Verizon Fios vs. Optimum Internet Review

Verizon’s incredible performance makes up for its higher prices to cinch the win.

Best for Performance
Verizon
Verizon Fios Home Internet
4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1
Price49.99/mo with AutoPay
Prices
$49.99-$109.99 with AutoPay
Download Speeds
300-2300 Mbps
Latest deal:
Save up to $300/year with mobile and home
Best for Budget
Optimum
Optimum Internet
3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5
Starts at$40/mo
Prices
$40-$280
Download Speeds
300-8000 Mbps
Latest deal:
Equipment included, no annual contract, and more
Easton Smith
Sep 26, 2024
Icon Time To Read5 min read

Verizon and Optimum (formerly known as Altice) are two of the most popular internet service providers (ISPs) on the East Coast.

Each one has something unique to offer. Verizon Fios Home Internet offers super-fast and reliable speeds, while Optimum’s prices are unbeatable. 

Overall, we think Verizon is probably the better option for most people. But it depends on what kind of data speeds you want and what price you’re willing to pay. Let's get into the details.

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Verizon Fios Home Internet vs. Optimum Internet: Prices

Winner: Optimum’s prices are lower, but that doesn’t always mean it’s better.

Optimum's cable internet plans are $10–$20 cheaper than Verizon Fios Home Internet, but fiber always beats out a cable connection in terms of performance.

But the 1 gigabit-speed internet plan with Optimum for $60 is a wildly good deal, no matter how you look at it. And if you need help figuring out what's a good download speed for you, we have a guide to help

How much are Optimum's internet plans?
Plan
Price
Download speed
Connection type
Details
300 Mbps Internet$40/mo.*Up to 300 MbpsCable
1 Gig Internet$60/mo.Up to 940 MbpsCable
300 Mbps Fiber Internet$40/mo.*Up to 300 MbpsFiber
500 Mbps Fiber Internet$60/mo.Up to 500 MbpsFiber
1 Gig Fiber Internet$60/mo.Up to 940 MbpsFiber
2 Gig Fiber Internet$120/mo.Up to 2000 MbpsFiber
5 Gig Fiber Internet$180/mo.Up to 5000 MbpsFiber
8 Gig Fiber Internet$280/mo.Up to 8000 MbpsFiber
* w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. Terms apply.
w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection up to 940 Mbps. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. Max auto renews after 12 months at then prevailing rate (currently $16.99/mo). Price sbjct to change. Terms apply.
For 1 yr. w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. Max auto renews after 6 months at then prevailing rate (currently $15.99/mo). Price sbjct to change. Terms apply.

While Verizon Fios Home Internet is totally converted to fiber connections, many of Optimum’s customers will get access to cable internet connections. While cable can still give you faster download speeds, it can’t match fiber when it comes to upload speeds or overall reliability.

Some of Optimum’s customers will get lucky and snag a fiber internet connection. But the availability of its fiber connections is still limited, so it’s more likely you’ll have cable internet service.

For those who don’t live in Optimum’s limited fiber coverage range, paying an extra $15 for Verizon Fios’s faster, more reliable speeds might be worth it.

Same as Optimum, Verizon Fios 5G Home Internet—a fixed wireless connection—is offered in select areas that fiber is not available. 

Verizon Fios Home Internet prices and plans
Plan
Price
Download speed
Connection type
Details
Fios 300 Mbps$49.99/mo. w/ Auto Pay^Up to 300 MbpsFiber
Fios 500 Mbps$74.99/mo. w/ Auto Pay°Up to 500 MbpsFiber
Fios 1 Gig$89.99/mo. w/ Auto Pay°Up to 940 MbpsFiber
Fios 2 Gig$109.99/mo. w/ Auto Pay^Up to 2300 MbpsFiber
^ Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans.Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.
° Price per month with Auto Pay & without select 5G mobile plans. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon's terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.

To only pay $50 (with AutoPay) for a 300Mbps fiber internet connection is pretty great, even if it is pricier than Optimum. But as the speeds get higher, Verizon’s prices do jump far above Optimum. (Optimum’s gigabit-speed plan is $10 cheaper.)

While we like that neither of these providers forces customers into a contract, that does mean that they can raise prices whenever they want (as long as they give you some notice). 

Combine with mobile for a discount on your internet service

With both internet providers, you can receive a great deal on your internet and mobile service when you get both.

Optimum internet and mobile bundle deals

Bundle Optimum's 300 Mbps Internet plan with Optimum Mobile and pay $55 per month for 300Mbps download speeds and a 1GB mobile plan with unlimited talk and text. Or pay $25 more to get 1 Gig Internet with Mobile Unlimited.

