TV Internet Bundles: Best Package Deals (2026)

TV-internet bundles from Xfinity start at $80/mo (125+ channels + 200 Mbps), Spectrum at $110/mo (150+ channels + 300 Mbps). However, most households save money with standalone internet ($50-70/mo) plus 2-3 streaming services ($25-45/mo total), totaling $75-115 vs $100-180+ for bundles with hidden fees. Bundles only make sense if you watch live sports or news that requires traditional cable channels.

The Case for Bundles

TV-internet bundles make financial sense if you watch live sports extensively (regional sports networks are hard to replicate with streaming), you watch many cable-exclusive channels, multiple household members watch different live content simultaneously, or the bundle price is genuinely cheaper than separate services after accounting for ALL fees. Some providers offer legitimate bundle savings of $20-40/month compared to purchasing each service separately.

The Case Against Bundles

Hidden fees dramatically inflate bundle costs. That $100/month bundle often becomes $130-160 after broadcast TV fees ($15-25/mo), regional sports fees ($10-15/mo), DVR rental ($10-15/mo), and taxes. A standalone internet plan at $50-70/month plus Netflix ($15.50), Hulu ($8-18), and one more service ($10-15) totals $85-120 with no hidden fees. Plus, streaming offers on-demand flexibility that cable can't match. Many cord-cutters save $600-1,200/year by dropping their bundle.

Best Bundle Deals in 2026

If you do want a bundle: Xfinity's Choice TV + Internet package offers 125+ channels with 200 Mbps for ~$80/month before fees. Spectrum's TV Select + Internet offers 150+ channels with 300 Mbps for ~$110/month (taxes included). AT&T Fiber + DirecTV Stream offers fiber internet with streaming TV starting at ~$100/month. Verizon Fios TV + Internet packages start at ~$85/month. Always ask for the total price including all fees before committing.

Evaluating Bundle Value Honestly

To determine if a bundle saves you money, calculate both options honestly. For the bundle: take the advertised price and add ALL fees -- broadcast TV fee ($15-25), regional sports fee ($10-15), DVR fee ($10-15), equipment rental ($10-15), and taxes ($5-15). A bundle advertised at $100/month often costs $155-180 in reality. For standalone: take the internet plan price, add your streaming subscriptions (Netflix $15.50, Hulu $8-18, Disney+ $8-14, Max $10-16), and any antenna for local channels ($30-50 one-time). Most cord-cutters spend $80-130 total for internet plus streaming.

The key question is whether you watch enough live cable content to justify the $30-60/month premium of a bundle over streaming. If you're an avid sports fan who needs regional sports networks (RSNs), cable bundles may be worth it since RSNs are hard to replicate through streaming. If you primarily watch on-demand content, movies, and some live news, streaming services provide everything you need at a fraction of the bundle cost.

Consider the flexibility factor too. TV bundles typically come with 1-2 year contracts, while streaming services are entirely month-to-month. You can subscribe to a streaming service for one month to watch a specific show, then cancel. This pick-and-choose flexibility means you only pay for content you're actively watching, rather than paying for 200+ channels you never tune to.

Best Strategy for Most Households

For the majority of households, the optimal approach in 2026 is a fast, no-data-cap internet plan ($50-70/month) combined with 2-3 targeted streaming services ($25-45/month), plus a digital antenna for free local broadcast channels. This combination costs $75-115/month while providing more on-demand content variety than any cable package. Spectrum 300 Mbps ($50/month with no data cap) or AT&T Fiber 300 Mbps ($55/month) are ideal internet plans for cord-cutters.

If you must have live sports, YouTube TV ($73/month) or Hulu + Live TV ($77/month) provide most cable channels through streaming, though the total cost with internet approaches traditional bundle pricing. These streaming TV services have the advantage of no contracts, no equipment fees, and cloud DVR included, making them more flexible than traditional cable even at similar price points.

Step-by-Step: Evaluating Your Current Bundle

To determine if your current bundle is worth keeping, follow this analysis. First, review your actual TV watching habits for one month -- which channels do you watch, and how many hours? Most households discover they regularly watch fewer than 10 of the 200+ channels in their package. Second, check if those channels are available through streaming services (most are, except some regional sports networks). Third, calculate your total bundle cost including ALL fees -- not the advertised price, but the actual amount charged to your credit card.

Compare that total to: your provider's standalone internet plan plus the streaming services that carry your must-have content. Include the one-time cost of a digital antenna ($25-40) for free local channels. If the streaming option saves $20+ per month, it's worth switching. If savings are minimal, the convenience of a bundle may justify keeping it, especially if you have a favorable locked-in rate.

Many households that conduct this analysis discover they're paying $140-180/month for a bundle when standalone internet ($50-70) plus two streaming services ($25-35) would cost $75-105 while providing access to more on-demand content. The $35-75/month savings translates to $420-900 per year -- a significant amount that could fund other household expenses or savings goals.

The Future of TV and Internet Bundles

The traditional cable TV bundle is in decline as streaming continues to grow. Providers are responding by creating new types of bundles that combine internet with streaming services rather than traditional cable channels. Verizon offers Netflix, Max, and other streaming services at discounted rates with Fios internet plans. T-Mobile includes Apple TV+ and Netflix with some plans. These hybrid bundles often provide better value than traditional cable bundles because they include the content most people actually watch at lower total costs.

Consider future flexibility when choosing a bundle. Traditional cable bundles lock you into specific channel packages that can't be customized. Streaming service bundles are modular -- you can add or drop individual services month by month based on what you're watching. This flexibility means you're never paying for content you don't use. The trend toward streaming bundles will likely accelerate as more content moves from cable to streaming platforms.

For sports fans (the primary remaining reason for cable), YouTube TV ($73/month) and Hulu + Live TV ($77/month) provide most regional and national sports channels through streaming. These services include cloud DVR, work on any device, and have no contracts. While not cheaper than cable bundles for sports viewing, they're more flexible and don't require cable-specific equipment. Check whether your specific regional sports networks are included before switching from cable to a streaming TV service.

The bottom line: unless you need specific cable channels that aren't available through streaming, standalone internet plus streaming services delivers more content at lower total cost. Run the numbers for your specific situation -- list the channels and shows you actually watch, check which streaming services carry them, and compare the total cost against your current bundle including all hidden fees.