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Bundling your TV and internet services in one package has enticing perks: lower prices, waived fees, simpler billing, and free equipment. But not all bundles are created equal, and many are deceptive about the savings. We took a comprehensive look at some of the most popular internet and TV providers and compared their best bundles. The best for you will depend on what you prioritize — low price, contract freedom, fast internet speeds, or channel selection.
The 5 Best TV and Internet Packages
- Xfinity X1 Saver Pro+ Double Play — Best Balanced Bundle
- Xfinity Choice TV Select Double Play — Best Budget Bundle
- AT&T Ultimate + Internet — Best Bundle for TV
- Spectrum Double Play Select — Best for No Contract
- Cox Silver Duo — Best Bundle for Internet
The Best TV and Internet Packages: Summed Up
Why Trust This Review?
We’ve spent years researching and reviewing internet and TV providers. An essential part of our review process is diving deep into the packages that each provider offers. We considered price, speed, channel number, data cap, fees, and additional perks when evaluating bundles. The ability to bundle multiple services with one provider can save you money and simplify billing, but not every bundle follows through with that potential. We read through contracts and fine print to surface price hikes and hidden restrictions, ultimately landing on five packages that are worth the bundle. These recommendations are made purely based on our in-depth, independent research.
Xfinity X1 Saver Pro+ Double Play — Best Balanced Bundle
Pros
Comparatively low price ($80/month)
Fast speeds, up to 200 Mbps
140+ channels
30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
Monthly fees
No premium channels
This Xfinity bundle offers a solid lineup of channels and super-fast speeds at a great price. The X1 Saver Pro+ Double Play bundle includes 140+ channels, just about covering the most popular networks (like ESPN, Animal Planet, HGTV, CNN, etc.) but not quite the full suite of premium programming (HBO, Showtime, etc.). This is a good choice for anyone who wants some cable TV but doesn’t want to pay for more channels than they can watch.
This package comes with up to 200 Mbps in internet speed, and few households will need more speed than that. 200 Mbps is enough for multiple people to be streaming video or playing games at the same time. The bundle costs $80 per month, which is about $10 to $20 cheaper than comparable plans from other providers. Granted, those savings are offset by the variety of monthly fees that Xfinity charges — a $13 router fee, $5 DVR service fee, $15 broadcast TV fee, and a $9 regional sports fee. However, these fees aren’t particularly unique, and this bundle is still cheaper than a lot of comparable packages. Regardless, if you’re unhappy with your service, Xfinity has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Xfinity Choice TV Select Double Play — Best Budget Bundle
Pros
Only $40 per month
Fast speeds, up to 100 Mbps
30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
Only 10 TV channels
Monthly fees
For those who want to bundle on a budget, the Xfinity Choice TV Select Double Play is a bargain. At only $40 per month, it was the cheapest bundle we found — even cheaper than many internet-only plans. The bundle comes with up to 100 Mbps of internet, which should be plenty of speed, even for larger households. By comparison, AT&T’s bundles start at $90 per month for 100 Mbps (though it does include more TV channels).
The Xfinity Choice TV Select Double Play package only includes about 10 channels — basic networks like CBS, ABC, and PBS, some local news networks, and random inclusions like the Gem Shopping Network, the Weather Channel, and the Hallmark Channel. It offers enough to stay connected with cable TV and major broadcast events, but TV fanatics would need to supplement with streaming services.
AT&T Ultimate + Internet — Best Bundle for TV
Pros
Robust TV package
Industry-leading DVR system
Best bundle perks
Cons
Internet speeds and technology vary by region
If you care most about your channel lineup and TV package, we recommend AT&T’s Ultimate + Internet bundle. AT&T’s TV service, DIRECTV, has some of the best DVR technology on the market: The Genie HD DVR can record up to five shows simultaneously and store up to 200 hours of HD content — a real feat compared to Spectrum’s DVR, which can only record two shows at once and stores a measly 21 hours of entertainment.
For $115 per month, this bundle includes up to 100 Mbps and 250+ TV channels. You’ll also receive the 2020 NFL Sunday Ticket subscription and three months of HBO, Showtime, Starz, Cinemax, and Epix for free. AT&T keeps the fees low, too, with just a $10 monthly equipment fee and a $20 one-time activation fee.
The only downside is that the exact internet technology and speed included in the bundle can vary by location. AT&T has both fiber-optic and DSL internet, with different availability. As a result, your internet speeds may vary according to coverage at your address.