Verizon Fios internet and the Mobile + Home Discount

Verizon's Mobile + Home Discount lets customers customize their packages with different services for discounts. When you pair your Verizon Fios Internet plan with one of Verizon’s 5G mobile plans (which start at $30 per line with AutoPay), you can get your internet service for $25 cheaper each month. 

So your 300 Mbps plan will lower from $50 with AutoPay to $35 per month with AutoPay, your 500 Mbps plan will go down to $45 with AutoPay from $70 with AutoPay, and so on.

Verizon says the discount is available to “existing postpaid mobile customers with an unlimited plan that includes 5G Ultra Wideband.” 

So, if you’re currently a mobile customer, you can get the discount now. If you’re not, become a mobile customer first, and then add the internet onto your service for that lovely discount.

Verizon Fios Home Internet vs. Optimum Internet: Speed and data caps

Winner: Verizon’s fiber-optic network wins this race by a decent stretch

Getting a good price on your internet plan is important. But it isn’t worth much if you don’t have enough speed for the streaming, gaming, Zooming, and everything else that you want to do.

So, how do these two ISPs compare when it comes to data speeds?

In short, Verizon Fios Home Internet is faster than Optimum. Verizon’s network is more advanced than Optimum’s, meaning more customers are connected using fiber cables.

The two companies look really similar when it comes to download speeds. But fiber internet's upload speeds and the reliability of said speeds tell the story here.

Any sports fan, live streamer, or gamer is going to want fast upload speeds because this means less lag. And less lag means no pausing during your NFL game or during your Roblox play. 

Verizon Fios Home Internet vs. Optimum Internet download speed comparison
Provider
Download speeds
Upload speeds
Details
Verizon Fios Home Internet300-2300 Mbps10-2300 Mbps
Optimum Internet300-8000 Mbps20-8000 Mbps
Data as of 04/05/2023. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.

Verizon’s Fios 300 Mbps, Fios 500 Mbps, and Fios 2 Gig plans will give you symmetrical download and upload speeds (meaning they’ll be the same). 

Optimum, on the other hand, has a bit of an issue with upload speeds on its non-fiber plans. 

Customers on the non-fiber Gig speed plan will have just 35 Mbps upload speeds. That’s significantly (if not absurdly) lower than the 800+ Mbps you’ll see from fiber internet at that speed.

These sluggish upload speeds could end up being a deal breaker for people who need a reliable connection for gaming and video conferencing.

Verizon Fios Home Internet vs. Optimum Internet: Data caps

Verizon Fios Home Internet and Optimum Internet both have unlimited data caps. 

This means you can stream, game, browse the internet, scroll on social media, and use all of your smart devices for as many hours as you want with no consequences. 

Verizon Fios Home Internet vs. Optimum Internet: Customer service

Verizon’s customers tend to be more pleased with their experience.

Internet companies aren’t really known for their customer service expertise, but that doesn’t mean you should resign yourself to a purgatory of hold music and unhelpful web forums.

Verizon earned second place in customer service ratings for 2023 out of the top 15 internet service providers. Optimum, on the other hand, came in last on this list. 

That means if you have a problem you might have a harder time getting your questions answered, your problems solved, and your internet back online with Optimum. 

Verizon vs. Optimum customer service ratings
Rating
Verizon rating
Optimum rating
ACSI 20233.9 out of 53.3 out of 5

If you find yourself having issues with either company’s customer service, check out these nifty tips for getting customer service help from a real-life human being.

Verizon Fios Home Internet vs. Optimum: Which is better?

Verizon Fios' fiber internet gives you more bang for your buck.

While both ISPs have something to offer, Verizon’s superior speeds and customer service give it the upper hand overall. But Optimum’s prices are definitely more budget-friendly.

  • Best prices: Optimum’s prices are lower than Verizon’s by a good margin, especially when it comes to Gig speed plans. Optimum Internet ranges between $40–$280 per month (or even as low as $35 per month with a mobile bundle) for 300–8000Mbps download speeds. Verizon Fios Internet costs $50–$110 monthly with AutoPay for speeds of 300–2300Mbps. 
  • Best performance: Verizon’s higher prices make more sense when you consider how much faster and reliable its service is for most customers. It also has plans with symmetrical speeds, meaning you'll receive equally high upload speeds for less lag during your stream.
  • Best bundles: It’s a tie. Both Verizon's Mobile + Home Discount and Optimum's bundles offer awesome savings on internet and mobile. 
  • Best data caps: Another tie. Neither company gives you a limit on how much internet you can use each month. 
  • Best customer service: Verizon’s customer service stands out in an industry that’s usually not known for actually helping its customers.
Easton Smith
Written by
Easton has worked as a freelance writer and researcher for several years, reviewing health, lifestyle, and technology products. He has probably read more Terms of Use contracts than any human alive. When he’s not sitting in front of a computer, Easton spends his time camping, climbing, and volunteering with humanitarian aid organizations.

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