What is Xfinity Flex?
Xfinity Flex is a 4K streaming device and streaming service available to Xfinity internet-only customers. It gathers a ton of programming—free TV (and music and movie) apps, Xfinity’s vast on-demand library, a handful of free channels, and separate paid subscription services like Max—in one place for easy access.
Although the Flex’s user interface could be slightly cleaner compared to competitors like the Google Chromecast and Roku Express, the device’s $0.00 price tag makes it a zero-commitment option and a great value—not to mention a solid starting point for new cord-cutters.
The Flex used to be free: customers simply requested a free Flex set-top box, performed the five-minute install/activation process, and started watching. However, this will no longer be true after April 2023, and we’re super bummed about it.
But other devices offer much more for a relatively small initial investment, making them flexier than Flex. (And, since Flex is available only to Xfinity’s internet-only customers, it’s not available on other devices).
- Voice search across apps
- Up to 4K UHD
- Fast, easy installation and setup
- No longer free
- No way to add or remove apps
- No DVR
- Commercials
Xfinity Flex vs. the competition
| Product | Price | Download apps | Storage | Voice search | Video quality | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity Flex | Unknown† |
✗ |
✗ |
✓ |
Up to 4K UHD | |
| Amazon Fire Stick | $39.99* |
✓ |
8 GB internal |
✓ (Alexa integration) |
Up to 1080p HD | View on Amazon |
| Amazon Fire Stick 4K | $49.99* |
✓ |
8 GB internal |
✓ (Alexa integration) |
Up to 4K UHD |
View on Amazon Read review |
| Google Chromecast | $25.05* |
✗ |
✗ |
✓ |
Up to 1080p HD |
View on Amazon Read review |
| Roku Express | $29.75* |
✓ |
✗ |
✗ |
Up to 1080p HD |
View on Amazon Read review |
| Roku Streaming Stick+ | $44.99* |
✓ |
✗ |
✓ |
Up to 4K UHD | View on Amazon |
| Roku Ultra | $93.00* |
✓ |
✗ |
✓ |
Up to 4K UHD |
View on Amazon Read review |
*Amazon.com Price (as of 1/5/23 at 1:34 p.m. PT). Read full disclaimer.
† We know that the Xfinity Flex will no longer be free to Xfinity internet-only customers after April 2023, but we don’t yet know its new price. Stay tuned, we’ll let you know as soon as we find out!
The Flex device and service are a nice way to gather movie and TV apps in one spot. But so much of Flex’s content has unskippable commercials. And you can’t add/remove apps—Flex gets more apps only when Xfinity adds them.
We feel like Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K and Prime Video service give you a more complete streaming experience for not much money.
Amazon’s stick gives you many of the same apps and features as Flex, including 4K support, smart home integration, and voice search. But the Fire TV Stick has HDR support, and it allows you to add/remove apps. And Prime Video’s on-demand library is bigger and better than Flex’s—with no commercials. It’s the same deal when you compare Xfinity Flex vs. Roku devices.
Unfortunately, since the Xfinity Flex is no longer free, we’re less inclined to forgive it for its shortcomings compared to its competitors.
What you get with Xfinity Flex
The Flex might no longer be free, but it has other redeeming qualities.
Stuff we like
- 4K UHD support
- Huge on-demand catalog
- Voice search across apps
- Easy plug-and-play install
- Integrated paid streaming apps (Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, Max™, Hulu, Netflix, and more)
- Lighted voice remote that also controls TV
- Ability to rent or purchase movies and shows
- Smart home integration (requires Xfinity Home subscription)
- Ability to cancel and return anytime
What you don’t get with Xfinity Flex
Flex aggregates content that is already free. Many other devices support Pluto, Xumo, Tubi, and many of the other apps on Flex. And we’ve already mentioned how you can’t add or remove apps on Flex. But, as you’ll see from the list below, there’s more missing from Flex.
Stuff we wish Flex included
- Local channels
- A better way to sort “Free to Me” results
- A way to add or remove apps
- Internal storage or micro SD/USB slot
- DVR
- Commercial skipping
- Ability to use existing credentials for premium-channel apps
About that last item: If you already subscribe to MGM+™, HBO®, CINEMAX®, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME®, and STARZ® online, you can’t use your existing credentials to sign into them. You have to cancel your current service and resubscribe through Comcast/Xfinity. What the flex, Flex?!
Xfinity Flex apps
Live TV streaming channels and services
The Xfinity guide on Flex is a standard grid and shows only premium channels and a few of Flex’s freebies.
Much of Flex’s live TV content comes from the free live TV streaming services Pluto and Xumo, each of which delivers 100+ live TV channels. It’s all ad-supported content, though, so don’t expect to be able to skip commercials.
Flex is up and running with a handful of free live TV apps and some apps that feature tons of on-demand content.
