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Last updated: October 2026 · Verified plans & pricing
⚡ TL;DR — Key Takeaways
Optimum (part of Altice USA) is a major ISP serving the Northeast US, offering both fiber-optic and cable internet. Optimum's fiber plans are among the most aggressively priced in the country — with symmetrical gigabit speeds starting at just $50/mo and multi-gig tiers up to 8 Gbps. In cable markets, Optimum delivers fast download speeds at equally competitive prices.
| Plan | Plan Price | Equipment | Taxes & Fees | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cable 300 | $25/mo | Included | ~$1.50+ | ~$27–$30/mo |
| Cable 500 | $35/mo | Included | ~$1.50+ | ~$37–$40/mo |
| Fiber 1 Gig | $50/mo | Included | ~$1.50+ | ~$52–$58/mo |
| Fiber 5 Gig | $90/mo | Included | ~$1.50+ | ~$92–$98/mo |
| Fiber 8 Gig | $120/mo | Included | ~$1.50+ | ~$122–$128/mo |
No equipment rental fee and no contract on any plan. Some plans carry promotional pricing for the first 12–24 months — ask for the standard rate when signing up.
Optimum Fiber delivers pure fiber-optic internet with symmetrical speeds — same fast upload as download. No data caps, no contracts, and no equipment fees. Available where Optimum has deployed its fiber network.
Optimum Cable is available in areas where Optimum has not yet deployed fiber-optic infrastructure. Cable plans use HFC technology with fast download speeds but asymmetric upload (lower upload vs. download). Where fiber is available, Optimum Fiber is the recommended choice for better upload performance.
| Plan | Type | Download | Upload | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cable 200 | Cable | 200 Mbps | 20 Mbps | $25/mo |
| Cable 500 | Cable | 500 Mbps | 35 Mbps | $35/mo |
| Cable 1 Gig | Cable | 1,000 Mbps | 50 Mbps | $45/mo |
| Fiber 1 Gig | Fiber | 1,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps | $50/mo |
Optimum is known for straightforward, all-inclusive pricing. Here's a complete breakdown of what's included and what you may pay:
Plan rate: $50.00/mo
Optimum offers its own low-income internet program, Optimum Advantage, for qualifying households, and households may also qualify for the federal Lifeline discount. Given Optimum's already low base prices, combining either program with Optimum's standard rates can bring internet to some of the most affordable rates of any major provider.
Optimum Advantage offers reduced-rate internet to qualifying low-income households, but Optimum doesn't publish a fixed nationwide price or eligibility list for the program — both can vary by market. Call (978) 723-5746 to ask about Optimum Advantage's current rate and eligibility requirements in your specific area before assuming a figure.
Separately from Optimum Advantage, qualifying low-income households can apply the federal Lifeline discount ($9.25/mo, $25/mo on Tribal lands) to any Optimum plan. Qualification requires income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or participation in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, WIC, or the National School Lunch Program. Apply at lifelinesupport.org, then call (978) 723-5746 to apply the credit to your Optimum account.
Optimum Business Fiber provides dedicated fiber-optic internet for small and medium businesses in its service area. Business plans include static IP addresses, SLA-backed uptime guarantees, and dedicated business support lines — with symmetrical speeds matching residential fiber plans.
500 Mbps symmetric fiber for small businesses. Supports cloud-hosted tools, VoIP, video conferencing, and POS systems for teams of up to 25 employees. Includes one static IP address and an uptime SLA (confirm the exact percentage in Optimum's current business terms). Installation is professional and typically faster than residential due to dedicated business scheduling.
Custom pricing · Call (978) 723-5746Symmetrical 1 Gbps fiber for growing businesses with 25–100+ users. Handles all cloud workloads, high-definition video conferencing, large file transfers, and multi-site VPN connections. Includes multiple static IPs, an enhanced SLA, priority support, and a dedicated account manager available on business accounts.
Custom pricing · Call (978) 723-57462 Gbps and higher fiber tiers for data-intensive business operations — server hosting, large-scale cloud environments, medical imaging, and architectural design workflows. Optimum's multi-gig business plans are available in select markets where XGS-PON fiber infrastructure is deployed. Contact for enterprise pricing and SLA terms.
Enterprise pricing · Call for quote| Plan | Speed | Static IP | SLA | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Fiber 500 | 500 Mbps symmetric | 1 included | Uptime SLA — confirm terms | Custom quote |
| Business Fiber 1 Gig | 1,000 Mbps symmetric | Multiple | Enhanced SLA — confirm terms | Custom quote |
| Business Fiber 2 Gig+ | 2,000+ Mbps symmetric | Multiple | Enterprise SLA — confirm terms | Enterprise quote |
Call an authorized Optimum Business agent at (978) 723-5746 to get a custom quote, check fiber availability at your business address, and discuss bundled phone and TV options for commercial spaces.
Optimum's pricing is already among the lowest for fiber internet in the U.S. — and the deals below make it even more compelling. Call (978) 723-5746 to confirm current offers at your address.
Optimum includes a Wi-Fi router (or Altice One gateway on bundle plans) at no monthly rental fee on all internet plans. This is a significant saving vs. competitors who charge $10–15/mo for equipment: Xfinity charges $15/mo, AT&T charges $10/mo. Over 24 months, Optimum saves you $240–$360 in equipment costs vs. comparable cable or fiber ISPs. The included router supports Wi-Fi 6 on fiber plans for fast whole-home wireless coverage. Call (978) 723-5746 to confirm included equipment at your address.
