Rooted in the origins of a free market economy, business competition serves as the backbone for growth and innovation. Companies from the same industry continuously improve their product design and range to outdo their competitors and gain traction.
Today, we will compare and contrast Verizon Fios and Optimum Internet to see which side northeasterners will swing to when the battle narrows down to Fios Advantage vs. The Altice Effect.
So, dwellers of the ‘swing states’ (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia), are you ready for this year’s grandest Clash of the Gladiators? Take a seat in our digital Colosseum as we draw swords for the Verizon Fios vs Optimum debate and declare a winner, once and for all.
Verizon Fios
Founded in September 2005, in Keller, Texas, Verizon Fios is the exclusive fiber-optic arm of Verizon Internet. The 100 percent fiber-rich service is managed by the parent company, Verizon Communications. Currently, Verizon Fios offers fully fiber-optic internet services to homes and businesses in 34 metropolitans across 9 states, mainly in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the USA.
Verizon Fios home internet subscribers can choose their preferred monthly plan from 4 tiers of speeds. The symmetrical upload and download speeds range from 300 Mbps to 2,000 Mbps. All the Verizon Fios internet plans can be bundled with Verizon’s reliable 5G wireless phone service to get discounts of up to 50 percent each month.
Switch to Fios, and get a $100 Verizon Gift Card and a $200 to the Home Depo
For a starting price of $49.99 per month, Verizon Fios internet plans include unlimited data, no-contract service, a cutting-edge router, and gift cards worth $200 in value.
Verizon Fios Internet’s promise to deliver consistently fast service at consistently lower-than-the-market rates has made it victorious. Over 22,900 customers came forward in 2022 to declare Verizon Fios the best residential internet service provider in the country’s East, as stated by the J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Study.
So, let’s look at some of the pros and cons of Verizon Fios Internet to see if their claim holds.
Pros
- Unlimited data
- No annual contracts
- A 100% fiber-rich network
- Up to 4-year price guarantees
- Up to $200 on The Home Depot Gift Card
- Symmetrical internet speeds of up to 2 Gigs
- Free professional installation on online orders
Cons
- Limited availability
- Verizon Fios 2 Gig Internet plan is only available in New York City.
Optimum
Optimum, powered by Altice USA, is the fourth-largest cable internet provider in the United States. Its wideband coaxial cable network spreads over 21 states, transmitting download speeds of up to 2 Gigs to approximately 20.6 million people.
In a select few areas, Optimum has deployed its ultrafast fiber-optic internet technology with upstream and downstream capacities reaching up to 8 Gigs (8,000 Mbps). But in most areas around the country, subscribers receive up to 1,000 Mbps (1 Gig) of download speed on Optimum’s vast cable internet network for a starting price of $35 per month.
Optimum Internet’s asymmetrical speeds are divided into 4 tiers or plans. The entry-level plan offers 300 Mbps download speed, while the premium plan is capped at 2,000 Mbps. All the Optimum Internet plans include contract-free service, unlimited monthly data, a Smart WiFi 6 router, and up to $500 in credit on Visa Reward Card.
Customers can bundle the Optimum Internet packages with an Optimum Mobile line to get up to $15 monthly discounts on the combined services. First-time subscribers can fall onto the security net of Optimum’s 30-day money-back guarantee to get a full refund upon an unsatisfactory experience.
Refer to the list of Optimum Internet’s pros and cons to see if it has what it takes to go neck and neck with Verizon Fios Internet.
Pros
- No data caps
- No contracts
- 21-state fiber and cable internet network
- Fast download speeds of up to 2 Gigs
- A 30-day money-back guarantee
- Up to $200 in credit on Visa Prepaid Card
- Professional installation is free on online orders.
Cons
- Slow upload speeds
- Fiber-optic internet service is limited to a select few areas
- 2 Gig speeds are only available over its fiber-optic network.
Internet Service Comparison – Verizon Fios vs Optimum
Verizon Fios and Optimum are two of the most frequently compared internet service providers in the United States. Firstly, their coverage areas overlap in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Secondly, the internet service of the two telecommunications companies is strikingly similar.
