Xfinity is the most widely available cable provider in the US, and it’s reliable. Fios is a fiber-optic TV provider that is speedy and gives you loads of channels straight to your TV. But Xfinity ends up being pricier in the long run and has tons of fees. Fios is only available in nine states, and that’s a big deal. Let’s help you find out which cable TV provider is best for you and your home. With no contract requirement and a two-year price guarantee, this is a pretty sweet bundle. Your Fios TV plan offers the same number of channels as Xfinity’s Popular TV plan for $20 more, but you’ll be paying less in fees with Verizon Fios. And 425 channels for $110 per month is the best channel-to-dollar ratio you’ll find in the TV industry. With Fios, you have three different fees:
A second set-top box for your bedroom DVR fee Fios router fee
(We recommend buying the Fios router if you plan on keeping this cable TV provider for more than two years.) With Xfinity, expect to pay five fees that could possibly add up to $79 (no, Xfinity, no). Verizon Fios’ fees could hit a max of $69, further making it the least expensive option. You won’t have to worry about missing out on your favorite channels with Fios either. Fios has all of the channels under the sun in your lineup, so you’ll get a good variety to satisfy any mood you’re in. Xfinity has a set price for each premium channel, and the pricing is average compared to other TV providers. How can you miss out on your Westworld, Billions, or The Undoing? You just can’t. Fios is a rarity and charges its premium channels by the number. You could get all five premium channels for only $40/mo.! That’s the best premium channel deal we’ve seen in the TV industry. With Most Fios TV, you can add HBO MAX or Cinemax to your service. No need to order SHOWTIME, STARZ or MGM+ because you’ll have them in your channel lineup already! Xfinity offers nine sports channels in its entry-level package, but unfortunately it doesn’t include NFL Network (while most entry-level cable packages do). So if its sports channels you’re after, we highly recommend upgrading to the Ultimate TV package. For $10 more, you’ll get access to 22 sports channels. Worth it. With Fios, we noticed a couple of things that stood out amongst the sports channel lineup. Keep in mind, the More Fios TV plan doesn’t have the Golf Channel. And if you’re a Shohei Ohtani fan, you’ll have to get the Most Fios TV plan to get MLB Network and MLB Strike Zone. You’ll also want this plan if you want to enjoy NBA TV and the greatest channel of all, the NFL RedZone Channel. With Verizon Fios, you can get over 40 sports channels with the Most Fios TV package. Most TV providers only give you around 20. Xfinity TV’s Popular TV plan has the following sports channels: Both of Xfinity’s plans come with a 20-hour DVR storage for no extra cost. Although that might not sufficient for most families, you’ll have to upgrade to Fios’ $90/month plan to get free DVR service. But we can’t forget that Xfinity has more fees than Fios which could potentially make up for the pricing differences. With Fios, the higher the plan you order, the less you have to pay on DVR fees:
Your Fios TV: $10 for 50 HD hours, $20 for 100, $30 for 200 More Fios TV: 50 hours included, $8 for 100, $18 for 200 The Most Fios TV: 100 hours included, $10 for 200
Xfinity’s DVR fees are a little more straightforward. Both of its plans include a 20-hour DVR storage. If you agree that this is ridiculously small because you want to record more than three movies and 10 TV episodes, you can upgrade to 150 hours for $10 per month of 300 hours for $20. If neither sounds like the right service for you, check out our Best TV Service Providers of 2023.
