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Xfinity vs. Optimum Internet

From fiber internet to free router rentals, here’s what you need to know about Xfinity and Optimum internet plans.

Most flexible

$40.00–$280.00/mo.

Pro
No contracts or data caps
Pro
Some fiber internet availability
Con
Middling customer satusfaction survey scores

$40.00–$280.00/mo.

Pro
No contracts or data caps
Pro
Some fiber internet availability
Con
Middling customer satusfaction survey scores
Best overall

$55.00–$100.00/mo.

Pro
Great customer support
Pro
Good survey performance ratings
Con
Sizable non-promotional price hikes

$55.00–$100.00/mo.

Pro
Great customer support
Pro
Good survey performance ratings
Con
Sizable non-promotional price hikes

Is Xfinity or Optimum better?

Xfinity mostly takes the win over Optimum, thanks to its comparable internet plans and superior customer service. With Xfinity, you’ll get strong customer support for a cable internet service provider (ISP), although the ISP’s upload speeds are average compared to Optimum. Xfinity’s also narrowed the gap with Optimum thanks to add-ons like free unlimited data and longer price guarantees, although we wish Xfinity’s best savings didn’t require a contract.

Xfinity also beat Optimum in CableTV.com’s annual Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey. Xfinity impressed us with a tied-for-third-place finish in overall satisfaction, while Optimum landed in 16th place out of 21 providers. Only 60% of polled Optimum customers said they were completely or very satisfied with their Optimum service.

But despite Optimum’s struggles in our survey, the ISP’s growing fiber internet network and reasonable non-promotional rates are huge pluses for customers. If you need maximum internet performance from your connection and live in an area with Optimum fiber, we’d readily recommend Optimum over Xfinity.

Still split between Optimum or Xfinity internet? Keep reading to learn more.

Why should you trust us? At CableTV.com, our internet experts have spent thousands of hours testing all of the best (and worst) internet services, and hundreds more hours tracking and researching industry trends.

For this article, we drew from our existing Optimum and Xfinity internet reviews. As part of these reviews, we surveyed hundreds of real Xfinity and Optimum internet customers to see how they felt about their internet service. We also combined this data with our original research and reporting to see which internet provider comes out on top.

Interested in Optimum or Xfinity internet service?

Enter your zip code below to see if Optimum or Xfinity internet is available in your area.

Compare Optimum or Xfinity internet head to head


Customer Rating

Prices starting at
$40.00/mo.

Max download speeds up to
8000 Mbps

Service Type
Fiber

Read Optimum Review


Customer Rating

Prices starting at
$35.00/mo.

Max download speeds up to
2000 Mbps

Service Type
Fiber

Read Xfinity Review

Pricing, speed and availability not guaranteed. Subject to change.

Xfinity vs. Optimum: internet plans and prices

Xfinity and Optimum’s internet packages offer similar download speeds, but there’s a lot of differences when you get into the fine print. Here’s what you need to know about Optimum and Xfinity’s internet plans.

Xfinity internet packages

Package Prices starting at Download speeds up to
Connect $35.00/mo. 150 Mbps
Connect More Visit Xfinity.com for current pricing 400 Mbps
Fast $55.00/mo. 600 Mbps
Superfast Visit Xfinity.com for current pricing 800 Mbps
Gigabit $70.00/mo. 1,100 Mbps
Gigabit Extra $100.00/mo. 1,300 Mbps
Gigabit X2 $100.00/mo. 2,000 Mbps

Xfinity Northeast pricing listed. Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See full disclaimer.

Xfinity’s plans vary between its three regions (Northeast, Central, and West), while Optimum’s are mainly the same between its two regions (West and East). Xfinity’s recently streamlined its plans to better compete with competitors like Optimum. Unfortunately, there’s only a one-year price guarantee on Xfinity’s plans for non-contract customers, so keep a lookout for your scheduled price increase after your first year.

Pro tip: Xfinity is primarily a cable internet provider, so you’ll get great download speeds but lackluster to average upload speeds on most of its plans.

