Think of the internet like a highway filled with cars. Each car carries information from all around the world right to your personal computer at home—and the road they drive on is your internet service provider (ISP).
If you go with Optimum internet, then you’ll have an interstate highway. There are plenty of lanes to avoid traffic jams, and the higher speed limit lets you cruise without a worry.
This highway may not be the newest or the fanciest, but it will work well for most commuters. Just watch out for the occasional toll road (contract fee) or pothole (customer service).
Optimum internet plans
Name | Price | Download speed | View plan |
Optimum 200 | $44.99/mo.* | 200 Mbps | VIEW PLAN |
Optimum 300 | $54.99/mo.* | 300 Mbps | VIEW PLAN |
Optimum 400 | $64.99/mo.* | 400 Mbps | VIEW PLAN |
Pros
- High speeds
- No data caps
- Good bundling deals
Cons
- Poor variety of plans
- Contracts and fees
Optimum prices and plans
The price is right, even if the variety is a little lacking.
Need to figure out which Optimum plan you want? No problem. Start by figuring out how much speed you need. And from there, just choose one of these three-speed tiers.
Optimum internet plans
Name | Price | Download speed | View plan |
Optimum 200 | $44.99/mo.* | 200 Mbps | VIEW PLAN |
Optimum 300 | $54.99/mo.* | 300 Mbps | VIEW PLAN |
Optimum 400 | $64.99/mo.* | 400 Mbps | VIEW PLAN |
Optimum’s limited plan offerings may lack the speed ranges that some people are looking for. But the prices for the speeds it does offer are comparable to competitors like Verizon Fios. In some cases, Optimum’s speeds are cheaper.
Another way that Optimum lacks variety is its geographical footprint: it’s just not available everywhere. Be sure to check availability at your address using the tool below.
If you’re in Optimum’s service area, you can get an even better deal by bundling your internet with an Optimum television package. For the price of Xfinity’s internet-only plan (250 Mbps), you could get roughly the same speed (200 Mbps) plus 220+ TV channels from Optimum. Yeah, it’s a little less speed, but it’s a lot more bang for your buck.
Our Optimum internet plan recommendations
Optimum 200
Who it’s best for: Casual, budget-minded internet users
Why we picked it: While 200 Mbps is the slowest Optimum plan, it’s enough speed for most people.
You could easily have three computers streaming at the same time with 200 Mbps. You could play your PS4 on top of that, and still it wouldn’t lag. At $44.99 a month, that’s a good deal.
Optimum 200 plan
Name | Price | Download speed | Data Cap | View plan |
Optimum 200 | $44.99/mo.* | 200 Mbps | 999.999 TB | VIEW PLAN |
Optimum 400
Who it’s best for: Gamers, large families, and home businesses
Why we picked it: Along with incredible download speeds, the Optimum 400 plan equips you with up to 40 Mbps upload speed.
If you’re playing a complex, online shooter, this upload speed will keep you in the game. And if you’re video-calling with a potential client, it will keep your face looking crystal clear.
Optimum 400 plan
Name | Price | Download speed | Data Cap | View plan |
Optimum 400 | $64.99/mo.* | 400 Mbps | 999.999 TB | VIEW PLAN |
Optimum internet speeds and data
Optimum is fast, but it still can’t beat a fiber network.
Optimum is like the Goldilocks of ISPs—not too fast, not too slow, but just in the middle range, from 200 to 400 Mbps.
And that might be just right for you. But if you compare this to the offerings of providers on our list of the best ISPs, like Xfinity (15–2000 Mbps) or AT&T (100–1000 Mbps), Optimum begins to feel a bit claustrophobic.
What speeds do I need?
But remember, internet speed is more than just a number.
In its 2016 report, the FCC showed that for some companies, like AT&T and Frontier, the actual speeds fell below 50% of the advertised speeds.¹ Thankfully, Optimum over-delivered in this category, averaging an actual speed that’s 110% of it’s advertised speed!
