Optimum by Cablevision vs Verizon Fios: Side by Side Comparison

Enter your zip code below to see if Optimum by Cablevision or Verizon Fios offers service in your area.
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Optimum by Cablevision 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 Cablevision AT A GLANCE

  • Sales: (866) 200-7273
  • Support: (866) 200-7273

$39.99 to $79.99 / mo.

60 mbps to 400 mbps

25 mbps to 50 mbps

69%69%

Cable

Current: 8th ↑ (+3)

Verizon Fios AT A GLANCE

  • Sales: (844) 624-1149
  • Support: (800) 837-4966
(844) 624-1149

$39.99 to $74.99 / mo.

50 mbps to 940 mbps

50 mbps to 880 mbps

73%73%

Fiber

Current: 6th ↑ (+2)

Optimum by Cablevision OVERVIEW

Optimum by Cablevision provides cable broadband Internet, TV, and phone service in the northeast US. They also provide business broadband services.

Verizon Fios OVERVIEW

Verizon FiOS is a provider of fiber broadband Internet, TV, and phone services. They offer 100% fiber connectivity and have one of the largest pure fiber networks on the market.

Optimum by Cablevision INTERNET DEALS †

  • $39.99 for 100 mbps Cable
    • 100 mbps ↓ and 35 mbps ↑
    • 1-year promo rate.
    • Setup: $0 (Free installation.)
    • Modem: $10/mo
    • Call (866) 200-7273 to setup service.
  • $49.99 for 200 mbps Cable
    • 200 mbps ↓ and 35 mbps ↑
    • 1-year promo rate.
    • Setup: $0 (Free installation.)
    • Modem: $10/mo
    • Call (866) 200-7273 to setup service.
  • $79.99 for 400 mbps Cable
    • 400 mbps ↓ and 40 mbps ↑
    • 1-year promo rate.
    • Setup: $0 (Free installation.)
    • Modem: $10/mo
    • Call (866) 200-7273 to setup service.
Last updated on 8/8/2017

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

Verizon Fios INTERNET DEALS †

  • $39.99 for 50 mbps Fiber
    • 50 mbps ↓ and 50 mbps ↑ w/ no data cap.
    • 1-year promo rate. Regular rate is $49.99.
    • Up to a $500 credit to help cover an early termination fee for select customers switching to Fios.
    • Setup: Setup fee waived when you order online ($90 value).
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo or one-time $199
    • Call (844) 624-1149 to setup service.
  • $64.99 for 100 mbps Fiber
    • 100 mbps ↓ and 100 mbps ↑
    • 1-year promo rate. Regular rate is $74.99.
    • Up to a $500 credit to help cover an early termination fee for select customers switching to Fios.
    • Modem: $10/mo
    • Call (844) 624-1149 to setup service.
  • $74.99 for 150 mbps Fiber
    • 150 mbps ↓ and 150 mbps ↑ w/ no data cap.
    • Up to a $500 credit to help cover an early termination fee for select customers switching to Fios.
    • Setup: Setup fee waived when you order online ($90 value).
    • Modem w/ WiFi: $10/mo or one-time $199
    • Call (844) 624-1149 to setup service.
Show All Deals (5)
Last updated on 7/21/2017

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

Optimum by Cablevision: NO DATACAP FOUND

We have not found plans that include data caps. This doesn't mean Optimum by Cablevision 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 Cablevision's TECHNOLOGY

Cablevision offers broadband internet and TV, in addition to home phone services, through their hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network.

HFC networks offer internet to consumer residences by running a fiber optic connection to a local neighborhood node and then finishing the “last mile” of the connection using coaxial cable.

A HFC network infrastructure is common with companies that historically specialized in “cable TV” service, since they had already spent the high up-front cost to install coaxial cable to individual houses.[2]

Optimum has reportedly begun to roll out DOCSIS 3.1 in some areas, which will allow them to offer faster broadband options depending on the local internet infrastructure.[3] DOCSIS is the protocol used to send data over coaxial cable, and DOCSIS 3.1 can support multiple-gigabit speeds in ideal setups, rivaling true “fiber” connections.

Verizon Fios's TECHNOLOGY

Verizon Fios offers broadband internet, TV, and home phone service to consumers using their fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network.

Fios was one of the first major telecom companies to deploy a large fiber optic network. They have sold parts of their network to Frontier in recent years. Regardless, Fios is still available in a handful of states.

Unlike hybrid networks, FTTH carries data over next-generation fiber optic cables all the way to a subscriber’s doorstep. The core drawback to an FTTH network layout is that it costs an Internet provider significantly more to build up-front, thanks to the high cost of fiber cable combined with the cost of labor to install that cable underground throughout an area.[4]

That said, FTTH is generally considered the “gold standard” of consumer internet connections because it offers the lowest latency and highest bandwidth capabilities.

Optimum by Cablevision INSTALLATION

If your residence has had service from Cablevision before, chances are you’ll be able to self-install the required router, modem, and other hardware specific to your plan. Self-installation generally takes less than an hour and saves money compared to hiring a technician.

For those who haven’t had their residence wired for Cablevision, professional installation is required to run a connection from the Cablevision network to the inside of your building. Professional installation is also a good option for customers who want to avoid difficulties with configuring their hardware. Professional installation has a fee associated with it. Cablevision also offers “service plans” to make ongoing maintenance and configuration assistance available at a lower cost than “a la carte” technician services.

Verizon Fios INSTALLATION

If your residence or business has already had Fios service then you may be able to “self install” your service, but for many consumers, professional installation is recommended.

Professional Installation: During professional installation, a Fios technician will use fiber optic cables to wire your location to the Fios’ network. They will also install an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) to which your Fios router connects to get you internet access. Depending on your location’s existing wiring, the technician may need to run ethernet or coaxial cable get you setup.

Optimum by Cablevision RATINGS AND REVIEWS

55%55% Customer Rating

55.5% recommendation rating according to 9,131 verified users.

Verizon Fios RATINGS AND REVIEWS

62%62% Customer Rating

62.0% recommendation rating according to 20,957 verified users.

Optimum by Cablevision COVERAGE & AVAILABILITY

Optimum by Cablevision 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. http://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. http://www.fiercecable.com/cable/cablevision-reportedly-testing-1-gbps-services-new-jersey-apartments ↩
  4. https://www.fcc.gov/general/types-broadband-connections ↩
  3. Optimum by Cablevision vs Verizon Fios
Last updated on 8/8/2017.

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