Our side-by-side comparison table on Verizon Fios and Optimum internet service emphasizes how the two carriers offer the same number of internet plans within the same price and speed range and even offer similar benefits. Still, one takes the top spot while the other has been pushed to the 11th rank.
| Verizon Fios vs Optimum | ||
| Comparison | Verizon Fios | Optimum Internet |
| Type of Internet | Fiber-optic | Fiber and Cable |
| No. of Plans | 4 | 4 |
| Price Range | $24.99 to $119.99/mo. | $35.00 to $120.00/mo. |
| Speed Range | 300 Mbps to 2,000 Mbps | 300 Mbps to 2,000 Mbps |
| Coverage Area | 9 states of the USA | 21 states of the USA |
| Data Cap | No | No |
| Contract | No | No |
| Installation Fee | Free with the online orders | Free with the online orders |
| Equipment Rental | Included | Included |
| Bundle Deals | Available | Available |
| Perks | Gift cards, price-guarantees | Gift cards, money-back guarantee |
| Customer Rating | 4.1 stars out of 5 | 3.1 stars out of 5 |
| Best For | 4K streaming & pro gaming | Large file downloads & streaming |
If it was difficult for you to spot the difference between Verizon Fios vs. Optimum Internet, then you should not lose hope just yet. Stay with us as we break down every single factor and feature on the basis on which we have compared the two internet service providers. A deep dive will reveal that Verizon Fios and Optimum Internet are not the twins that consumers assume them to be.
Internet Plans – Verizon Fios vs Optimum
Verizon Fios and Optimum have 4 standard plans, offering internet speeds between 300 Mbps and 2,000 Mbps. A glance will tell you that even the prices for their standalone internet plans are within the same range. However, the most prominent difference is that Verizon Fios Internet service runs on a fully fiber-optic network, stretching over 1 million miles across the 9 states.
In contrast, Optimum Internet is mostly transmitted over a wide network of coaxial cables that sprawl through its 21-state footprint. Because of this one major difference, Verizon Fios can promise its fiber-ready customers symmetrical internet speeds. Whereas, Optimum Internet’s upload speed will most likely max out at 35 Mbps.
In a broader sense, fiber-optic internet’s 43 percent availability in the USA poses challenges for both providers. Due to the lack of fiber internet infrastructure in the country, Verizon Fios 2 Gig internet plan is only available in New York City and its 5 boroughs. Similarly, Optimum’s hyperfast 5 Gig and 8 Gig speeds are only available in select few areas of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Nonetheless, Verizon Fios and Optimum are using the available resources to offer high-speed broadband at the most affordable rates to more than 20 million Americans.
Verizon Fios Internet Plans
| Plan | Price | Speed | Order Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fios 300 Internet | $49.99/ mo. | 300 Mbps | View Details |
| Fios 500 Internet | $69.99/mo. | 500 Mbps | View Details |
| Fios 1 Gig Internet | $89.99/mo. | 1,000 Mbps | View Details |
| Fios 2 Gig Internet | $119.99/mo. | 2,000 Mbps | View Details |
For a starting price of $49.99 per month, you can receive equal upload and download speeds of up to 2 Gbps. Subscribers enrolling in the Verizon Fios Internet plans get a free Fios router, a Verizon Stream TV device, and up to $200 on The Home Depot Gift card. Verizon Fios 2 Gig customers can also enjoy 6 months of free access to Disney’s ad-free, premium package and get 2 terabytes of Cloud storage.
Fios starting at $25/mo. Get $99 Discount on online orders
The best part is that customers are not required to sign annual terms agreements to avail of price guarantees for up to 4 years. They can cancel the service at any time without worrying about penalties. Moreover, the zero-data caps policy on Verizon Fios plans ensures that subscribers can stream, surf, and download without paying a data overage fee.
Optimum Internet Plans
| Plan | Price | Download Speed | Upload Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimum 300 | $40.00/mo. | 300 Mbps | 20 Mbps |
| Optimum 500 | $60.00/mo. | 500 Mbps | 20 Mbps |
| Optimum 1 Gig | $70.00/mo. | 1,000 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| Optimum 2 Gig | $120.00/mo. | 2,000 Mbps | – |
Monthly charges stated in the table above are with AutoPay and paperless billing discounts.
Optimum’s internet-only plans start at $40 per month. Customers can receive asymmetrical speeds of up to 2 Gigs down and 35 Mbps up. Generally, Optimum’s multigigabit internet plans of 2, 5, and 8 Gpbs are only available in fiber-equipped zip codes. The remaining areas receive up to 1,000 Mbps of download speed over the coaxial cable system.
All the Optimum Internet plans come with unlimited data, a 30-day money-back guarantee, no-contract service, whole-home WiFi equipment, and up to $500 on a Visa Reward Card. First-time subscribers are eligible for a free professional installation, given that they ordered the service online.