Another good indicator of an ISP’s true speed is the Netflix Leaderboard, in which Optimum ranks a respectable 5th overall.² While Optimum is not among the absolute fastest ISPs, all signs point to the network’s overall reliability.
Optimum’s real limiting factor is its cable network that, unlike Verizon Fios fiber networks, can’t support symmetrical upload and download speeds. That means that Optimum’s upload speeds will never be, well, optimal.
Optimum data caps
It’s all fun and games (and movies and music) until your ISP comes and caps your data. But with Optimum, you don’t have to worry about that (unless you go way overboard).
In Optimum’s open disclosure statement, the company does state that they maintain “an excessive use policy to address data consumption by Subscribers that is wholly uncharacteristic of a typical user of the Service.”3
But this is different from companies like Xfinity, AT&T, and Centurylink, which have hard caps at 1 TB (and charge you extra if you go over).
Optimum fees, contracts, and equipment
Lions and tigers and hidden fees—oh my!
Optimum’s service contracts
According to the 17th-century political philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, contracts are the very basis of western civilization.4 But if that’s true, why are contracts so annoying?
Optimum’s contracts are no exception: You have to sign up for a year of service to get the advertised pricing. If you want an ISP that doesn’t require long-term contracts (you anarchist you!), then check out Frontier or Xfinity.
Optimum’s service fees
It’s time to update Ben Franklin’s old axiom: “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes service fees.”5 Here’s a breakdown of the service fees you’ll see with Optimum:
- Installation fees: Every Optimum plan comes with this little disclaimer: “Installation fee applies.” Unfortunately, they don’t say exactly how much.
- Early termination fees: Optimum’s early termination fees are as ambiguous as its installation fees. But the fine print says that if you cancel early you will be paying “any applicable early cancellation fee.”6
Optimum equipment and fees
Optimum will charge you roughly the equivalent of a Netflix subscription (about $10 a month) to rent one of their modems.
If you want to skip the rental fee, we recommend buying this ARRIS SURFboard modem/Wi-Fi router combo from Amazon.
If you already have your own modem, make sure that it’s compatible.7
Optimum customer service
Optimum is better than most—which isn’t saying much.
When it comes to ISP customer service, we grade on a curve. Otherwise, no one would be passing this class.
For instance, the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s 2018 report gives Optimum internet a score of 64 out of 100.8 That would normally be a “D,” but since the top ISP only scores a 70, we’re going to give Optimum a “B-” instead.
If you need to, you can contact Optimum here:
Recap—is Optimum good?
Optimum will give you fast internet—minus all the bells and whistles.
Optimum is great when it comes to the basics: They’ll get you online. They’ve got decently priced bundles. They’ve got respectable cable internet speeds.
But Optimum never quite makes it past the basics. The network isn’t fiber. It doesn’t have a large variety of plan choices. And you still have to deal with the typical fees and contracts.
This actually makes Optimum a pretty solid choice for your average internet user. If, however, you want exceptional internet for a specific purpose, we’d recommend checking out our lists of the best ISPs for streaming and top gaming ISPs.
Optimum FAQs
Q: Does Optimum throttle content from certain sites?
With recent changes in net neutrality laws, this is a question on many people’s minds. Although Optimum has been mostly mute about the issue, there is no evidence that they are throttling their connection speeds.
Q: If I move, can my Optimum service move with me?
Yes! Here’s a nice primer on what you need to do. But remember that Optimum service “footprint” is mostly confined to the Tri-State area of Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.
Sources
- Federal Communications Commission, “Measuring Broadband America”
- Netflix, “ISP Leaderboard – November 2018”
- Optimum, “Open Internet Disclosure”
- Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, “Social Contract Theory”
- Wikipedia, “Death and Taxes (idiom)”
- Optimum, “Additional Terms of Service for Optimum Online (Residential)”
- Optimum, “Optimum-Approved Modems”
- American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), “ACSI Telecommunications Report 2018”