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Optimum internet plans and deals compared: Which one is right for your home?

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Optimum/Business Insider
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Optimum offers a handful of home internet plans that cover the basics for most households, whether you're streaming, gaming, working from home, or just trying to keep multiple devices connected at once. Its main lineup includes 300 Mbps, 500 Mbps, and 1 Gig plans, with even faster multi-gig fiber options available in some areas. I've broken down Optimum's internet plans, packages, and prices below, including how to get the best price for your household.

Which Optimum internet plan makes the most sense for you really comes down to how much speed you need and what type of service is available at your address. Fiber customers can get faster, more balanced upload and download speeds, while cable plans tend to have slower uploads. Pricing and availability can also vary depending on where you live.

Optimum internet plans and prices

Optimum offers home internet plans ranging from everyday broadband speeds to multi-gig fiber service, with availability depending on your location. Its three main tiers are 300 Mbps, 500 Mbps, and 1 Gig, all of which currently come with a five-year price lock, unlimited data with no data caps, and free self-setup.

PlanMonthly priceExtras
1 Gig$50*5-year price lock, $50 prepaid card
500 Mbps$40*5-year price lock
300 Mbps$30*5-year price lock

*Prices include a $10 AutoPay and paperless billing discount and will remain in place for 60 months; afterward, monthly rates can increase by up to $15 a year until the applicable standard rate is reached.

The right Optimum internet plan largely depends on how many people and devices are sharing the connection. The 300 Mbps tier is enough for common activities like browsing, video calls, and streaming across several devices, while the 500 Mbps tier offers more headroom for households that stream 4K video on multiple screens or use many connected devices at once. The 1 Gig plan is geared toward heavier usage, such as gaming, frequent large downloads/uploads, and households with multiple people streaming or working online simultaneously.

It's important to check what type of Optimum service is available at your address. Optimum operates both a fiber-to-the-home network and a hybrid fiber-coaxial cable network, so upload speeds can differ substantially, even when the advertised download tier is the same. For example, Optimum lists cable versions of its 300 Mbps and 500 Mbps plans with upload speeds up to 20 Mbps, and its 1 Gig cable plan with download speeds up to 940 Mbps and upload speeds up to 35 Mbps. Fiber customers can get symmetrical speeds, including multi-gig service in eligible markets.

Optimum also includes equipment and setup benefits, though some costs can rise over time. Current offers include free self-setup and a free Gateway for the first 12 months; after that, the Gateway fee can increase by no more than $5 a month every year until the standard rate is reached. Optional Whole Home WiFi costs $5 a month, and Optimum may provide an extender when needed. Shoppers can also bundle internet, TV, and mobile services for additional savings of up to $30 a month.

Optimum internet bundle deal discounts

Despite its already competitive pricing, Optimum offers opportunities for shoppers to save by bundling, applying coupon codes, and more. Here's a breakdown of Optimum's internet bundle plans, which help lower prices by adding TV and mobile service.

ServicesMonthly discountFreebies
Internet and TV$10$100 prepaid card
Internet and Mobile$20$100 prepaid card, free third mobile line
Internet, Mobile, and TV$30$200 prepaid card, free third mobile line

TV bundles all come with built-in Entertainment TV, Optimum's base plan. They also include Optimum Stream at no additional cost, giving customers an all-in-one streaming device that connects live TV, streaming services, and Optimum internet to an entertainment system. Mobile bundles each come with a free third mobile line.

If you're only shopping for Optimum internet and would like to save, here are the best promotions and offers running now:


a woman sitting at her laptop and browsing on her phone
Optimum

Optimum fiber internet plans and prices

Optimum's fiber lineup ranges from 300 Mbps to 8 Gig, with five speed tiers: 300 Mbps, 500 Mbps, 1 Gig, 2 Gig, and 8 Gig. Unlike Optimum's cable service, its fiber plans offer equal upload and download speeds, which can make a noticeable difference for video calls, uploading large files, livestreaming, and other upload-heavy activities.

PlanMonthly priceFreebies
300 Mpbs$30*None
500 Mbps$40*None
1 Gig$50*$50 prepaid card
2 Gigs$60*$50 prepaid card
8 Gigs$90*$50 prepaid card

*All prices include an eligible $10-per-month Auto Pay and Paperless Billing discount, and taxes and fees are additional.

The most affordable option is 300 Mbps Fiber for $30 a month, which is ideal for basic online activities like browsing and casual streaming. 500 Mbps Fiber costs $40 a month and is geared toward typical everyday household use, while 1 Gig Fiber costs $50 a month and offers more bandwidth for households with multiple people streaming, gaming, or using connected devices at once.

For heavier internet users, 2 Gig Fiber starts at $60 a month. This high-performance option is ideal for both productivity and gaming, with extra bandwidth that can be useful for larger households with numerous devices operating simultaneously. At the top end is 8 Gig Fiber for $90 a month, Optimum's fastest residential internet tier. It offers speeds of up to 8 Gbps for both downloads and uploads, though it's only available in certain parts of Optimum's fiber footprint.

Exact plans, speeds, and offers vary by location, so customers need to enter their address to see which fiber tiers are actually available to them. Find out if you qualify on Optimum's availability site.

Optimum Internet availability in the US

As exciting as Optimum Internet plans are, it's unfortunately not available in every state or every region. You can enter your ZIP code to check if your exact location is covered, or see if you're in one of the following 21 states:

  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Connecticut
  • Idaho
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Nevada
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia

If you do reside in one of the above states, you may still fall outside of Optimum's range. The only way to be sure is to check the provider's website.


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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@jkmperu.com.

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Sarah Saril
Sarah is a Deals and Tickets Editor for Business Insider’s Reviews team. She also supports our how-to-watch and streaming coverage. She never pays full price if she can help it and is an expert at finding and vetting the best discounts.ExperienceSarah joined the Business Insider Reviews team in 2020, starting as a deals reporter covering the best deals and steals daily. She later migrated to the tech team, where she researched, tested, and reviewed a variety of devices, from gaming mice to Kindle e-readers. Now, she’s returned to her origins, serving as the deals editor to curate only the best discounts and buying advice for readers. She began her career in service journalism in 2018 at Wirecutter as a deals writer, where she absorbed the history of the most frequently discounted products. This has informed her impeccably high standards for what makes a good deal. Ever since her Wirecutter days, Sarah has been an expert deals curator for tentpole sale days like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Following her weekly contributions to Business Insider’s Newsletter will illuminate new ways to get the best value on products you use every day. Why you can trust SarahSarah doesn’t recommend any deal she wouldn’t pay for herself. She is skeptical about the advertising language brands use to tout their sales and utilizes all the price-checking tools to ensure they deliver savings.Expertise
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EducationSarah graduated from the California State University of Fullerton with a degree in Marketing. She lives in Southern California and is the proud pet parent of two German Shepherds and one chihuahua. She loves traveling to try delicious food, is skilled in crocheting and sewing, and enjoys reading horror novels (as long as they don’t keep her awake).Say hi (or send a picture of your pet) to Sarah at ssaril@jkmperu.com, or reach her on Twitter at @sarahhahr. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Business Insider here.