On-demand streaming apps
Here are some of the on-demand streaming apps Flex currently supports. Several of these (denoted by ‡) require a separate paid subscription, so the main benefit of them being on Flex is to have free Flex content and your favorite paid streaming services in one place.
- Amazon Prime Video‡
- Paramount+‡
- Cheddar News
- ESPN3
- FilmRise
- Hulu‡
- Max‡
- Movies Anywhere
- Netflix‡
- Peacock
- Paramount+ with SHOWTIME®‡
- STARZ®‡
- YouTube
Other streaming apps (games, music, etc.)
You can also listen to music on Flex with the following apps. Some may require a separate subscription for premium features.
-
- Amazon Music
- iHeart Radio
- NPR One
-
-
- Pandora
- Spotify
- XITE
-
Xfinity Flex equipment, installation, and specs
Our Flex unit arrived in five days. Inside the box were the Xfinity Xi6 TV box, Xfinity XR15 voice remote, an HDMI cable, and a power cable.
Installation and activation are a breeze. Plug Flex in, power it on, answer a few easy questions, connect to Wi-Fi*, and pair the remote. We were ready to roll in less than 10 minutes—15 if you count the time it took to sign in to Prime Video, Netflix, and YouTube.
(*If you’re using a rented Xfinity Gateway modem, it’ll connect automatically—no need to enter your password.)
Xfinity Flex specs
-
-
- Price: No longer free after April 2023; new price currently unknown
- Size: 5” x 5” x 1”
- Video: Up to 4K UHD
- Audio: Dolby Atmos
- Storage: None
- Wi-Fi: 802.11ac
- Remote: XR15 Voice Remote
-
Xfinity Flex user experience and channel guide
In spite of its simple setup, Flex doesn’t have the smoothest user experience.
Flex has three guides—one for Xfinity (for premium channels) and one each for Pluto and Xumo. They’re the standard grids with separate tabs for live and on-demand programming, as well as some filtering options.
At first, it’s a little weird to switch between all of these guides and on-demand menus. Also, “Free to Me” isn’t as handy as it tries to be.
Xfinity Flex’s on-demand guide: “Free to Me” has a lot of content to sort through.
The Pluto guide on Xfinity Flex includes tabs for Live TV and On Demand, plus a category menu for filtering.
Xumo’s guide on Xfinity Flex is similar to Pluto’s, but with fewer filtering options.
The real headache comes when you’re trying to find on-demand content. Like a lot of streaming services, the on-demand guide is all carousel menus and tiles. Flex struggles to present its cornucopia of content, even when you can sort it every which way (alphabetically, by app/genre/new/popularity/service and more).
You’d think that “Free to Me” would simplify things. Nope. Remember, most of Flex’s content (Pluto, Xumo, Tubi, Xfinity on-demand, etc.) is free. All you’re doing here is filtering out rental/purchase-only titles. And if you’ve connected any of your subscription services (Prime Video, Netflix, etc.), you’ll have even more free stuff to sort through.
Marking favorites helps narrow things down. But we had trouble finding the on-screen favorites menu. The XR15 voice remote came in handy here (keyword: “favorites”).
Xfinity Flex remote user experience
The remote control is one area where Flex stomps the Fire Stick. Flex’s XR15 remote fits nicely in your hand, and we love the feel of the soft, rubber, backlit buttons.
The XR15 X1 remote will also control your TV’s power, volume, channel selection, and inputs. If it could adjust the TV’s settings, we’d happily make it our main clicker.
Side note: The XR15’s “Aim Anywhere” technology means you can point the remote at your bellybutton, your cat, or the mail carrier, and the signal will still reach your device.
Killer clicker: Xfinity Flex with the XR15 Voice Remote.
Xfinity Flex voice search
The Flex remote’s voice search feature controls a variety of apps across the device and can handle a number of commands, from playing specific shows to opening any of the Flex’s apps or curating recommendations based on user trends. The voice search feature is also incredibly accurate—it hasn’t misunderstood one of our commands yet.
Xfinity Flex video quality and interface
None of the other features really matter if the picture quality sucks. Fortunately, Xfinity Flex can handle all resolutions up to 4K UHD with HDR. But what you see depends on the quality of the movie or show you’re watching on the streaming device.
We watched a mix of standard definition (SD) and high-def (HD) content. Everything looked how you’d expect, and we didn’t encounter any problems.
UHF as streamed on Xfinity Flex. “I dunno . . . What do you think of Flex?”
Xfinity Flex home page.
As for the interface, it’s a little different from other streaming services.
The onscreen controls don’t include rewind, fast-forward, 10-second jump back/forward options, or pause. You get an info/status bar with a channel up/down button and that’s about it.
We get it: free means watching commercials. But Xfinity could compromise and include a modest 20-hour cloud DVR that’d allow rewind/fast-forward/pause functions—just not during ad breaks.
Is Xfinity Flex good?
