The Best Cable and TV Packages for Seniors (2026)

Starting Cost: $65 per month

Starting at $65 per month, Xfinity’s prices aren’t the cheapest on this list, but bundling TV with internet and mobile makes it more appealing.

A key feature of Xfinity’s TV offerings is the ability to get bundled discounts. For example, by bundling that $65 per month TV plan with a $40 per month internet plan, you’ll save $10 per month on the total bill. You’ll also get a free year of Xfinity Mobile. Since most households will need internet and phone with their TV, going all in with Xfinity is a great option.

Elsewhere, we were impressed by Xfinity’s price-lock guarantees. On its services, you can lock in your price for five years. Best of all, this option doesn’t require a contract; it just requires paying a slightly higher monthly cost.

Elsewhere, we loved the X1 box included with our Xfinity plan. This allowed us to record shows on the built-in DVR as well as use the voice-controlled remote. Seriously, dictating the name of a show instead of typing it is a game-changer.

Xfinity’s most basic package with 10+ channels starts at $65.20 per month. The top package runs $135 per month.

While prices are somewhat high, Xfinity offers affordable streaming packages like StreamSaver that bundle platforms like Peacock and Netflix.

Xfinity TV Packages Compared*

*Prices as of January 2025

Xfinity’s prices are far from the lowest on this list. If you’re looking for the lowest prices, we recommend checking out Spectrum or Cox.

If you are looking to bundle TV, phone, and internet, Xfinity is one of the best options.

To learn more about the provider, read our guide to Xfinity cable for seniors.

Starting Cost: $49.99 per month

DIRECTV offers digital and satellite live TV and streaming. The satellite option requires professional installation, but most people with high-speed internet will choose the digital option, which includes free installation, equipment, and shipping.

To install our Gemini Air voice remote, we:

1. Plugged its HDMI cable into our TV and a power source
2. Turned on our TV
3. Changed the input
4. Followed the on-screen prompts to accept the terms and conditions
5. Paired our remote and TV
6. Updated the software

The process took only a few minutes. The satellite option would have been more complicated, but most people with high-speed internet won’t need it.

DIRECTV isn’t the cheapest option, with prices ranging from $89.99 to $154.99 per month after promotional periods end. Prices will be even more if you want advanced receiver services (ARS). What does ARS include?

• 4K picture quality
• Ability to use different third-party apps on the same input
• Combined charge for all services
• Premium remote options, such as a full numeric keypad and previous-channel buttons
• Voice remote, which comes with Google Assistant

You’ll also pay $15 a month to lease your equipment. With all plans, prices are subject to increase after the promotional period ends. DIRECTV has significant fees, reflected in the prices below.

DIRECTV Packages Compared*

*Prices as of January 2026

DIRECTV advertises lower promotional prices, but with fees and regular pricing, the monthly cost is typically higher after the promotional period. DIRECTV has some of the highest required fees.

DIRECTV may be pricey, but its entertainment options are unmatched. Plus, you won’t have to pay anything for installation.

To learn more, read our rundown of DIRECTV senior plans.

Starting Cost: $20 per month

Whether you want streaming or access to more than 250 channels, Cox offers flexible, month-to-month contracts. Installation and equipment are free with self-installation, so we only paid for the TV service. We could also add DVR, more streaming apps, and pay-per-view access.

We wanted both streaming and cable, so we purchased the streaming box for a one-time fee of $60 — by far the cheapest on this list — which allowed us to access all our favorite Netflix shows in 4K and thousands of free shows and movies.

We also wanted cable TV, however, so we chose the Cox TV Starter plan, which, for $80, got us over 75 channels, including the top broadcast networks. Not a bad deal, especially considering we saved $100 on professional installation by installing our Easy Connect kit ourselves.

Cox offers affordable TV service, with prices starting at $20 a month for Cox TV Lite, a plan that lets you stream 60 live cable channels. The only caveat is that to get this low price, you must bundle this plan with a Cox internet plan.

DIY installation is free, but professional installation costs $100. The Contour Box and voice remote are included with some plans, and prices are locked for two years even with month-to-month contracts.

Some discounts are available with internet, home phone, and smart home bundles, but you’ll save only $5 to $10 a month. Overall, Cox is reasonably priced, especially for streaming.

Cox TV Plans*

*Prices as of January 2026

In the western U.S., Cox had a J.D. Power customer-satisfaction score of 537 out of 1,000. The national average is 650, so Cox is below average.2 We had no issues using Cox’s 24/7 phone line, live chat, and online help center, but some customers disagree.

Despite its below-average customer satisfaction score in the western U.S., Cox is a top provider for streaming and cable, with affordable pricing and plenty of channels.

To learn more, read our guide to Cox cable for seniors.

