Xfinity vs. Optimum Internet
From fiber internet to free router rentals, here’s what you need to know about Xfinity and Optimum internet plans.
$40.00–$280.00/mo.
$40.00–$280.00/mo.
$19.99–$85.00/mo.
$19.99–$85.00/mo.
Is Xfinity or Optimum better?
If you’re in the greater New York region, Xfinity mostly takes the win over Optimum thanks to its comparable internet plans and superior customer service. With Xfinity, you’ll have great customer support, but the ISP’s upload speeds are average. Xfinity’s narrowed the gap with Optimum thanks to add-ons like free unlimited data and two-year price guarantees, but we wish Xfinity would adopt them across all its plans. Optimum’s growing fiber internet network and simpler national pricing are huge pluses for customers, but its massive second-year price hikes are an equally big eyesore.
Xfinity also lapped Optimum in CableTV.com’s annual Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey. Although Xfinity didn’t necessarily impress with a 17th-place finish in overall satisfaction, Optimum occupied the bottom tier among internet providers at 22th place. Only 52% of polled Optimum customers said they were completely or very satisfied with their Optimum service.
If you’re in the greater New York area, we’d recommend Xfinity over Optimum thanks to its longer price guarantees, better customer service, and lower prices. But if you’re looking for fiber internet or you’re outside of the New York region, there’s still a lot to like with Optimum internet. Still split between Optimum or Xfinity internet? Keep reading to learn more.
Compare Optimum or Xfinity internet head to head
Prices starting at
$40.00/mo.
Max download speeds up to
1,000 Mbps
Service Type
Cable
Prices starting at
$24.99/mo.
Max download speeds up to
1,200 Mbps
Service Type
Cable
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 | Price | Download speeds up to |
|---|---|---|
| Connect More | $35.00/mo.** | 200 Mbps |
| Fast | $35.00/mo.** | 400 Mbps |
| Superfast | $60.00/mo.† | 800 Mbps |
| Gigabit | $70.00/mo.† | 1,000 Mbps |
| Gigabit Extra | $80.00/mo.† | 1,200 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 streamlined its plans in its Northeast region to better compete with competitors like Optimum. You’ll get a lengthy 24-month price guarantee on all four plans, so you won’t have to worry about a scheduled price increase after your first year. If you upgrade above the Fast plan, you’ll also get contract-free internet service and free unlimited data.
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. As Xfinity’s only fiber internet plan, Gigabit Pro has excellent upload speeds, but it also costs $299.95 per month. It’s not exactly a budget-friendly plan!
Outside of Xfinity’s Northeast region, you’ll be paying slightly more for internet service. But on Xfinity’s mid-range and higher-end internet plans, you’ll 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.
In any region, Xfinity’s upload speeds are pretty low compared to Optimum’s. Optimum’s lowest upload speed is 20 Mbps, and most of Xfinity’s cable plans can’t match it.
Optimum internet packages
| Package | Price* | Download speeds up to |
|---|---|---|
| Optimum 300 | $40.00/mo. | 300 Mbps |
| Optimum 500 | $60.00/mo. | 500 Mbps |
| Optimum 1 Gig | $80.00/mo. | 940 Mbps |
| Fiber Internet 300 | $40.00/mo. | 300 Mbps |
| Fiber Internet 500 | $60.00/mo. | 500 Mbps |
| Fiber Internet 1 Gig | $80.00/mo. | 940 Mbps |
| Fiber Internet 2 Gig | $120.00/mo. | 2,000 Mbps |
| Fiber Internet 5 Gig | $180.00/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 for less-than-clear reasons, 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 versus 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 only fiber internet plan costs $299.95 per month, which’ll 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 recommend Optimum’s fiber internet plans if they’re in your neighborhood.
| Plans | Price | Download speeds | Upload speeds up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connect | $30.00/mo.* | 150 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| Connect More | $35.00/mo.** | 200 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| Fast | $55.00/mo.^ | 400 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| Superfast | $70.00/mo.^ | 800 Mbps | 20 Mbps |
| Ultrafast/Gigabit | $80.00/mo.^ | 1,000 Mbps | 20 Mbps |
| Gigabit Extra | $85.00/mo.^ | 1,200 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
* with equipment included for 12 months. Prices may vary by location.
** No term contract. Taxes not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Prices may vary by location.
^ For 24 months. No term contract. Taxes and equipment not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Prices may vary by location.
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
| Plans | Price | Download speeds | Upload speeds up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connect | $19.99/mo.* | 150 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| Connect More | $30.00/mo.** | 300 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| Fast | $50.00/mo.** | 500 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| Superfast | $60.00/mo.** | 800 Mbps | 20 Mbps |
| Gigabit | $65.00/mo.** | 1,000 Mbps | 20 Mbps |
| Gigabit Extra | $70.00/mo.** | 1,200 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
* For 12 months with 1-year term contract. Taxes and equpiment not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Prices may vary by location.
** For 24 months. No term contract. Taxes not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Prices may vary by location.
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Xfinity vs. Optimum: customer satisfaction
As part of CableTV.com’s annual Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey, we talked to more than 7,000 real internet customers across the U.S. to see how they felt about their internet providers.
Xfinity is generally fine when it comes to internet performance, as its 17th-place finish in overall satisfaction fell in line with providers like Spectrum and Cox. But as with other cable internet providers, Xfinity’s scores were weighed by price and customer service concerns.
