Optimum Internet Review: Programs, Sales, Frequencies and Availability

Optimum computer review

With its grain plan, Optimum offers and internet, with a maximum download speed of 8, 000 Mbps. If you can get its grain service, you can expect fast, trusted internet and affordable starting points in the first year. In some places, you may lock your rate for up to five years, unlike many internet service providers. Service is very simple, with wires and grain support offering&nbsp, endless data, &nbsp, and&nbsp, . Your monthly expenses increases by$ 15 after each year of service, so switching suppliers might be something you should think about. This pull back the curtain on Optimum and show some information you need to be aware of before signing up.

Optimum computer plans and costs

Although Optimum is a cable internet service in the past, it has arguably the largest fiber-optic online system of any cable-first ISP. The Altice USA firm, which combined with Altice’s another company, Suddenlink, in 2022, has a fiber network that extends to about 2.9 million households, according to Optimum’s third-quarter statement from 2024.

Optimum grain internet plans

Optimum cable computer programs

Due to its asymmetric speeds, greater stability, and more high-speed online options, fiber internet trumps all other net connection types. But, fiber online has limited supply, especially compared to a wire connection. Optimum’s fiber online offers multi-gig programs up to 8, 000Mbps in select areas, with 5, 000Mbps and 2, 000Mbps plans in addition to its normal 1-gig program. &nbsp, Its wire services, on the other hand, while more prevalent, aren’t nearly as hard, maxing out with 1, 000Mbps in files and 35Mbps in files.

Optimum’s multi-gig plans range between$ 90 to$ 280 a month. When compared to other internet plans, these plans are more cost-effective than they appear, especially when compared to competitors, though prices for home internet may seem a little high at times. , for example, is slightly higher in price for its 2-gig and 5-gig plans. AT&amp, T Fiber, on the other hand, starts its 2-gig pricing at$ 145 monthly. When the promo period ends, your monthly bill will increase by$ 15 year after year with whatever plan you choose with Optimum. Optimum’s multi-gig plans may be affordable during the promotional period, but that will undoubtedly change as your bill rises over time.

On the plus side, residents of may be able to lock their homes for up to five years. You can continue paying your 8-gig plan’s price for five years with Optimum until it reaches$ 295 per month. But for most households,

Optimum home internet

No data caps or contracts

Optimum’s terms of service are refreshingly straightforward. Regardless of the service type, all internet plans are free of and . Contrast that to rival cable internet service providers like and , which charge overage fees of$ 50 or more for exceeding your data plan.

Another nice benefit of Cox and Xfinity is the lack of a contract requirement, which both typically call for term agreements of at least a year in order to get the lowest pricing.

Optimum Wi-Fi equipment and fees

The best device you choose depends on the plan you choose and the type of network ( ). Optimum either uses a Wi-Fi 6 gateway or a Wi-Fi 6E gateway plus . Your first extender is included at no extra cost ( a nice deal ), and any additional extender costs an additional$ 3 per month. Despite the fact that all gateways come with 24/7 tech support, the Wi-Fi 6E devices offer better Wi-Fi performance than older routers, so you might have a better experience with your Optimum equipment than others, based on the type of device you purchase.

As for installation, a standard install is included at no extra cost when you order online. If you’d prefer professional installation, including Wi-Fi configuration on up to six devices and hardwiring on one device, that cost will come out to$ 100.

Using your own equipment

One of the many companies that allows you to use your equipment is Optimum. If you go that route, you’ll need to have a ready at the time of installation. Keep in mind that using your own equipment will affect technical support and service upgrades.

Optimum home internet availability

and the are the two boroughs that and the are located in. Serviceability runs from Dutchess County, New York, to Toms River, . Optimum is also offered throughout Long Island, as well as in some of the counties of , , and the area that borders the state of .

Since parent company Altice united Suddenlink and Optimum are both covered by the Optimum brand, coverage has grown to 21 states overall. Outside of the greater New York City area, Optimum is now available in parts of , , , , , , , , , and , among others.

It’s mostly cable, with some fiber mixed in

In order to provide service, Optimum primarily relies on a cable or cable hybrid network. Although cable is a good option because it has gigabit download speeds that might outpace rural providers, the technology falls short of what you get with a fiber connection for consistency and speed.

More than 2.7 million homes, roughly a tenth of which are serviceable for Optimum internet, are already accessible through Optimum FTTH, according to a spokesperson for Optimum, with more coming as “fiber deployment continues at a rapid pace.”

How does Optimum compare?

There is a little overlap between Optimum and cable providers&nbsp, &nbsp, and&nbsp, in the greater New York City area. Optimum has a lower introductory price than both, for the most part, and the lower price also comes with faster speeds. Both have much larger coverage areas and are more closely related.

Optimum vs. Verizon Fios

In greater New York City, share much of the same service areas, so pricing, speeds, and terms remain largely comparable between them. Consider your chances of receiving a fiber connection with Verizon because Optimum’s fiber network is much larger than Optimum’s.

Optimum benefits from lower plan costs, at least until standard pricing begins to apply. Verizon Fios is likely to be the less expensive option after the first year.

Neither Optimum nor Verizon have to deal with customer service contracts, data caps, or equipment fees.

All things considered, Optimum and Verizon Fios are closely matched. If choosing Optimum is your better choice is influenced by introductory pricing, but you might want to look into Verizon Fios if standard pricing, quick upload speeds, and high customer satisfaction are more important factors.