Optimum's own Optimum Advantage program offers subsidized internet to qualifying low-income households. Program includes broadband internet at reduced rates for households meeting income requirements. Call (978) 723-5746 to ask about Optimum Advantage eligibility and current program rates in your area.
Optimum punches above its weight for a regional ISP — particularly on price. Here's our full assessment of where it excels and where Verizon Fios still has the edge.
Where Optimum Fiber is available, it offers extraordinary value — symmetrical gigabit for $50/mo with equipment included is genuinely hard to beat. The 4.2 rating reflects solid performance with a slight deduction for customer service inconsistency and the geographic limitation. In markets where both Optimum Fiber and Verizon Fios are available, Optimum's lower price makes it the default recommendation for budget-conscious customers. Call (978) 723-5746 to check fiber availability at your address.
Optimum offers TV and phone service alongside internet — making it one of the few providers in the Northeast where you can bundle all three services under one bill.
Optimum TV packages can be bundled with any Optimum internet plan. The Altice One device combines your internet router and cable TV box into a single unit, reducing cable clutter. TV packages include local channels, news, sports, and on-demand content. Bundling internet and TV with Optimum can save money compared to buying each separately, though the exact discount depends on the channel package and your address. Call (978) 723-5746 to get current TV bundle pricing and channel lineups at your address.
Optimum offers VoIP home phone service as an add-on or as part of a triple-play bundle (internet + TV + phone). Optimum Voice includes unlimited local and long-distance calling within the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, plus caller ID, voicemail, and call waiting. Triple-play bundles can offer additional savings over individual service pricing.
For customers who prefer streaming over cable TV, Optimum's fast fiber internet is an ideal base for a cord-cutting setup. Pair Optimum Fiber 1 Gig ($50/mo) with a live-TV streaming service like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV for a no-contract TV experience — check each service's current price directly, since streaming TV pricing changes more often than internet plans. No data caps means unlimited streaming without overage concerns.
Optimum's primary competitors vary by market — Verizon Fios in the Northeast, Spectrum in overlapping cable markets, and Xfinity in select areas.
| Provider | Technology | 1 Gig Price | Equipment Fee | vs. Optimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optimum Fiber | Fiber (FTTH) | $50/mo | $0 | — |
| Verizon Fios | Fiber (FTTH) | $89.99/mo | $15/mo (router) | Fios costs about $40/mo more for gigabit fiber and adds a $15/mo router fee. Fios wins on customer satisfaction scores and long-term reliability reputation. Optimum wins decisively on price — for most households, the cost difference is the deciding factor. |
| Spectrum | Cable (HFC) | $90/mo (1 Gig) | $0 (modem) | At the 1 Gig cable tier, Optimum wins on price ($45 vs. $90) and no equipment fee. Optimum Fiber (also $50/mo) adds symmetrical upload speed (1,000 Mbps vs. Spectrum's ~35 Mbps up) where fiber is available. Spectrum has far broader nationwide availability vs. Optimum's regional Northeast and former-Suddenlink footprint. |
| Xfinity | Cable (HFC) | $70–80/mo (promo) | $15/mo | Optimum undercuts Xfinity on price and eliminates the equipment fee. Xfinity is available in far more markets. Optimum Fiber wins on upload speed and total cost of ownership. |
Pricing verified October 2026. Call (978) 723-5746 to confirm Optimum fiber availability at your specific address.
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Run Free Speed Test →On Optimum Fiber 1 Gig, wired Ethernet should deliver 900–1,000 Mbps download and upload. On Optimum Cable 1 Gig, expect ~1,000 Mbps download but only ~50 Mbps upload — this upload gap is the key reason to choose fiber over cable when both are available at your address. If speeds are significantly below your plan tier, restart your Altice One or Wi-Fi router, then retest over Ethernet before calling support at (978) 723-5746.
Optimum serves NY, NJ, CT, PA, and former Suddenlink markets in other states. Fiber availability within those markets varies by neighborhood.
Is Optimum Fiber at your address? Call (978) 723-5746 to confirm fiber or cable availability at your exact location.
Optimum sells two different technologies under one brand. Here's how to tell which one serves your address and what the difference means for speed.
| Optimum Fiber | Optimum Cable | |
|---|---|---|
| Download speed | 300 Mbps–8 Gbps | 200 Mbps–1 Gbps |
| Upload speed | Matches download (symmetrical) | 20–50 Mbps (asymmetric) |
| Starting price | $30/mo | $25/mo |
| Availability | Where fiber is deployed — check your exact address | Optimum's broader legacy coverage area |
Optimum doesn't make it obvious from the outside which technology reaches a given address — a bill or order confirmation will say "Fiber" or standard plan names for cable. Call (978) 723-5746 to find out which one is available at your address.
If you were a Suddenlink customer in Texas, West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, Ohio, or Missouri, your service was rebranded to Optimum in 2022 — same company (Altice USA), same infrastructure, new name. Former Suddenlink customers see the same Optimum plans listed on this page, though exact plan availability and fiber vs. cable technology still varies by address in these markets just as it does in the Northeast. Call (978) 723-5746 to confirm which Optimum plans are available at your former Suddenlink address.
Data sources: Availability from the FCC National Broadband Map (2025). Customer satisfaction from the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Residential ISP Satisfaction Study. Speed benchmarks from the Ookla Speedtest Global Index Q1 2025. Pricing verified October 2026.