Best Cable TV For Seniors

*Price represents the monthly price for the first year with multiproduct discount. Rates will increase after 12 months. Xfinity will add a regional TV fee and sports package fee where applicable.

Xfinity also offers NOW TV for those who want to enjoy more channels and content without breaking the bank. It isn’t traditional cable TV, but it offers 40 live and on-demand channels, which you can watch through the Xfinity Stream app. NOW TV costs only $20 a month and includes a free Peacock TV subscription.

» Dive Deeper: Xfinity Cable TV Review

We tried both services and found that NOW TV offers a better experience than the Choice TV Plus plan without costing more. NOW TV requires an Xfinity internet plan, starting as low as $19.99 monthly. If you want to enjoy popular channels, including sports and movies, without spending a fortune or installing a cable box, NOW TV is a great alternative. Remember that if you don’t already use Xfinity Internet, you’ll have to change your internet provider to Xfinity.

If you’re looking for a package with all your favorite channels, we’d recommend upgrading to the Popular or Ultimate package. These plans offer fan favorites such as ESPN, HGTV, the Food Network, Bravo, AMC, Disney, and more!

Equipment

When we ordered an Xfinity cable TV package, it included all the standard equipment, including a cable box, HDMI or SDI cables, a coaxial cable, a power cord, and a remote. The equipment you receive will depend on your plan and the options you choose when signing up. For example, if you bundle Xfinity TV and internet, you’ll get Xfinity X1, which costs $5 per month for standard definition (SD) and $9.95 monthly for high definition (HD).

If you just need cable, you’ll want the Xfinity Flex cable box, which is included in the price of your cable plan. If you desire multiple cable boxes to enjoy TV in more than one room, you’ll pay an additional $5 per box monthly. That means Xfinity is generally cheaper for households with more than one TV, because providers like DIRECTV and Spectrum charge more for cable box rentals.

We’re big fans of the Xfinity Voice Remote. Using this remote, we could change the channel, open apps, and pull up specific shows — all with the sound of our voice. It is excellent for seniors with vision loss, arthritis, or mobility issues that make using a remote painful. We simply held down the blue microphone button and spoke into the remote. We heard a chime, and a message appeared on the screen that showed what we said into the remote. So easy!

Using Xfinity's voice remote

Senior Friendliness

The best part about Xfinity cable TV for seniors is the simple and intuitive Xfinity mobile app. Even if you’re not tech-savvy, you can get help from someone to download the app on your phone or tablet so you can watch your favorite shows, sports, and movies on your device. We had to download the app, log in to our account, and start browsing.

Browsing content on the Xfinity Stream mobile app

One thing we didn’t care for about Xfinity cable TV was the fees for add-ons. If you want anything beyond the basics offered in your plan, you’ll pay additional fees for equipment, channels, and bundling services. We would’ve appreciated seeing more options for bundling streaming services with an Xfinity plan. You can get Peacock TV for free if you sign up for NOW TV, but that option isn’t available with traditional cable. It feels a bit limited compared to DIRECTV’s streaming deals.

It’s also important to discuss the limitations of the Xfinity Stream app. We loved using it on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, but we weren’t as impressed with its ability to stream content to TVs. In theory, you could use the app to stream to TVs in your home that don’t have cable boxes, but when we tried to do it we often got error messages informing us that some content could only be streamed to a TV via in-home Wi-Fi. That means you’ll need an Xfinity internet plan to get the most out of the streaming app (and avoid paying for a cable box for every TV in your home).

» Related Reading: Apps for seniors (tech-savvy or not)

*Pricing will increase after 24 months.

As you can see from the table above, DIRECTV isn’t cheap. Even the most affordable plan that offers over 75 channels is roughly $20 more per month than Xfinity’s Popular TV plan, which offers over 125 channels. Depending on the plan, you can access more premium content, including multiple movie channels such as STARZ and Cinemax. If you’re a big movie fan with high-speed internet, it might be worth paying more for DIRECTV.

Equipment

Since DIRECTV offers TV via the internet, it includes some fantastic equipment. The latest DIRECTV device is the Gemini, which keeps all your plan’s channels and streaming apps in one place. Gemini Voice (powered by Google Assistant) also allowed us to navigate different channels, applications, and programs with just our voice.

We tested Gemini Voice and found it to be similar in functionality to the Contour Voice Remote from Cox. It didn’t always understand our requests. In most cases, though, if we named a TV channel or program we wanted to watch, it brought it up on screen in less than 10 seconds.

