Optimum internet plans start at $40 for 500 Mbps if you live in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut or Pennsylvania. In other states, that same $40 per month will get you 300 Mbps speeds. Either way, it's a great price. The most expensive plan is $80 for either 1 Gbps (or 2 Gpbs in select states), which is less amazing but still relatively competitive.
For most households, we recommend the $40 plans. It's fast enough to support multiple devices and simultaneous streamings in high resolution, and you get access to super low latency and fast ping.
All that said, the prices you see today won’t stick around. Prices typically go up by $35–$85 in the third year of service, depending on your plan. So plan to shop around and call in to negotiate a better deal every few years with Optimum.
We gave Optimum 4 out of 5 for value because many of its plans are cheaper than competitors like Spectrum, Xfinity, and Cox. With Optimum, you’ll also have free equipment and no contract. Most people also get away with free installation unless they need help setting up their devices on their Wi-Fi network. It’s rare to have all these perks and some of the lowest prices on the market, so count yourself lucky if Optimum serves your area.
We’ve gathered and analyzed over 50 reviews from current Optimum customers, and we’re seeing mixed reviews on pricing. Some people love the rate they’re getting, but others want to see lower rates. Many customers complained about frequent price hikes and high prices due to Optimum having a local monopoly. Unfortunately, both of these are an issue with a lot of internet providers, especially cable internet providers, which are often the only option in town that’s both reliable and fast. That said, multiple customers also mentioned reliability and customer service issues.
Disclaimer: Availability and pricing are subject to location. Conditions apply. For offer details, view disclaimers
Optimum scored 4 out of 5 for equipment and installation because both are cheaper than most competitors. In most areas, equipment is completely free, though you can add Wi-Fi extenders for $3 each. Both self-setup and professional installation are usually free. However, if you want help setting up your devices on your home network, it’ll cost you.
Learn more about understanding your bill.
Optimum is currently offering Visa gift cards for signing up for certain plans. A 2-gig plan could give you $500 and a 1-gig plan could get you $100.
However, you should also know that most households don’t need 500 Mbps and would have plenty of speed with a 300 Mbps plan. And almost no one needs 2 gigs—nor can most devices and internet equipment handle even 1 gig speeds. While free money (especially $500!) is tempting, it may not be worth paying for extra bandwidth you won’t use.
Optimum may also buy you out of a contract with another provider, paying up to $500 if you can show a copy of an existing bill with an ETF listed. Contact Optimum within 30 days to see if you're eligible.
In addition to home internet, Optimum offers mobile internet in the form of 4G and 5G networks from T-Mobile. You’ll get a $15 discount on any home internet plan when you sign up for an Optimum mobile internet plan.
Optimum also offers TV service, and you can bundle that with internet service to get a discount of about $5 per month.
There are no contracts with Optimum and as such, there are no cancelation or early termination fees to worry about. All you’ll have to do is call Optimum customer service and return any equipment you’ve rented.
Optimum participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program, which helps low-income households get a discount on their internet service. The government offers up to a $30 monthly subsidy you can apply toward your internet bill with any participating provider. But with Optimum’s program, you could qualify for a free 300 Mbps plan (usually $40 per month).
Learn more about getting free or low-cost internet.