- 69% of polled customers felt Xfinity was highly capable of meeting their needs.
- 74% of respondents felt Xfinity’s installation process was easy.
- But only 58% of Xfinity customers felt the same about Xfinity’s customer service team.
What do real Xfinity internet customers think about Frontier?
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.
Optimum’s 22nd-place finish in overall satisfaction placed it among unfavorable company, as it beat out only Breezeline and satellite internet providers HughesNet and Viasat. Optimum’s low scores were fueled by similar concerns over the provider’s customer service teams and internet pricing.
- Only 57% of polled customers felt Optimum met their household internet needs.
- 41% of respondents felt that Optimum’s prices were competitive compared to other providers.
- 50% 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.
How reliable is Xfinity or Optimum internet?
| Xfinity | Optimum | |
|---|---|---|
| Average latency | 18.8 milliseconds | 17.2 milliseconds |
| Internet reliability satisfaction rating | 67% positive | 56% positive |
| Internet speed satisfaction rating | 70% positive | 58% positive |
In our internet speed research, both internet providers were largely tied on average network latency. However, Xfinity’s survey scores blew Optimum out of the water. Around 70% of Xfinity respondents were highly satisfied with Xfinity’s internet speeds and reliability, but under 60% of Optimum customers could say the same about their internet service.
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 20-state network covers a mix of states throughout the Midwest and South like Louisiana, Ohio, and Texas. By comparison, Xfinity’s 35-state network offers coast-to-coast coverage with considerably larger 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
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Idaho
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- 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 a Visa gift card worth up to $300, free Wi-Fi equipment, a free month of internet service, and up to a year of free Max™ (formerly HBO Max). 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 Gateway 6 doesn’t have the level of hardware integrations like Xfinity. But—as with the xFi Gateway—the Gateway 6 comes with Wi-Fi 6 support, which provides faster Wi-Fi performance.
Both 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’d prefer to fully manage your home network.
Optimum has across-the-board unlimited data
Xfinity data cap
Xfinity’s standard internet plans also have unlimited data, so you won’t have to deal with overage fees. Xfinity’s budget internet plans still have a 1.2 TB data cap, but 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. Afterwards, 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 Xfinity and Optimum have bad price increases
Xfinity internet price after 12 months
Price increases after your first year of service are standard practice at most ISPs, and neither Optimum nor Xfinity cover themselves in glory here. Xfinity’s standard prices aren’t much better than Optimum, but Xfinity at least tapers off its price hikes starting with the Superfast Plan.
Xfinity prices after 12 months (Northeast region)
| Package | Price for first 24 months | Price after 24 months | Download speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connect More | $35.00/mo. | $77.00/mo. | 200 Mbps |
| Fast | $35.00/mo. | $92.00/mo. | 400 Mbps |
| Superfast | $60.00/mo. | $97.00/mo. | 800 Mbps |
| Gigabit | $70.00/mo. | $102.00/mo. | 1,000 Mbps |
| Gigabit Extra | $80.00/mo. | $107.00/mo. | 1,200 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
All of Optimum’s internet prices more than double after your first year, and the ISP’s non-promotional prices are higher than Xfinity’s pricing. In addition to being a pain to deal with, Optimum’s second-year price hike essentially turns the ISP from an affordable to a premium internet service. Optimum’s entry-level Optimum 300 package increases from $40.00 to $109.99 monthly, making it a budget-breaking price hike for most households.
We’d also point out that Verizon Fios, a big Optimum competitor in the greater New York region, did away with second-year price increases on its internet plans. Internet plans without a surprise price increase? What a concept!
Optimum prices after 12 months
| Package | Price for first 12 months | Price after 12 months | Download speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimum 300/Fiber Internet 300 | $40.00/mo. | $109.99/mo. | 300 Mbps |
| Optimum 500/Fiber Internet 500 | $60.00/mo. | $129.99/mo. | 500 Mbps |
| Optimum 1 Gig/Fiber Internet 1 Gig | $80.00/mo. | $149.99/mo. | 940 Mbps |
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 more affordable after your second year of internet service. But if your neighborhood has Optimum fiber internet service, we’d recommend getting Optimum.
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?
Optimum’s internet speeds are faster than Xfinity. Xfinity’s internet plans top out at 6,000 Mbps, 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 $15.99/mo). Price sbjct to change. Terms apply.
1 Gig Internet- For 1 yr. 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 $15.99/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 $15.99/mo). Price sbjct to change. Terms apply.
1 Gig Fiber Internet- For 1 yr. 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 $15.99/mo). Price sbjct to change. Terms apply.
2/5/8 Gig 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 12 months at then prevailing rate (currently $15.99/mo). Price sbjct to change. Terms apply.
Xfinity Internet
** For 24 months. No term contract. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Taxes and equipment not included. Prices may vary by location.
† For 36 months. No term contract. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Taxes and equipment not included. Prices may vary by location.
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Eric Chiu is a CableTV.com internet editor who covers internet tech, entertainment, and sports news. He’s written about consumer technology for nearly a decade for outlets including CNN Underscored, Wirecutter, Newsweek Media Group and TopTenReviews/Future. In his free time, he enjoys playing any instrument he can find, rooting for the Michigan Wolverines, and hunting for the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants.
