Optimum 300 Mbps Internet Review

Search fatigue is real, and no, it does not get better with the rise in online shopping. When you are bombarded with alluring marketing messages and presented with overwhelming options, it is natural to feel confused and bring your search to an abrupt end. 

The University of California, LA., reported that 40 percent of shoppers feel weary after looking for products and services online. Another 76 percent said they do not resume their search after a break and instead rely on word of mouth for their purchases. Unfortunately, internet speeds are not a one-size-fits-all utility. 

Our Optimum 300 Mbps Internet review will address this issue. We will analyze various factors to determine whether or not this plan is the perfect balance between speed and affordability and offers just what you need. 

What is Optimum 300?

Optimum 300 is an entry-level broadband plan and is available to both, Optimum cable internet and Optimum fiber internet customers. It costs $35 per month when bundled with the Optimum’s Mobile service. As the name suggests, this plan offers a download speed of 300 Mbps with unlimited data and no contract service. The type of internet connection will determine whether you receive an asymmetrical upload speed of up to 20 Mbps or an equal upload speed of 300 Mbps. 

Optimum 300 subscribers get 99.9 percent network uptime and consistently fast speeds for buffer-free streaming, lag-free gaming, and glitch-free file sharing. Let’s look at some of the pros and cons to see whether this broadband plan can match your household needs. 

Pros 

• Available in 21 states.
• Fiber and cable connections. 
• No annual contracts. 
• No data caps. 
• 99.9% network reliability.
• Equipment is included in the price. 
• A 30-day money-back guarantee. 
• Free installation on online orders. 

Cons

• Limited availability of Fiber 300.
• Second-year price hikes.
• Below-average customer ratings. 

Overview of Optimum 300 Mbps Plan

The optimum 300 Mbps internet plan is the first rung of the ladder. This is the minimum download speed that Optimum Internet can offer. Although in some far-off locations, the speed is downgraded to 100 Mbps due to increased data loss during long-distance transmissions. This 300 Mbps plan is available in coaxial cable and fiber-optic connections. You can avail of savings of up to $74.99 per month in the first year of service. The promo price of the Optimum 300 Mbps plan starts at $35 per month when you bundle it with Optimum Mobile plans. As a standalone internet plan, it costs $40 per month after Autopay and paperless billing discounts. 

The plan includes unlimited monthly data, a modem-router gateway, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. First-time customers can enjoy a free expert installation ($99.99 in value) by placing the order online. The Optimum 300 Mbps Internet plan is perfect for a small family with low-to-moderate internet usage.  

Here is an overview of the prime features and specifications of the Optimum 300 plan. 

Price 

The Optimum 300 Mbps Internet plan is offered at a promo price of $35 per month for the first 12 months. This ultra-affordable price tag is inclusive of an Optimum Mobile plan and a $5 discount that subscribers receive when they register for the AutoPay and e-receipt billing methods. However, if you are not interested in Optimum’s cellular phone service, you can purchase the standalone Optimum 300 plan for $40 per month. Regardless, of your decision, the price of this plan will increase to $109.99 per month in the second year.  

Additional Costs

There is only one added expense that Optimum 300 plan customers cannot escape, and that is the government-imposed taxes and surcharges. Luckily, this amount does not exceed $5 per month. Apart from that, all other extra charges are avoidable if you play by the book. For example, to evade the $99.99 professional installation fee, you can either purchase the plan from Optimum’s official online store or tell the representative handling your call that you would like a self-installation kit shipped to your home. The self-installation kit comes for free with the order. 

Similarly, make your payments through AutoPay, save the digital receipts in your devices, pay the bills before due dates, and return the equipment on time to keep your add-on costs to a minimum. 

Speed  

Your location within the Optimum broadband footprint will ultimately determine what upload speeds you get on the Optimum 300 plan. The standard download speed of 300 Mbps is distributed via both, cable and fiber-optic channels. But if your area is yet to be connected to the high-speed fiber terminals, you will get 300 Mbps through Optimum’s cable internet service, and your upload speed will automatically drop to 20 Mbps. 

However, if you are privileged to live in a fiber-ready community, you will receive an equal upload speed of 300 Mbps on Optimum’s fiber network.