Depending on what region you’re in, you could be paying slightly more or less than the prices listed in the table above. But on Xfinity’s mid-range and higher-end internet plans, you could still get bonuses like two-year price guarantees, no contracts, free Wi-Fi equipment, and unlimited data.

Unfortunately, Xfinity’s entry-level plans still have contracts and data caps. Plus, in any region, Xfinity’s upload speeds are pretty low compared to Optimum’s.

Optimum internet packages

Package (East) Price* Download speeds up to
Optimum 300 $40.00/mo. 300 Mbps
Optimum 500 $60.00/mo. 500 Mbps
Optimum 1 Gig $70.00/mo. 940 Mbps
Fiber Internet 300 $40.00/mo. 300 Mbps
Fiber Internet 500 $60.00/mo. 500 Mbps
Fiber Internet 1 Gig $70.00/mo. 940 Mbps
Fiber Internet 2 Gig $90.00/mo. 2,000 Mbps
Fiber Internet 5 Gig $120.00/mo. 5,000 Mbps
Fiber Internet 8 Gig $280.00/mo. 8,000 Mbps

Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See full disclaimer.

Optimum’s cable internet plans offer decent value and speed options. Although Optimum lowered its cable internet upload speeds back in 2021, you’ll still get faster upload times across the board compared to Xfinity. You’ll get the most from Optimum’s cable internet upload speeds if you’re regularly taking Zoom calls (you’ll get through that full day of calls, bud) or uploading files.

Pro tip: Optimum doesn’t have contracts, so you can end your internet plan at any time without paying an early termination fee.

Optimum’s biggest advantage over Xfinity is its growing fiber internet network. Although it’s not as widely available as its cable internet plans, Optimum’s fiber internet packages are affordable and priced in line with its standard internet plans. Xfinity’s fiber coverage is a fraction of its cable network and expensive, which put it out of range for most households.

Optimum’s fiber internet plans have equal upload and download speeds that’ll be a benefit if you’re regularly doing large cloud backups or uploading large files for work. Fiber internet offers the fastest performance compared to cable or DSL internet, and we’d wholeheartedly recommend Optimum’s fiber internet plans over Xfinity if they’re available in your neighborhood.

Xfinity vs. Optimum: customer satisfaction

As part of CableTV.com’s 2025 Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey, we talked to more than 8,800 real internet customers across the U.S. to see how they felt about their internet providers.

Xfinity surprised us this year, coming from a 17th-place finish last year all the way up to third (tied with T-Mobile). Super impressive showing for a cable ISP, and one of the main reasons we awarded them this year’s Best of the Best for Cable award.

  • 81% of polled customers felt Xfinity was highly capable of meeting their needs.
  • 81% of respondents felt Xfinity’s installation process was easy.
  • But only 71% of Xfinity customers felt the same about Xfinity’s customer service team.

What do real Xfinity internet customers think about Xfinity?

I have had Xfinity/Comcast since 1985 - same house 39 years..Instead of Xfinity recognized by them for loyalty the price keeps going up 'n 'n 'n up!! Soon, I will have to look elsewhere for lower cost service.

Xfinity internet customer in Pennsylvania

Optimum’s 16th-place finish in overall satisfaction placed it among unfavorable company, as it beat out only five other ISPs. Optimum’s low scores were fueled by concerns over the provider’s customer service teams and internet pricing.

  • 61% of polled customers felt Optimum met their expectations as an internet provider.
  • Only 52% of respondents felt that Optimum’s prices were competitive compared to other providers.
  • 58% of Optimum customers were satisfied with Optimum customer service.

What do real Optimum internet customers think about Optimum?

It has a high speed, but it's over priced, and a few times a week the system has to be reset due to interruptions.

Optimum internet customer in Louisana

How reliable is Xfinity or Optimum internet?

