DIRECTV vs. Xfinity TV

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

Compared to DIRECTV, 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 upfront. 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 compared to DIRECTV's satellite packages. DIRECTV via Internet packages offer almost the same amount of channels as Xfinity TV.

If you think that $159.99 a month is a huge pile of cash for 150+ channels, you aren’t wrong. DIRECTV's satellite TV service has among the priciest packages currently available. Thankfully, its internet plans offer about 20 more channels per package.

Even on the less expensive end, DIRECTV charges a healthy amount of cash for only 75–90 channels, making it a poor choice for anyone looking to get the best bang for their buck. Especially when compared to Xfinity's $50 plan with 125+ channels.

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

DIRECTV offers the choice between a satellite or an internet connection for its packages. Satellite plans require a two-year contract while DIRECTV's internet plans do not. Needless to say, we recommend the internet plans for those looking to avoid contracts.

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 is quite transparent with little to no hidden fees.

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

All DIRECTV internet or satellite packages include your first DVR device; however, DIRECTV still charges a $15 monthly advanced receiver fee. (Which is just like a renter's fee.) You get the Genie DVR with satellite plans and the Gemini Air DVR with internet plans.

If we compare Xfinity TV's and DIRECTV'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 and Xfinity offer deals that bring down your monthly cost. As you’ll likely want an internet connection for your home, bundling DIRECTV or Xfinity TV is a smart way to keep everything in one place.

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

CenturyLink's internet speeds are perfect for homes that love streaming online content from services such as Netflix or 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, CenturyLink with DIRECTV offers speedier selections perfect for homes with dozens of gadgets.

If you’re looking to binge-watch television, you won’t feel dissatisfied streaming with either DIRECTV 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.

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

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

We’d also like to note that all DIRECTV packages include three free months of Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME®, MGM+, STARZ, and Cinemax. And the PREMIER package includes all those channels (besides MGM+) in your subscription.

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 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 offers the best DVR solution.

With Xfinity TV, you’ll find yourself paying around $15 a month for a limited DVR (hours). However, for the same price, DIRECTV gives you access to a cloud DVR with unlimited recording time or device storage without expiration.

DIRECTV offers the Genie DVR with satellite plans and the Gemini Air with internet plans. The Genie offers 200 HD hours of storage, and your recordings never expire. The Gemini Air offers cloud-based storage, unlimited hours, and your recordings last up to 9 months. DIRECTV includes your first upgraded DVR device, but with its $15 monthly advanced receiver fee, you might as well be renting your DVR.

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.

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 can operate on the streaming devices you already have at home, eliminating the need for a dedicated cable box.

• Pricing and contracts: Streaming with DIRECTV doesn’t require any contracts, while its satellite plans rope you in for two years. 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 still offers a healthy selection.
• DVR: DIRECTV provides 200 (satellite) to unlimited (internet) recording hours out of the gate. However, Xfinity TV is more stingy, and you’ll find yourself paying $15 a month for 600 hours of storage time.