Optimum Internet Review 2023

Good news, northeasterners: Optimum internet is an excellent choice for cable or fiber internet in your area.

Along with some of the cheapest prices in the area, Optimum also comes with unlimited data and no contracts. It recently introduced fiber internet plans as well, which offer faster upload speeds and a more reliably fast connection.

But Optimum also has its downsides, like a very small service area and facepalm-worthy customer service. So let’s dig in and find out if Optimum is right for you.

At first glance, Optimum has a lot going for it: a wide variety of internet speeds—all at prices that won’t make your piggy bank squeal.

We like to see a lot of choices when it comes to internet speeds because it’s more likely you’ll find a plan that fits your needs. And you won’t overpay for unneeded speed or consider swapping to those AOL internet CDs because your connection is too slow.

As for prices, it’s rare to see prices this low for the speeds Optimum offers. Here’s a quick peek at how much the ISP charges for each of its plans:

If you’re asking, “What’s the catch?” right now, you’re not alone. As with most ISPs, Optimum imposes price increases after a year. Though the introductory pricing is quite affordable, you'll pay more after the initial 12 months. We're not surprised though, as this is pretty standard practice for most ISPs.

Optimum lists that prices are "subject to change" so you won't know exactly how much prices will increase, just that they will after a full year of service. 

We recommend keeping an eye on your bill in case Optimum does need to raise prices due to economic changes or network maintenance. Because Optimum doesn’t require contracts, you can drop down to a cheaper internet plan with no penalty if your bill becomes too much.

Optimum’s extremely small service area is its biggest drawback. If you’re not a resident of New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania, you won’t see Optimum around at all.

Most of Optimum’s internet service is available in New Jersey, while New Yorkers and Connecticut residents are also likely to have it as an internet option. Residents of Matamoras, Pennsylvania , can also get Optimum internet service.

View Plans | Read Optimum TV Review

Compared to other internet providers in the Northeast, Optimum’s prices and speeds are right in line. Depending on what internet speed you need, Optimum might be the cheaper route.

Here’s a quick look at how Optimum’s minimum and maximum prices and speeds compare to AT&T Fiber, Astound Broadband, powered by RCN, and Verizon Fios Home Internet.

One thing to note is that Optimum’s lowest price is for 300 Mbps download speeds.

You’ll notice in the table below that Optimum’s price for its 300 Mbps internet is cheaper than AT&T Fiber, Astound Broadband, and Verizon Fios Home Internet. So if the Optimum 300 plan is available in your area, we say listen to the Steve Miller Band’s advice and go on, take the savings and run.

And if you need gig speeds, Optimum’s 1 Gig plans are the cheapest around, matched only by Astound Broadband (formerly RCN).

To recap, here’s how Optimum internet compares to AT&T Fiber, Astound, and Verizon Fios Home Internet:

• AT&T Fiber: AT&T Fiber’s slower plans, like Internet 300, are almost a match with Optimum in terms of value. But at faster speeds of 940 Mbps, Optimum provides more value with a lower monthly price.
• Astound Broadband, powered by RCN: In New York, Astound Broadband is another great value pick. Though some of Astound’s plans, like the 600 Mbps plan, cost slightly more per month than Optimum’s plans with the same download speeds.
• Verizon Fios Home Internet: Verizon’s monthly cost is a tad higher than Optimum’s, but you’ll get a slightly faster jolt of download speed. But if you’re looking at grabbing internet speeds of 400 Mbps or faster, Optimum quickly becomes a better choice.

Want to read more about Optimum and other ISPs in the Northeast? Check out these reviews:

• Optimum vs. Verizon Fios Home Internet
• AT&T Internet Review
• Astound Broadband, powered by RCN Internet Review
• Verizon Fios Home Internet Review

View Plans | Read Optimum TV Review

Optimum offers a wide range of internet speeds, making it easy to find a plan that fits your needs without charging you a boatload more.

We recommend 300 Mbps download speeds as a good starting point for most small families, and Optimum offers 300 Mbps plans with its cable and fiber service.

If you need faster speeds for a larger household or an at-home business, Optimum’s internet goes up to 940 Mbps. That’s plenty of speed to keep you working, gaming, and streaming efficiently.

