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About Rob
Rob has 15+ years experience running price comparison & review websites that empower consumers to find the cheapest cell phone services, cell phone deals, home phone, and internet providers available. He has been published in Forbes, US News, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, Inc.
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5G wireless networks, cell phone plans, cell phone deals, MVNOs, internet services, tablets, comparison shopping, money saving, reviewing telecom products & services
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If you're moving or dissatisfied with your current internet service, then you'll probably be interested to find out who offers the best internet service in your area.
Verizon FiOS and Optimum Cable might be offered, so you could very well be making a decision on which provider would suit you best.
So between Verizon FiOS and Optimum Cable, which provides the better service?
Inside this review, you'll find overviews of the both Verizon FiOS and Optimum, including the coverage map, internet service, and more. This will allow you to make an informed decision as to who wins the Verizon FiOS vs Optimum battle.
Optimum vs Verizon comparison
Verizon vs Optimum: features comparison
Verizon FiOS |
Optimum |
|
Monthly Price |
$79.99-124.99 |
$59.95-104.95 |
Contract Terms |
2-year contract |
no contract |
Setup |
$99 |
$99 |
Channels |
425+ |
220-420 |
Max HD Channels |
160+ |
varies |
DVR Storage |
Up to 200 hours |
300 HRs |
Download Speeds |
100-940 Mbps |
450 Mbps |
Upload Speeds |
100-880 Mbps |
50 Mbps |
Availability |
10 states |
4 states |
Verizon vs Optimum: internet deals
Both Verizon FiOS and Optimum offer similar internet plans.
Verizon internet deals
- Download
- 300-940 Mbps
- Channels
- Calls
- Monthly Price
- $50-90
Pros
100% fiber network
Speed options up to Gigabit
Equal upload and download speeds
No contracts
Good customer service reputation
Cons
Limited availability
Fees can add up
Verizon FiOS offers internet, TV & landline services with plans starting at $50.
Verizon FiOS Internet Only Plans
Package |
Internet |
TV |
Phone |
Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fios Internet 300 Mbps |
300 Mbps |
|
|
$49.99 |
|
Fios Internet 500 Mbps |
500 Mbps |
|
|
$69.99 |
|
Fios Gigabit Internet |
940 Mbps |
|
|
$89.99 |
Verizon FiOS TV Plans
Package |
Internet |
TV |
Phone |
Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Your Fios TV |
|
125 Channels |
|
$70.00 |
|
More FIos TV |
|
300 Channels |
|
$90.00 |
|
The Most Fios TV |
|
425 Channels |
|
$110.00 |
Verizon FiOS Triple Play Bundles
Package |
Internet |
TV |
Phone |
Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Your Fios TV + Internet 300 + Home Phone |
300 Mbps |
125 Channels |
Unlimited |
$139.99 |
|
More Fios TV + Internet 300 + Home Phone |
300 Mbps |
300 Channels |
Unlimited |
$159.99 |
|
The Most Fios TV + Internet 300 + Home Phone |
300 Mbps |
425 Channels |
Unlimited |
$179.99 |
Verizon internet only plans
| Package | Speed | Price |
|---|---|---|
Verizon FiOS Fios Internet 300 Mbps |
300 Mbps | $49.99 |
Verizon FiOS Fios Internet 500 Mbps |
500 Mbps | $69.99 |
Verizon FiOS Fios Gigabit Internet |
940 Mbps | $89.99 |
Verizon FiOS internet brings you incredibly fast speeds via an optic fiber. The slower-tiered speeds, while by no means slow, are far more affordable than the speedier options available.
Overall, FiOS is a great value for your dollar, but only until you reach 150 Mbps connection speeds. Unfortunately, there is a rapid increase in price between the 150/150 and 300/300 tiers.
So if you're a personal user, you may want to stave off from the 300 Mbps and 500 Mbps tiers. Most likely, you'll need no more than the 150 Mbps download and upload speeds.
Optimum internet deals
- Download
- 300-1,000 Mbps
- Channels
- Calls
- Monthly Price
- $40-80
Pros
No data cap
No contracts
Price for life option
Speed choices up to Gigabit
Access to over 2 million hotspots
Cons
Services only a few states
Limited plan selection
Optimum offers internet & TV services with plans starting at $40.
Optimum Internet Only Plans
Package |
Internet |
TV |
Phone |
Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet 300 |
300 Mbps |
|
|
$39.99 |
|
Internet 500 |
500 Mbps |
|
|
$59.99 |
|
Internet 1 GIG |
1000 Mbps |
|
|
$79.99 |
Optimum TV Plans
Package |
Internet |
TV |
Phone |
Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Core TV |
|
200 Channels |
|
$74.99 |
|
Select TV |
|
290 Channels |
|
$99.99 |
|
Premier TV |
|
340 Channels |
|
$119.99 |
Optimum internet only plans
| Package | Speed | Price |
|---|---|---|
Optimum Internet 300 |
300 Mbps | $39.99 |
Optimum Internet 500 |
500 Mbps | $59.99 |
Optimum Internet 1 GIG |
1000 Mbps | $79.99 |
Optimum's internet packages now offer standard pricing, though a while back there used to be a base price for internet service, then you will be charged extra depending on your desired speed.
