In our experience, Xfinity Home has some really unique and awesome features, and some people really like it. But with all those negative reviews, and since Comcast customer service can be exceptionally rough, Xfinity Home may not be for everyone. We don’t have specific pricing or other details about the bundles at the time, but if it sounds interesting to you, contact Xfinity and ask. For your money, you’ll get real-time alerts, cellular and battery backup, Xfinity Voice Remote control, a week of video storage, app access, and smart home capabilities. Also, Xfinity has multiple monitoring centers so that your professional monitoring stays online 24/7. We’ll talk a little more about this later. If you’re looking for a self-monitored system, Xfinity’s added an option for you, too (and the company also has a self-monitored camera on its roster—more on that later, too). The self-monitored plan is just $10 a month, which is a fair market price. Here are some benefits of a bundled Xfinity Home package:
Use the X1 DVR to see who’s calling or security alerts on your TV Watch TV on the internet through Xfinity’s website Watch Netflix through your X1 DVR (with TV and internet)
Planning a movie night? Order pizza, trigger the lights to turn on for the delivery driver as they approach, and even pause your movie with a single IFTTT recipe. An Xfinity Base Home system includes the following:
Three door/window sensors 1 motion sensor Xfinity Home Security yard sign Xfinity Home app for remote control Battery and cellular system backup Touchscreen control panel
The door and window sensors and motion sensors: nothing special. You put them where you most need them, and they help keep you safe like every home security system’s sensors. The touchscreen controller, on the other hand, is a neato-burrito proprietary device. It can be handheld in addition to hanging, so you can walk around with it and use it as a little security tablet.
Indoor/outdoor cameras Outlet controllers Smoke detectors Zen thermostat Motion sensors Door/window sensors Wireless keypads
Only a few of the devices come from Xfinity itself, and the additional equipment list is a bit thin for a brand that doesn’t make its own stuff. Since the system’s compatibility is limited, most of the equipment is meh approaching blah.
24/7 professional monitoring Cellular and battery backup Remote arm and disarm with the Xfinity Home app Real-time notifications when activity is detected Search feature to find footage by people, pet, and vehicle activity Additional features included with equipment purchases
While you don’t have to subscribe to Xfinity’s other services, we think Xfinity Home is the best deal when bundled. You can get some awesome features, like speaking commands for the entire system using the Xfinity X1 DVR’s voice remote. Alexa who? You can also integrate other cameras like Nest Cam, Canary Cam, and Arlo Pro into your system. For ideas, you can check out our posts for Best Indoor Cameras, Best Outdoor Cameras, and Best Motion Detector Cameras.
August door lock Kwikset Door Lock Chamberlain Garage door opener Nest Thermostat Caseta Wireless lighting Philips Hue Lighting Sengled Lighting General Electric Lightning
Xfinity Home is also compatible with some Zigbee products. One of the biggest benefits of getting Xfinity Home is accessing your system from afar. Lighting and thermostat control Turn on some mood lighting and raise the heat without getting off the couch during movie night. Or turn off the lights before you doze off without leaving your comfy bed. Security alerts You can see your alerts via text, email, app notifications, and on-screen notifications on your TV (if you get the Xfinity X1 DVR). You can customize the rules, too, so you only get necessary alerts. Installation fee: Starts at $60 and can get up to $99. Just to give you a heads up, though: Xfinity’s part of Comcast, and Comcast customer service is legendary for all the wrong reasons. Xfinity Home reviews overwhelmingly state that Comcast reps are unhelpful, even rude, and that just making contact with the company can be a struggle. But there are some good things too. Ordering’s easy, installation’s convenient, and the professional monitoring aligns with industry standards. Have a previously installed system like an old ADT or Vivint alarm? You may be able to use parts of your existing system and save money on new equipment costs. Just speak with your technician about a takeover.
Pricing: Xfinity’s self-monitoring plan cost is reasonable, but the professional monitoring plans can get expensive depending on where you live. Equipment: Xfinity Home equipment isn’t the best we’ve seen, but you can nearly get a complete home system. (No doorbell cameras, sadly.) There’s definitely some cool stuff, like a thermostat, a voice control remote, and a self-monitored security camera. Home automation: The Xfinity smart home automation is nearly a bust, with just a few hand-picked pieces compatible with the system. Oh, and some Zigbee smart devices work with it, too. Installation: Xfinity Home uses professional installation, which means someone will come from Comcast Xfinity to install your alarm system. Customer experience: You’ll have to deal with Comcast customer service, which is definitely a downside, but you’ll also get COPS monitoring and cellular backup and battery. And did we mention you can order online?
If Xfinity Home isn’t right for you, or if you just don’t want to deal with Comcast customer service, check out our Best Home Security Providers article.
