DIRECTV STREAM vs. Xfinity TV

Choosing the best television service for your home can appear daunting with so many choices available, but don’t fret. We’re here to help you find the perfect solution for you, and to do that, we’re taking a deep dive into DIRECTV STREAM and Xfinity TV.

Let’s find out which of these two television providers is the best match for your needs.

Compared to DIRECTV STREAM, Xfinity TV starts at a much lower price, and its most expensive package includes nearly one hundred more channels at what appears to be a fraction of the cost.

With many cable packages, the price you first see isn’t the bottom line, so it’s essential that you dig a bit deeper under the surface to find the true price.

However, Xfinity TV isn’t as cheap as it seems up front. Once we explore the service’s additional fees, you’ll see that Xfinity TV also comes out much higher than first expected.

The short answer is that both services are around the same prices once all fees are included, but Xfinity TV does give you a few more channels for your money.

If you think that $139.99 a month is a huge pile of cash for 140+ channels, you aren’t wrong. DIRECTV STREAM has among the priciest packages currently available.

Even on the less expensive end, DIRECTV STREAM charges a healthy amount of cash for only 65+ channels, making it a poor choice for anyone looking to get the best bang for their buck.

Xfinity TV’s plans do appear much more affordable at first than DIRECTV STREAM’s offerings, but they are surrounded by additional fees that we explore below.

Additionally, for Xfinity TV’s Popular and Ultimate plans, a 1-year contract is required. If you try to cancel your contract early, you’ll find yourself hit with early termination fees (more below).

Unlike DIRECTV STREAM, which doesn’t require contracts, if you wish to save a few extra bucks on your service you’ll be roped into a contract.

Xfinity TV’s Popular and Ultimate plans are the prices mentioned above, only if you opt for the company’s yearly contract. Attempting to leave the contract early could result in pricey early termination fees of $10 per remaining month on your plan.

While Xfinity TV appears to be a bargain initially, the company includes some of the most expensive additional fees that we’ve seen. If you are considering Xfinity TV for your home, be sure to keep an eye out for any other fees that will increase your monthly cost by using the chart provided below.

On the other hand, DIRECTV STREAM is quite transparent with little to no hidden fees.

Additionally, you don’t need to purchase a TV box from DIRECTV STREAM if you already have a media streaming box. DIRECTV STREAM can stream directly via Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast, Apple TV, Android, iOS, and select Samsung televisions.

If you wish to purchase a TV box from DIRECTV STREAM, you can either purchase it upfront for $120 or over 24 months at 0% APR for $5 per month.

If we compare Xfinity TV and DIRECTV STREAM’s base packages, the two come out to a near equal price after adding on Xfinity TV’s additional charges. However, Xfinity TV still gives you over twice as many channels, making it a better deal for the money.

Bundling can help bring down the cost of your bill.

When you choose to bundle multiple services, DIRECTV STREAM and Xfinity offer deals that bring down your monthly cost. As you’ll likely want an internet connection for your home, bundling DIRECTV STREAM or Xfinity TV is a smart way to keep everything in one place.

DIRECTV STREAM and Xfinity both offer a plethora of bundles available, so we’ve highlighted some of the favorites that we think would be beneficial to you.

DIRECTV STREAM and internet bundles are more expensive when initially compared to Xfinity, but the company offers much faster internet speeds.

AT&T’s internet speeds are perfect for homes that love streaming online content from services such as Netflix or HBO Max. It’s also an excellent choice for families with video gamers in the house.

As with Xfinity’s TV bundles, it is essential to remember that prices may not be as low as you see once all hidden costs are added on top of the bundle prices.

Additionally, while Xfinity might make a good choice for some households, those requiring faster internet plans may want to look elsewhere. While Xfinity’s internet speeds are decent, AT&T with DIRECTV STREAM offers speedier selections perfect for homes with dozens of gadgets.

If you’re looking to binge-watch television, you won’t feel dissatisfied with either DIRECTV STREAM or Xfinity. Both services provide the most popular channels available.

Before purchasing your selected package, make sure that any specific channels you love are included. Not every package with either provider offers the same content.

Here are a few popular channels and their availability on each service.

For more details on channels provided with each package, we recommend you check out our full reviews of both DIRECTV STREAM and Xfinity TV.

If you’re a movie addict, you’ll feel at home on either service, as both DIRECTV STREAM and Xfinity TV offer a host of premium channels.

Both DIRECTV STREAM and Xfinity TV offer premium channels at similar prices, with a slight edge being given to DIRECTV STREAM. However, we don’t think the prices are different enough to influence your purchasing decision.

We’d also like to note that select DIRECTV STREAM packages, such as Choice and Ultimate, include three free months of HBO Max. 

For many customers, a service’s available sports channels can be the main deciding factor for purchasing a plan.

Xfinity TV does offer a more extensive selection of sports channels, but that doesn’t mean DIRECTV STREAM is left in a spot of shame as it still provides a healthy offering.

We recommend picking the network with the sports channels that you intend to watch, rather than which network simply offers more.

A DVR allows you to record your favorite programs so that you can watch them later at a more convenient time. It is perfect for individuals with busy days or those who work at night and can’t catch the shows or events they want to watch.

There is no doubt that out of the two providers, DIRECTV STREAM offers the best DVR solution.

With Xfinity TV, you’ll find yourself paying around $15 a month for a limited DVR (hours). However, for only $10 a month, DIRECTV STREAM gives you access to a cloud DVR with unlimited recording time.

If you don’t want to shell out any money, DIRECTV STREAM will still provide you with 20 hours of recording time. Xfinity, on the other hand, doesn’t offer anything free.

Not all versus pieces we write have a strict winner. Sometimes two services have their balances of pros and cons where the best option will depend on precisely what you need.

Xfinity TV is likely the best option for those seeking a more traditional television service, even after its hidden fees. When placed head to head, Xfinity TV simply offers more channels than DIRECTV STREAM.

However, you’ll want to be careful with Xfinity TV. As you add on more packages and features, the service can quickly become more expensive than its competition.

We also love that DIRECTV STREAM can operate on the streaming devices you already have at home, eliminating the need for a dedicated cable box.

• Pricing and contracts: DIRECTV STREAM doesn’t require any contracts, and its pricing is more upfront than Xfinity without hidden fees. However, many customers will still benefit from Xfinity’s pricing structure as it will typically include more channels in the end. We also don’t mind Xfinity’s contract too much as it only lasts a single year and does give you a sizable discount of $20-30 a month.
• Channels: When it comes to the most popular channels, both services are likely to have them. However, Xfinity TV does offer more channels, in the end, so be sure to check both services for any more niche channels you might be interested in.
• Sports channels: For sports fans, Xfinity TV comes through in the end with the most sports options, but DIRECTV STREAM still offers a healthy selection.
• DVR: Out of the gate, DIRECTV STREAM provides you with 20-hours of free recording time, and it only costs $10 to upgrade to unlimited recording time. However, Xfinity TV is more stingy, and you’ll find yourself paying $15 a month for 600 hours of storage time.