Starting Cost: $40 per month

Spectrum TV includes a free Xumo Stream Box with all of its plans. With the TV Select Signature plan or higher, streaming apps such as Disney+, Paramount+, HBO Max, and Peacock are included (although not actual streaming subscriptions). Installation is free, and we did it ourselves in less than 10 minutes.

All Spectrum TV plans include streaming. We received over 150 channels with TV Select Signature, nearly doubling our channels compared to the TV Stream plan. Premium channels and live sports are available for additional cost.

Spectrum TV generally rates above average in customer service, with an online help center, live chat, and a 24/7 phone line. Setting up our Xumo Stream Box was easy—we had our favorite shows running in no time!

For streaming plus over 75 channels of live TV, TV Stream is an affordable option at $40 a month. TV Select Signature is priced at $100 per month for over 150 channels. Promotional rates may be available for new customers and may change after the first year.

Since Spectrum TV is digital, installation is DIY and free. Contracts are one month with streaming-only options and 12 months with all other plans. All plans include a free Xumo Stream Box, and you can save on a home phone by bundling.

Spectrum TV Packages Compared*

*Prices as of January 2026

Note that promotional rates are available only to new residential customers who haven’t had Spectrum services in the past 30 days and are in good standing with the company. Spectrum internet is required.

Spectrum TV has a maximum of about 160 English-language channels. Verizon Fios’ top plan has over 425 channels, Dish has over 290, and Cox has over 250.

While it lacks the channel variety of Verizon and Dish, Spectrum TV gives you everything you need to stream to your heart’s content.

To learn more about the provider, read our guide to Spectrum TV for seniors.

Starting Cost: $89.99 per month

Satellite TV is a good option if you live in a rural area and don’t have access to high-speed internet. It’s not a very popular way to get TV, but Dish is one exception. It offers two-year contracts with 190 to 290 channels from $89.99 to $119.99 per month, plus thousands of free on-demand titles.

The benefit of satellite TV over digital TV is that you won’t have to worry about your Wi-Fi network being overloaded with devices and downloads, not to mention network outages. Dish monitors its networks at all times to check for signals.

With Dish, you can also stream on up to five extra devices, since streaming is included in its subscriptions. The best part is, you don’t have to install it yourself. Professional installation is free.

Another benefit of Dish is that it’s the only provider on this list to offer discounts to people 55 or older. If you ever have technical issues, a technician will come to you free of charge under the Dish Protect Plus plan. For younger customers, the Dish Protect Plus costs $12.99 a month or a technician visit costs $95. The discount lasts for six months.

Since it’s satellite instead of digital, Dish is more expensive than other companies, such as Cox, which start at $20 per month. That’s expected, but Dish is also more expensive than satellite TV from DIRECTV, which starts at $89.99 a month for 90 channels (barring promotional periods). For all other packages, however, Dish offers more channels for less money, so it’s a better deal for someone who wants more than 90 channels.

Prices with Dish are locked for two years, and installation is free. There are DVRs available for $5 or $10, and no other fees for equipment. Dish offers internet service, but it’s provided by another company and you will be billed separately. Whether you’ll get a bundling discount depends on where you live.

Dish TV Packages Compared*

*Prices as of January 2026

Streaming is not available on its own from Dish, unlike Cox and Xfinity. Dish also has higher starting costs, but when you consider satellite and cable costs versus digital TV, the price makes sense—especially with a minimum of 190 channels.

With 190 or more channels and free installation, Dish is the most affordable satellite TV option if you want more than 75 channels.

To learn more about the provider, read our rundown of Dish TV for seniors.

Starting Cost: $79 per month

Verizon took “the more the merrier” to heart. With its top-tier package, you’ll get more than 425 channels—dozens more than the second-highest on this list. If you get bored, there’s streaming through YouTube TV.

Verizon is the only provider we’ve come across that lets you try before you buy. With the Fios TV Test Drive, we paid $95 for 60 days of service and over 125 channels — the same service as the Your Fios TV. We loved going through the channels on our TV, not to mention streaming as much as we wanted on our devices. Once the 60 days were over, it was time to upgrade.

Verizon’s pricing (with the $10-per-month autopay and paperless billing discount applied) is more on par with other nondigital TV providers, such as Dish, which starts at $83.99 a month, and DIRECTV, which starts at $89.99 per month.

We had to pay $99 for installation, but the first set-top box rental was free. All contracts are monthly, except the Fios TV Test Drive. Verizon also offers internet and phone service, but there are no discounted bundles that include TV — only internet and mobile.

Verizon TV Plans Compared*

*Prices as of January 2026

Installation isn’t free. Since Verizon uses fiber-optic cable, prices are higher than with digital TV providers like Xfinity, Cox, or Spectrum. However, cable is more reliable than Wi-Fi, and fiber-optic is even better.

If you’re willing to pay a little more to use fiber-optic cable, Verizon is the provider for you. It’s also great for anyone who is constantly looking for new content. With over 425 channels, you’ll never get bored!