install and activate the gateway when the kit arrives.
- For a number transfer, follow Comcast’s porting instructions and keep the old account active until the port is complete.
Common problems and what they mean
“Xfinity is available, but NOW is not”
That usually reflects a product-specific restriction such as fiber, bulk housing, managed Wi-Fi or another property rule. Recheck the exact address in the NOW portal.
An existing Xfinity customer cannot add NOW Internet
Other Xfinity services may have to be removed first. Obtain a final-bill and equipment-impact explanation before switching.
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That is normally an eligibility rule, not a checkout defect: Comcast requires Xfinity Internet or NOW Internet.
The bill or speed differs from an article or advertisement
Use the address-specific checkout cart as the authority. Comcast says prices can change, and its pages currently conflict on whether the 200 Mbps tier uploads at 10 Mbps or 20 Mbps.
A phone promotion appears to be expired
Some pages still display 2025 promotional copy. Treat handset discounts, port-in bonuses and waived fees as valid only when the live cart explicitly applies them.
The Bottom Line
NOW is best understood as a low-cost, tightly integrated Comcast alternative—not a universally available standalone prepaid carrier. It can work well for an eligible Xfinity-footprint household that values prepaid billing and modest broadband speeds. The mobile eligibility rule, 20 GB congestion threshold, 3G hotspot, setup fee and property restrictions make it a poor substitute for independent wireless or higher-performance internet for many households.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
