CenturyLink vs Optimum – Which One is Better?

CenturyLink and Optimum offer up to 8 Gig internet speeds through their dual cable transmission systems. While CenturyLink uses fiber-optical and telephone lines to deliver broadband internet in the Western states and Florida, Optimum has deployed its hybrid fiber-cable network in 21 states. 

A detailed comparison becomes a necessity, especially when the two internet service providers (ISPs) are directly competing in 4 overlapping markets. So, if you happen to reside in one of these overlapping states, our Optimum vs CenturyLink discourse will help you pick the best provider for your household’s digital needs. 

CenturyLink

CenturyLink, a brand of Lumen Technologies, is a telecommunications company that offers high-speed internet, home phone, and TV services over fiber-optic and DSL networks to residential and small business customers in 16 states.

In June 2023, Lumen decided to form CenturyLink’s sister company and named it Quantum Fiber. The new brand is fiber-focused and delivers up to 8 Gig symmetrical speeds in over 18 cities within CenturyLink’s 16-state footprint. Through this partnership, CenturyLink customers can get hyperfast multigigabit speeds for as low as $50 per month. 

The CenturyLink plans are non-contractual and include unlimited data, which means you can terminate the service anytime without paying additional costs. 

Pros

• No contracts
• No data caps
• Free fiber internet installation
• Exclusive fiber plans through Quantum Fiber

Cons

• Limited coverage
• No cost saving on bundling

Optimum (formerly known as Suddenlink)

Optimum (by Altice USA) is one of the most popular broadband companies. Serving nearly 5 million customers across 21 states with reliable internet, TV, home phone, and mobile services. 

Optimum intends to reach more households with speeds up to 8 Gigabits by expanding their 100% fiber internet network. The fiber network is currently available to more than 1.3 million homes and businesses.

Optimum offers some of the lowest internet rates, starting from $40 per month. The plans are contract-free and come with unlimited monthly data. Optimum is currently offering six plans in total, of which three are 100% fiber connections.

Pros

• No data caps
• Visa Card rewards
• No contracts or hidden fees
• No equipment fees

Cons

• 8-Gig has limited availability
• Poor customer service

Internet Service Comparison – CenturyLink vs Optimum 

Plans & Pricing Details – CenturyLink vs Optimum Internet

CenturyLink offers DSL and fiber internet plans starting from $55 a month. Its DSL speeds range from 20-140 Mbps, but its fiber internet is much faster, delivering symmetrical speeds of up to 940 Mbps. CenturyLink also offers exclusive blistering-fast fiber plans in partnership with Quantum Fiber. The latter’s ‘Price for Life’ plans start at $50 per month and offer speeds up to 8 Gbps. 

On the other hand, most Optimum customers receive three internet speeds via coaxial cable connections. But you may get fiber internet speeds of up to 8,000 Mbps if you live in the New York tri-state area. 

CenturyLink Internet Plans

Optimum Internet Plans

Additional Costs – CenturyLink vs Optimum Internet

Data Caps & Overage Fees

A data cap is a monthly data limit on the volume of data consumed for online activities on all the devices connected to the network.  

Many internet providers put data limitations on home internet and mobile data plans to ensure fair usage among their customers. These can be in the form of hard or soft data caps, leading to speed reductions and data overage fees. 

Fortunately, Optimum and CenturyLink offer unlimited data to their users. So, data-intensive activities like HD video streaming, file downloading, and Cloud uploading are possible. 

Installation Options – Optimum vs CenturyLink Internet 

CenturyLink’s and Optimum’s installation fees and options can be a bit confusing. For example, Optimum offers free installation on its fiber internet plans to new customers if they order the service online. 

But to get a $100 reimbursement on technical installations, customers must prove that they are replacing Optimum’s competitor’s equipment within 60 days of disconnection. Moreover, it is unclear if Optimum provides a self-installation kit. 

In contrast, CenturyLink does not offer any self-installation option or kit. Instead, it charges a $149 standard installation fee. However, this fee is waived for Fiber 1-Gig plan subscribers. 

TV & Internet Bundles – Optimum vs CenturyLink

Optimum offers some well-curated and well-priced TV and Internet bundles. With Optimum Bundles, you can enjoy internet speeds up to 8 Gigs and watch 420+ live TV channels, including highly rated networks like ABC, CBS, HBO, and ESPN. The bundle prices start from $80 per month and include a voice-activated remote and 4K Ultra HD viewing. 

