Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Homefi vs Optimum
Homefi vs Optimum: the differences
| Compare | Homefi ReviewVisitVisit | Optimum ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 400 | 8,000Higher |
| Price from | $50 | $30Lower |
| Reference plan prices | Hotspot 50GB: $50/mo, 20-35 Mbps, no contract | Hotspot Pro 800GB: $135/mo, 20-35 Mbps, no contract | Infinity 5G Unlimited: $70/mo, up to 400 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 |
| Exit fee terms | Cancel anytime; $25 restock fee; $130-$300 recovery fee if device not returned | No contracts - cancel without early termination fees |
| Router | Rental $10/mo plus $3.50 service fee; return router on cancel | Rent up to $14/mo unless you opt out |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 10 to 20 | Not confirmed |
| Setup fee | Not confirmed | $150 |
| Mid-contract price rises | Not confirmed | Price increases after promo period ends |
| Data cap (GB) | 50 to 800 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Markets (US).
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Key differences
- Optimum scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.4.
- Top download speed (Mbps) is higher at Optimum: 8,000 vs 400.
- Price from is lower at Optimum: $30 vs $50.
- Technology: only Homefi offers 5G, Fwa.
- Technology: only Optimum offers Cable, Fttp.
Our verdict on each
Homefi
Homefi suits households in US that cannot get a wired line and want broadband on rolling terms, with Infinity 5G Unlimited reaching 400 Mbps and the Hotspot plans capped at 50 to 800 GB. The catch is upload speed, the rented router, and the charges that follow if it is not returned.
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 | Homefi | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.1Entry pricing of $50 a month, and the only contract length on offer is 1 month, so nothing locks you in. | 8.6HigherEntry price of $30 looks fair, but Price increases after promo period ends and a $150 setup fee weigh on the total. |
| Offer | 8.6Capped tiers stop at 50 to 800 GB, the quickest plan reaches 400 Mbps, and support covers chat, phone and help centre. | 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 they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Homefi | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband providers | 12 of 124 | 36 of 124 |
| Broadband without a long contract | 6 of 46 | 15 of 46 |
By the numbers
| Fact | Homefi | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 400 | 8,000 |
| Price from | $50 | $30 |
If neither fits
Singtel has top download speed (mbps) at 10,000, against 400 for Homefi and 8,000 for Optimum.
Singtel reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Homefi | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | 5G, Fwa | Cable, Fttp |
| Contract length | 1 | 1 |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Optimum Communications, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1996 |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Homefi | Optimum | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 400lowest quarter | 8,000highest quarter | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 10 to 20lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 900 |
| Price from | $50highest quarter | $30above the median | $29.99 |
| Setup fee | Not confirmed | $150highest quarter | $0 |
| Data cap (GB) | 50 to 800above the median | Not confirmed | 15 |
Median across 116 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Homefi
Pros
- The exit fee terms allow cancelling at any time, and the only contract length on offer is 1 month, so moving costs no lost term.
- Infinity 5G Unlimited is sold without a data cap, while the capped Hotspot plans stop at 50 to 800 GB.
- Support runs on chat, phone and help centre, so a problem with a rented router can be raised by phone or by chat.
Cons
- Uploads run 10 to 20 Mbps, the weak point for large backups, cloud work and frequent video calls.
- Capped tiers stop at 50 to 800 GB, so heavy streaming or big downloads can use up the allowance early in the month.
- The router is rented monthly with a separate service charge and has to go back on cancel, and the exit fee terms add a restocking fee plus a higher recovery fee based on the cost of the device.
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
Homefi
Who it suits
- Households in US with no wired line available, especially renters who would rather hand a router back than own hardware.
- People who expect to move and do not want a long minimum term, since plans run 1 month.
- Families happy to choose a data allowance of 50 to 800 GB rather than pay for the uncapped plan.
Who should look elsewhere
- Households that send a lot of data from the home, who should look at Astound (cable and fttp) for a wired route.
- People who want an uncapped connection, who should look at EarthLink (fttp, 5G and satellite).
- Homes with a fibre line already in place, who should look at Abissnet (fttp).
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 | Homefi | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Homefi
What does Homefi broadband cost a month?+
Entry pricing starts at $50 a month on the smallest Hotspot plan. The larger Hotspot plan costs more for the biggest data allowance, and Infinity 5G Unlimited sits between them with the highest speed. Every reference plan is quoted as a plain monthly figure on rolling terms, so it reads as the ongoing rate rather than a promotional one.
Is there a contract term with Homefi?+
Plans run on rolling monthly terms, and the only contract length on offer is 1 month. Nobody serves a long minimum term, which suits renters and anyone who expects to move. The monthly figure stays the same for as long as the service is in place, and the exit fee terms allow cancelling at any time.
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.
Other options to compare
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