Internet Speed – Optimum vs Verizon Fios
The standard speed range of Optimum and Verizon Fios internet is from 300 Mbps to 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps). These speeds are widely available across their footprints. However, Verizon Fios also offers a 2 Gig fiber internet service in New York City. The Fios 2 Gig Internet plan was first rolled out in parts of Manhattan. Gradually, the service was extended to the remaining four boroughs; Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens, and today the average accessibility of Verizon Fios service stands at 92.8 percent.
In contrast, Optimum offers asymmetrical internet speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps on its coaxial cable network and equal upload and download speeds of up to 8,000 Mbps (8 Gbps) on its fiber-rich transmission system. However, due to the limited availability of a robust fiber internet infrastructure across the country, Optimum’s 2 Gig, 5 Gig, and 8 Gig speeds are accessible in few areas in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Bundle Deals – Verizon Fios vs Optimum
Being part of large telecommunications conglomerates, Verizon Fios and Optimum have the competitive advantage of offering their customers a holistic digital experience. Their diverse product portfolio includes home internet, cable/ internet-over-protocol TV (IPTV), and phone services. Customers can create personalized bundle packages by selecting the services they want for their homes.
Verizon Fios Bundles
Verizon Fios subscribers can taste 360-degree connectivity in the comfort of their homes by enrolling in the triple-play bundles. They can combine their fiber internet plan with an IPTV package and an unlimited home phone line for as little as $134.99 per month. Or they add an Unlimited 5G mobile phone line to their monthly internet service to get discounts of up to $25 per month.
| Verizon Fios Internet & 5G Mobile Bundles | |||
| Price | Fios Internet | Verizon Wireless | Savings |
| $24.99/mo. | 300 Mbps | Unlimited, postpaid | $25.00/mo. |
| $44.99/mo. | 500 Mbps | Unlimited, postpaid | $25.00/mo. |
| $64.99/mo. | 1,000 Mbps | Unlimited, postpaid | $25.00/mo. |
| $94.99/mo. | 2,000 Mbps | Unlimited, postpaid | $25.00/mo. |
Customers can save up to $19 per month by stacking a Verizon Fios TV plan on top of their Fios Internet service.
| Verizon TV & Internet Bundles | |||
| Price | Fios Internet | Fios TV | Savings |
| $109.99/mo. | 300 Mbps | Fios TV Test Drive plan | $15.00/mo. |
| $134.99/mo. | 500 Mbps | Fios TV Test Drive plan | $10.00/mo. |
| $159.99/mo. | 940 Mbps | Fios TV Test Drive plan | $5.00/mo. |
| $109.99/mo. | 300 Mbps | Your Fios TV plan | $15.00/mo. |
| $134.99/mo. | 500 Mbps | Your Fios TV plan | $10.00/mo. |
| $159.99/mo. | 940 Mbps | Your Fios TV plan | $5.00/mo. |
| $129.99/mo. | 300 Mbps | More Fios TV plan | $19.00/mo. |
| $154.99/mo. | 500 Mbps | More Fios TV plan | $14.00/mo. |
| $179.99/mo. | 940 Mbps | More Fios TV plan | $9.00/mo. |
| $149.99/mo. | 300 Mbps | The Most Fios TV plan | $19.00.mo. |
| $174.99/mo. | 500 Mbps | The Most Fios TV plan | $14.00/mo. |
| $199.99/mo. | 940 Mbps | The Most Fios TV plan | $9.00/mo. |
Budget-conscious subscribers can get up to $44 off each month on their Verizon Fios Internet and Fios home phone bundles.
| Verizon Fios Internet & Voice Bundles | |||
| Price | Fios Internet | Fios Digital Voice | Savings |
| $64.99/mo. | 300 Mbps | Unlimited, countrywide | $43.99/mo. |
| $89.99/mo. | 500 Mbps | Unlimited, countrywide | $38.99/mo. |
| $114.99/mo. | 940 Mbps | Unlimited, countrywide | $33.99/mo. |
Optimum Internet and Mobile Bundles
Optimum Internet subscribers can save up to $15 each month by bundling their broadband plans with an Optimum mobile phone line. You can select your preferred deal to get fixed or unlimited 5G data with non-stop calling and texting to any local number in the USA.
| Optimum Internet & Mobile Bundles | |||
| Price | Optimum Internet | Optimum Mobile | Savings |
| $35.00/mo. | 300 Mbps | 1 GB data | $5.00/mo. |
| $50.00/mo. | 500 Mbps | Unlimited data | $10.00/mo. |
| $55.00/mo. | 1,000 Mbps | Unlimited data | $15.00/mo. |
| $105.00/mo. | 2,000 Mbps | Unlimited data | $15.00/mo. |
All prices shown in the table above are subject to change after 12 months.
