Comcast Xfinity TV Service Review

Comcast Xfinity TV is a name most of us have heard. It's widely known, reliable, and is an overall great cable TV provider with a variety of plans and price ranges. But is it worth the total amount at checkout?

Xfinity TV  is #1 because it has a fair dollar-to-channel ratio (keeping costs down!), a basic package that starts at the low price of $50 per month, and it's the most widely available cable TV provider in the US—meaning its both cost effective and available to most Americans.

At first glance, the monthly pricing doesn't seem too high, however there are a lot of fees to consider before pulling the trigger on your service.

Without further adieu, let's dive into the details of Xfinity's contract, channels, and excellent DVR so you can make an informed decision and get on with the TV watching and family time.

Now, in comparison to Spectrum and Cox, Xfinity is a little more expensive when it comes to the basic package, but when it comes to channels, you get the most out of your money with Xfinity.

Xfinity's Popular package gives you more than 125 channels, while other competitors don't offer that high of a channel count in their entry-level package.

Unless you live in one of the four states Optimum is offered, you won't find another reliable cable TV provider that offers plans with up to 185 channels for less than $100.

Xfinity is a trusted company that gives you all of the most popular channels, and if you're ready to commit, you won't regret signing up for one year of great cable service (but check out Xfinity's unfortunate fees list below before you do any committing).

It's 2022. It's about time a TV provider offered international packages or add-ons. Xfinity offers international packages and add-ons (you'll find these options at checkout) for the following languages:

Add these extras to your existing TV package for $6.99-$39.99.

Xfinity offers packages for Spanish speakers. Check out the two Latino TV and internet bundles Xfinity offers, and get 50+ Spanish-language channels on your TV (you'll find these options at checkout).

Xfinity has a contract and no-contract option, but the contract is more beneficial than you might think.

When you sign the 1-year agreement, you'll save $10-$20 monthly during your first year. We think that's a pretty big deal.

But although you save money the first year with Popular TV and Ultimate TV, regular pricing will be applied to your bill for year two and onward.

If you opt for the no-contract option, your monthly prices are increased by $10-$20 a month for both plans. We'll give you an idea of the cost for each available plan so you know how much you'll need to budget for next year.

Ok, this is by far the biggest list of fees (some might say hidden costs) we've seen from a TV provider (sheesh, Xfinity).

If you're the average cable TV watcher, you're likely to need to pay all of the fees in the table below.

You'll definitely need a TV box ($7.50/month). You'll likely need an additional TV box for the TV room downstairs ($7.50/month). and you'll probably want 150 hours of DVR storage for the family to share ($10/month), news channels ($24.95/month), and sports channels ($19.15/month).

For all of this, expect to pay an additional $69 per month. WHAT?

This could be a deal-breaker because other TV providers don't have outrageous fees like this. DISH's service includes 125 HD hours of DVR storage, and there isn't a broadcasting or regional sports fee.

(Jump to the DVR section for more information on the TV box and DVR fees.)

Xfinity actually offers a Limited Basic package with 10+ channels when you choose to bundle. But as you can see in our best cable basic packages list, this channel lineup can include close to 90 channels (locations vary).

So why not take advantage of that along with a Wi-Fi connection that offers 100 Mbps download speeds for $50 per month? And keep in mind, that pricing is with the 1-year contract.

Your pricing will jump up to $80 per year after your contract is over, or Xfinity offers this bundle without a contract and charges you $70 per month for the entirety of your service.

This bundle includes the Popular TV package with more than 125 channels and download speeds of up to 600 Mbps.

This bundle is only offered without a contract, so you can expect steady pricing during your service. And who doesn't need the internet for working on your computer or Googling on your smartphone? Might as well bundle and pay one bill for zero hassle.

This Xfinity bundle also comes with the Cloud DVR 20, but you can upgrade to 150 hours of DVR storage for $10 per month or 300 hours for $20.

For $50 more than the Ultimate TV package by itself, you can get more than 185 channels on your TV, 600 Mbps download speeds, and 1.2 TB of data per month. 

(Xfinity's Superfast 600 Mbps internet plan is normally $60/month.)

If you decide to go the 1-year contract route, you'll be charged $140 monthly after your contract is over. Or you can opt out of the contract and pay $130 from the get-go.

You'll want 600 Mbps download speeds if you have a big family who is likely to use Wi-Fi on their laptops or cell phones all at once. Or it's beneficial for vloggers when they don't want to spend hours uploading and downloading videos.

Xfinity's entry-level package (Popular TV) have most, if not all, of the channels you'll want. And let's be honest, we like a good variety.

Expect to find favorites such as Disney Channel, ESPN, Food Network, Hallmark Channel, Nickelodeon, TNT, and all of your local channels.

When you upgrade to the Ultimate TV plan (for only $10 more, might we point out), you'll find channels like Cartoon Network, Cooking Channel, ESPNU, DIY Network, NFL Network, and Paramount Pictures.

We recommend you check out the channel lineups, but we'll give you a little sneak peek of which channels you'll receive with each package. Oh, and scroll down a little for the best section—the sports channels.

Xfinity's Popular package includes the following channels:

Xfinity's Ultimate package includes the following channels:

Xfinity has all of the premium channels. We like that convenience.

You won't have to miss out on the best premium shows and movies on TV, nor on catching up on Westworld, Power, Shameless, Warrior, or any other favorite shows.

You'll find all of these options at checkout, but we'll explain what some of these add-ons include:

• Xfinity's Streampix is an add-on for streaming TV shows, hit movies, and independent films commercial-free.
• Xfinity's More Sports & Entertainment add-on includes the NFL RedZone Channel, NFL Network, NBA TV, MLB TV, NHL Network, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), and more.
• Deportes gives you five Spanish-language sports channels.

