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.
Compare Optimum or Xfinity internet head to head
Prices starting at
$40.00/mo.
Max download speeds up to
8000 Mbps
Service Type
Fiber
Prices starting at
$35.00/mo.
Max download speeds up to
2000 Mbps
Service Type
Fiber
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Does Optimum have good internet?
Does Xfinity have faster internet?
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.