If you’re sick of the equipment fees and finally ready to jump ship from Optimum, we’ve laid out your best new provider options.
Verizon Fios and DISH are our top Optimum alternatives, thanks to their excellent packages and transparent pricing. But if your neighborhood isn’t covered by Verizon or you want to check out the competition, here’s what you need to know about alternatives to Optimum TV and internet service.
Optimum alternatives pros and cons
| Provider | Pro | Con | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Best overall Verizon |
Best-in-class fiber internet service | Mixed availability in New Jersey and no fiber internet service in Connecticut | Learn More |
| Xfinity | A larger selection of home internet and TV plans | Contracts and price increases after a year | Learn More |
| DISH | 3-year price guarantees and the excellent Hopper 3 DVR | A satellite that’ll need to be installed on your home | Learn More |
| DIRECTV | Tons of sports channels | Prices that nearly double after your second year | Learn More |
| Frontier | Excellent fiber speeds | Slow and high-priced DSL internet plans | Learn More |
| Viasat | Nationwide availability as a satellite internet provider | Expensive and slow plans compared to Optimum | Learn More |
| HughesNet | Cheap entry-level satellite internet plans | Limited internet options | Learn More |
How is Verizon different from Optimum?
We’d recommend moving onto Verizon from Optimum if you live in an area with Verizon Fios coverage.
Verizon Fios is our top home internet pick because of the service’s excellent internet speeds, low prices, and lack of hidden fees. Verizon Fios was also at the top of our internet customer satisfaction survey, while Optimum came in a lower tier among our polled 10 providers. Verizon’s TV packages are also cheaper than Optimum’s plans.
Verizon overview
Pros
Verizon Fios has stellar download speeds of up to 940 Mbps and maximum upload speeds of 880 Mbps. Verizon Fios is also increasingly available throughout New York City and Long Island.
Cons
Verizon service’s availability is spottier outside of New York. Verizon Fios is available in certain parts of New Jersey and doesn’t operate at all in Connecticut.
If you’re an Optimum customer outside of Verizon’s Fios coverage zone, your only Verizon internet option will be Verizon’s DSL plans, which have molasses-slow 15 Mbps maximum download speeds.
Verizon availability
Optimum and Verizon Fios share most of the same coverage areas:
- New York (Long Island, Bronx, Westchester, Brooklyn)
- New Jersey
How is Xfinity different from Optimum?
We’d recommend moving onto Xfinity if you need faster internet speeds or cheaper TV plans.
Optimum’s internet plans start at 300 Mbps for $40.00 per month, while Xfinity’s comparable plans offer 400 Mbps for $35.00 per month. Also, Optimum’s TV plans start at $35.00 per month, which is more expensive than Xfinity’s basic cable packages starting at $20.00 per month.
Xfinity overview
Pros
Xfinity has six internet plans compared to Optimum’s four internet packages, so you have more options if you’re tied to a hard budget and know what download speed (around 100 Mbps for a small household or more than 300 Mbps for large families) your house needs.
On Xfinity, you’ll also get freebies like an X1 TV box.
Cons
On some Xfinity packages, you’ll have to sign a 12-month service agreement, and you can’t break it without paying a hefty early termination fee.
Xfinity also has a 1.2 TB internet data cap on its lower-tier plans that’ll be a pain to deal with if your household regularly uses up a lot of data with daily video calls and 4K TV shows or movie streaming. Optimum doesn’t have contracts or a data cap.
Xfinity availability
Maybe Xfinity likes disco fries more than going through the Lincoln Tunnel—Xfinity and Optimum’s coverage areas overlap only in New Jersey.
How is DISH different from Optimum?
We’d recommend DISH if you’re looking for a long-term TV provider and want to save on your bill.
Compared to Optimum, DISH offers longer price guarantees (3-year ones compared to Optimum’s 2-year guarantee) and better TV hardware. DISH also earned our Editor’s Choice award on our TV provider rankings thanks to its excellent channel lineups and Hopper 3 DVR.
DISH overview
Pros
DISH’s Flex Pack ($57.99/mo.) is cheaper than Optimum’s entry-level Core TV plan ($75.00/mo.), and it still includes basic cable channels including Comedy Central and TBS.
Cons
DISH requires you to install a physical satellite at your home, which can be inconvenient if you don’t want to run cables and a dish onto your roof. With Optimum’s Altice One cable box, you won’t need to deal with installations if your house already has a cable line.
