Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Astound vs Optimum
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Astound | Optimum ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000 | 8,000Higher |
| Price from | $19.95Lower | $30 |
| Reference plan prices | 150 Mbps: $19.95/mo, 150 Mbps, no contract; 1 Gig WiFi: $40/mo, 1000 Mbps, no contract; 1.5 Gig WiFi: $60/mo, 1500 Mbps, no contract | 300 Mbps Internet: $30/mo, 300 Mbps, no contract; 500 Mbps Internet: $40/mo, 500 Mbps, no contract; 8 Gig Fiber Internet: $90/mo, 8000 Mbps, no contract |
| Setup fee | $0Lower | $150 |
| Mid-contract price rises | Price for Life rate locked while service kept; other promos valid 12 mos then regular rates | Price increases after promo period ends |
| Exit fee terms | No cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime | No contracts - cancel without early termination fees |
| Router | Whole Home WiFi powered by eero included with Gig plans; eero Max 7 with 5 Gig | Rent up to $14/mo unless you opt out |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000 | Not confirmed |
| Social tariff | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Address checker | https://www.astound.com/check-for-service/ | Not confirmed |
| FCC broadband label | https://www.astound.com/labels/ | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Markets (US).
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Key differences
- Astound scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.3.
- Top download speed (Mbps) is higher at Optimum: 8,000 vs 5,000.
- Price from is lower at Astound: $19.95 vs $30.
- Setup fee is lower at Astound: $0 vs $150.
Our verdict on each
Astound
Astound suits US households that want matching download and upload speeds, a low entry price and no contract to be tied into, and the same account can carry mobile lines. Entry pricing starts at $19.95 a month, Gig tiers arrive with Whole Home WiFi included, and the setup fee is $0.
Optimum
Optimum suits US households that want a fast line with no contract attached, and its top plan reaches 8,000 Mbps. What you weigh is the joining cost: a setup fee of $150 and a router that is rented unless you opt out.
Score breakdown
| Area | Astound | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6HigherEntry price of $19.95 a month and a setup fee of $0 put cost near the top of the range. | 8.6Entry price of $30 looks fair, but Price increases after promo period ends and a $150 setup fee weigh on the total. |
| Offer | 9.3No cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime, and Whole Home WiFi arrives included with Gig plans. | 9.8HigherSpeeds of 8,000 Mbps on terms of 1 month, with both cable and fibre available. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.8A US operator trading since 1996 under Optimum Communications, Inc., with US as its market. |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Astound | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Available in 1 country for both.
Which one suits you
Pick Astound if cost, price from, and setup fee matter most.
Pick Optimum if offer and top download speed (mbps) matter most.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Astound | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband providers | 2 of 124 | 36 of 124 |
| Full fibre providers | 2 of 107 | 23 of 107 |
| Broadband without a long contract | 2 of 46 | 15 of 46 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Astound | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Cable, Fttp | Cable, Fttp |
| Contract length | 1 | 1 |
| Legal entity | Radiate HoldCo, LLC d/b/a Astound Broadband | Optimum Communications, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1996 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Mobile plans
| Fact | Astound | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| Seller type | Reseller | Not confirmed |
| SIM-only | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Billing | Rolling | Not confirmed |
| Unlimited plan price | $30 | Not confirmed |
| 5G | Yes | Not confirmed |
| eSIM | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Wi-Fi calling | Yes | Not confirmed |
| EU roaming | Paid | Not confirmed |
| Data rollover | No | Not confirmed |
| Hotspot sharing | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Credit check required | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Multi-line discount | Yes | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Astound | Optimum | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000highest quarter | 8,000highest quarter | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000highest quarter | Not confirmed | 900 |
| Price from | $19.95lowest quarter | $30above the median | $29.99 |
| Setup fee | $0at the median | $150highest quarter | $0 |
Median across 116 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Astound
Pros
- Download of 5,000 Mbps matches upload of 5,000 Mbps, so sending a large file is as quick as downloading one.
- The setup fee is $0, and it ranks 1 of 86 on that measure, ahead of every other brand compared.
- Service runs on cable and fttp, so one provider can cover a cable street or a fibre to the home street.
Cons
- EU roaming is paid, so European travel is billed separately.
- Data rollover is no, so unused mobile allowance does not carry into the next cycle.
- A credit check is required on the mobile side, which adds a step before a line is active.
Optimum
Pros
- No contract: No contracts - cancel without early termination fees, so moving or switching does not cost an early termination charge.
- Top-end speed: 8,000 Mbps, well above Astound at 5,000 Mbps.
- Choice of line type: cable and fttp, so cable and fibre both come from one provider.
Cons
- Setup fee of $150 ranks 86 out of 86 on the site's setup fee table, the expensive end of that list.
- Rent up to $14/mo unless you opt out adds a monthly equipment cost unless you opt out and bring your own kit.
- Renewal risk: Price increases after promo period ends, so the figure you pay after the promo period can sit above the $30 entry price.
Who each suits
Astound
Who it suits
- Households in US whose street already has cable or fibre to the home and who want equal download and upload speeds.
- Families adding mobile lines to the same account, where a multi line discount and rolling billing apply.
- Renters and short-stay households, since No cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want a fibre to the home provider and nothing else, because cable and fttp includes cable while Abissnet and Kinetic list fibre to the home alone.
- Homes a wired network does not reach, where EarthLink adds fttp, 5G and satellite options.
- Travellers who expect European roaming to come included, since EU roaming is paid.
Optimum
Who it suits
- Households that want a very fast line but no long commitment, and would otherwise settle for Astound at 5,000 Mbps.
- People likely to move or switch provider often, since No contracts - cancel without early termination fees keeps leaving cheap.
- US households that want one provider for both cable and fibre lines: cable and fttp.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers outside US, who can compare EarthLink instead for fttp, 5G and satellite and a wider choice of ways to connect.
- Fibre-only buyers, who may prefer Abissnet running fttp across its footprint.
- Shoppers who want no joining bill, since the $150 setup fee ranks 86 out of 86 and Astound's terms are worth checking first.
Country by country
| Country | Astound | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Astound
How much does Astound broadband cost a month?+
Plans start at $19.95 a month on the entry tier. The listed lineup then steps up through Gig and multi-Gig WiFi plans, and every plan shown is on no-contract terms, so the monthly figure is the whole commitment. Whole Home WiFi is included with Gig plans rather than sold as an extra.
Is there a setup or installation fee with Astound broadband?+
Setup costs $0 to add, and in this comparison the brand ranks 1 of 86 for setup fee, ahead of every other brand measured on that point. Equipment also counts: Whole Home WiFi is supplied with Gig plans, with the top tier hardware paired to the quickest speeds.
Optimum
What does Optimum cost to get started?+
The entry price is $30 a month, the cheapest plan on the list. Installation is a separate setup fee of $150. Budget for both in the first month, because the setup cost does not appear in the monthly price and it sits at the expensive end of the site's setup fee table.
Do I have to sign a contract with Optimum?+
Contract terms apply: No contracts - cancel without early termination fees. Plan terms are listed as 1 month, so the commitment is measured in months rather than years. That makes Optimum a straightforward option if you expect to move home, since leaving does not trigger an early termination charge.
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