Optimal compared to ISPs in other service areas

A good rule of thumb is that cable is preferable to , and fiber internet is preferable to cable. If you have a fiber service from AT&amp, T, , , or others , the speed, reliability and overall value it presents is probably higher than what you’ll get from Optimum’s cable internet.

On the other hand, if the nearby competitor only offers a DSL connection ( many of the aforementioned fiber providers also have substantial DSL networks ), Optimum is likely to be the better option for speed, reliability, and value.

The wild card here is 5G home internet, which has recently added some much-needed competition to the broadband space, thanks to providers like , and AT&amp, T Internet Air. Although 5G home internet’s maximum speeds are currently a little lower than cable, the pricing and service terms are as good as you can imagine.

If you’re looking for alternatives to Optimum and fiber isn’t available in your area, check to see if your address is a 5G home internet hub.

Perks and promos with Optimum

Besides the speeds, Optimum has some alluring perks. It offers new customers a 60-day window to try out Optimum’s service. If your service is subpar, Optimum will refund your money within the first 60 days of service. Additionally, all fiber customers who sign up online will get a prepaid Mastercard. The entry-level plan offers a prepaid card valued at$ 50, the 500Mbps plan at$ 100, 1-gig at$ 200, 2-gig at$ 300, 5-gig at$ 500, and up to$ 800 for the fastest plan. Customers in Africa can also purchase Optimum Mobile as a part of a$ 20 savings when they bundle their home internet service with them.

About that Optimum customer satisfaction…

When it comes to what we at CNET look for in a reputable internet provider, Optimum checks almost every box, but the customer satisfaction category consistently comes in second. Optimum ranks last among customer satisfaction reports based on factors like the and J. D. Power, despite competitive pricing, quick speeds, and other benefits.

In 2023, the ACSI first began dividing its results by fiber and nonfiber providers, but 2024 was the first year to add Optimum as a fiber provider. It did not impress, earning a score of 66 out of 100, a full 10 points below the category average and six points below the next-closest ISP ( Kinetic, 72 ).

Considering this is Optimum’s first ACSI appearance as a fiber provider, I’m tempted to cut the company some slack, but it’s hard to get past the ISP’s history of poor customer satisfaction.

As a nonfiber provider, Optimum had the lowest ACSI score ( 58/100 ) of any major ISP in 2023. Although the provider did manage to get better in 2024, its new score of 63 still falls far below the average of competing cable providers like Cox, Spectrum, and Xfinity ( 68 ). Mediacom was the only cable ISP to receive a lower score than Optimum.

Optimum also did not fare well with , which gave the provider a score of 471/1,000 in the East and a score of 496 in the South. Again, both scores fell short of the industry average and Optimum landed last in the East region and second to last in the South region.

Why the low customer satisfaction?

The ACSI and J. D. Power both rate ISPs on a variety of customer experience indicators, such as speed, performance during peak hours and call center satisfaction. The reports do not show how each provider scored in each category, so it’s difficult to tell exactly where Optimum showed the biggest needs for improvement.

A quick look at the Optimum discussion on Reddit reveals issues ranging from high prices and unclear billing to subpar equipment and poor customer service. Many Reddit comments should be taken with caution, but they may provide some insight into common issues that Optimum users encounter.

What’s the bottom line on Optimum internet?

If Optimum is available in your area, it’s likely to be one of your better internet options, at least on paper. In some areas, Optimum offers introductory pricing that is lower than or roughly equal to what you’ll find from most competitors with comparable speed tiers. These download speeds range from 300Mbps to 8, 000Mbps. Optimum’s fiber offerings are probably the best overall in terms of speed and value. However, benefits like free equipment rental and unlimited data make any Optimum plan worthwhile to take into account.

Just keep in mind: there’s probably a good reason ( or two, or three ) that the ISP has not fared well in customer satisfaction in recent years.

Optimum internet FAQs

How can I contact Optimum customer support?

Optimum technical support is available 24/7, while contact information and general customer service hours may change depending on the location. Find the appropriate number at optimum. net/support/phone-list. You can also access live chat with an Optimum customer service representative and find answers to frequently asked questions .

What is Optimum Advantage Internet?

offers a limited number of Optimum customers discounted internet access. Starting at$ 15 per month, the plan includes download speeds of up to 50 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 3 Mbps. Installation and maintenance are free, and there are no data caps or contracts like with all Optimum Internet plans.

What happened to Cablevision?

In 2016, Altice purchased networks that Cablevision had previously owned. Since the acquisition, Altice has transitioned service in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania to the Optimum brand.

What is Optimum Fiber?

The full fiber-optic internet plan from Optimum includes speeds that start at 300Mbps symmetrical download and upload speeds and accelerate to 8, 000Mbps symmetrical download and upload in some regions. Check to see if your address is fiber-capable .

What kind of internet is Optimum?

Optimum offers both and internet plans. Although its internet is much more available than its offerings, it still services around 2.9 million households. You can check to see what offers are available to you right now.

What is the least expensive option for a plan?

The cheapest Optimum plans cost$ 40 monthly for 300Mbps of fiber internet or 300Mbps cable connection. Keep in mind that’s an introductory price. After one year, it increases to$ 55 a month. The good news is that you don’t have to pay for equipment because your service includes access to the Wi-Fi 6 gateway.