DISH availability
DISH is available nationwide and covers Optimum’s entire service area:
- New Jersey
- New York (Long Island, Bronx, Westchester, Brooklyn)
- Connecticut
How is DIRECTV different from Optimum?
We’d recommend DIRECTV over Optimum if you’re willing to pay extra for sports channels. DIRECTV’s basic and mid-tier packages, which start at $64.99 per month, are only slightly less expensive than Optimum’s (starting at $75.00 per month), although DIRECTV charges extra for its DVR.
DIRECTV overview
Pros
On all of DIRECTV’s packages, you’ll get a two-year price guarantee.
Cons
DIRECTV locks you into a two-year service contract and nearly doubles your bill after the second year.
DIRECTV availability
DIRECTV is available nationwide, including the Optimum areas:
- New Jersey
- New York (Long Island, Bronx, Westchester, Brooklyn)
- Connecticut
How is Frontier different from Optimum?
There isn’t a lot of overlap between Frontier’s and Optimum’s service areas, but in the areas with overlap, we only recommend Frontier’s fiber plans. Its DSL plans aren’t worth it.
Frontier overview
Pros
Frontier includes a combo Wi-Fi router/modem with every home internet plan and doesn’t have hidden fees or a data cap.
Since its recent pivot to fiber, Frontier’s prices and speeds actually win this one. Frontier’s 500 Mbps plan is $49.99 monthly, while Optimum’s comparable fiber plan is $60.00 monthly. Frontier’s 1 Gig plan is $64.99 a month, while Optimum’s is $70.00 a month.
Cons
Some areas can get only Frontier’s middling DSL internet plans, which offer slower download speeds and higher prices. We don’t recommend those.
Frontier availability
Frontier operates across the country, but the only state with both Frontier and Optimum coverage is Connecticut.
How is Viasat different from Optimum?
We’d recommend Viasat only if you’re far out in the country and can’t get regular internet service from other providers. Viasat is a satellite internet provider, so it relies on in-orbit satellites to send internet service to customers. Satellite internet has wide availability, but you’ll be paying higher prices for slower internet performance compared to cable internet.
*Prices and availability vary by location. Installation fees, monthly equipment lease fees, and taxes may apply. After 100 GB of High-Speed Data usage, you still have unlimited access to Standard Data, which may result in slower speed.
Viasat overview
Pros
Viasat is a satellite internet service provider, so it’s available nationwide.
Cons
Satellite internet is slower than cable or DSL internet, and Viasat’s plans are no exception. Viasat’s 100 Mbps download plan costs a whopping $199.99 per month compared to Optimum’s $40.00 per month 300 Mbps plan.
Viasat availability
Viasat is available nationwide and overlaps with Optimum’s coverage area:
- New Jersey
- New York (Long Island, Bronx, Westchester, Brooklyn)
- Connecticut
How is HughesNet different from Optimum?
Like with Viasat, we’d recommend HughesNet only if you’re out in a rural town that isn’t serviced by any of the major providers. HughesNet is also a satellite internet provider that provides internet service using physical satellites that orbit in space. We’ve typically ranked Viasat above HughesNet because of Viasat’s faster download speeds.
HughesNet overview
Pros
HughesNet has nationwide availability, and its basic to mid-tier plans ($49.99–$174.99/mo.) are affordable for a satellite internet provider. However, Viasat’s competing 25 Mbps plan costs $59.99 per month.
Cons
HughesNet’s internet plans range from 15–50 Mbps maximum download speeds. With its slow download speeds and low data caps, HughesNet won’t be a good fit if you use the internet for more than checking your email.
HughesNet availability
HughesNet is available nationwide and covers Optimum’s service area:
- New Jersey
- New York (Long Island, Bronx, Westchester, Brooklyn)
- Connecticut
Final take
Verizon Fios and DISH are our top Optimum alternatives because of Verizon’s fast internet speeds and DISH’s large cable channel packages. With either DISH or Verizon Fios, you won’t have to compromise with slow download speeds and you’ll have transparent billing that’s free of hidden fees that jack up your bill.
Alternatives to Optimum FAQ
What is the cheapest Optimum package?
The cheapest Optimum packages are Basic TV ($35.00/mo.) and Internet 300 ($40.00/mo.).
How can I get Optimum to lower my bill?
You can contact Optimum customer service at any time by calling +1-866-218-3259 to talk about your bill. Check out our bill negotiation guide for tips when you’re talking to customer service.
