How to Compare Time Warner, AT&T U-verse and Comcast

Step 1

Find out whether Time Warner Cable, U-verse, Comcast XFINITY or all three are available in your area. Navigate to the Time Warner website to determine whether your state and region are on the drop-down menu. Type in your address at the AT&T; and Comcast websites to determine whether your home can receive U-verse or XFINITY.

Step 2

Determine what amenities your household needs from digital television service. Examine the highly customizable plans from Time Warner, U-verse and Comcast. If your household is large with multiple televisions and conflicting viewing schedules, consider the multi-room DVR service from U-verse and Comcast. If you're a veteran channel surfer, consider U-verse's Multiview option, which allows you to watch four television shows at once. If you own an iPad, consider Time Warner Cable's digital television iPad application, which turns any room into a TV room. If you're forgetful, consider Time Warner's Look Back option, which allows you to watch any television show from the previous 72 hours. If you have children, Spanish speakers or movie fans in your household, compare all three companies' family-oriented, Spanish-language and movie channel package options.

Step 3

Decide how fast your Internet access needs to be for your Internet usage habits. Time Warner Cable's Roadrunner Internet's top download speed is 15 Mbps, XFINITY offers download speeds up to 20 Mbps and U-verse's speeds along at up to 24 Mbps. Consider the size of your house. U-verse's Wireless Gateway is more powerful and is more likely to eliminate dead spots in large houses than Time Warner Cable's and XFINITY's cable modems. Consider whether you need mobile Internet -- Time Warner Cable offers it, while U-verse and Comcast do not.

Step 4

Consider your calling habits. Decide whether you'd be better served by having unlimited nationwide minutes (as offered by all three companies), unlimited local minutes (as offered by Comcast and Time Warner) or unlimited statewide calling (as offered by Time Warner only). Understand that though Comcast and U-verse offer the same plans for all calling areas, Time Warner offers different plans for different regions.