Comcast Xfinity Review
Comcast Xfinity's cable TV service lets you choose between having a contract or no contract. They have four package options, Digital Economy (100+ channels), Digital Starter (140+ channels), Digital Preferred (220+ channels), and Digital Premier (260+ channels). Is it worth the subscription? Read on to find out.
| Call 844-763-9199 | |||
Overall Score | 4.0 | ||
Price | 3.0 | ||
Selection | 4.0 | ||
Contract | 5.0 | ||
Sports | 4.0 | ||
Pros and Cons
- Combined normal and cloud DVR
- Good on-demand selection
- No contract
- Extra charges
- Customer service
- Not as many channels as rivals
Bottom Line
No contract cable TV which lets you watch recordings on the go
Comcast Xfinity TV is available in 41 states across the US. The TV service lets you choose to have a contract or subscribe month-to-month, and you can download content to watch content offline.
However, they have below-average customer service. Should you subscribe? In this article we review Comcast's Xfinity TV service and do the research for you.
HOW COMCAST XFINITY TV WORKS
Xfinity is basically Comcast's brand for TV, internet and phone services. Naturally, they'd like you to bundle your services together. If you're looking for internet and phone services as well, you can bundle to get cheaper prices. However, their triple-play plans come with a two-year contract and price hike in the second year.
To sign up, just go to their website, or call (844) 763-9199. Choose a package, and set an appointment for installation. A technician will then come on the date to install the service in your home.
Now that you know the basics, let's go over Comcast's Xfinity TVs pros and cons.
10 REASONS TO SUBSCRIBE TO COMCAST XFINITY TV
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- Choose to have a contract or subscribe month-to-month: If you're just looking for TV, Xfinity lets you choose to have a contract, or subscribe month-to-month. With contract your monthly fees are slightly cheaper. But if you prefer not being locked down, you can choose to have no contracts too.
- Good availability: Xfinity TV is currently available in 41 states, although not all areas are covered. If you prefer cable over satellite, you'd probably find Xfinity as an option in your area.
- You want bundling options: As we said earlier, Xfinity also provides internet and home phone. If you're looking to bundle, you can get their TV service cheaper. Internet speeds vary from 75 to 105 Mbps, although it does come with a two-year contract and price hikes in the second year.
- Weather proof reception: Because it's cable, Xfinity is more reliable than satellite TV services like DIRECTV and Dish network. The services aren't affected by the weather.
- Combined normal and cloud DVR capability: What we like about Xfinity is that it has two DVR systems: the normal DVR and the cloud DVR. The normal DVR works like regular DVR, with 500GB storage capacity. The cloud DVR has 60 hours of recording. You can access the 60 hours of cloud DVR while you're on the go. You can also download your recordings and watch them offline.
- Xfinity Stream App: Xfinity's streaming app allows you to watch over 200+ live TV channels and thousands of on-demand content. You can watch it on any device while you're at home or on the go. It also lets you download your shows from the cloud and watch it offline.
- You'd like to try it before buying: Xfinity has a 30-day money back guarantee for its service. If you don't like it for whatever reason, you can cancel its service within 30 days and get a refund.
- Good on-demand choices: Xfinity has a good on-demand selection, with thousands of options. It has movies, TV series, as well as plenty of children's shows that you can watch for free.
- You want a smooth installation service: Xfinity also guarantees that their contractor will arrive on time. If the contractor doesn't arrive within the arrival window, you'll get a $20 credit.
- Voice-controlled remote control: Xfinity's X1 DVR system has a new perk - the remote control can be voice-controlled. While not groundbreaking, this may interest you, especially if you're a tech fan.
REASONS TO CONSIDER OTHER PAY-TV OPTIONS
- Extra charges: At first glance, Xfinity's prices are on par with other providers. However, it quickly becomes expensive with all the extra charges. Expect equipment fees, service fees, broadcast fees and regional sports fees to show up on your final bill.
- Customer service: The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) rated Xfinity TV service at 58, which was dead last. If customer service is important to you, avoid Xfinity - you may be better off choosing another provider.
