Xfinity vs Dish comparison in 2021
Dish is the second-largest satellite TV provider in the US, with about 13.7 million pay television subscribers to DIRECTV's 20 million.
Xfinity is the largest cable television provider in the US. That doesn't mean they're automatically the right TV service for you, though.
There are several factors you should look at before you decide on a pay TV provider.
Dish vs Xfinity: TV packages
At first glance, Dish vs Xfinity pricing looks fairly similar. If we dig a little deeper though, we find that there are a few extra fees that can add up quickly on your monthly Xfinity bill.
Separate DVR rental and HD service fees
Broadcast TV fee
Regional Sports fee
Installation fees (for both self-install and professional installation)
These fees can total up to $30 or more just on their own, which turns that nice introductory into a big dose of sticker shock.
With Dish, you get the first Hopper 3 free, although you do pay a monthly DVR service charge.
In terms of promotional pricing, most of Xfinity's deals last 12 months. Dish guarantees your pricing for two years.
Xfinity TV packages
Xfinity Internet
- Download
- 200-1,200 Mbps
- Channels
- 10-220
- Calls
- Unlimited
- Monthly Price
- $30-130
Xfinity Internet Only Plans
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Performance Pro Internet | 200 Mbps | $40.00 | ||
Blast! Internet | 400 Mbps | $60.00 | ||
Extreme Pro Internet | 800 Mbps | $70.00 | ||
Gigabit Speed Internet | 1200 Mbps | $80.00 |
Xfinity TV Plans
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Basic TV | 10 Channels | $30.00 | ||
Extra TV | 140 Channels | $67.00 | ||
Preferred TV | 220 Channels | $70.00 |
Xfinity Landline Plans
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Voice | Unlimited | $30.00 |
Xfinity Triple Play Bundles
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Peformance Pro Internet + Extra TV + Voice | 200 Mbps | 140 Channels | Unlimited | $90.00 |
Blast! Internet + Extra TV + Voice | 400 Mbps | 125 Channels | Unlimited | $90.00 |
Peformance Pro Internet + Preferred TV + Voice | 200 Mbps | 220 Channels | Unlimited | $100.00 |
Extreme Pro Internet + Extra TV + Voice | 800 Mbps | 140 Channels | Unlimited | $100.00 |
Blast! Internet + Preferred TV + Voice | 400 Mbps | 200 Channels | Unlimited | $110.00 |
Gigabit Speed + Extra TV + Voice | 1200 Mbps | 140 Channels | Unlimited | $110.00 |
Extreme Pro Internet + Preferred TV + Voice | 800 Mbps | 220 Channels | Unlimited | $120.00 |
Gigabit Speed + Preferred TV + Voice | 1200 Mbps | 220 Channels | Unlimited | $130.00 |
Pros
Lightning fast options
Multiple speed choices
Large bundle selection
Contract and no-contract options
Widespread availability
Hotspot access away from home
Cons
Rate hikes after promotional pricing expires
Negative customer support ratings
Good variety of bundles available
No-cost equipment upgrades
Advanced Security to block online threats
30 Day money back guarantee
24/7 support
4K streaming device available
Xfinity TV deals & pricing
Package | Channels | Price |
|---|---|---|
10 | $30 | |
140 | $67 | |
220 | $70 |
All of the packages include music channels, and Premier gives you premium movie channels like HBO, Showtime, Starz, and Cinemax.
Dish packages
Dish TV
- Download
- Channels
- 190-290
- Calls
- Monthly Price
- $65-100
Dish TV Plans
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
America's Top 120 | 190 Channels | $64.99 | ||
America's Top 120 Plus | 190 Channels | $79.99 | ||
America's Top 200 | 240 Channels | $89.99 | ||
America's Top 250 | 290 Channels | $99.99 |
Pros
Cons
No HBO
No NFL Sunday Ticket
Dish deals & pricing
Package | Channels | Price |
|---|---|---|
190 | $64.99 | |
190 | $79.99 | |
240 | $89.99 | |
290 | $99.99 |
All plans include local channels and 70+ Sirius XM music channels.
Dish vs Xfinity: TV channels
Both providers give you a decent selection of the most popular channels across their mid-tier offerings. Dish has a bit of an edge on sports coverage while Xfinity excels at on-demand content with over 84,000 titles to Dish's 20,000+.
