Shopping for a cable company? If you're like most people, you probably find the options overwhelming. Should you go with Time Warner Cable? U-Verse TV? Or a XFINITY bundle from the nation's largest provider? And what about equipment - a simple set-top box, or HD-DVR? Are the service charges going to empty your wallet?
If you're considering subscribing to Comcast service, you're in the right place. XFINITY from Comcast gives you multiple avenues to feed your entertainment cravings. With rare sports channels, Latino packages, and more available, XFINITY offers plenty of choices. Plus, they top it all off with a money-back guarantee.
I'm going to give you an overview of Comcast TV packages, including the best XFINITY bundles, which come with options like XFINITY Voice and high-speed internet service.
Compare Comcast TV Packages
A good benchmark of the best cable TV providers is versatility in its package offerings. You want a wide variety of choices, as you will be more apt to find a plan that's suitable to your viewing preferences. With this in mind, you receive ample package choices through XFINITY.
Here's a comparison of XFINITY cable TV options along with the service charges you can expect with each one:
| Package | Channels | Monthly Price |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Economy | 45 | $29.95 |
| Digital Starter | 140 | $49.99 |
| Digital Preferred | 220 | $59.99 |
| Digital Premier | 260 | $69.99 |
| Digital Starter and Performance Internet | 140 | $79.99 |
| Preferred XF Double Play | 220 | $89.99 |
| Starter XF Triple Play | 140 | $89.99 |
| Digital Premier and Perforance Pro | 260 | $109.99 |
| HD Preferred XF Triple Play | 220 | $119.99 |
| HD Preferred Extra XF Triple Play | 230 | $139.99 |
| HD Premier XF Triple Play | 260 | $159.99 |
| HD Complete XF Triple Play | 260 | $199.99 |
Limited Basic
The Limited Basic plan is good if you want access to local channels.
However, with few more than 10 channels available, if you want to view local programming only, then you would be better off buying a digital converter box then selecting this plan, as it will save you substantially in the future.
Digital Economy
A plan befitting of its name, the Digital Economy Package is perfect if you want a basic selection of channels such as CNN and the Food Network.
Overall, this 45+ channel package delivers affordability and good variety.
Digital Starter and Performance
The Digital Starter plan gives you a wider selection of entertainment options - over 140 channels.
With this package, you receive popular channel choices such as FX, ESPN, and TLC. You also receive a low promotional price for the first year of service.
Digital Preferred
The Digital Preferred Package is perfect if you want variety in sports channels.
With options including the NFL Network and NBA TV and over 200 other channels to choose from, you have ample entertainment choices at a reasonable price.
Digital Primer
This is the movie lover's package, as it comes with TCM, HBO, Starz, Showtime, and Cinemax. Along with prime movie channels, you have access to over 260 channels in total, making this a must-have package for movie and entertainment lovers.
As you can see, you receive a wide variety of package offerings through XFINITY. You also receive cool perks such as access to the XFINITY TV Go app, where you can watch movies and TV shows via an internet device wherever you are. This benefit is for those who select at least the Digital Economy Package.
It's important to note there are fees associated with XFINITY'S TV service. For one, you could incur a broadcast TV fee of up to $5 monthly and a regional sports fee of $3 per month. In addition, professional installation with XFINITY ranges in price depending on where you live and the promotion you take advantage of.
With that said, with standard installation fees as high as $500, it's a bit steep. There are other providers such as Dish Network and AT&T who don't charge installation fees. I recommend you use that to negotiate a lower installation price if you elect to do XFINITY TV service.
Bundles
If you want to combine TV service with XFINITY internet or XFINITY Voice home phone, this cable company makes it easy. Here is a sampling of the bundles you can choose from, though you can find more in-depth information regarding Comcast's bundles here:
XFINITY Double Play
With this XFINITY bundle, you can combine TV and internet service at a reasonable price. Included in this plan is the Digital Starter and Performance Plan, where you have access to over 140 channels.
In addition, you receive internet download speeds as fast as 25 Mbps, making it a great choice for families with varied entertainment and high-performance internet needs. To learn more about internet and TV bundles, check out our useful guide on the subject.
Read more: Want to know if your XFINITY internet is functioning at the actual speed you pay for? Run an internet speed test.
XFINITY Triple Play
The XFINITY Triple Play plan combines TV, the internet, and home phone service into an affordable package. What makes the XFINITY Triple Play a good choice is its customization options. To illustrate, you can choose which TV package you want, then receive the internet and home phone service to go along with it.
To illustrate, you can choose which TV package you want, then receive the internet and home phone service to go along with it.
XFINITY Quad Play
Quad Play is the Cadillac of Comcast TV packages. With this plan, you get XFINITY cable TV, home phone, high-performance internet, and XFINITY home security. Quad Play is, of course, the most expensive option as well, however, if you subscribe to all of these services anyway it's a wise move to go with a bundle.
