Xfinity vs. AT&T U-verse

Data effective 11/08/2017. Pricing and speeds are subject to change. Not all offers available in all areas.

Should you choose Xfinity or AT&T U-verse as your TV service provider?

The Verdict

Get Xfinity for reliable cable service with no contract and an impressive on-demand library.

Xfinity from Comcast is a solid TV offering that’s working to overcome its poor customer service history. While its channel selection is smaller than what’s offered by AT&T U-verse and the X1 DVR is short on storage, its fully stocked on-demand library helps make up for that.

With reliable service and contract-free options, Xfinity is a good choice for people who don’t like to be tied down but still want good TV.

Get AT&T U-verse for tons of channels and consistently good customer service.

AT&T is a fairly reliable service, and it offers all the channels you could ask for (and then some). The service comes with a one-year contract, but that’s not as long as some other TV providers. The U-verse Total Home DVR has fewer simultaneous recordings than the X1 but plenty of storage.

With a solid history in customer service and a wide offering of channels, AT&T U-verse is a safe bet for people who don’t mind being in a contract.

Customer Satisfaction Ratings

For more detailed information on these ratings, check out CableTV’s complete 2017 ranking of television providers.

Xfinity

Overall Customer Rating

(3.33 /5)

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AT&T U-verse

Overall Customer Rating

(3.34 /5)

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Xfinity

Xfinity lands around the middle of the pack in this category. It does charge an installation fee, which can run as high as $89.99, but Xfinity sometimes has promotional deals where installation is free with specific packages.

However, Xfinity offers a self-installation kit starting at $14.99, if you’d rather go the DIY route. There is also a two-hour window for service appointments, which is a smaller window than many competitors offer.

AT&T U-verse

U-verse scored just below Xfinity in this category, even though it has no installation fee and a manageable $35 activation fee.

While AT&T U-verse has an above-average score in this area, it may have been brought down by the fact that there’s no self-installation option for the initial setup, so you’ll need to arrange to have an AT&T professional come to your home for an installation.

Xfinity Installation Fee: Up to $89.99

AT&T U-verse Installation Fee: $35 activation fee

Xfinity

Xfinity offers 260 channels with just 130 in HD. The company does make up for its low channel count somewhat with a huge library of on-demand TV shows—like America’s Got Talent and Game of Thrones—and movies, 90% of which are free.

There’s also a small, affordable local channel package, so if you want just the basics, this might be the way to go.

AT&T U-verse

With a lineup of over 550 channels, U-verse offers something for everyone. More importantly, over 200 of them are in HD—this is significantly more than Xfinity.

There are four packages to choose from, and even the lowest-tier option, U-Family, offers over 200 channels. U-verse also offers a large selection of on-demand content and sports channels.

Xfinity Channels: 260+/130 HD

AT&T U-verse Channels: 550+/200 HD

Xfinity

Xfinity has risen in the ranks of signal reliability in our survey, even above U-verse. In general, you shouldn’t have many reliability issues with a cable connection, and Xfinity is no exception.

AT&T U-verse

Even with its fiber backbone, U-verse has fallen behind Xfinity in signal reliability. However, it’s still above average, and you can expect consistently good performance from U-verse, even during peak times.

Xfinity Type of Service: Cable

AT&T U-verse Type of Service: Fiber

Xfinity

Xfinity ranks in the middle here, likely held down by the sharp price increase after the one-year promo period ends and its hidden fees come to light. You’re likely to run into the broadcast TV fee, which runs up to $7 per month, and the regional sports fee, which runs up to $5 per month.

On the plus side, if you don’t mind signing a contract, you can save around $10 on your monthly bill by locking yourself in your contract for one year.

AT&T U-verse

U-verse is one of the top companies for monthly bill satisfaction. The company offers a range of packages and bundles that fit a variety of budgets, and it tops that off by including its DVR equipment and service for no extra charge.

However, U-verse isn’t without drawbacks—there’s a hidden $5.99 per month broadcast fee, and it has a required one-year contract.

Xfinity Price: $49.99–$124.99 per month
Contract: None

AT&T U-verse Price: $35–$110 per month
Contract: 1 year

Xfinity

Comcast, the company that provides Xfinity, has a notoriously bad reputation for customer service. But Xfinity clawed its way up from third-to-last place last year to an above-average score this year.

Some customers may still be running into trouble with undertrained overseas call centers. If you can, try to troubleshoot your problem with Xfinity’s online support page first.

View Xfinity Plans

AT&T U-verse

U-verse’s customer service has dropped significantly from last year, but it’s still well ahead of Xfinity. To get a domestic call center rather than an international one, try to reach U-verse during normal business hours.

If you have a simple problem with your U-verse service, try solvin­g it online first before braving the long wait time for phone calls.

View AT&T Plans

Equipment

Xfinity X1

AT&T Total Home DVR

Mobile Apps

Xfinity Stream

Google Play Rating: (3.4 /5)

Apple Store Rating:  (3.4 /5)

Channels: Up to 200
Manage DVR: Yes
Remote Control Function: No (available in the separate Xfinity TV Remote app)
Compatible Devices: iOS and Android

AT&T U-verse

Google Play Rating: (3.6 /5)

Apple Store Rating:  (4.7 /5)

Channels: Up to 270 in home and 228 out of home
Manage DVR: Yes
Remote Control Function: Yes
Compatible Devices iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire TV

Internet Service

Xfinity Internet

Type: Cable
Price: $29.99–$74.99 per month
Download Speeds: 25–250 Mbps
Equipment: $10 per month
Installation Fee: $59.99
Data Cap: 1 TB
Overall Customer Satisfaction: 3.37/5

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Xfinity Gigabit Internet

Type: Fiber
Price: $79.95–$299.95 per month
Download Speeds: 1,000–2,000 Mbps
Equipment: $11 per month
Installation Fee: $59.99
Data Cap: 1 TB
Overall Customer Satisfaction: 3.37/5

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AT&T High-Speed Internet

Type: DSL hybrid
Price: $40–$60 per month
Download Speeds: 5–75 Mbps
Equipment: Included
Installation Fee: Up to $99 (waived when bundled with TV)
Data Cap: 1 TB (none when bundled with TV)
Overall Customer Satisfaction: 3.48/5

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AT&T Fiber

Type: Fiber
Price: $60–$80 per month
Download Speeds: 100–1,000 Mbps
Equipment: Included
Installation Fee: Up to $99 (waived when bundled with TV)
Data Cap: 1 TB (none on Internet 1000 or when bundled with TV)
Overall Customer Satisfaction: 3.71/5

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More About the Providers

Xfinity from Comcast

Xfinity is the consumer-facing brand for Comcast Cable Communications. It provides television, internet, and phone services to consumers in the United States. Xfinity is the second-largest provider of television services after AT&T, serving over twenty-two million customers in the United States.

AT&T

AT&T is a multinational telecommunications company based in Dallas, Texas. It is the twelfth-largest company in the world, and it’s the largest telecom company. It is ranked by Forbes as one of the world’s most valuable brands. It can trace its origins all the way back to Alexander Graham Bell and the original Bell Telephone Company.