DIRECTV packages include a remote, an HDMI cable, a power cord, and an Ethernet cable to connect to your modem or router. DIRECTV has a one-time, nonrefundable activation fee of $19.95 for the Gemini device. If you want more than one Gemini for your home, you’ll pay an additional $7 per device monthly. If you choose a plan with satellite TV, you’ll also pay additional activation and installation fees for the satellite equipment. We’re not big fans of extra charges like this, but they’re typical for the industry.

Senior Friendliness

The high-tech offerings of DIRECTV may leave some seniors feeling apprehensive, but we think DIRECTV goes above and beyond to make life easier for seniors. The voice-controlled Gemini device is perfect for those with vision loss or arthritis. The DIRECTV app also makes it simple to enjoy your favorite shows from anywhere. Even if you don’t have much experience with internet TV, DIRECTV makes learning easy. DIRECTV is also a fantastic option for Spanish-speaking seniors, offering multiple plans with Spanish-language channels and programming. You won’t see that with other providers on our list.

» Related Reading: A Guide to Internet for Seniors

We also love that you can get HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ, and Cinemax with the PREMIER plan. You can access these and various streaming bundles with cheaper plans, but you may pay an extra $15.99 or more for these add-ons. DIRECTV still has more ways to bundle some of your favorite streaming services with your standard TV plan.

The downsides to DIRECTV for seniors are the high prices, contracts, and high-speed internet requirements. If you live in a rural area with limited access to high-speed internet, you may struggle to enjoy DIRECTV’s internet-based offerings (though satellite packages are available)

» Also Check Out: Eight Helpful Tips to Building a Budget on a Fixed Income

If you’re on a fixed budget, DIRECTV’s prices could be too high. The company’s costs are well above average, even for premium cable providers. The second most expensive provider on this list, Cox, offers a plan with over 75 channels for $61 a month, which is almost $10 cheaper than DIRECTV.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

DIRECTV requires a 24-month contract for all plans. I’m not a big fan of contracts, but DIRECTV will lock in your price for the first two years so you can rest easy knowing you won’t see any price increases for a while.

Plans and Pricing

*Prices will increase after 12 months. Broadcast fee is in addition to base price and varies in amount based on location.
†With Spectrum Internet plan.

†With Spectrum Internet Plan

Spectrum TV Essentials is a fantastic option if you want basic cable that won’t cost a fortune. To get the best value, you’ll need a Spectrum Internet® plan. You won’t be able to get the most savings if you have a different internet provider and don’t want to make the switch.

» Useful Resource: Spectrum TV review

Spectrum Internet customers who aren’t interested in the cable plans outlined above should consider Spectrum Stream. For $39.99 per month, Spectrum Stream gives you over 80 channels and livestreaming. It also gives you access to the Spectrum TV app, which allows you to download movies, TV shows, and other programming to your device to watch them on the go. It’s a gigantic plus if you frequently want to watch TV away from home.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

If you’ve had one of Spectrum’s cable plans in the past, you may be disappointed with the latest offerings. I noticed during testing that a few major channels were missing from my package. The reason? Spectrum dropped about a dozen channels, including Freeform and FXMovies, due to a dispute with Disney in 2023. That said, most channels you could get before 2023 are still available.

Equipment

When we signed up for a Spectrum cable plan, we received a Spectrum cable box, a remote control, an HDMI cable, a power cord, and a coaxial cable. If you bundle with an internet plan, you’ll also get a modem, a router, an Ethernet cable, and additional power cords. Bundling Spectrum TV and Spectrum Internet can help you save on extra cable boxes, since you can use the Spectrum TV app to stream live TV to different devices in your home. Without Spectrum Internet, you’ll pay $12.50 per month per additional cable box. That was surprisingly expensive, especially compared to Xfinity, which charges only $5 per month for an SD box or $9.95 per month for an HD box.

» Related Reading: Spectrum internet review

If you’re a bit more tech-savvy, you can choose Spectrum Stream One when you sign up for new cable and internet plans. The service connects your internet, cable, and streaming platforms via the Xumo Stream Box, which comes with its own remote and is free for the first six months ($5 per month after that). That option also gives you a free subscription to Disney Plus Basic. We tried the Xumo Stream Box and were ecstatic that everything we wanted to watch — from basic cable channels to streaming services — was all on one device.

We wish setting up the Xumo Stream Box was a little more user friendly. You’ll need extensive knowledge of your TV and internet devices to ensure everything installs correctly. There aren’t a lot of plugs involved, but we had to follow many on-screen instructions. It took us nearly an hour to get everything set up correctly. You can access 24/7 technical support with Spectrum, but we tried to reach out and were left on hold for more than 20 minutes before we spoke to an agent. Luckily, Spectrum also has a chat feature via the mobile app, which usually has shorter wait times.