With the free smart router, you are saving more money, so if you're aiming for faster download speeds at lower prices - unless you're concerned about the upload speeds - then you should consider Optimum Cable.
With that being said, you'll receive a better bargain with Verizon FiOS if you opt for anything lower than the 200 Mbps download tier, especially when you factor in the symmetrical upload speeds.
Verizon vs Optimum: bundle deals
Let's see how the bundles hold up.
Verizon bundle deals
| Package | Speed | Channels | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 Mbps | 125 | $119.99 |
|
| 300 Mbps | 300 | $139.99 |
|
| 300 Mbps | 425 | $159.99 |
Verizon triple play packages
| Package | Speed | Channels | Phone Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 Mbps | 125 | Unlimited | $139.99 |
|
| 300 Mbps | 300 | Unlimited | $159.99 |
|
| 300 Mbps | 425 | Unlimited | $179.99 |
The FiOS bundles from the fiber-optic network company are nothing to scoff at either, especially the triple play bundle.
With the Triple Play bundle, you can receive 150 Mbps internet speeds, plus Custom TV (which is highly flexible and thus more desirable) and unlimited home phone service, all at an affordable price - well, during the two-year agreement, anyway.
After that, it will be a bit more expensive. As the cherry on top, you can access your Verizon FiOS service from your mobile device.
Optimum bundle deals
| Package | Speed | Channels | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Optimum Internet 300 + Basic TV |
300 Mbps | 50 | $75 |
Optimum Internet 1000 + Basic TV |
1000 Mbps | 50 | $90 |
Optimum Internet 500 + Basic TV |
500 Mbps | 50 | $90 |
| 300 Mbps | 200 | $115 |
|
| 300 Mbps | 290 | $135 |
Optimum triple play packages
When it comes to bundling, Optimum also has your back. When you enter your address, you will be provided with a variety of different packages to choose from. You can choose between Double Play or Triple Play bundles before you customize them.
Some bundles may even include promotional benefits. For instance, there are some Triple Play packages, such as the Optimum 200, Preferred Cable TV (Optimum TV service), and home phone service (Optimum Voice), that will toss in a $200 Gift Card.
Overall, the fact that you can customize your Optimum Voice, Optimum Online, and Optimum TV service packages is a major incentive.
Verizon vs Optimum: internet speed
Price and value are strong influences on deciding whether to join Verizon FiOS or Optimum cable, but there are other factors to consider, such as the customer service score and the speeds you'll truly receive compared to what is advertised.
So what can be gathered from the data at the beginning of the comparison is that while Verizon FiOS' high-speed internet offers speeds up to 500 Mbps and boasts the highest ACSI score available in the industry, its actual speed vs. advertised speed percentage is lower compared to Optimum Cable, meaning that you are earning more for your dollar with Optimum Cable than Verizon FiOS.
That being said, the particular data point is rather inaccurate, as the 50 Mbps option no longer exists; unfortunately, the data was measured in 2015 by the FCC. So while the actual speed vs. advertised speed isn't exactly as reliable, the ACSI score most certainly is. Optimum Cable has the second-best scores in the industry, just five points above the industry average of 64.
Verizon vs Optimum: coverage
Unfortunately, Verizon FiOS only covers nine states and 14 total areas, with the most extensive coverage blanketing Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.
Optimum Cable, while a good option for many, is unfortunately limited to four states: New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
That means that FiOS, while limited to nine states, covers more area than Optimum Cable. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to check to see if Optimum is available in your location.
Internet providers in my area
Verizon vs Optimum: customer service
FiOS offers the best customer service in the industry, even if the industry is notorious for poor customer service. Nevertheless, the service boasts an American Customer Satisfaction Index score of 73, which is nine points higher than the industry average of 64.
Concerning customer service ratings, Optimum is right behind Verizon FiOS with an ACSI score of 69, a 13 percent gain over the previous year, so you'll receive decent customer service if you decide to join Optimum.
Verizon vs Optimum FAQs
Is Verizon better than Optimum?
Verizon can offer faster speeds and reliable service, but Optimum offers high-speeds at lower prices.
Is Verizon cheaper than Optimum?
No, Optimum offers cheaper plans overall.
Does Optimum have a fiber optic network like Fios?
Currently Optimum does not have a fiber optic network.
Recap
While Verizon FiOS offers speedier packages, more reliable customer service, and better pricing at slower tiers, Optimum Online is a better bargain at faster tiers, complete with a free modem and better-than-average customer service.
If you're looking for faster connection speeds and if it's available in your area, then Verizon FiOS is the better choice.
Otherwise, it's best to go with Verizon FiOS, especially for the symmetrical upload speeds.
