Home security in your pocket.
Josh Goldman/CNET
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Nov 2021
I have never once remembered to set my alarm system before leaving my house. OK, maybe once or twice I remembered, but it wasn’t without first telling my family to all get out of the house so I can close the front door, set the alarm, dash out the door and lock it, all while hoping that someone didn’t leave a window open somewhere. Xfinity Home put an end to all of that.
With Xfinity’s mobile app, I can see if a window or door is open, a light is on or a motion sensor is actively being triggered. I can adjust my thermostat and check my cameras. Get notifications if there’s water in my basement. Quickly set up automations for all of those devices (well, most of those devices), so that my lights turn on when I open the front door at night and the security system is disarmed before I walk out the door the next morning. And yes, I can use my phone to arm and disarm the system from my driveway, or anywhere else really.
The DIY home security market is now loaded with options that can do similar things and for security cameras alone, there are way cheaper options out there. The perk of going with Xfinity Home, though, is that it’s all professionally installed and the individual pieces work well together and can be controlled with a single app. If you’re in the market for a home security system that isn’t DIY, Comcast beats out all the competitors — from ADT to Vivint — which is why we’ve given it an Editors’ Choice Award.
8.0
Xfinity Home
See at Xfinity
LikeNo contract requiredGood mix of Xfinity, third-party device supportFlexible pricing for equipment, service
Don’t LikePush to bundle with internet, TV servicesNo wireless camera optionAutomations are fairly limited
Bring in the bundles
When I first reviewed Xfinity Home in 2017, I was already an Xfinity internet and TV customer and used SimpliSafe for my home security. However, following my review, I liked the combination of security and smart home features so much that I signed up for Xfinity Home. However, I did drop its internet and TV services. I’m apparently, according to a Comcast representative, in a very small group of Xfinity Home subscribers who don’t bundle it with another of its services.
To give me the full Xfinity Home experience, the company temporarily installed in my home its latest X1 TV box and xFi gateway and xFi pods to create a whole-home mesh network. The installers also updated my touchscreen security panel, called the Xfinity Home Station, to what customers would have in their homes today.
To reiterate, you do not need to have Xfinity TV or internet service to get Xfinity Home. However, because the xFi gateway and Home Station are designed to work together, there are benefits to bundling with Xfinity’s internet service, a company representative said. The gateway’s security protection for your network, for example, extends to devices connected to it as well, including cameras. It also has an option to pause connections to devices on the network (I used this feature a bunch to limit screen time for my kids) that can be used to blackout your cameras should you want some privacy. Plus, if you change your Wi-Fi credentials, it will automatically update your Xfinity Home equipment as well.
I would argue that with any newer Wi-Fi router worth owning you’re going to get network security to protect your devices and the ability to block network access to specific devices. I certainly have those features on my personal router and have not had any issues using it with Xfinity’s security equipment. That said, those already with Xfinity internet or considering getting it can expect a seamless experience with Xfinity Home based on my use of the two together.
Of course, the more you bundle, the better your overall package price. In an unexpected twist, pricing has actually improved since I initially signed up for it.
Xfinity’s little cameras have excellent image quality indoors and outside.
Josh Goldman/CNET
Right now, the basic service with professional monitoring is $30 a month. Adding 24/7 camera recording with storage for 7 days and for up to six cameras brings your monthly bill up to $40. Combined with the top-tier TV service and Gigabit internet, my bill as a new customer total would be $210. However, this is going to vary depending on the tiers of services you choose and how many of them you’re bundling together. The same goes for installation fees, which is $50 in my area if I’m installing multiple Xfinity services or $60 just Home alone. You’ll need to check your area to see what services are available.
More importantly, Comcast has done away with a service contract requirement for Xfinity Home. You will still need to buy equipment you can either purchase outright or in 24 monthly payments (more on that below). A majority of customers opt for the payment plan option, an Xfinity spokeswoman said. If you buy your equipment, you can end service whenever you want.
Device decisions
Start with an equipment package and flesh it out with other devices.
Screenshot by Josh Goldman/CNET
For new users, Xfinity offers three basic equipment packages to get you started. If you want extras of anything, you can just tack them onto your bill. You can call Xfinity to talk through what you might need if you’re not sure what you need for your home.