Just like the channels highlighted above, you might have to look at the sports channel lineup for both plans to decide which is best for you.

With the Ultimate TV plan, you're going to get all of your major sports channels amongst a total of 13 sports channels. But, unlike other TV providers, you'll actually be losing some sports channels when upgrading from one package to another.

With the Popular TV package, you'll get a total of nine sports channels, including some that are hard to live without, like ESPN, ESPN 2, and FS1.

Xfinity's Popular package includes the following sports channels:

• AT&T SportsNet
• ESPN, ESPN2
• FS1, FS2
• Golf Channel
• PAC-12 Network
• Local Sports
• Tennis Channel

Xfinity's Ultimate package includes all of the above and the following sports channels:

Xfinity has a streaming option, and you'll just have to get Xfinity internet to use it and bundling will save you a little extra cash.

Xfinity Flex is free with Xfinity internet for customers without TV service.

As an Xfinity internet customer, you'll receive a free Flex 4K streaming device, Xfinity voice remote, and a subscription to NBC Peacock.

Xfinity's TV box will allow you to stream thousands of movies, the latest episodes of the top 100 shows, and many kids' TV programming.

Some of the on-demand movies and TV shows available to watch when you're winding down for the day are the following:

With the Flex 4K streaming device, you'll also be able to stream on Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, YouTube, and STARZ.

No one is home 24/7, on time, and ready to watch their favorite show at 7 p.m. every Monday.

This is where a DVR saves the day.

Xfinity's DVR lets you record and store 20, 150, or 300 HD hours and keep them indefinitely—no accidental erasing of that must-watch show or event. You'll also be able to record six shows at once. So if you go on a family vacation, your kid can record Phineas and Ferb, your spouse can record White Chicks, and you can record Saturday Night Live all at once.

One thing we must point out though is that your first TV box with Xfinity is just a “TV box”. When you order an additional, only then will you have the choice to get an X1 TV box.

To be honest, Xfinity’s website doesn’t specify what the “normal” TV box can and can’t do, but it lists out these features for the X1 TV box:

• HD picture supported
• Component video supported
• Digital audio (optical) connector
• Pause and rewind 60 minutes of live TV

Not all devices are created equal when it comes to Xfinity's Stream app because not all have the necessary hardware requirements.

If you're using Xfinity's Stream app on an Android device, the device must run Android 5.0 or later. If you're using an Apple device, the device must be running on iOS 13.0 or later. 

You can schedule and download DVR recordings or watch live TV with the following streaming devices:

• Amazon Fire TVs
• Apple TV+
• Roku TVs
• Roku Ultra, Roku Express, Roku Premiere
• Roku 2, 3, and 4
• Roku Smart Soundbar
• Samsung smart TVs
• LG smart TVs

These devices are currently not supported:

• Windows tablets or phones 
• Android TV
• Apple Watch
• Nook devices

Xfinity is for you if you want a solid channel lineup, a fairly-priced bundle, and a legit DVR. With this cable provider, you really do get what you pay for.

Xfinity isn't for you if you're looking for the lowest-cost cable package possible.

Xfinity might have a list of fees, but at least you won't be disappointed by Xfinity's service. This cable TV company is reliable, widely available, and you'll get most, if not all, of the channels you and your family want.

We recommend the Popular TV plan because it's only $49.99 per month for more than 125 channels.

If you're looking for a bundle, we recommend the Popular Double Play with 125+ channels and 200 Mbps download speeds for $100. But for larger families, we recommend the Ultimate Double Play with 185+ channels and 600 Mbps download speeds for $110 per month.

If Xfinity isn't available in your area or doesn't have the channel lineup you need, check out our top cable TV providers for other options. If you're trying to save as much money as possible, check out the cheapest cable TV providers.

Comcast Xfinity TV is better than DIRECTV, and we'll highlight their differences:

• Xfinity TV offers a 1-year contract with second-year price hikes of $20–$30, and a no-contract option but the prices are lower than DIRECTV.
• DIRECTV requires a 2-year contract, which includes second-year price hikes that nearly double your monthly bill.
• DIRECTV offers more than 330 channels, while Xfinity provides 185.
• Xfinity gives you most of the popular channels in the entry plan, which is $15 less than DIRECTV's.

Comcast Xfinity TV and DISH both have their ups and downs, so you will have to decide which is best for you and your home:

• Xfinity offers a 1-year commitment and no-contract option, and DISH gives you a 2-year and no-contract option. If you go the contract route, you'll save money each month.
• They're about equal when it comes to dollar-to-channel ratio.
• DISH is available almost everywhere because it's satellite TV, whereas Xfinity TV is available in about 40 states.

If you'd like to see how they compare, check out our DISH vs. Xfinity TV Review.

Comcast Xfinity TV and YouTube TV, are two very different TV providers. Comcast Xfinity TV is a cable provider that has inexpensive plans and great channel lineups, but the fees can get hefty. YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service that offers unlimited DVR storage hours, but less channel availability than Xfinity. 

Xfinity doesn't offer deals that are explicitly for seniors, but some may qualify for the inexpensive Internet Essentials plan.

Internet Essentials costs $9.95 a month for 25 Mbps download speeds, which are fast enough to keep a house of two using the internet for Facebook, email, and watching an occasional TV show on Amazon Prime Video.

For the full list of programs that may qualify you for the Xfinity Internet Essentials plan, check out Does Comcast Xfinity Offer Any Discounts?