The Xfinity Flex falls short of our expectations for what a streaming device should provide. We like that Flex has a suite of integrated apps and a user-friendly voice control system, but we hate that Xfinity got greedy and decided not to accept preexisting credentials for premium channels.
Flex won’t give you a complete and satisfying streaming experience. For that, we recommend checking out the Amazon Fire TV Stick or a Roku. See our best streaming devices review for more information on those. But while Amazon and Roku devices are supremely affordable, they aren’t free.
We got our Flex device for free, so to complain too much about Flex and its frustrations would be silly. But if Xfinity starts charging its internet-only customers for the service, that’s a different story.
If your budget is tight, and you want to downgrade from an Xfinity internet-TV bundle, you could go Xfinity internet-only and watch TV on the Flex box while you weigh your TV options. But otherwise, we’ll wait to see the Flex’s new price point (and features to justify the change?) before we make any recommendations.
Xfinity Flex FAQ
Is Xfinity Flex really free?
Unfortunately, the Xfinity Flex will no longer be free to Xfinity customers after April 2023. We guess you just had to be there.
What is the Xfinity Flex box?
Xfinity Flex is the Xfinity streaming box and service that Xfinity sells to its internet-only customers. If you’re interested in Flex, enter your zip code below to see if Xfinity internet is available in your area.
Does Xfinity Flex have Hulu?
Yes, the Xfinity Flex box has the basic, on-demand version of Hulu, but you will need a separate Hulu subscription to watch it.
How do I get Xfinity Flex?
If you are already an Xfinity internet-only customer you can request Xfinity Flex by calling Xfinity customer service. If not, check out our Xfinity internet review to get started.
Is Xfinity Flex worth it?
When it was free, the Flex was definitely worth it. Xfinity Flex is a free 4K-enabled streaming device and service that gives you access to 200+ live channels and 10,000+ on-demand movies and shows. It has a clunky interface, and you’ll have to watch commercials, so it might not be worth it if the new (yet-to-be-announced) price is too high.
Can I use Xfinity Flex with my own modem?
You can absolutely use Xfinity Flex with your modem but if you don’t have one yet or are looking to upgrade you can check out our recommendations for the best compatible Xfinity modems. When Xfinity first announced Flex, the provider required you to lease a modem from them. They’ve since dropped that requirement.
Can you use Xfinity Flex on a computer?
Xfinity Flex is a streaming device and service for your TV, so it can’t be accessed on a computer.
How is Xfinity Flex different from X1?
Xfinity Flex is a streaming device and streaming service that used to be free to Xfinity internet customers. You don’t subscribe to a channel package with Flex, and there is no DVR service.
Xfinity X1 is the fancy DVR/receiver that comes with your Xfinity cable TV service. For more about Xfinity TV service, read our review.
I have a Roku/Fire TV/smart TV. Why should I get Xfinity Flex?
You don’t need Xfinity Flex if you already have a Roku, Fire TV, or smart TV. These devices do all of the same things that Flex does, but with more features and functionality.
If I cancel Xfinity Flex, will I lose my internet service?
You will not lose your internet service if you cancel Xfinity Flex. But you will have to return your Flex device to Xfinity.
Is there an Xfinity Flex remote app?
You can control Xfinity Flex with the Xfinity TV Remote app for Android and iOS.
Does Xfinity Flex have Disney+?
No, Xfinity Flex does not currently support the Disney+ app. But you can still subscribe to Disney+ and watch it on another device.
Does Xfinity Flex support 4K?
Xfinity Flex does have 4K support, but there’s not a lot of 4K content available via Flex. But you can play your rented or purchased 4K content with Flex.
What channels come with Xfinity Flex?
The Xfinity Flex channels include NBC News NOW, Funny or Die, and Slow TV. Flex’s free channels come from Xumo and Pluto, which have more than 350 free channels—but they’re not regular cable TV channels. Most of them are loops of content from networks like Animal Planet, MTV, and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME®, and some channels are devoted to a single program.
If you’re looking for Xfinity Flex local channels, you’re out of luck: Flex doesn’t support local channels at all.
Does the Xfinity Flex box turn off?
You can turn off your Xfinity Flex box.
- Press the Xfinity button on your remote.
- Open up Settings and go to Device Settings
- Open Power Preferences.
- Click Power Down Now to turn off your Flex box.
Xfinity Flex vs. Roku: which is better?
Roku devices like the Roku Ultra support more apps and also give you access to Roku Channels and even some games, so we generally like it better. The Flex’s main draw has always been its low, low cost of $0.00, but that’s going to change after April 2023, so we’re less inclined to recommend it.
Methodology
We spent dozens of hours testing Xfinity Flex with a variety of live TV and on-demand streaming apps to evaluate its features, functionality, and reliability so we can let you know if it’s worth getting. For more about our process, see our How We Rank page.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
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