Upload speeds, on the other hand, might cause you trouble. Optimum’s 300 Mbps plan comes with 20 Mbps upload speeds, which is the bare minimum recommendation for uploading large files and using Zoom.

If you use video chat to keep in touch with family or coworkers or run your home business, you may want to bump up to the Optimum 500 cable internet plan. Or better yet, grab an Optimum fiber internet plan if it’s available in your area.

Optimum makes data easy: you get an unlimited amount of data no matter which plan you pick. That’s a huge benefit when pretty much every electronic device uses data—including your home security system and cell phone.

• Optimum data cap: Unlimited

View Plans | Read Optimum TV Review

Need to change your internet plan to a cheaper one? Need more speed to keep up with new roommates? No worries. Optimum doesn’t require a contract, so you’re free to change your internet service as needed with no penalty.

As for equipment and installation, Optimum’s fees are pretty standard. Here’s a closer look at its rental equipment and fees.

Optimum’s modem-and-router gateway rental is included with most internet plans whether you have its cable or fiber internet service. That’s pretty great—most other internet providers charge $10 to $15 a month for their equipment.

Other equipment options include Smart Wi-Fi Extenders and Optimum Stream. The Wi-Fi extenders are a cheap addition that can help your Wi-Fi reach even the furthest corners. Optimum Stream is a great way to stream all of your apps in 4K, along with 50+ free channels.

• Optimum Gateway 6 fee: Included
• Wi-Fi extenders: $3 a month per extender
• Optimum Stream: $5 a month

If you prefer to use your own modem and router rather than the Optimum Gateway 6, you can choose one that you prefer. (Just be sure your new equipment works with your Optimum service.) We’ve got router recommendations that range from budget picks to gaming beasts.

Optimum’s fees are comparable to other large internet providers in the US. We recommend signing up for service online, sometimes Optimum offers free or discounted installation.

• Installation: $99.00-$149.99
• Service restoration fee (1–2 products): $10.00
• Service restoration fee (3+ products): $15.00
• Home wiring: $80.00 one-time fee if your home requires cables or wiring so the technician can install your internet
• Late payment fee: $10.00

Optimum’s customer satisfaction rating on the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) report dropped from 60 out of 100 to 59 out of 100.¹ Which puts it at the bottom of the list in terms of how satisfied customers are. Its HighSpeedInternet.com score also dropped from 3.6 out of 5 to 3.4 out of 5.²

We have a feeling that your experience with Optimum’s customer service might be mixed. Poor customer service is an issue that most internet providers need to work on.

While the ISPs are getting their act together, here are some tips on dealing with internet customer service reps that should keep you from throwing your cell phone across the room in anger.

On a somewhat related note, one excellent feature we saw on Optimum’s website was a full set of accessibility adjustments. These range from settings that affect visibility of text and images, a keyboard navigator, and an ADHD-friendly mode.

This is a feature we hope to see on more sites.

Optimum internet is an excellent choice for most residents of the Northeast. It provides good value in terms of pricing, speeds, and data, including some of the cheapest prices in the region.

• Prices and plans: All of Optimum’s internet plans are budget-friendly, and none of the plans come with an automatic price hike after a certain amount of time. When compared to AT&T Fiber, Astound Broadband (formerly RCN), and Verizon Fios Home Internet, Optimum’s internet prices are right on the money, if not cheaper.
• Speed: Optimum offers a wide range of download speeds, meaning you won’t need to pay more for speed you don’t need or suffer through speeds that are too slow. But watch out for slow upload speeds on its cable internet plans.
• Data caps: All Optimum internet plans come with unlimited data, so no need to worry about overage fees.
• Contracts, equipment, and fees: Optimum doesn’t require contracts, plus its equipment and service fees are reasonable.
• Customer service: Optimum, like most internet providers, could improve in the customer service department. But we do like the customer-friendly accessibility options on its site.

To provide a thorough review of Optimum internet, we considered the following features:

1. Price
2. Download and upload speed
3. Data cap
4. Any additional fees or contract requirements

We then compared these features to other internet providers serving the same area to get an idea of whether or not Optimum offers good value with its internet service.

Do you have more questions about Optimum? Ask away!

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