Xfinity Optimum
Average latency 16.6 milliseconds 15.4 milliseconds
Internet reliability satisfaction rating 77% positive 63% positive
Internet speed satisfaction rating 81% positive 68% positive

In our internet speed research, both internet providers were largely tied on average network latency. However, Xfinity’s survey scores were safely ahead of Optimum. Around 80% of Xfinity respondents were highly satisfied with Xfinity’s internet speeds and reliability, but only around 60% of Optimum customers could say the same about their internet service.

Xfinity vs. Optimum customer service around the web: what do other people say?

Xfinity’s win streak over Optimum also carried over to other internet customer service surveys. In the 2024 edition of the American Customer Satisfaction Index, Xfinity landed a 75% positive score compared to Optimum’s 66% score. On J.D. Power’s most recent rankings, Xfinity claimed a whopping 40 to 60 point margin over Optimum in J.D. Power’s East and South survey groups.

Is Xfinity or Optimum internet available in your neighborhood?

Optimum expanded out of the New York tri-state area when it merged with Suddenlink back in 2022, but it’s still no match for Xfinity’s nationwide footprint. Optimum’s 21-state network covers a mix of states throughout the Midwest and South like Louisiana, Ohio, and Texas. By comparison, Xfinity’s 38-state network offers coast-to-coast coverage with more Midwest availability.

  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • Ohio
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Washington, D.C.
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • 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

Xfinity vs. Optimum: specs and features

Optimum and Xfinity have more features beyond their internet plans. Let’s break down everything else you’ll need to know about Optimum and Xfinity internet service.

Does Xfinity or Optimum have good internet deals?

Xfinity internet deals

Xfinity’s best internet deals include student and military discounts. Check out our Xfinity deals guide for the latest Xfinity offers.

Optimum internet deals

Optimum’s offers regularly include Visa gift cards, free Wi-Fi equipment, free iPhones, and bundle discounts. Visit our Optimum deals guide to learn about Optimum’s current offers.

Optimum includes great equipment freebies

Xfinity equipment

Xfinity’s xFi Gateway ($15 per month, free with certain internet plans) integrates with other Xfinity services and hardware like the xFi Pods. If you’re planning to get additional Xfinity products, the xFi Gateway’s integrations could be a plus if you don’t want to worry about the installation process.

Optimum equipment

Optimum’s included Wi-Fi 6 Gateway doesn’t have an expanded hardware ecosystem like Xfinity. But—as with the xFi Gateway—the Gateway 6 comes with Wi-Fi 6 support, which provides faster Wi-Fi performance. (If you upgrade to a 1 Gig or above plan, you’ll get Optimum’s newer Wi-Fi 6E Gateway, which comes with Wi-Fi 6E support for faster transfer speeds.)

All three gateway devices are convenient options if you want someone else to take care of your internet equipment. However, we’d recommend buying your own Optimum-compatible or Xfinity-compatible equipment if you’re comfortable with fully managing your home network.

Optimum has across-the-board unlimited data

Xfinity data cap

Xfinity’s standard and premium internet plans now have unlimited data, so you won’t have to deal with overage fees. But Xfinity’s budget internet plans still have a 1.2 TB data cap, although you can get unlimited data for an additional $30 per month. Xfinity won’t charge overage fees the first time data-capped customers exceed 1.2 TB of monthly data. Afterward, it’ll cost $10 for every additional 50 GB of data you use, with an overage fee limit of $100 per month.

Optimum data cap

Optimum doesn’t have a data cap, so you can stream 4K video or albums off Spotify to your heart’s content. We’re always fans of ISPs that give you unlimited data right off the bat. Especially in larger households, it’s easy to blow past a data cap if multiple people are regularly downloading large games or streaming video.

But watch for Xfinity and Optimum price increases

Xfinity internet price after 12 months

Price increases after your first or second year of service are standard practice at most cable ISPs, and neither Optimum nor Xfinity cover themselves in glory here. Xfinity’s standard prices are generally worse than Optimum’s, but Xfinity at least tapers off its price hikes starting with the Fast Plan.