- Not as many channels as some providers: Comcast Xfinity does have 260+ channels at its highest tier. It's decent, although it's not as high as some other providers. Verizon Fios, for example, offers 440+ channels at its highest tier.
OTHER PAY-TV OPTIONS TO CONSIDER
Playstation Vue: Playstation Vue is a streaming service that can give you live TV without the hassle of contracts and installations. You also won't need a Playstation - it's a standalone app which you can install on most devices. It offers more channels than other streaming services like Sling TV, and you can start and stop your subscription without worrying about early termination fees.
Netflix: If you like on-demand titles, Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services. What's great about Netflix is that they have great original, exclusive content. You'll get shows not available on other channels, such as Narcos, Mindhunter, and Stranger Things.
DISH Network: DISH Network is a satellite TV service, which means they're available nationwide. They've got a strong channel lineup and competitive pricing, which makes them a good alternative to Comcast Xfinity. They do have a two-year contract, but in return you get reliable TV service with great DVR capability.
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Comcast Xfinity | DISH | |
|---|---|---|
Comcast Xfinity Deals | Compare DISH Packages - | |
Benefits and Features | ||
| DVR | Two types of DVR services: normal and cloud DVR. Normal DVR records up to 6 shows at once, and has 500GB storage capacity. Cloud DVR records up to 60 hours. You can download recordings to your device to watch offline. | Hopper 3 HD-DVR can record up to 16 simultaneous recordings. Storage Space: 2 TB (500 hours of HD or 2000 hours of SD recording). Paired with receivers (Joeys) to connect to up to 7 TV sets, with a total of 8 unique channel streams. |
| Packages |
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| Cancellation | All equipment must be returned within 30 days of termination. Unreturned equipment fees apply. | Early termination fees are $20 for each remaining month left in contract. All equipment are leased and must be returned within 30 days following cancellation or disconnection of service. Unreturned equipment fees apply. |
| Contract | Users can choose to subscribe for a 1-year contract, or pay month-to-month | Users must sign up for a 24-month contract minimum, with a mandatory early termination fee and E-Autopay. DISH offers a two-year price guarantee for the duration of your contract. |
| Installation | Standard professional installation fee of $60. Final bill generated after installation. | Standard professional installation included for up to 6 rooms. Additional rooms and/or services will cost extra. |
| Autopay | $5/month discount when signing up for Xfinity's Autopay and Eco-bill feature. Autopay can be set up with bank account, or debit/credit card. | You can sign up with Dish's autopay feature from the MyDISH mobile or web application. The E-Autopay feature can be set up with either a bank account, debit/credit card. |
| Receiver Fee | HD DVR Box ($19.95/month), Additional cable box ($9.95/month). | Dish charges an additional equipment rental fee for every received beyond the first. Additional Joeys will add a $7/month fee to your monthly bill. |
| Regional Sports Fee | Regional Sports Fee (up to $6.75/month) | |
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Comcast Xfinity: Pricing information including fees, features and contract length was obtained on April 12, 2018 from published websites and is believed to be accurate, but not guaranteed. | ||
BOTTOM LINE
Xfinity TV has a good on-demand selection, and we like that they have a combined normal and cloud DVR service. Being able to watch your favorite shows while on the go is a nice perk, and we also like that you can download them and watch them offline. Being able to choose between having a contract or subscribing month-to-month is also a plus, especially for those who prefer flexibility with their subscriptions.
However, that's as far as it goes. Our biggest concern is Xfinity's customer service. This could lead to problems down the road, especially when it comes to canceling your service or disputing a bill.
Also, Xfinity's total channels are about average. They only have 260+ channels for the highest package. Other providers, such as Verizon Fios, have almost twice the number of channels at the highest tier. If you like to channel surf, we suggest looking at other providers first.
Xfinity TV is good for casual users who just want basic TV with a little extra added in. It's nice to be able to choose to have a contract or not, and the ability to download shows and watch them offline is great for those who travel a lot.
However, if you're a serious user and want to watch multiple programs/channels, we suggest going with another provider with better DVR service.
Write to Khairie A at feedback@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.
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