Data Caps

Optimum does not cap monthly data usage. Optimum 300 subscribers will receive unlimited data throughout the month. This will enable them to download, stream, browse, and game freely without worrying about data overage charges, speed reductions, or temporary service halts. But, to be fair to all its subscribers, Optimum does address “excessive data usage” seriously. Frequent data-hoggers are subject to penalties, which may deprioritize faster internet once soft data caps are surpassed. 

Contract

There are several reasons internet users prefer to have a no-contract broadband service. First, they can cancel the subscription if they are unhappy with their experience or decide to move to an area or state where Optimum Internet is inaccessible. They are not required to serve a notice period or pay early terminations fees (ETF) for canceling the service mid-contract. 

Secondly, they can upgrade to better speeds if they feel 300 Mbps is not fast to get the work done. In the case of upgrades, customers will retain their rights to discounts offered on both, the Optimum 300 Mbps Internet and the new plan. 

The third and most important benefit of Optimum 300’s contract-free service is that you can leave before the fee spikes by a whopping 175 percent in the thirteenth month. As long as you return the Optimum Gateway and any other leased equipment to the provider within 30 days after service termination, your relationship with Optimum will end amicably. 

Here, we will unveil a different perspective on Optimum’s contract policies. Optimum customers are not required to sign an annual contract. However, if you are already in a contract with your current internet service provider, listen well because the Optimum 300 Mbps plan is throwing you a line. Optimum’s Contract Buyout deal is giving away up to $100 in credit to cover the early termination fees of the competitor. You can take the final receipt, stating the exact amount incurred in ETFs, to your nearest Optimum store and let professionals handle the rest.  

Perks 

Optimum 300 Mbps Internet customers get a chance to test drive the service for 30 days. The free 30-day trial unlocks all the features and specifications of the Optimum 300 plan to ensure that users get a clear idea of what they are signing up for.  If customers decide to part ways within this period, they are given a full refund and let go with a golden handshake. 

Best Modems for Optimum 300

The monthly internet fee of the Optimum 300 plan includes the lease of a compatible modem WiFi gateway. Usually, internet providers charge up to $15 per month for renting an approved modem to their customers, but with Optimum, unnecessary costs can be avoided. 

However, if your curiosity got the better of you, we will tell you what modems you can expect to receive upon enrolment. Optimum advises using DOCSIS 3.0 and DOCSIS 3.1 modems for its cable internet service. For internet speeds less than 500 Mbps, the DOCSIS 3.0 24-channel or 32-channel modems are ideal. Optimum has certified the ARRIS TM1602G modem for its 300 Mbps internet speeds. But if you are interested in purchasing a modem for enhanced WiFi capabilities and speed optimization, then here are a few options worth mentioning:

Optimum 300 Availability

Optimum offers high-speed coaxial cable internet and fiber broadband services in more than 750 cities, across 21 states of the USA. Around 20.6 million Americans can access the Optimum 300 plan over the coaxial cable network, with the largest concentrations in New Jersey, New York, Texas, and West Virginia. Optimum’s fiber internet service is available to 6.6 million people through its more than 100,000 route miles of fiber-optic network. 

The following are the 21 states where Optimum Internet offers coverage. 

The 5 best cities for accessing Optimum 300 Mbps internet plan are as follows:

Optimum 300 vs Competitors

Apart from Optimum, there are at least 5 other renowned internet service providers offering 300 Mbps of internet speeds on their base plans. So, if you are confident that 300 Mbps of download speed is the best solution for your digital needs, then refer to the table below to see what other options you can switch to in the absence of the Optimum 300 Mbps internet plan.   

Is Optimum 300 Worth it?

The Optimum 300 is a value-added starter plan for small households with moderate internet usage. The plan is available at discounted rates of $35 per month (with an Optimum Mobile line) and $40 per month (without the cellular phone connection) for a promo period of 12 months. The price includes a free modem-router gateway, uncapped internet data, a 30-day free trial, and contract buyout credits for up to $100. But for more demanding online activities, we would recommend giving Optimum’s ultrafast 1 Gig service a try. For just $55 per month (when bundled with an Optimum Mobile plan) you can get multi-device connectivity on at least 10 screens and a $200 Visa Prepaid Card for an exciting shopping spree.  

We hope our Optimum 300 Mbps Internet review will help you pick the best speeds for your home. 

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