DIRECTV vs. Xfinity TV Comparison Review

Many people in the US have the choice between cable TV provider, Xfinity, or satellite TV provider, DIRECTV.

But which one is best for you and your family? We will say both DIRECTV and Xfinity are on our list of best TV providers.

But to compare to the two, we look at price, contracts, channel lineups, user experience, and customer service to find the winner.

We hope our research will make your choice easier. So without further adieu, let’s get into the details.

^{Data effective 6/29/2020. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
*Rates go up after 12 months.}

How much do DIRECTV and Xfinity TV cost?

At first glance, Xfinity looks more expensive than DIRECTV. And in the long-term, Xfinity actually is the most expensive option despite DIRECTV’s second-year price hikes.

DIRECTV will nearly double your monthly price during the second year of your contract (we don’t love the ol’ switcheroo), but Xfinity has loads of tacked on fees. (Scroll down a little further to find those.)

Beyond that, we like that DIRECTV provides a lot of popular channels for a good up-front price. Even the cheapest SELECT package still includes Food Network and AMC, but you’ll have to upgrade to CHOICE or higher to get ESPN.

Getting a CHOICE package or above also gives you your first season of NFL SUNDAY TICKET included (after that the current rate will apply—right now it’s $293.94 per season).

Xfinity’s on-demand library is usually packed with good stuff, including past seasons of favorites like This is Us, Spongebob Squarepants, and Fixer Upper. Plus, if you get the X1 DVR, you can pull up Netflix, and other streaming picks with the voice remote.

We like that Xfinity by Comcast gives you no-contract options, but you’ll have to pay an extra $10 per month for it. If you’re in a short-term rental, this can pay off, but for anyone who wants to pick a TV service and forget about it, you can save up to $120 a year just by signing on for a year.

Do DIRECTV and Xfinity have a contract?

DIRECTV’s prices go way up after the first year, while Xfinity lets you opt for no contracts

I don’t know if I can stress this enough.

DIRECTV’s prices go wayyyy up after the first year. And if you need to get out of your contract, you’ll be charged early termination fees of $20 per month remaining on your contract. If you try to bail after the first year, you’ll still pay up to $240.

Xfinity’s no-contract option adds $10 to your monthly bill, but you’re free to cancel anytime. Its one-year contract saves $10 a monthly, but you’re locked in for the duration, or you face early termination fees.

Having options gives you a lot more flexibility in your planning, especially if you’re only signing a one-year lease on your new apartment. Xfinity’s pricing may (and probably will) go up after the first year, but it’s not clear if your price will skyrocket quite as dramatically as DIRECTV’s does.

Does DIRECTV and Xfinity have hidden fees?

DIRECTV may have second-year price hikes, but Xfinity has lots of fees. In some cases, it could be cheaper to go the DIRECTV route.

If you choose Xfinity’s Starter package, you could be spending close to $115–$125 per month with all of the added-on fees. If you get DIRECTV’s Select package, it’s just $60 per month while your second-year monthly bill will be $95. 

So … you actually save money in the long run with DIRECTV.

^{Data effective 12/10/2019. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.}

How much are DIRECTV’s and Xfinity’s installation fees?

With DIRECTV, you get your first set-top box installed for free, but additional receivers will be $99 each. Xfinity charges $89.99 for installation right off the bat. But you can opt-out with a $15 self-install kit from Xfinity to save some moola.

How much are DIRECTV’s and Xfinity’s activation fees?

DIRECTV also charges a one-time $19.95 activation fee. Your price includes your TV package, monthly service fees, and equipment fees for one HD DVR.

How much are DIRECTV’s and Xfinity’s DVR fees?

Xfinity definitely finds ways of wringing a few extra bucks out of you every month. If you want HD DVR service, you’re adding an extra $25 per month to your bill. And that’s not considering adding more TVs to the plan, which costs $10 per month for each receiver.

DIRECTV includes your first Genie DVR, but each additional set-top box adds $7 per month. There are no DVR or HD service fees with DIRECTV. Phew.

How much are DIRECTV’s and Xfinity’s broadcast and regional sports fees?

Xfinity takes on additional $25ish bucks per month (depending on where you live) for broadcast and regional sports fees.

That’s creepin’ very close to an extra $40 on top of your package price for a single TV with DVR (*eye roll*). If you’re considering additional TVs and DVRs, Xfinity’s price can get out of hand.

DIRECTV charges a regional sports fee of up to $10 per month. Yes, the fee is a bit of a bummer, but it’s how local broadcast networks recoup their distribution costs and we don’t see many (if any) TV companies dropping this fee.

How much are DIRECTV’s and Xfinity’s bundles?

DIRECTV gives you a $10 discount for bundling your internet, which saves you $120 over the course of a year. It’s not a huge incentive to add either service if you only want one, but for most people looking to get both TV and internet anyway, it’s a solid discount that gives you an excuse to buy that fancy food processor or some new kicks.

DIRECTV service varies based on your area, so you’ll have to put in your ZIP to find out what’s available.

