Optimum Pricing: Are You Paying Too Much?

In a telecom landscape filled with constant wheeling and dealing, Optimum has kept things going by staying the course. The provider doesn’t necessarily have the footprint or portfolio of its larger competitors, but with a nationwide network serving nearly 5 million customers across 21 states, it’s no slouch.
But if you’re an Optimum customer, are you worried you’re paying too much for internet or TV service? As part of CableTV.com’s annual Customer Satisfaction Survey series, we interviewed hundreds of real Optimum internet and TV customers nationwide to see what they think about their service costs. On top of that, we’ve spent years tracking Optimum costs as part of our Optimum TV and internet pricing coverage.

Want to confirm if you’re actually paying too much for your Optimum bill? Keep on reading to find out more.

How much does Optimum TV and internet cost?

Data effective as of March 29, 2026. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

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. HBO Max Basic With Ads plan auto renews after 6 mo. at the then prevailing rate (currently $10.99/mo.). Pricing sbjct to change. 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. HBO Max Basic With Ads plan auto renews after 12 mo. at the then prevailing rate (currently $10.99/mo.). Pricing sbjct to change. Terms apply. 2 Gig: w/ $10/mo. elig. Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. HBO Max Basic With Ads plan auto renews after 12 mo. at the then prevailing rate (currently $10.99/mo.). Pricing sbjct to change. Terms apply. 8 Gig: w/ $10/mo. elig. Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. HBO Max Basic With Ads plan auto renews after 12 mo. at the then prevailing rate (currently $10.99/mo.). Pricing sbjct to change. Terms apply.

You’ll pay the same for Optimum internet whether your neighborhood has fiber or cable coverage, and the provider’s prices are surprisingly competitive. Optimum’s base pricing starts at a rock-bottom $25.00/mo., and with its lengthy five-year price lock promotion, you won’t have to worry about surprise hikes for a while.

Optimum’s cable TV pricing is less impressive, though it’s hardly alone in offering base TV service at $100 monthly. Thanks to issues like sports broadcast rights, expect to pay at least three figures for a cable or satellite TV plan with a respectable channel count.

Has Optimum increased its internet and TV prices?

Optimum’s TV and internet rates follow the same trajectory we’ve seen from other providers nationwide: downward pressure on promotional internet prices and upward movement on TV plans as cord-cutting and operating costs rise.

Although Optimum has one of the biggest gaps we’ve seen between its non-promotional and promotional pricing, the provider has started to cushion the sticker shock. Instead of tripling your bill right when your guarantee ends, Optimum staggers its price hikes gradually until your bill’s rate reaches Optimum’s listed rate.

What do customers think of Optimum’s prices?

As part of our annual internet and cable TV Customer Satisfaction surveys, we talk to hundreds of Optimum customers to understand how they feel about their service.

Price satisfaction has long been a weak point for Optimum Internet customers, thanks to the provider’s steep non-promotional price hikes. Because of this policy, Optimum’s generally been a step behind competitors like Xfinity and Spectrum in this category for several years running. That said, our polling predated Optimum’s adoption of a price lock, and we’ll be interested to see whether it moves the needle in next year’s polling.

Optimum’s TV price satisfaction scores are similarly low among our respondents. The provider’s base TV pricing is already as costly as the competition and still includes a price hike once your promotional period ends. With this double whammy, it’s no surprise that Optimum’s TV price satisfaction was right among DISH at the bottom of our polling.

Optimum’s prices compared to inflation

Optimum has narrowed the gap considerably between its internet pricing and inflation over time. The provider is also one of the few companies (along with Xfinity) that have continued to offer a sub-$50 budget internet plan with wide availability—competitors like Spectrum and Verizon have limited these plans to customers on government subsidies.

By comparison, Optimum’s TV plans have seen far more inflationary volatility thanks to their higher price tags. Optimum’s low price satisfaction ratings suggest that customers feel they aren’t getting the greatest deal on Optimum cable TV service.