Is Optimum Mobile worth it?
Optimum is the latest internet provider to get into the phone service game, and with Optimum Mobile, you can bundle nationwide phone service with your Optimum internet service plan.
Optimum Mobile won’t knock your socks off, but with features like its 50 GB phone plan, it’s worth a look if you’re already an Optimum internet subscriber.
Basically, if you’re an Optimum internet customer and you don’t mind taking an occasional hit in performance or a fussy data allotment, but you want to save some cash each month on your wireless bill, Optimum Mobile might be for you.
Optimum Mobile plans are pricey, but deals are available
Optimum Mobile uses T-Mobile’s mobile network, so you’ll get standard features like 5G support and nationwide cellular coverage. For prospective customers, Optimum Mobile offers several per gigabyte and unlimited data plans.
Optimum’s 1 GB plan ($15/mo.) is in line with the competition, as Xfinity Mobile and Spectrum Mobile’s 1 GB plans cost $15 and $20 per month. But Optimum Mobile’s 5 GB plan offers better value compared to both competitors.
Plan | Monthly price (single line) | Monthly price (2+ lines) | Data allowance | Overage speed limit | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 GB | $15.00/line | $15.00/line | 1 GB | 128 Kbps | View Plan |
5 GB | $25.00/line | $25.00/line | 5 GB | 128 Kbps | View Plan |
Unlimited | $45.00/mo. | $25.00–$30.00/mo. | 20 GB | 512 Kbps | View Plan |
Unlimited Max | $55.00/mo. | $35.00–$40.00/mo. | 50 GB | 512 Kbps | View Plan |
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
1 GB, 5 GB & Unlimited & Unlimited Max plan details: AutoPay required. New Optimum Mobile lines only, cannot be applied to existing lines of service. Pricing, offer and terms subject to change at any time.
With Optimum’s Unlimited plans, you’ll get features like large data caps and multi-line savings. Your monthly rate will go down by up to $20 for each line you add to the account (for up to five lines). Unlimited Max’s 50 GB cap is in line with other MVNOs that also offer jumbo data caps on their higher-end plans.
By comparison, a 50 GB plan (with a five-line account) would cost the same with AT&T compared to Optimum Mobile—$35 per line. But AT&T’s Unlimited plans come with bells and whistles like more of hotspot data per month and AT&T ActiveArmor mobile security. With Optimum Mobile, your benefits start and end with cellular service.
Optimum Mobile’s overage policy is similarly stingy. Once you exceed your plan’s cap, your internet speeds will be lowered to 128 Kbps or 512 Kbps (depending on your exact plan). At these speeds, your phone’s internet connection will be borderline unusable. With competitors like Xfinity Mobile, your plan’s overage speeds will be around 1 Mbps, so you can still use your phone for basic web browsing.
Optimum Mobile has great flexibility, standard features
Optimum Mobile offers a strong slate of features and coverage options for Optimum customers. Let’s break down what you can expect with an Optimum Mobile cell phone plan.
Optimum’s data allotments are good (if you don’t push them too far)
Optimum’s data allotments are in line with other similar services like Spectrum Mobile, although they’re much pricier for the same amount of data. The real savings only kick in once you start adding additional lines to your plan.
Unfortunately, Optimum’s data caps are pretty severe. As stated above, once you hit your limit, your mobile internet speeds will slow down to an unusable crawl.
Save money with Optimum Mobile bundles
Optimum offers a lot of deals when you bundle mobile and internet service, with perks like gift cards, unlimited data, and free iPhones. Check out our Optimum deals page for more details.
You won’t get many extra perks with Optimum Mobile
Unlike T-Mobile, an Optimum Mobile plan won’t get you access to free streaming services or unlimited international calling. Optimum Mobile’s main draw is that you can save up to $15 per month when you bundle it with Optimum internet. You’ll just have to forgo the fancier perks from other carriers to do it.
Expect some fees
Optimum Mobile’s biggest fee is its $20 per line activation charge. This fee is a one-time charge, but it can add up if your plan has more than a few lines. Spectrum Mobile has a $20 activation fee on unlimited plans, while Xfinity Mobile’s is $10.
Unlike a lot of cellular plans from internet providers, Optimum Mobile doesn’t require Optimum internet, but you’ll get the best Optimum Mobile rates with a bundle. Without an Optimum internet plan, you’ll pay an additional $10 to $15 more per line per month for Optimum Mobile.
Also, Optimum Mobile’s approach to international calls is fairly confusing. Optimum breaks up its international coverage into four groups of countries. For each group, you’ll pay a weekly or monthly fee between $20 and $100 for phone and text service. Unless you’re calling overseas family members on a weekly basis, it’ll be tough to get your money’s worth from Optimum Mobile’s international pricing.
To learn more about Optimum’s hidden fees, check out our comprehensive guide.
What do real customers think about Optimum Mobile?
In our 2025 Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey, we asked hundreds of Optimum Mobile customers how they felt about their cell phone plans. Optimum Mobile has some room for improvement, as it was a step behind the MVNO and major carrier competition. We typically consider 70% approval to be a passing mark in our survey.
From CableTV.com's 2025 customer satisfaction survey
Question | Customer approval rating |
---|---|
What is your overall satisfaction with your Optimum internet/mobile phone bundle? | 66% approval |
How satisfied are you with the cost of your Optimum cell phone bundle? | 64% approval |
How reliable is Optimum's cell phone service? | 65% approval |
Do you notice dropped calls or slow internet speeds during busy periods? | 33% yes, 67% no |
How easy is it for you to resolve customer service problems with Optimum for your cell phone service? | 59% approval |
Optimum Mobile uses T-Mobile’s network, and should theoretically provide the same service in the same locations. However, this doesn’t always seem to be the case. As one Reddit user posted on r/OPTIMUM in 2024: “I had T-Mobile before I switched to Optimum and now my service is significantly worse with tons more dead zones.”
Cellular networks are built on two competing systems: CDMA (Verizon) and GSM (T-Mobile and AT&T) networks. Your phone may not work if you were previously with a provider like Verizon or Xfinity Mobile.
Use Optimum Mobile’s compatibility tool to confirm if your current phone can be carried over to Optimum.
Optimum Mobile FAQ
What is Optimum Mobile?
What network does Optimum Mobile use?
Is Optimum Mobile the same as Altice Mobile?
Is Optimum Mobile really unlimited?
Does Optimum Mobile require Optimum internet?
Why you should trust us
To evaluate Optimum Mobile, we analyzed data including pricing, overage speed limits, and data caps for each Optimum Mobile plan. We also compared Optimum Mobile to operators including Spectrum Mobile and Xfinity Mobile to see how Optimum Mobile stacked up to the competition. Finally, we talked to thousands of internet customers as part of our Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey series to see how they felt about their internet and cell phone plans.
For more on our methodology, see our How We Rank page.