Base Home System: $360 or $15 per month for 24 months
1x touchscreen controller 3x door/window sensors 1x pet-friendly motion sensor Battery and cellular system backup Xfinity Home Security yard sign
Complete Home System: $480 or $20 per month for 24 months
1x touchscreen controller 5x door/window sensors 1x pet-friendly motion sensor 1x wireless keypad 1x HD indoor/outdoor Xfinity camera Battery and cellular system backup Xfinity Home Security yard sign
Ultimate Home System: $600 or $25 per month for 24 months
1x touchscreen controller 10x door/window sensors 1x pet-friendly motion sensor 1x wireless keypad 2x HD indoor/outdoor Xfinity cameras Battery and cellular system backup Xfinity Home Security yard sign
Prices for à la carte equipment are fairly reasonable, and Xfinity doesn’t hide its pricing as you can see in the screenshot above. A window or door sensor will run you $20 from Xfinity while a similar sensor from competitor Vivint costs $50. Xfinity’s indoor/outdoor camera is $120, while Vivint’s is $400 for outside and $200 for inside. A similar camera from ADT is $290.
Speaking of cameras, Xfinity has made it more affordable to add them to your system. There used to be a per-camera per-month charge. Now, it’s just $120 each for the cameras and if you want 24/7 recordings for up to seven days it’s just a flat $10 extra per month for up to six cameras. You can also skip the recordings and simply use the cameras to receive activity notifications.
If you’re interested in nothing but cameras, Xfinity offers one more service option for xFi internet subscribers. The Xfinity Home Self Protection plan lets you add up to six cameras to your home (for $120 each) with 24/7 video recording for $10 a month.
Get smart
Once you settle on the security equipment, you can build out your package with Xfinity’s Zen thermostat and outlet controller that can turn lights or small appliances on and off. I really like the look of the Zen thermostat, it works well and it’s easy to use. (Oddly, the only people I’ve had in my house who haven’t been able to use it are HVAC repairmen.) The outlet controllers are nothing special but are a nice addition if you want to, say, trigger a lamp to turn on when a door opens.
You can add Comcast’s Zen thermostat to your Home setup.
Josh Goldman/CNET
You can also integrate a large and growing list of third-party devices into your Xfinity Home system. The list includes smart light bulbs from Lifx, Philips and Sengled, Chamberlain MyQ garage openers, August, Yale and Kwikset locks and even Tile trackers. Product support does change, however, so you may want to check the list before you set up an install.
The one thing that’s missing from Xfinity and third-party support is a video doorbell. That’s easily handled by putting an Xfinity camera at your door and setting it to notify you when a person is detected. They’re good cameras, too, with HD resolution, audio capture and night vision. It also has artificial intelligence that can tell the difference between a car, pet or person. It will tag your video with what it detects and you can later use those tags to filter your clips. Comcast only offers this camera, though, and it’s wired.
Putting it all together
Xfinity Home Station
Josh Goldman/CNET
At the heart of the system at home is the Xfinity Home Station. Designed by Comcast, it has a better display and processing power than its predecessor for smoother, more responsive performance. As I popped through menus and settings, I noticed considerably less lag than the one I had been using. Picture quality from the cameras is also improved making it easier to keep an eye on things without having to look at my phone. The Home Station has a 4G cellular radio and a backup battery, too, just in case my power and internet go down. It also acts as a Zigbee repeater to help keep smart home devices connected in larger homes.
One of the benefits of bundling with TV or internet is that you can use the voice remote for its X1 box or Flex streaming box with Xfinity Home. There’s a whole list of voice commands to control your smart home, view your camera feeds and, if you have a Tile tracker, find your keys or other stuff. It comes in particularly handy for turning off lights or adjusting your room temp without getting off the couch or opening the app. Like the xFi integration, it’s nice if you have Xfinity TV or are considering it along with Xfinity Home, but not a necessity.
Setting up automations is a snap with this app.
Josh Goldman/CNET
Honestly, you’re probably going to spend most of your time controlling your system with the mobile app. As I said at the top, you can do everything from arming your alarm to checking your cameras and recordings to setting up automations. The app is a breeze to use. Want a lamp to turn on when your motion sensor is tripped and then turn itself off 5 minutes later? How about getting a push notification when a door or window opens? You can set up each of those in under a minute with a few taps.
That’s not to say things couldn’t be better. While it’s easy to set up new rules, there simply aren’t a lot of recipes to choose from. For instance, the only thermostat-related one is for getting a notification if it gets too hot or cold in your home. It can’t, for example, adjust temperatures based on motion detection. There are no camera recipes at all, so you can’t do something like have lights come on if your front porch camera picks up activity.
The dearth of recipes is a shortcoming for sure, but hardly a deal breaker. Cost is likely going to be the biggest deterrent for most people. Doing away with contracts helps and so does the flexibility to pay for the equipment upfront or in installments. Plus, $50 for the professional installation is money well spent considering all that. If you’re looking to outfit an apartment or townhouse and aren’t planning to bundle Home with other Xfinity services, you might be better off with a DIY kit. Otherwise, Xfinity Home is a simple way to combine smart home tech and security.
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