XFINITY Latino Packages
If you want a good mix of English and Spanish channels, Comcast XFINITY has a wide variety of plans for you. The XFINITY TV 2450 Latino Package includes more than 60 Spanish channels such as UniMas as well as over 140 English channels. You also receive fast internet with download speeds approaching 25Mbps.
Meanwhile, the XFINITY 3300 Latino Package includes the same TV service as the 2450 Plan, but with faster internet speeds--100 Mbps. This grouping also includes home phone service where you can call to Mexico, Puerto Rico, and more countries.
Related: Comcast makes our list of the best cable TV providers. You can see our other top picks here.
Channel Lineup
After signing up for service, it can take some time for you to become acclimated to the new channel listings. To assist you with this, you'll receive a channel guide at the time of installation. This guide includes all the channels available to you and their corresponding numbers.
You can also use the channel lineup feature on XFINITY'S website, or you can rely on our own channel lineup page. With this, you enter your address to see your local lineup. Upon submitting, the website populates with the channels available in your area and if they are in your package.
This is feature is a great resource to use when you shop as well. With it, you can find out which packages have channels you want to see such as AMC or FXX, that way it makes it simpler on your end to select the most appropriate plan.
XFINITY X1 DVR Service
XFINITY's X1 HD DVR service is excellent in that it gives you the ability to record programs. That way you don't miss them if you can't watch them live. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg as far as what the X1 can achieve.
For instance, if you are on the go and want to access your recorded content you can do so by visiting XFINITY's website and selecting the 'Manage My DVR' service. You also have the ability to watch programming via its mobile app.
XFINITY On-Demand
Comcast XFINITY offers a unique on-demand service in that with a qualifying package you will have access to the Top 100 shows, as the system preloads them so you can watch whenever you want.
You can also watch movies, TV shows, and children's programming both on your TV and on the app.
Stream TV
Let me share a secret with you: Comcast cable is expanding into the wildly popular streaming realm. Stream TV probably sounds similar to services like Sling TV, however, Stream TV has a slightly different slant. With this Comcast service, you can only stream directly from the app if you're on your Comcast cable internet Wi-Fi connection at home.
Even though Stream TV differs from apps like Sling TV in that it's designed for home use, it is similar in some ways. You can choose from your favorite shows, or even watch live TV. Essentially it's a way to watch everything you have access to on your cable lineup (shows, movies, live TV, on-demand programming), but on a mobile device - no set-top box required.
Service Availability
To see if you qualify for service, you can visit XFINITY's website. Once on its homepage, click on the shop now tab. This will take you to a screen where you can enter your address to find all the services available in your area.
If you don't want to sign up for service online, you also have the option of contacting its customer support team. They will search to see if you are eligible for service as well as help you find any promotions that might be occurring.
You can also use our handy zip code checker tool to search for cable TV providers by ZIP code.
Deals
To find the best cable deals for XFINITY, you can visit its website and go to its bundle and deals section. This will outline all the plans and pricing options available to you.
One of the most effective ways I have found to receive a fair deal is to bundle services. Chances are you will be using the internet too, so by bundling it with your cable package, you are telling the provider you are committing to more than one service.
Often, they will reward you by giving you a lower rate than you would pay for both services separately. If you're interested in learning more about internet and TV bundles, check out our useful guide on the subject.
Related: Need help finding the best cable deals? Don't worry, we have you covered with our guide.
Comcast Customer Support
There's no way to sugar coat this, Comcast doesn't have the best customer service. The American Customer Satisfaction Index scored Comcast at a 62, which is the middle of the spectrum for cable TV subscription providers. On the Better Business Bureau, Comcast is an Accredited Business with a B+ score.
Trustpilot, a website that ranks companies purely from customer reviews, rates Comcast a 1.9/10. Keep in mind that the experiences of one customer are not representative of the company as a whole, but it is important to spot potential issues you may have with the company early nonetheless.
More Info: Comcast Customer Support Contacts
At the same time, Comcast is making strides towards improving customer satisfaction. According to the study, it received a 14.8 percent increase in satisfaction from last year to now. While Comcast has some ways to go to compete with the top providers such as AT&T and Verizon Fios, it is on the right path.
Speaking of customer experiences, have you had any with Comcast's XFINITY service? Whether it was good, bad, or somewhere in between, it would be great to hear from you. Feel free to fill out the review form located at the bottom of the page. Your feedback can help fellow readers who might be considering XFINITY TV service.
Recap
If you are looking for cable providers with a good selection of packages, then Comcast isn't a bad option to consider. It offers a wide variety of sports, movie, and international programs, excellent equipment to keep you connected, low promotional rates, and a 30-day money back guarantee.
While standard installation costs can be high, and its customer service inconsistent, you will find its improvements on the support side to be comforting. Overall, it deserves its spot on our list. You can also visit our comparison page to see how the above plans measure up against other providers in your area, like U-Verse TV and Spectrum by Time Warner Cable.