Chatting with Spectrum Support

Senior Friendliness

We adore that Spectrum feels like the cable TV most of us have come to know. There aren’t a lot of complicated menus to navigate. You can just plug in your equipment and start watching TV (unless you choose Spectrum Stream One). That simplicity, however, comes at a cost. Unlike Xfinity and DIRECTV, Spectrum’s remote doesn’t feature voice commands, which we would’ve liked to see. Even if you upgrade to Spectrum Stream One (which may come with a learning curve for some seniors), you can’t navigate the system with your voice.

Nonetheless, we were happy with our experience. We enjoyed using the free Spectrum TV app to stream live and on-demand content on a computer or smartphone. The Spectrum TV app is a great addition, but it’s less reliable than the Xfinity Stream app. The Xfinity Stream app limits what you can stream to another TV, but the Spectrum TV app limits what you can stream to any device. We couldn’t see the entire library of channels from our cell phones without a Spectrum Internet plan; we could only stream about 20 channels. Moreover, the app would occasionally stop functioning entirely, which was not an issue we experienced with the Xfinity Stream app.

Browsing content in the Spectrum TV app

*Price is for the first year. Monthly rate will increase after 12 months.
**Price is based on the first year with a one-year contract and will vary depending on your location and the internet speed you select.

†Prices vary by location.

Cox may not offer prices as low as Spectrum’s TV Essentials plan, but it has a more competitively priced starter plan than DIRECTV. That makes it a solid middle ground for seniors willing to pay more to have extra channels without the requirement of bundling with internet. Of course, you can bundle your Cox internet with cable to get a good deal on both.

» Learn More: Cox Internet for Seniors

The main drawback with Cox is that you can’t go month to month on some packages like you can with Xfinity and some other providers. You have to sign a two-year term agreement. If you like Cox and don’t plan to move out of their coverage area anytime soon, it might not be a problem. If you want the freedom to switch to a different provider without paying early termination fees, however, Cox may not be the best pick. Luckily, Cox offers a 30-day free trial. If you decide Cox isn’t the right fit, you can cancel without incurring any termination fees during that period. We don’t like long-term contracts, but other providers require them, including DIRECTV.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

Mark your calendar 30 days from when you started service. That ensures you don’t miss the free return period. During that first month, consider the pros and cons of your service. Are you happy with your package, or are there some major drawbacks? You can cancel without penalty if the service isn’t right for you.

Equipment

Cox makes it easy to get your new equipment up and running. The exact devices you get will vary based on the chosen plan, but you can expect (at a minimum) the Contour 2 cable box, a coaxial cable, a power cable, and an HDMI cord. Whether you choose the wireless 4K or wired HD Contour 2, it will cost $8.50 per month in addition to your plan’s monthly cost. That’s standard for a cable box and less expensive than the rates you’ll pay with Spectrum TV.

You can also add a DVR service to record your favorite shows for as little as $13.50 monthly. If you already have a CableCARD-ready DVR device, you can set it up to work with your Cox plan for just $4 per month. We appreciate the flexibility with this option!

Senior Friendliness

Cox is a solid choice for older adults, with customizable packages to fit your needs. Like Xfinity, we love speaking into the Contour Voice Remote to issue commands and bring up the channel or menu item we want. We tested the feature extensively. It didn’t always pick up what we said with 100 percent accuracy, but it got us where we wanted to go nine times out of 10. The 24/7 technical support is also a huge plus, especially if you need help learning how to use your new cable setup. We called and got connected to an agent in less than five minutes.

We also spoke to a customer-service agent via Cox’s online chat feature. After answering a few questions from a bot, we were connected with a live agent in under two minutes. The representative we spoke with was kind and took the time to answer our questions. You can also chat with customer service through the Cox mobile app. We love all of these different ways to get support!

Chatting with Cox customer service

That said, the two-year term agreement is a relic. We would have liked to see at least one no-contract option, like Spectrum offers. It would be great for seniors who want to try Cox out for a while and potentially switch to another provider without paying fees. Fortunately, the 30-day money-back guarantee lets you try the service for a month before committing.

Plans and Pricing

Optimum’s packages range from Entertainment TV for $30 a month to Premiere TV for $135 a month. You’ll need to have Optimum 300 Mbps internet ($55 a month) or a 1GB Optimum internet plan ($80 a month) to buy any Optimum cable package, so keep that in mind when budgeting.