Dish channels
Broad sports coverage starts at the very bottom tier with ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox Sports 1, and NBC Sports Network
NFL Network comes with three out of the four packages
Multi-Sport package comes with over 35 premium and regional sports networks, including NFL RedZone
Unique sports add-ons available like Willow Cricket channel and Racetrack Television Network (horse racing)
Top tier - America's Top 250 - comes with The Movie Channel, Showtime, Starz, STARZ Encore, Epix, and FXM
Xfinity channels
Typical selection of sports and family channels across lower tiers
NFL Network and MLB Network included in top three plans
Sports Entertainment Package sold separately with NFL RedZone and out-of-market regional sports
Starz Encore channels come with all plans from Preferred and up
Premier plan includes HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz, Encore, and The Movie Channel
Bottom line: The big news here is that at the time of this writing, HBO and Cinemax are noticeably absent from the Dish premium movie channel lineup. This is due to a fee dispute with AT&T and may change over time.
Other than that issue, both offer PPV events and the typical menu of premium sports add-ons like NHL Center Ice and NBA League Pass. Dish channels are great for sports fan while Xfinity channels are suited to those who are more interested in a varied blend of different entertainment types and must have their HBO shows (at least for the time being).
Dish vs Xfinity: DVR & equipment
Dish Network's Hopper 3 is notorious for its massive capacity and flexibility. XFINITY's X1 Cloud DVR is no slouch, but it's tough to compete with the Hopper.
Dish DVR
2 TB - up to 500 hours of HD recording/2000 SD
Record up to 16 shows simultaneously
Connect up to 8 TVs total (extra receivers - called Joeys - incur additional monthly fees)
Voice-controlled remote
Manage and watch on other devices with the Dish Anywhere app
Download programs for offline viewing
Xfinity DVR
500 GB - up to 60 hours of HD recording/300 SD
Record up to 6 unique streams at once
Voice-controlled remote
Download recordings for offline viewing
Manage and watch on the go with the Xfinity app
Bottom line: Despite Xfinity adding flexibility via their cloud DVR, it's still a weak contender against the Hopper 3. In fact, since you can also access your recordings, live TV, and on-demand content on your mobile with the Dish app, it's tough to pinpoint many advantages to the Xfinity cloud DVR.
Dish vs Xfinity: availability
Availability is where satellite TV service really shines over traditional cable.
States with Dish: 50
States with Xfinity: 40
Still, if you're a die-hard fan of cable television you'll have a much better chance of finding Xfinity near you than other cable TV providers. For example, AT&T availability is limited to just 21 states, while Spectrum rivals Xfinity with service in 41 states.
Dish vs Xfinity: contract & fees
Contract terms can influence your decision as much as price or selection.
Dish contract & fees
24-month service agreement required
Price guaranteed for the duration of the contract
Early termination fee is $20 for each month left in your contract
Xfinity contract & fees
Promotional pricing offers require a 12-month commitment
Prices go up in your second year
No-contract service costs more per month
Bottom line: If you're not desperate to avoid commitment, it's worth it to calculate the potential savings you'll see over two years with Dish compared with XFINITY's pricing plus their extra fees.
Considerations when comparing Dish & Xfinity
Promotional pricing can lure you in quickly, but remember - no matter which TV provider you choose, that attractive pricing is temporary. It's best to look at the big picture.
What other fees are added to your bill?
Are your favorite channels available?
Is there a contract?
How long does the promotional pricing last?
What kind of equipment do you get?
Find out all about how Dish measures up against Xfinity in the following comparison.
Dish vs Xfinity FAQs
How does Dish Internet compare to Comcast?
There are differences between these two providers. Xfinity is a TV and Internet service owned by Comcast. You can compare the two in our comparison article above, or head to the package overview pages on MoneySavingPro.
Is Xfinity better than Dish?
What's best for you won't be right for everyone. You can use the Money Saving Pro tools and guides to narrow the search. After reading our comprehensive comparison of these two providers above you're still not sure, you can take a look at packages Dish offers, then see what packages Xfinity offers for more information.
Which is better dish or cable?
The main difference between a satellite dish and cable service is the instillation. One runs their service via a dish, the other through a physical cable or internet service. Use the TV service ZIP code checker to find out who offers the best service in your area.
Recap
Ultimately your choice of the best TV provider boils down to personal preference. You might be willing to pay a little more to stay out of a contract, or maybe you'd rather have the larger storage capacity offered by Dish's DVR system.
Xfinity may also tip the scale with their affordable internet and TV bundles. Don't count out Dish for bundled services either as the satellite company partners with internet providers in your area to offer more value as well.
Still undecided? Check out our full reviews of Dish and Xfinity before making a final decision!
