DISH vs. Xfinity
What's better, DISH or Xfinity?
Both offer home entertainment, but DISH beats Xfinity packages for price, equipment, and availability.
DISH Network vs. Xfinity TV Pricing
With DISH, you can lock in your affordable price for two years, avoiding price hikes due to inflation. Xfinity doesn't offer the same luxury, changing prices every 12 months. For the most affordable DISH package, you start with 190 channels to fill your days with entertainment, as opposed to Xfinity, which starts with 125+ channels. If you want your rates to stay the same for an extended period, go with DISH and their inflation-free 2-year guarantee price—it's better bang for your buck.
Front Row Seats to Your Favorite Sports
Xfinity Stream and DISH Anywhere are two of the best streaming apps from cable providers. DISH holds a slight edge with more on-the-go streams and better parental controls than Xfinity Stream. If sports are more your scene, the DISH Hopper Plus gives you access to your favorite sports channels and multiple streaming apps, letting you catch every football game all season long. Compared to DISH, Xfinity offers fewer sports channels, which means fewer walk-offs, buzzer-beaters, and game-winning field goals. DISH is your ticket to the games that matter most.
DISH vs. Xfinity TV Packages Comparison
It's simple: DISH offers more channels than Xfinity, and it's not even close. When you get a DISH package, you start at 190 channels, and it only goes up from there. Xfinity offers 125+ to start and offers fewer international and sports channels than DISH. With more entertainment on your favorite screens starting at $84.99/mo. and keeping that price for 3 years locked in, it's easy to see why DISH is the premier TV provider.
DISH Network | Xfinity | |
Package name | America’s Top 120 | Ultimate TV |
Channel count | 190 | 185+ |
Year 1 price | $84.99/mo. | $68.50/mo - $80.00/mo |
Year 2 price | $84.99/mo. | $88.50+/mo. |
Price protection | 2-year TV price guarantee | 12-month pricing |
Contract | 2 years | 1 year |
HD service fee | FREE | $10/mo. |
Local channels | Included | $12/mo. |
Premium channels | FREE 3 months* | No free preview period |
HD DVR receiver | Included or $5/mo. upgrade | $8.50/mo |
Secondary receivers | $5+/mo. | $8.50+/mo. per device |
Activation fee | FREE | $6+ |
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DISH vs. Xfinity Technology Comparison
Xfinity and DISH technology differ primarily in DVR cost and capability. The Xfinity X1 DVR falls short in storage space and extra features, yet costs more than a Hopper DVR. The X1 DVR can record up to 6 channels at once, but storage caps at 60 HD hours—barely enough for a couple of seasons of an hour-long drama. If you have more than one avid TV watcher on an Xfinity plan, you'll have to battle for DVR space regularly. With the DISH Hopper 3 DVR, that's a non-issue. You can simultaneously record up to 16 shows with over 2,000 hours of storage space. The DISH Hopper 3 DVR is a more powerful piece of equipment for those who want to watch their favorite shows whenever they want.
DISH Hopper 3 Whole-Home DVR | Xfinity X1 AnyRoom DVR | |
First receiver price | $5/mo. upgrade | $8.50+/mo. |
Simultaneous recordings | 16 | 6 |
HD storage hours | 500 | 150 |
Supported TVs per DVR | 7 | 1 |
Secondary receiver price | $5+/mo. each | $8.50+/mo. |
4K Ultra HD | ✔ | Select models only |
Wireless receiver options | ✔ | x |
Nationwide Satellite Coverage | ✔ | x |
Integrated Netflix app | ✔ | ✔ |
Universal Voice Remote | ✔ | ✔ |
Remote finder | ✔ | x |
View multiple channels at once | ✔ | x |
Skip commercials | ✔ | x |
Easy primetime recording | ✔ | x |
Smart home integration | ✔ | x |
Bluetooth | ✔ | x |
Mobile streaming | 100% of live, DVR, and On Demand content | Select live, DVR, and On Demand content |
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DISH TV vs. Xfinity Service Comparison
While DISH offers satellite TV nationwide, Xfinity TV service runs on cable networks in many US metros. When it comes to starting your new service smoothly, DISH has the edge. Because satellite dishes require a professional touch, DISH doesn't offer self-installation like Xfinity. But that won't cost you extra time or money. DISH goes above and beyond with installation—it's free in up to 6 rooms and available as soon as the next day, while Xfinity can take up to a week to get it in your home while costing you up to $89.99. DISH takes the hassle (and the money) out of installation and puts entertainment where it belongs.
DISH Network | Xfinity | |
Signal Reliability Money-Back Guarantee | ✔ | x |
TV and internet availability outside densely populated areas | ✔ | x |
Installation appointments as soon as tomorrow | ✔ | x |
FREE standard professional installation in 1–6 rooms | ✔ | x |
75-minute service window and track-your-technician | ✔ | x |
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Mobile Viewing with the DISH Anywhere App
The DISH Anywhere App provides both entertainment and convenience in the palm of your hand. Watch live TV, set up recordings, and access on-demand movies all from your smartphone or tablet. The DISH Anywhere App lives up to its name, letting you keep up with your favorite shows and sports teams while on the go. The app also allows you to access your recording and on-demand library anytime, anywhere.
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DISH vs. Xfinity Internet Service and Providers
Comcast Xfinity offers internet bundles in heavily populated areas across 39 states. As a satellite TV provider, DISH doesn't run its own internet service. Instead, DISH partners with several internet providers to bring you internet access at high download speeds virtually anywhere in the United States.
DISH offers internet through two partners: Frontier and Viasat. Frontier provides DSL and fiber options for urban and suburban areas, while Viasat serves families who live past where cable provider boundaries. Contrary to popular ideas about slow satellite internet, Viasat speeds run up to 100 Mbps in select areas.
Bundling internet with your DISH plan gives you savings from two sources—and you won't have to give up an internet or cell phone plan to get the best deals on DISH TV.