Package Price for first 12 months Price after 12 months Download speed
Connect $35.00/mo. $69.00/mo. 150 Mbps
Connect More Visit Xfinity.com for current pricing $89.00/mo. 400 Mbps
Fast $55.00/mo. $99.00/mo. 600 Mbps

Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Optimum internet price after 12 months

We’ve dinged Optimum in the past for its price hikes, but we’ll give the ISP credit for offering more ways to avoid them. In addition to lowering its non-promo internet rates, Optimum also offers price lock guarantees of up to five years on its gigabit and multi-gig internet plans. You’ll generally have to sign an Xfinity contract and upgrade to a higher-end plan if you want to get a multi-year internet price guarantee from the ISP.

Optimum also staggers out its price increases once you leave your promotional price period. According to Optimum, your internet bill will increase every year by up to $15 until it hits Optimum’s current rate, and you’ll be informed of a change on your prior month’s bill. Although we’re hardly fans of price increases, Optimum’s staggered price structure helps minimize the sticker shock you’d find on competitors like Xfinity.

While we’d prefer flat-rate pricing over having to deal with price guarantees, it’s generally the cost of doing business if you’re searching for fiber internet in the greater New York area. For example, Verizon Fios, a big Optimum competitor with a similar tri-state footprint, also uses price guarantees on its fiber internet plans.

Package Promotional rate Standard rate* Download speed
Optimum 300/Fiber Internet 300 $40.00/mo. $70.00/mo. 300 Mbps
Optimum 500/Fiber Internet 500 $60.00/mo. $90.00/mo. 500 Mbps
Optimum 1 Gig/Fiber Internet 1 Gig $70.00/mo. $110.00/mo. 940 Mbps

*Following promo period, monthly price will increase in annual increments of up to $15.
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Xfinity vs. Optimum internet FAQ

What's better: Optimum or Xfinity?

Optimum internet has better upload speeds than Xfinity, although Xfinity’s prices are generally more affordable after your second year of internet service. But if your neighborhood has Optimum fiber internet service, we’d wholeheartedly recommend getting Optimum over Xfinity.

Does Optimum have good internet?

Optimum has good upload and download speeds for a cable internet provider. Its fiber internet plans offer faster upload and download speeds that work best for families who are regularly uploading content online.

Does Xfinity have faster internet?

Xfinity's internet speeds are faster than Optimum's. Xfinity's internet plans top out at 10,000 Mbps in some areas, while Optimum's fastest internet plan is 8,000 Mbps.

Why you should trust us

Our experts crunched the numbers, rating Xfinity and Optimum on bang for your buck, reliability, features, and customer satisfaction. Then we matched up both providers head to head to give a clearer picture of their strengths and weaknesses. For more information on our methodology, check out our How We Rank page.

Disclaimer

Optimum Internet

*300 Mbps Internet- w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. Terms apply.
500 Mbps Internet- For 1 yr. w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. Max auto renews after 6 months at then prevailing rate (currently $16.99/mo). Price sbjct to change. Terms apply.
1 Gig Internet- w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection up to 940 Mbps. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. Max auto renews after 12 months at then prevailing rate (currently $16.99/mo). Price sbjct to change. Terms apply.
300 Mbps Fiber Internet- w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. Terms apply.
500 Mbps Fiber Internet- For 1 yr. w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. Max auto renews after 6 months at then prevailing rate (currently $16.99/mo). Price sbjct to change. Terms apply.
1 Gig Fiber Internet- w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection up to 940 Mbps. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. Max auto renews after 12 months at then prevailing rate (currently $16.99/mo). Price sbjct to change. Terms apply.
2/5/8 Gig Fiber Internet- w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. Max auto renews after 12 months at then prevailing rate (currently $16.99/mo). Price sbjct to change. Terms apply.

Xfinity Internet

For 12 months, no term contract. Taxes not included. Incl. up to $10/mo. auto-pay & paperless bill discount.

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