Optimum is a steal for fiber and cable internet for the first 12 months.
Optimum Internet Review
◊ Provider ratings are based on user reviews and our independent customer satisfaction survey.
* Data effective 08/01/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
† w/Auto Pay & Paperless Bill w/unlimited mobile plans. Terms apply. Not available in all areas.
‡ w/Auto Pay & Paperless Bill plus taxes with unlimited mobile plans. Terms apply. Not available in all areas.
Pros
- Affordable promo prices
- No contracts
- No data caps
Cons
- Limited fiber availability
- Expensive post-promo prices
Our Optimum internet review
Optimum is a cable and fiber internet provider operating in 21 states across the US: from California to Texas to North Carolina to New York. We recommend Optimum’s fiber internet if you can get it— it has greater reliability and symmetrical speeds up to 5,000 Mbps. Optimum’s cable internet is a good alternative if fiber isn’t in your area.
Compare Optimum internet plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Speed | Type | View on Optimum site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 Mbps Internet | $30.00/mo.*† | Up to 300 Mbps | Cable, fiber | Shop Plans |
| 500 Mbps Internet | $50.00/mo.*† | Up to 500 Mbps | Cable, fiber | Shop Plans |
| 1 Gig Internet | $65.00/mo.*† | Up to 940 Mbps | Cable, fiber | Shop Plans |
| 2 Gig Internet | $105.00/mo.* | Up to 2,000 Mbps | Fiber | Shop Plans |
| 5 Gig Internet | $165.00/mo.* | Up to 5,000 Mbps | Fiber | Shop Plans |
Optimum ongoing deals and promotions + bundles
Order a qualifying internet plan to receive a $100 or $200 prepaid Visa gift card, a Wi-Fi 6 gateway, a Wi-Fi extender, and installation—all for no extra cost. Some plans also include Optimum Stream.
Order a qualifying internet plan to receive a $50, $100, or $200 prepaid Visa gift card, up to 12 months of HBO Max, a Wi-Fi extender, installation, and 12 months of Optimum Mobile—all for free.
Optimum internet Fees Review
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Optimum used to charge a Network Enhancement Fee of $3.50 per month but discontinued the fee in early 2022 (although Optimum still shows it on the standard rates and packages list).
Optimum internet installation, equipment, and contracts
With the standard install, a technician comes to your home and connects your home to fiber or cable internet. Premium installation includes placing additional outlets and connecting wired and wireless devices to your local network. You can get a self-install kit for cable internet only.
Optimum equipment
For cable internet, you have two options: a modem and a smart router or a wireless gateway. Optimum Xtend is a Wi-Fi extender compatible with its wireless gateway so that you can extend your wireless network further into your home.
Optimum supplies you with an Altice One unit if you get TV service, combining a modem, router, and TV receiver into one unit. Other options include the Optimum Stream—an Android-based media streamer—and Optimum Amplify, a smart speaker designed by Devialet Technologies.
Optimum internet contracts
Optimum doesn’t require an annual contract, but it does offer new customers a discount for 12 months. After that, standard rates apply.
Optimum internet customer reviews
| Overall Rating | Reliability Rating | Customer Service Rating | Speed Rating | Price Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optimum customer satisfaction rating | 3.7/5 | 3.3/5 | 3.6/5 | 3.6/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Average rating* | 3.8/5 | 3.3/5 | 3.7/5 | 3.7/5 | 3.7/5 |
*Based on our annual customer satisfaction survey.
Despite its below-average speed rating, Optimum’s fiber customers gave it a higher 4.0 score in speed. Fiber provides symmetrical speeds, plus it’s more reliable due to how fiber networks are structured. Overall, 83% of Optimum’s customers say the speeds usually or always meet their needs, which is good news.
Optimum ranked eighth out of 12 in pricing satisfaction, however. EarthLink had the highest average at 3.9, followed by Verizon with a 3.5 average. Optimum’s other competitor, Spectrum, ranked lower on the list with a 3.2 average.
Optimum vs. the competition
| Speed | Price | Type | Customer rating* | Order online | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 300–5,000 Mbps | $30.00–$165.00/mo.†# | Cable, Fiber | 3.5 | View Plans |
 | 200–2,000 Mbps | $49.99–$119.99/mo.‡ | Fiber | 3.8 | |
 | 300–1,000 Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) | $49.99–$89.99/mo. for 12 mos.§ | Cable | 3.6 | View Plans |
*According to our annual customer satisfaction survey
† w/Auto Pay & Paperless Bill w/unlimited mobile plans. Terms apply. Not available in all areas
‡ w/ Auto Pay + taxes & equip. charges.
§ Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Spectrum Internet® Gig promotion price is $89.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr. 1. Taxes, fees and surcharges extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra.
# w/Auto Pay & Paperless Bill plus taxes with unlimited mobile plans. Terms apply. Not available in all areas.
Optimum’s prices are the cheapest for the first 12 months, thanks to promotional pricing. For example, its 300 Mbps plan costs $20 less than identical plans from Spectrum (cable) and Verizon (fiber). But after that, Optimum becomes the most expensive of the three.
If you compare their gigabit plans, Spectrum’s cable internet increases to $109.99 per month in the second year and $114.99 per month in the third year. Optimum’s cable and fiber internet go up to $139.99 per month in the second year, making it the most expensive of the three.
Read our full reviews of Optimum vs. its main internet competitors
Is Optimum internet right for you?
Optimum provides mainly cable internet in 21 states across the US. It also has some fiber in the New York tri-state area and in small pockets in Texas, West Virginia, and a handful of other states. The type of connection you can get depends on where you live.
We suggest fiber if you can get it—Optimum’s fiber internet is pretty cheap for the first 12 months. But once the promotional pricing ends, another option like Verizon’s fiber is cheaper long-term if you can get it.
Optimum’s cable internet competes with Spectrum in many areas if there’s no fiber where you live. Again, Optimum is the cheaper of the two until the promotional pricing ends. However, you have more options with Optimum in terms of plan selection and equipment. But we suggest sticking with Spectrum if you want to save money in the long run.