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.
$40.00–$100.00/mo.
$40.00–$100.00/mo.
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
$40.00/mo.
Max download speeds up to
2000 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 | Prices starting at | Download speeds |
|---|---|---|
| 300 Mbps | $40.00/mo. | 300 Mbps |
| 500 Mbps | $55.00/mo. | 500 Mbps |
| 1 Gig | $70.00/mo. | 1,000 Mbps |
| 1.2 Gig | $100.00/mo. | 1,200 Mbps |
| 2 Gig | $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 recently streamlined its plans to better compete with competitors like Optimum. Unfortunately, there’s only a one-year price guarantee on Xfinity’s plans, so keep a lookout for your scheduled price increase after your first year.
Xfinity has recently introduced a five-year price guarantee, which customers can take advantage of by paying an additional $15 per month for their plan. TBH, with Xfinity’s 12-month price increase usually being way more than $15, I think taking advantage of the five-year guarantee is worth it.
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.
On Xfinity’s mid-range and higher-end internet plans, you can also get bonuses like no contracts, free Wi-Fi equipment, and unlimited data.
Unfortunately, Xfinity’s entry-level plans still have data caps. Plus, on all its plans, 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.
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 40-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 its 500 Mbps plan.
Plus, as we mentioned above, they’ve recently rolled out an optional five-year price guarantee. You’ll pay higher prices each month than the prices we list in the Xfinity internet plans table a few sections up, but you’ll save money in the long-run by avoiding Xfinity’s typical 12-month price hike.
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.
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: w/ $10/mo. elig. Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas.500 Mbps: w/ $10/mo. elig. Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. Disney+, Hulu Bundle Basic avail. w/ 500 Mbps Internet and above. After promo period, plan auto-renews at $10.99/mo. Offer will not replace existing subscriptions. Add’l terms apply. Unlimited Mobile line w/ Promo Code HEYITSFREE. Plus taxes & fees. Savings via monthly bill credits. Elig. cust. only. Paperless Bill & Auto Pay req’d. Terms Apply.1 Gig: w/ $10/mo. elig. Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection up to 940 Mbps. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. Disney+, Hulu Bundle Basic avail. w/ 500 Mbps Internet and above. After promo period, plan auto-renews at $10.99/mo. Offer will not replace existing subscriptions. Add’l terms apply. Unlimited Mobile line w/ Promo Code HEYITSFREE. Plus taxes & fees. Savings via monthly bill credits. Elig. cust. only. Paperless Bill & Auto Pay req’d. Terms Apply.2 Gig: w/ $10/mo. elig. Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. Disney+, Hulu Bundle Basic avail. w/ 500 Mbps Internet and above. After promo period, plan auto-renews at $10.99/mo. Offer will not replace existing subscriptions. Add’l terms apply. Unlimited Mobile line w/ Promo Code HEYITSFREE. Plus taxes & fees. Savings via monthly bill credits. Elig. cust. only. Paperless Bill & Auto Pay req’d. Terms Apply.5 Gig: w/ $10/mo. elig. Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. Disney+, Hulu Bundle Basic avail. w/ 500 Mbps Internet and above. After promo period, plan auto-renews at $10.99/mo. Offer will not replace existing subscriptions. Add’l terms apply. Unlimited Mobile line w/ Promo Code HEYITSFREE. Plus taxes & fees. Savings via monthly bill credits. Elig. cust. only. Paperless Bill & Auto Pay req’d. Terms Apply.8 Gig: w/ $10/mo. elig. Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. Disney+, Hulu Bundle Basic avail. w/ 500 Mbps Internet and above. After promo period, plan auto-renews at $10.99/mo. Offer will not replace existing subscriptions. Add’l terms apply. Unlimited Mobile line w/ Promo Code HEYITSFREE. Plus taxes & fees. Savings via monthly bill credits. Elig. cust. only. Paperless Bill & Auto Pay req’d. Terms Apply.
Xfinity Internet
For 12 months, no term contract. Taxes not included. Incl. up to $10/mo. auto-pay & paperless bill discount.
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.
