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Optimum by Altice vs Verizon Fios: Side by Side Comparison

Enter your zip code below to see if Optimum by Altice or Verizon Fios offers service in your area.

Optimum by Altice vs Verizon Fios

Optimum by Cablevision and Verizon Fios both offer high quality of service, but with some key differences that will determine which provider you ultimately choose. Verizon Fios has a newer 100% fiber optic network, while Cablevision offers comparable speeds in some areas and TV perks that some customers can’t live without. In the end, it’s a question of how much broadband you actually will use, and what price you’re willing to pay to get it.

Optimum by Altice At A Glance

  • Sales: (844) 910-2593
  • Support: (866) 200-7273
(844) 910-2593

$40-80/mo.

300-1,000 Mbps

Up to 940 Mbps

69% 69%

Cable

9th ↑ (+3)

Verizon Fios At A Glance

  • Sales: (855) 941-4390
  • Support: (800) 837-4966

$39.99-79.99/mo.

200-940 Mbps

200-880 Mbps

73% 73%

Fiber

2nd (0)

Optimum by Altice Overview

Optimum by Altice provides cable Internet, television, and VoIP packages in the northeast USA. Optimum also markets business broadband connections.

Verizon Fios Overview

Verizon Fios is a fiber broadband company. They also market TV and phone services. They offer fiber-optic service. They are one of the most widely available fiber networks on the market.

Optimum by Altice Internet Deals †

  • $40 for 300 mbps Fiber
    • 300 Mbps ↓ and 300 Mbps ↑
    • 1-year promo rate.
    • Advertised price reflects $5 discount for enrolling in Auto Pay & Paperless Billing, must maintain both to keep discount.
    • Setup: $0 (Free standard installation.)
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo
    • Call (844) 486-3566 to setup service.
  • $45 for 300 mbps Cable
    • 300 Mbps ↓ and 35 Mbps ↑ w/ no data cap.
    • 1-year promo rate. Regular rate is $109.99.
    • A Network Enhancement Fee of $3.50 will be added to the monthly bill. AutoPay and Paperless Billing reduces price by $5.00.
    • Setup: $59.00 (Includes standard installation.)
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo
    • Call (844) 486-3566 to setup service.
  • $60 for 500 mbps Fiber
    • 500 Mbps ↓ and 500 Mbps ↑
    • 2-year promo rate.
    • Advertised price reflects $5 discount for enrolling in Auto Pay & Paperless Billing, must maintain both to keep discount.
    • Setup: $0 (Free standard installation.)
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo
    • Call (844) 486-3566 to setup service.
  • $65 for 940 mbps Fiber
    • 940 Mbps ↓ and 940 Mbps ↑
    • Advertised price reflects $5 discount for enrolling in Auto Pay & Paperless Billing, must maintain both to keep discount.
    • Setup: $0 (Free standard installation.)
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo
    • Call (844) 486-3566 to setup service.
  • $70 for 500 mbps Cable
    • 500 Mbps ↓ and 35 Mbps ↑ w/ no data cap.
    • 2-year promo rate. Regular rate is $129.99.
    • A Network Enhancement Fee of $3.50 will be added to the monthly bill. AutoPay and Paperless Billing reduces price by $5.00.
    • Setup: $59.00 (Includes standard installation.)
    • Modem: $10/mo
    • Call (844) 486-3566 to setup service.
  • $80 for 1,000 mbps Cable
    • 1,000 Mbps ↓ and -- Mbps ↑ w/ no data cap.
    • A Network Enhancement Fee of $3.50 will be added to the monthly bill. AutoPay and Paperless Billing reduces price by $5.00.
    • Setup: $59.00 (Includes standard installation.)
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo
    • Call (844) 486-3566 to setup service.
Last updated on 9/30/2020

†All plans not available in all areas or to all customers. Verify details with Optimum by Altice.

Verizon Fios Internet Deals †

  • $39.99 for 200 mbps Fiber
    • 200 Mbps ↓ and 200 Mbps ↑ w/ no data cap.
    • With Auto Pay. Plus taxes and equipment charges.
    • Disney+ on us for 12 months ($6.99/mo after).
    • Setup: Online exclusive -- $99 Standard setup charge waived.
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $15/mo or one-time $299.99
    • Call (866) 775-4717 to setup service.
  • $59.99 for 400 mbps Fiber
    • 400 Mbps ↓ and 400 Mbps ↑ w/ no data cap.
    • With Auto Pay. Plus taxes and equipment charges.
    • Disney+ on us for 12 months ($6.99/mo after).
    • Setup: Online exclusive -- $99 Standard setup charge waived.
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $15/mo or one-time $299.99
    • Call (866) 775-4717 to setup service.
  • $79.99 for 940 mbps Fiber
    • Up to 940 Mbps download and 880 Mbps upload w/ no data cap.
    • With Auto Pay. Plus taxes.
    • The Marvel’s Avengers Game, Disney+ on us for 12 months ($6.99/mo after), a Stream TV and a Router included.
    • Setup: Online exclusive -- $99 Standard setup charge waived.
    • Modem included.
    • Call (866) 775-4717 to setup service.
Show All Deals (4)
Last updated on 9/27/2020

†All plans not available in all areas or to all customers. Verify details with Verizon Fios.