Optimum Mobile guarantees nationwide wireless connectivity on T-Mobile’s fast and reliable 5G network.
You can mix and match Optimum’s cable TV and home phone services with its high-speed internet plans. But unlike Verizon Fios’ super saver 3-in-1 bundle deals, you will not get discounts on the consolidated packages.
Additional Costs
New subscribers of home internet often become perplexed after seeing their first internet bill. Even though the internet bill lists all the various service charges that resulted in the final amount, for many, total costs can come as a shock as their minds are prepared to pay the advertised price they first saw on their screens.
Our job as unbiased evaluators is to save potential customers from uncomfortable moments by revealing the truth. We have carefully analyzed the disclaimers and policy terms to deduce the hidden costs of Optimum and Verizon Fios Internet services and stated them in the tables below.
Add-On Costs Associated with Optimum Internet
| Extra Services | Additional Charges |
|---|---|
| Professional Installation Fee | $100.00 (one-time) |
| WiFi Extender Rental | $3.00 per month (per device) |
| Wireless Gateway Rental | $12.00 per month |
| Bill Printing Fee | $2.50 per month |
| One-off Payment Fee | $2.50 per month |
| Late Payment Fee | $10.00 per month |
| Unreturned Equipment Fee | $280.00 (one-time) |
| Taxes and Surcharges | Up to $5.00 per month |
The total amount for taxes and surcharges will vary from location to location.
Add-on Costs Associated with Verizon Fios Internet
| Extra Services | Additional Charges |
|---|---|
| Professional Installation Fee | $99.00 (one-time) |
| Whole-Home WiFi Equipment Rental | $18.00 per month |
| Bill Printing Fee | $5.00 per month |
| One-Off Payment Fee | $5.00 per month |
| Late Payment Fee | $7.00 per month |
| Unreturned Equipment Fee | $175.00 (one-time) |
| Taxes and Surcharges | Up to $5.00 per month |
The exact amount for taxes and surcharges will depend on your location.
Most of the additional charges listed in the tables are avoidable. E.g., customers can opt for the AutoPay and paperless billing methods to get a $5 fee waiver on their monthly internet bills.
Similarly, first-time customers can place an online order for their preferred internet plan to get a professional installation fee waiver and save up to $100. Or they can request a self-installation kit, which is usually delivered free of charge to customers’ addresses. All you need is a little prudence to keep the extra costs bare minimum.
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Better Customer Service – Verizon Fios or Optimum?
Instead of quantity, Verizon Fios believes in quality. Verizon Fios has stayed true to this ethos by focusing on the 9 states where it has built a loyal customer base. In the last two decades, it has reviewed every customer complaint and worked hard at improving its services. Verizon Fios’ customer-centric approach is evident by its stacked shelf of awards and accolades. It is the most-awarded recipient of the J.D. Power Network Quality Performance Study and has won the title 31 times.
Similarly, for 10 consecutive years, Verizon has been bagging the No.1 spot for the most satisfactory residential internet service provider in the East, according to the J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey. Based on the responses obtained from 22,945 home internet customers, Verizon tops the charts because of its performance, reliability, affordability, transparent communications, convenient billing and payment, and professional customer service. The overall customer rating for Verizon Fios is 4.1 out of 5 stars.
In comparison, Optimum’s service and customer support are rated below the regional average. In the same study conducted by J.D. Power in 2022, Optimum was ranked as the 6th most satisfactory residential internet provider in the East region with a score of 642 on a 1000-point scale. Similarly in the American Customer Satisfaction Index for 2022, Optimum was listed as the 12th most satisfactory internet service provider in the USA with a score of 59 out of 100. While Verizon Fios, once again, was declared the reigning champion with an above-industry average score of 72 out of 100 points.
Therefore, it will not be wrong to state that Optimum Internet’s 3.1-star customer service is no match for Verizon Fios’ 4.1-star customer support.
Wider Coverage Area – Verizon Fios or Optimum
Verizon is the second biggest telecommunications company in the USA. As a national carrier of cellular phone, broadband, and home phone services, its presence is felt in all 50 states of the USA. But when we narrow down its Fios Internet footprint, we realize that as a fiber-optic Internet service provider, its coverage is limited to just 9 states in the eastern region.
