Xfinity Review

Monday, June 5th

2023 Home Security System Reviews

Xfinity

• Professionally-installed home security systems OR Self-Protection
• Monthly monitoring fees of $30 to $50, self-monitoring for $10/month
• Equipment can be purchased outright or on a 24-month payment plan
• No term contract required
• May have to a be a customer of Xfinity Internet to be eligible

Xfinity is a brand of Comcast, a large telecommunications and media conglomerate based in the United States. Xfinity offers a range of services including cable TV, internet, home phone, and home security systems. They have been in the home security market for several years, and their system is marketed as a comprehensive package that integrates smoothly with their other services.

Professional monitoring or DIY, your pick

There are two ways you can use Xfinity for home security: self-protection and professional monitoring. Self-protection gives you live video and 24/7 recording on up to 6 active cameras and/or video doorbells. You can build out your system further with many popular smart home devices, like locks and thermostats. You'll pay just $10/month for self-protection, plus the cost of any equipment you choose. Even the gear is affordably-priced: you'll pay just $60 for an indoor camera, for example. Most equipment is offered at a per-month price too: $9/month for 24 months on a camera/smart lock combo, $5/month for 24 months for a smart lock, and so on. There's no contract on the $10/month self-monitoring service.

No contracts? No joke.

Or, if you want a more traditional, professionally-monitored home security setup, you can choose between Xfinity's Pro Protection and Pro Protection Plus (say THAT ten times fast). Both packages include 24/7 monitoring, real-time alerts, battery backup, and the ability to control your system through your TV using your Xfinity Voice Remote. The Plus package gives you the capability of reviewing up to a week of uninterrupted recorded video and motion clips via cloud store, and to easily search footage by people, vehicle, or pet. Neither plan has a term contract, which is a breath of fresh air among home security companies who lock you in for up to five years at a time.

Monthly fees of $50 or less

Depending on where you live, your monthly fees for Pro Protection or Plus will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $30 to $50 per month: in one area we entered, we were quoted $30 for the lower tier and $40 for the higher one, and in another it was priced at $40 and $50, respectively.

Equipment isn't super-expensive

As with the self-protection package, the professionally-monitored home security systems have equipment costs separate from the monitoring. You can opt to pay for your equipment outright or spread the fees over 24 months. Xfinity's Base Home System costs $360 or 24 monthly payments of $15, Complete sells for $480 or $20 x 24 months, and the Ultimate goes for $600 or $25 x 24 months. But, you can also build out your own plan with various configurations of equipment as desired.

Not available everywhere

The primary disadvantage of the Xfinity Home Security System is its restricted service area. Unless Xfinity Internet is available in your location, you won't be able to subscribe to their service. For instance, in a suburb of a mid-size metropolitan area we tested, we were directed to their affiliate, Spectrum, which unfortunately doesn't provide any home security systems with their TV/Internet/Phone bundles. In another metro area that isn't serviced by Xfinity, we were told that our address was invalid and we weren't even passed along to a partner provider. This could potentially exclude a significant number of potential customers. The jury is also still out as to whether or not you have to be an Xfinity internet customer to use their home security systems: in some places it says yes and in others it says no, so keep that in mind.

No concerns about reputation

It can be tricky getting a finger on the pulse of customer sentiment specific to Xfinity's home security systems: most feedback is a mix of comments on the broad range of products in the Xfinity portfolio (like internet or TV), or even for parent company Comcast (which, fortunately, has an "A+" and accreditation from the BBB). Still, in the places we were able to find security system-specific feedback, it was almost always positive. Customers really appreciate not being locked into a contract unless they've chosen to pay for their equipment in installments, and even if you pay for your gear upfront you're still not spending thousands of dollars.

Excellent choice - if you can get it

If Xfinity is available in your area, you're in luck. Their contract-free home security system is competitively priced and equipped with all the latest features. We have no problem recommending Xfinity as a provider to consider. However, if Xfinity is not available, you'll need to explore the other home security systems we reviewed to find a suitable option for your needs.