Entertainment TV is for steaming only. It’s comparably priced to Spectrum’s $40-per-month package, so you may wish to compare apples to apples before you buy. At $95 a month, the Core TV package is nicely padded with local sports channels, including MSG, Yes, and CBS Sports Network. If you’re not in Optimum’s service area or you want a comparable package at a lower monthly cost, check out Xfinity’s Popular TV package for $50 a month. Like Optimum’s Core TV, it’s chock-full of sports channels and basic local favorites.

Select TV offers over 200 channels for $115 a month. With over 250 channels, the Premiere TV package is Optimum’s top-tier offering. It’s on the pricey side at $135 per month, but the package includes just about every top-rated cable channel and most sports and premium movie channels. If you love the latest hits that can be found only on HBO, Paramount+, Showtime, and Starz, this package is a good choice.

Equipment

Every Optimum cable TV and internet package comes with cable equipment, plus a Wi-Fi 6 Gateway and a Wi-Fi extender. That ensures you’ll get great coverage in multistory or large homes.

Optimum also provides a Bluetooth-enabled, voice-activated remote control for each TV you have in your home. We love the voice-activated remote, which makes it so easy to find programs without looking up or scrolling through channels. All we had to do was speak into the remote and voilà — we could pull up our favorite channels and shows immediately.

Using my Optimum cable TV

Optimum also provides a built-in Cloud DVR Plus feature you can use to record any show you like on a one-time or recurring basis. With the service, you can record up to 15 shows simultaneously. If you prefer to watch TV on your phone, computer, or tablet, the Optimum app can be used to watch live or recorded TV.

Viewing the channels in an Optimum TV and internet bundle

Browsing our recordings in the Optimum cable TV app

All your equipment can be set up DIY or professionally. Various members of our team have used both options and found them to be satisfactory and fast.

Senior Friendliness

Optimum has racked up thousands of customer complaints over the years that can be viewed on sites such as the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot. Many people complain about being treated rudely or getting wrong or misleading information from customer service. One of our team members has had Optimum cable for over 10 years, and her past experience backs that up. It seems that Optimum has been working to change that perception.

Its customer service is better than it once was. It’s far from perfect, but we have found it easier to reach someone who is helpful and willing to explain changes in bills or service. Some of the company’s online complaints are very recent, however, so it's possible that not everyone is experiencing better service.

It’s true that people love to hate their cable TV providers, but you may wish to check out Cox Communications. The small provider is available in only 18 states, so check to see if it services your area first. Cox has far fewer complaints on the BBB website than Optimum that have been logged and cleared over the past three years.

Plans and Pricing

*Price is for the first 12 months and includes a $10 paperless billing discount. Prices will increase each year until the fourth year, when you will be billed the current standard rate. Doesn’t include local broadcast or sports package fees.

Spectrum technically offers the cheapest cable plan for seniors (if you’re already a Spectrum Internet customer), but XTREAM has the best and most affordable cable and internet bundles. You can get high-speed internet and over 50 channels for as little as $29.99 monthly. It is nearly $80 less than a comparable bundle from Cox and about $45 less than the basic cable and internet bundle from Spectrum. That said, you have to commit to a one-year contract, sign up for paperless billing, and avoid any add-ons to enjoy these low prices. XTREAM is our pick if you’re looking for the best deal and don’t care about extra frills.

» You Might Also Like: Deals and Discounts for Seniors

Equipment

We found more setup required for XTREAM than other providers, but we think it’s worth it. When you sign up for a cable and internet bundle, you’ll get a TiVo box, XTREAM Voice Remote, power, Ethernet, and HDMI cables. The manual included helped us set everything up. If you have any issues, XTREAM has a 24/7 tech team to answer your questions and walk you through the process.

The instructions were transparent and we didn’t find it necessary to get help, but we still reached out through the customer-service number to get a few questions answered. We had to wait on hold for about 15 minutes, but the tech representative was extremely friendly and answered our questions easily.

Senior Friendliness

Like Cox cable and internet, XTREAM is best for seniors who don’t mind committing to one provider for a while. Fortunately, a one-year contract isn’t too long for cable and internet, especially if you don’t have plans to move soon. That said, we would have liked a bit more leeway with a month-to-month plan for those not ready for that kind of commitment.

One thing we liked about XTREAM was the voice remote. Like DIRECTV and Cox, XTREAM offers a voice-controlled remote, perfect for seniors who don’t want to memorize complicated button layouts. The voice-recognition software was even more intuitive than the Contour Voice Remote from Cox. We could name any channel in our plan’s library or individual shows. The remote brought us directly to the channel or program in seconds. That’s wonderful for older adults who don’t want to mess with menus and button layouts more than they have to.