Soon after its inception in 2005, Verizon pulled out its Fios brand from Texas, California, and Florida to focus on the states where it could strike profitable franchise deals. At the moment, Verizon Fios Internet plans are available in 34 urban centers in the following 9 states.
| States with Verizon Fios Internet Coverage | ||
| Delaware | New Jersey | Rhode Island |
| Maryland | New York | Virginia |
| Massachusetts | Pennsylvania | Washington D.C. |
The following are the 5 best cities for getting a Verizon Fios Internet connection at home.
| 5 Cities with Over 85% Coverage of Verizon Fios Internet Service | |||
| City | State | Availability | Pop. Covered |
| Staten Island | New York | 99.3% | 492,221 |
| Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | 95.3% | 1,528,388 |
| Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | 95.1% | 663,420 |
| Bronx | New York | 92.2% | 1,361,844 |
| Brooklyn | New York | 88.8% | 2,429,544 |
Optimum Internet is the fourth biggest provider of cable internet in the USA. Around 750 cities and towns across 21 states are connected to Optimum’s vast fiber and coaxial cable network.
The availability of Optimum Internet varies within the states. New York, New Jersey, and Texas have the widest availability of Optimum Internet, reaching an average of 94.3 percent (or 167 cities). Whereas, Nevada, Virginia, and Mississippi have the least coverage of Optimum Internet, with service availability in just 2 cities, each.
| States with Optimum Internet Coverage | ||
| Arizona | Louisiana | North Carolina |
| Arkansas | Mississippi | Ohio |
| California | Missouri | Oklahoma |
| Connecticut | Nevada | Pennsylvania |
| Idaho | New Jersey | Texas |
| Kansas | New Mexico | Virginia |
| Kentucky | New York | West Virginia |
The citywide availability of Optimum Internet is more than 90 percent in the following 5 cities.
| 5 Cities with Over 90% Coverage of Optimum Internet Service | |||
| City | State | Availability | Pop. Covered |
| Yonkers | New York | 99.8% | 191,746 people |
| Bronx | New York | 95.9% | 1,417,250 people |
| Newark | New Jersey | 95.6% | 298,152 people |
| Amarillo | Texas | 93.3% | 220,177 people |
| Allentown | Pennsylvania | 91.6% | 103,698 people |
Which one is Better for Gaming – Verizon Fios or Optimum?
The latency or ping rate of an internet connection affects the gameplay rather than the upload and download speeds. The ping rate is the response time of an internet service.
E.g., imagine that a Counter-Strike player presses the spacebar to jump. The action signal will be relayed from the device to the internet data center, and the reaction signal will be sent back from the center to the player’s device. Only then the avatar will jump on the screen. The entire journey of the signal is called the ping time. A low ping time (under 50 milliseconds) denotes a fast internet connection and is synonymous with reduced lag time.
Generally, pings within the 40 ms and 60 ms range are considered good for optimal gameplay. However, professional gameplayers will look for an internet connection that can guarantee a ping rate of less than 20 ms. A slight delay in response can be a table-turner and cause them millions of dollars in the arena.
Luckily, Verizon Fios and Optimum, both offer latency of less than 20 ms. In the U.S. News and World Report’s list of “Best Internet Providers for Gaming of 2023”, Verizon Fios and Optimum have been ranked the 2nd and 3rd best, respectively. Verizon Fios’ latency was 12 ms. Whereas, the latency for Optimum Internet service is 15 ms.
Whether you are a gamer geek or a major leaguer, the blistering-fast multigigabit speeds and ultra-low latencies of your Verizon Fios and Optimum internet plans will propel you towards the victory stand.
Is Verizon Fios Better than Optimum?
Our in-depth analysis of the Verizon Fios and Optimum Internet service has finally come to an end. A point-by-point comparison of two of the country’s best internet service providers has led us to the conclusion that Verizon Fios is indeed better than Optimum Internet in terms of performance, reliability, affordability, and customer care. Its fully fiber-optic network delivers consistently fast symmetrical internet speeds of up to 2 Gigs for a promo price of $25 per month.
But when we zoom in on the countrywide availability and fiber speed options, Optimum Internet takes the cake. Community-based reports reveal that Optimum’s fiber internet availability is at 99.98 percent within its 21-state footprint. Around 1.7 million Americans can receive up to 8 Gigs of equal upload and download speeds for a starting price of $35 per month. But whether or not these claims justify the ground reality, remains to be a big question mark.
So, because of its “tried and tested” seal, Verizon Fios’ customer-approved, fiber-rich internet service will always be better than Optimum.