<sup>Data effective 6/29/2020. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
* For 12 months with a 2-yr TV and 1-yr internet agreement, paperless bill, & autopay. Price increases for months 13-24.</sup>

Xfinity shines a little brighter than DIRECTV in terms of bundling.

By combining services, you’ll get one bill and even save $25–$35 per month in some cases. Compare that to DIRECTV’s $10 per month saving, you can see that Xfinity’s discount is a lot higher, which can somewhat make up for its additional TV fees for DVR and HD fans.

But you can get download speeds of 200 Mbps with your 140+ channels for $10 more than if you were to get Xfinity’s TV service alone. Not bad at all.

Xfinity has some of the fastest internet speeds out there though (up to 2 GB in some cases). And it comes with a high data cap (1 TB). Besides, the Xfinity X1 DVR—which we recommend getting—requires you to sign up for internet anyway.

One of our favorite things about Xfinity is accessing shows from anywhere. As long as you have internet access, Xfinity makes train trips, waiting rooms, or chillin’ in line to get Taylor Swift tickets for yourself your daughter decidedly less miserable.

^{† For the first 12 months with a 1-year agreement.}

^{Data effective 6/29/2020.}

Which channels do DIRECTV and Xfinity have?

Get more channels and some bonus inclusions with DIRECTV

DIRECTV includes most of the top channels, but we were surprised to see a lack of MSNBC in our area. Most other popular networks like HGTV and TBS come with the SELECT (cheapest) package, so props to DIRECTV for not keeping the good stuff behind higher-priced plans only.

^{Data effective 6/29/2020. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.}

If you want to know more about the channel lineups, check out our DIRECTV Review and Xfinity TV Review.

But scroll down a little further for the sports channels.

Which local channels do DIRECTV and Xfinity have?

Local channels may differ with each provider in every ZIP code, so it’s best to check. You could also get an antenna to make sure you’re covered on locals for life.

Check DIRECTV’s network availability
Check Xfinity’s available networks

Which premium channels do DIRECTV’s and Xfinity have?

For the first 12 months of your DIRECTV contract, you’ll get HBO Max included!  And for the first three months, SHOWTIME, STARZ, CINEMAX, and EPIX will also be included in your service. After that, you’ll have to pay the current rate to keep them.

Xfinity gets points here for offering a lower rate on its premium channels, and while it’s only a couple bucks difference with DIRECTV, those savings can add up if you’re a fan of Succession and Shameless and need both HBO and SHOWTIME.

Which sports channels do DIRECTV vs. Xfinity have?

DIRECTV shines in sports delivery with the most 4K sports content. It’s also the exclusive provider of NFL SUNDAY TICKET, which also gives you the NFL RedZone channel along with every out-of-market game. Football fans may rejoice, but if it’s not your bag, then it’s not a big deal—especially considering the cost of NFL SUNDAY TICKET after your first included season.

But mega sports fans will benefit the most with the XTRA package.

Xfinity may not have something similar to NFL SUNDAY TICKET, but you can still get lots of popular sports networks with the Starter package.

If you want to find the complete sports channel lineup for both of these services, check out our reviews for DIRECTV and Xfinity.

Whose customer service is better? DIRECTV or Xfinity?

DIRECTV handles things a bit better, but we don’t expect much from TV providers in general

If you were to look at the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) report last year, you would have seen DIRECTV came out ahead by seven points over Xfinity. This year, Xfinity is only behind by one point.

To put it in perspective, the highest score of 73 is held by Verizon Fios.

Besides, most issues revolve around billing misunderstandings, so be mindful of what your contract actually entails in terms of costs over two years.

Recap: Is DIRECTV or Xfinity better?

If you only need TV service, we’d say DIRECTV has a better offer … but Xfinity is one of the best ways to combine TV with internet

DIRECTV has more channels, a better DVR, and fewer hidden fees, but it does come with a two-year-long contract where your package price will more than double after the first year.

Xfinity is a good choice if you’re looking to get both TV and internet. Its TV service and X1 DVR are nothing to scoff at, but you’ve gotta account for additional HD fees, equipment costs, and broadcast fees.

• Pricing: Even with second-year increases, DIRECTV has better (and easier-to-understand) prices. If you want internet and bare-bones TV, the cost difference shrinks, but we like the premium channels and NFL SUNDAY TICKET bonuses that you get when you sign up with DIRECTV.
• Contracts: Two years is a long time for some people, so Xfinity may be a better option for renters or commitment-phobes.
• Channels: DIRECTV not only has more channels, but it’s the only way you can get NFL SUNDAY TICKET for those yell-at-the-TV fans. Xfinity has better premium channel pricing month-to-month, but fewer channels overall than DIRECTV.
• Customer service: DIRECTV and Xfinity are neck and neck in this department, so you should receive the a similar type of service with both.

We’ve talked about DIRECTV and Xfinity individually if you need more detail, but we’re curious what your experience has been with these providers. Let us know in the comments!