Xfinity Stream App Review - Free Alternative to Expensive Cable Rental Boxes!

I work in IT at a university and we use the Xfinity Stream app for our resident students and they seem to like it and rarely need help. It’s so much easier to support than our old ClearQAM setup where students had to have a TV with a ClearQAM tuner (and it’s difficult to tell if a TV supports it because it’s typically only listed in the manual and not on the box) and they have to scan for channels and lots of other problems can crop up with that kind of a system.

Not all heroes wear capes. You are the best Lon!

One thing that you did not mention is that when you are watching Live TV there is not a pause, rewind, or fast forward feature like you could with the X1 or other DVRs. It only works with recorded shows. But it will give you an option to restart a movie from the beginning if it is available to watch on demand.

I have tried both FireTV and Roku for Xfinity Stream. I do have my primary X1 box on my main TV, but use a Roku in my bedroom. It works seamlessly, and has for three years now. I tried it on the FireTV platform, which has improved but is still lagging behind in comparison to Roku. One thing to note is Xfinity Stream works really well on Fire Tablets. Recordings at times can lag, but streaming or watching OnDemand work with little issue.

Hey Lon, so you got Comcast's no service guarantee? Fortunately I'm with the second worst cable company, Spectrum. In 2012 I found out that I could save $5 (at the time) if I bought my own modem, which I did. In early 2015 I discovered that I could buy a Roku box and send their stuff back to them. More savings. Between all this stuff, I have saved thousands! One thing to do is save the return of equipment records FOREVER.

Thank you for posting this video lol. Had no idea this was part of my xfinity. Only thing I noticed is that 99 percent of the live channels are not free to watch. I do like how I can watch some free movies and shows though.

Is there no remote to directly type a channel in the stream app? Like to go from say channel 45 to channel 501?

Not really free, you still need a Comcast channel subscription.

Anyone that has this capability is really lucky. I have been asking COX for 5 years now for it. They always have some excuse why they can't do it. It's BS. I have seen this several years ago visiting some relatives in Florida who have Spectrum cable. With the cost of cable TV so expensive you would think the cable companies would want to do whatever it takes to save some money and not lose customers.

I’m surprised that you didn’t speak about the Comcast Flex box. I believe you can drop cable if you use it. I believe you have to pay for tv if you just use the app (Roku),which I use in my bedroom. I also use a TiVo and my own modem.

Thank you so much this really saves me money 💰

I have my own cable modem and use Tivo for cable TV. It's costs much more up front, but after several years of doing so, I am on the positive side of things. But, there is a problem, as soon as my M-card goes belly up, I am out of luck. Comcast/Xfinity is no longer required by law to support or supply M-cards, and if they don't have to, you can be sure they won't. Here's hoping the thing will last a few years more. It is well beyond me why Xfinity seems to be hell bent on remaining something that consumers want to run away from.

I would use the stream app, except their are no thumbnails during rewind or fast forward, so you can’t tell when to stop.

Great video. Is there any kind of integration with Plex?

Why doesn't Comcast offer Xfinity Stream as a standalone without Xfinity cable Internet?

Great review. Is there a way to use this app to remotely help your mom watch a show? Will it also turn on/off her TV and remotely adjust the volume?

I'm interested to see what will happen when her contract expires. If you end up switching her to something else, I will be interested to know what you have chosen.

Lon, you could probably take a look at another relative's bill and do the same video. I really enjoyed it and have had similar experiences with my parents. I'm sure you could churn out a series on this but I think you could limit it to 2-5 videos per year on the subject, otherwise it would get somewhat repetitive. Maybe have a look at moving your relatives over to VOIP if they're still paying for a landline.

I have xfinity TV service at home, but I wanted to use the stream product at a second home in a state that doesn't have xfinity. It seems you can not use a Roku to stream Xfinity, but does it work if I get a Firestick device?

Thanks Much !