Optimum by Altice: No Datacap Found

We have not found plans that include data caps. This doesn't mean Optimum by Altice doesn't have data caps, just that we haven't found them when collecting their plans. Always verify plan details before purchasing.

Verizon Fios: No Datacap Found

We have not found plans that include data caps. This doesn't mean Verizon Fios doesn't have data caps, just that we haven't found them when collecting their plans. Always verify plan details before purchasing.

Optimum by Altice's Technology

Optimum delivers internet and TV through their coaxial cable network.

Cable networks offer internet by broadcasting data over a fiber line to a node in your neighborhood and then covering the last part of the connection using coaxial.

This infrastructure is normal among providers that historically specialized in TV, since they already installed coaxial lines to customer houses.[2]

The provider has been rolling out DOCSIS 3.1, which allows the company to provide gigabit broadband options depending on the local infrastructure.[3] DOCSIS is the protocol used to transmit information over coaxial cables. DOCSIS 3.1 allows multiple-gigabit speeds, competing with fiber providers.

Verizon Fios's Technology

Verizon Fios offers internet and other services to consumers over a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network.

The company sold patches of infrastructure to Frontier Communications in 2015. Regardless, Verizon is still available in many cities.

Fiber to the Home networks don't change to copper near customers like cable or DSL. Fiber service requires installing a Fios box on your building.

Overall, fiber is generally really the “gold standard” of residential internet connections because it has reduced latency and high bandwidth capabilities.

Optimum by Altice Installation

If your house has a coaxial jack in the wall, you should have no issues self-installing the router, modem, and other hardware. Self-installation should take around twenty minutes and saves you money.

If you need help configuring the equipment or have a TV plan, then getting a professional installation is a better choice. Keep in mind that paying for the setup results in a higher first bill. The provider also offers technical assistance plans.

Verizon Fios Installation

Tech-friendly customers may install their own equipment, but for the majority of customers, scheduling a professional installation is suggested.

If you choose a technician installation, a Fios installer will set up the equipment and connect you to the fiber network. The technician starts by installing an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) that switches digital data to the building's coaxial wiring to get you internet access. If your address doesn't have a fiber connection before, the technician might need building access to install ethernet lines in the wall to establish service.

Optimum by Altice Coverage & Availability

Optimum by Altice Interactive SVG Map showing broadband coverage.
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Verizon Fios Coverage & Availability

Verizon Fios Interactive SVG Map showing broadband coverage.
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The fiber advantage: who needs gigabit Internet?

Fiber delivers faster speeds, often at a steeper price

The biggest difference most consumers will care about when it comes to Optimum by Cablevision and Verizon Fios is the kind of network delivering their data: Fios’s fiber vs Cablevision’s coaxial cable network.

“Power users” who use the Internet for large chunks of the day, download and upload large files frequently, and stream video content to multiple devices simultaneously will notice a huge difference between fiber and cable speeds.

That said, fiber usually comes at a higher price than cable, and if you mostly get online just to check Facebook and watch a few YouTube videos, fiber might be overkill when you could save a lot of money by foregoing it.

The value of communication and customer service

Finding customer reviews you can trust

Depending on where you live, the speeds and prices offered by Fios and Cablevision might be so close as to be indistinguishable. In that case, it’s worth considering the reputation of the company you’re considering, and how their customer service will support you when things go wrong (which they always do).

BroadbandNow uses two metrics to determine what customers actually think of their provider: first, the ASCI (American Customer Satisfaction Index) rating for each provider.[1] Second, IP-verified customer service ratings we collect directly through BroadbandNow, using IP-verification technology to ensure that the person leaving a review is an actual, current customer using that ISP.

If you run a home business that relies on Internet connectivity or don’t have a way of quickly contacting emergency services if the line goes down, subscribing to a provider that can react quickly and provide real-person support can be a life saver.

References and Footnotes
  1. https://www.theacsi.org/industries/telecommunications-and-information/internet-service-provider ↩
  2. http://services.eng.uts.edu.au/~kumbes/ra/Access-Networks/hfc/cnethfc.htm ↩
  3. https://www.fiercevideo.com/cable/cablevision-reportedly-testing-1-gbps-services-new-jersey-apartments ↩
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Last updated on 9/30/2020.