Spectrum Double Play Select — Best for No Contract
Pros
No contracts
12-month price-lock
200+ Mbps
Cons
Tons of fees
Spectrum’s Double Play Select bundle comes with 200 Mbps of internet speed, which should be more than enough for the average household and even most bandwidth-hungry homes. You’re unlikely to experience disruptive buffering or tedious page loading, no matter the internet activity. Spectrum’s best perk is that it comes without contracts. You’re free to leave without any termination fees or cancellation complications. This is ideal for anyone who needs service temporarily or is hesitant about committing to longer-term service. And even though there are no contracts, your price is still locked in for 12 months.
However, we want to point out that the bundle isn’t a great price. $90 for 200+ Mbps and 125+ channels isn’t far from industry average, but the number of fees that Spectrum tacks on add up quickly. There is a one-time $10 WiFi activation fee (it seems pretty silly to charge to basically turn on the internet) and a $50 installation fee. You’ll be charged a $13.50 monthly broadcast fee and $5 per month for DVR service. Each piece of equipment will cost you, too — $5 per month for a WiFi router and $8 per month for each HD cable box. Essentially, you’re paying extra for the freedom of having no contract. If, within 30 days, you decide Spectrum’s service isn’t worth the price, you can cancel with a money-back guarantee.
Cox Silver Duo — Best Bundle for Internet
Pros
940 Mbps
170+ channels
Month-to-month contracts available
Cons
Tiered pricing for DVR capacity
If a super-fast internet connection is your priority, we recommend the Cox Silver Duo bundle. With 940 Mbps, you could probably power an online gaming tournament or a small business. Realistically, this may appeal to larger households full of heavy internet users — activity like live streaming, video gaming, downloading files, and video conferencing would benefit from this level of speed. For most other people, that kind speed is likely excessive.
This package costs $130 per month and comes with 170+ channels, including HBO, Cinemax, and Showtime. Those premium channels tend to cost extra in other bundles, including AT&T’s largest channel package. For the Silver Duo, DVR service is required with TV, and you’ll have to choose between different recording capacities (for different prices). For $13 per month, your service can record two shows simultaneously and store 250 hours of recordings. $20 per month gets you six shows simultaneously and 250 hours of storage, and the $25 per month DVR service can record 24 shows simultaneously and 1,000 hours of storage.
How We Chose the Best TV and Internet Package
When evaluating bundles from internet and TV providers, we looked at these features:
- Price: We considered the savings that the bundle would offer on each service. We also compared the price to similar offerings from other providers. For example, if one provider offered a bundle that cost $60 for 100 Mbps and 140+ channels and another provider offered $80 for 100 Mbps and 150+ channels, we favored the lower price.
- Speed: We looked for a balance between sufficient speed, and excessive speed. The FCC reported that the “median speed experienced by subscribers of the participating ISPs was 72 Mbps.” We preferred bundles that could deliver about that average speed at a fair price. Packages with exorbitant prices for speeds closer to 1,000 Mbps, are likely overkill for most people.
- Channels: When it comes to TV channels, some people want every network out there and others just need a taste of cable. We combed through the specific channels each package offered and made recommendations based on different viewer habits.
- Perks: The best bundles come with additional perks that lower your price and add value. Bundles that offered free equipment, waived fees, premium channel trials, and unique content were ranked higher.
How to Find the Best Internet and TV Package
Your own search for a TV and internet bundle may yield different results. To figure out which bundle is best for you, we recommend the following:
- Check availability: Service providers can have pretty sporadic availability and many of the companies we recommend may not service your address. Your first step when shopping for TV and internet service should be to find the providers available to you.
- Speed needs: Packages are organized by the amount of internet speed you get. Understanding how much your household needs will help you decide which package will fit your lifestyle. We’ve built a table to help guide you. Consider the number of devices that use internet in your home — everything from computers to security cameras. Then weigh that against the kind of internet activity.
Light use: Emails, web browsing, social media, SD video streaming
Moderate use: Music streaming, occasional online gaming, streaming HD video on one or two devices.
Heavy use: Multiple devices streaming HD video simultaneously, real-time gaming, video conferencing.
Very heavy use: Multiple devices streaming HD or 4K video simultaneously, large file downloading, real-time gaming, video conferencing.
- TV channel preferences: The other factor in your bundle is the number of TV channels. Depending on your viewing habits, you may need as few as 10 of the most basic cable channels, or every premium and sports network available. Survey your TV tendencies and note your favorite channels to find the right package.
- Other priorities: Customer service reputation, price, technology, and contract length can all factor into your decision, too.
To learn more about shopping for the internet, you can check out our full guide to internet providers.
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About the Authors
Danika Miller has been writing for Reviews.com for three years, where she specializes in streaming, internet, and TV topics. She holds a bachelor’s degree in creative and technical writing from Western Washington University.
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