While CenturyLink bundles are available for internet and home phone services, the same is not available for Internet and TV services. However, you can buy DISH TV or DIRECTV packages through CenturyLink. You will be paying the full amount for both internet and TV with the convenience of a single bill. 

Perks – Optimum vs CenturyLink Internet

When it comes to perks and benefits, both Optimum and CenturyLink offer considerable perks and benefits to their customers. 

CenturyLink is a customer-focused internet service provider, and its price guarantees are like no other. Its ‘Price for Life’ offer means that your rates are locked for as long as you keep the service (unless the plan is discontinued). This offer is available on Quantum Fiber plans as well. Moreover, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee. So, if you are dissatisfied with the service within the first 30 days, you can ask for a full refund. 

Optimum offers several perks to their new onboarding customers. Along with cost-saving bundles, Optimum offers a Prepaid Mastercard that comes with $100 to $200 in credit. In addition, Optimum provides a money-back guarantee for 60 days on its mobile and Internet services in case you are not satisfied with the connection.

Better Option for Gaming – CenturyLink or Optimum?

If you are an avid gamer looking for minimum latency and faster speeds, CenturyLink and Optimum are reliable options.

Fiber internet connections are the least jittery and offer the lowest latency. The average latency rate of Optimum Fiber is around 14 ms. 

CenturyLink offers fast speeds and minimal latency for gaming, with an average latency ranging from 15.3 to 21.3 ms across a range of plans.

Since the availability of fiber internet is spotty around the country, it will be best to opt for Optimum if the choice narrows down to CenturyLink DSL vs Optimum cable internet service. 

This is because the gaming performance on coaxial cable networks is better than on DSL connections.  

Wider Coverage Area – CenturyLink or Optimum?   

Being the fourth-largest cable provider, Optimum’s availability extends to 21 states, mostly in the Mid-Atlantic, south-central, and West Coast. However, its multigigabit speeds (5 and 8 Gigs) are limited to the metros of the New York tri-state area. 

According to ISP Reports.org, Optimum’s internet service is available in 3,481 cities and 2,258 zip codes. 

On the other hand, CenturyLink’s availability is limited to 16 states. Its fiber internet coverage is more restricted and limited to urban centers like Denver (Colorado), Orlando (Florida), and Seattle (Washington). 

However, there are four states in the western region of the USA where both CenturyLink and Optimum are providing their internet services. As shown below:

Better Customer Service – CenturyLink or Optimum?

It is a common understanding that Internet service providers are not good at customer service. From service outages to delayed resolution and miscommunication, customers have faced it all.  

Thankfully, few organizations are holding ISPs responsible for their poor customer care and publishing their findings in the likes of the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) and J.D. Power survey. 

ACSI had not mentioned Optimum before in the fiber category. However, this year, they have ranked them. Optimum has secured the last position in the ‘fiber ISPs’ category. On the contrary, CenturyLink has also decreased its quality of customer service from the previous year. 

If we analyze Optimum and CenturyLink in the non-fiber category, both providers have scored the average. However, Optimum has improved its quality of service. 

In the J.D. Power survey, CenturyLink secured the last spot in the western region, while Optimum stood last in the eastern region.

CenturyLink vs Optimum Internet – Winner: Optimum

After a decent consideration, in our opinion, Optimum is the winner in this CenturyLink vs Optimum debate. Its affordable introductory prices, an array of cost-saving bundling options, and wide coverage make it superior to CenturyLink. 

While CenturyLink’s ‘Price for Life’ offer and Quantum-powered fiber internet plans are enticing, its limited fiber internet availability and slow DSL speeds are discouraging. Moreover, you have to pay for an equipment lease and partner with satellite TV providers for bundled TV viewing. 

Therefore, Optimum is ideal. In most of its service areas, customers can get up to gigabit download speeds over a coaxial cable connection. Even its multigigabit speeds are offered in many cities and towns of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. 

Moreover, perks like a 60-day money-back guarantee and Prepaid Mastercards add value to the service. 

So, if faster speeds and exciting extras are your priority, Optimum is better.