DIRECTV vs. Xfinity TV Comparison Review

Xfinity and DIRECTV both have their caveats when it comes to its monthly pricing.

DIRECTV requires two-year contracts, and Xfinity has loads of tacked-on fees. (Scroll down a little further to find those.)

We like that DIRECTV provides a lot of popular channels for a good up-front price. And instead of hiking prices at the end of your two-year contract, your monthly rate will revert to the current prevailing rate of your DIRECTV package. 

If you are a huge movie buff, or like to have all the premium channels, DIRECTV offers over 140 channels with the ULTIMATE satellite package and over 150 channels with the PREMIER satellite package, plus a bunch of included premium channels.

That's 35 fewer channels than Xfinity TV's Ultimate TV package if you choose a satellite connection, but it includes free subscriptions to Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME®, Cinemax, and STARZ. And you can always go with PREMIER via internet to get the same amount of channels.

We like that Xfinity by Comcast gives you a one-year contract option with all three plans. 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.

DIRECTV satellite customers get a two-year price guarantee with their two-year contract.

Xfinity's one-year contract saves $20–$30 monthly for the first year of your service, 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.

DIRECTV may have pricier packages, but Xfinity has lots of fees. In some cases, it could be cheaper to go the DIRECTV route.

If you go with Xfinity, you'll likely be paying an additional $69 per month for two TV boxes, DVR storage, news channels, and sports channels. If you get DIRECTV's satellite ENTERTAINMENT package, it's just $70 per month. You have to pay a $15/month advanced receiver, but your first DVR receiver is included, and DVR storage is free. Plus, DIRECTV via Intenet users can avoid DVR activation fees. 

So ... you could actually save money and get more channels in the long run with DIRECTV.

With DIRECTV's satellite service, you the first set-top box installation is included, but additional receivers will be $49 each. DIRECTV via Internet customers can avoid this charge, though. Xfinity charges a one-time fee of $89.99 for installation. But you can opt-out with a $15 self-install kit from Xfinity to save some moola.

Xfinity definitely finds ways of wringing a few extra bucks out of you every month. If you want to add more TVs to the plan, it will cost you an additional fee per receiver.

DIRECTV includes your first Gemini Air DVR for both satellite and internet plans, but each additional set-top box adds $7 per month, plus a one-time $49 activation fee applies for satellite packages. There are no DVR or HD service fees with DIRECTV. Phew.

Xfinity takes an 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 $15.99 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.

DIRECTV doesn't offer a discount for bundling, so there's no huge incentive to add internet if you only want TV. But if you do need internet to go with your DIRECTV, look no further than CenturyLink Internet.

Both DIRECTV and CenturyLink internet options vary based on your area, so you’ll have to put in your zip code to find out what’s available.

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 lack of savings and you can see that Xfinity’s discount might make up for its additional TV fees for DVR and HD fans.

And you can get download speeds of 400 Mbps with your 125+ channels for $30 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 2,000 Mbps in some cases). And it comes with a high data cap (1.2 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 the Taylor Swift CD for your daughter (or yourself) decidedly less miserable.

Both DIRECTV and Xfinity have most of the popular channels, so you can't go majorly wrong with either.

After you take a look at this comparison table, you're going to wonder why you even considered Xfinity's more expensive Ultimate TV Package when Xfinity's cheaper Choice TV and Popular TV packages are the two packages with the best channels.

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.

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

DIRECTV offers the most free premium channels we've ever seen. You'll get Max included for the first 3 months of your DIRECTV contract, whether with a satellite or internet connection!  And for the first three months, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME®, STARZ, CINEMAX, and MGM+ will also be included in your service. After that, you’ll have to pay the current rate to keep them. Get the PREMIUM package, and enjoy all those premium channels (excluding MGM+) for free as long as you have a subscription.

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 Max and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME®.

DIRECTV used to be the exclusive provider of NFL SUNDAY TICKET, which gave you the NFL RedZone channel along with every out-of-market game. In 2023, NFL SUNDAY TICKET moved to YouTube TV. 

Even without NFL SUNDAY TICKET, DIRECTV still shines in sports delivery with the most 4K sports content. 

Mega sports fans will benefit the most with the PREMIER package. You'll get access to all the major sports channels including NBA TV, NFL Network, NFL RedZone, Golf, ESPN, and Big 10 Network. 

Xfinity may not have as many sports options, but you can still get lots of popular sports networks with the Extra and Starter packages.

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

If you were to look at the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) report a couple of years ago, you would have seen DIRECTV come out ahead by seven points over Xfinity. This year, they're tired.

To put it in perspective, the highest score of 74 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.

DIRECTV has a better DVR and fewer hidden fees, but it does come with a lower channel count and a two-year-long contract.

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: With a two-year price guarantee, 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 high channel count 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 has more premium channels, but you'll pay a higher price for them with satellite plans. Xfinity has better channel pricing month-to-month, but fewer popular channels 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.