Optimum review

Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026

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Our verdict

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.

Key facts

Best for
Fast US lines with no contract and no early termination charge.
Top download speed (Mbps)
8,000 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Price from
$30 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Reference plan prices
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 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Setup fee
$150 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Mid-contract price rises
Price increases after promo period ends (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Exit fee terms
No contracts - cancel without early termination fees (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Router
Rent up to $14/mo unless you opt out (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Markets
US (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Legal entity
Optimum Communications, Inc. (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Headquarters
United States (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Founded
1996 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Technology
Cable, Fttp
Contract length
1
Official website
optimum.com

Apps and profiles

Elsewhere
WikidataWikipediaX

Pros and cons

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.
  • Short terms: 1 month, so the commitment is monthly rather than annual.

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.
  • Coverage is a single market, US, so readers outside it cannot sign up at all.

Ready to try Optimum?

Scored 9.3 / 10 by TariffCue.

See alternatives

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.

Where it sits among rivals

Speed is the strong side and price the weaker one. On max download speed Optimum ranks 10 out of 114 brands rated, which puts it near the front of that table. On price from it ranks 49 out of 95, so the entry figure sits in the middle rather than the front. Setup fee ranks 86 out of 86, the least favourable end of that list.

Pricing

Two figures carry the pricing picture: a monthly cost starting at $30, and a setup cost of $150 to get the line installed. Because the setup cost is a one-off rather than a monthly extra, the cleanest comparison is to add it to the first bill, then weigh the monthly figure on its own against what other providers charge for a similar speed.

Who runs it

Optimum is run by Optimum Communications, Inc., a company based in the United States that has traded since 1996. It builds and prices for that home market, so the plan list, the promo periods and the setup charge are all set locally rather than to a shared cross-border template.

How Optimum compares

Where Optimum is available

Available
United States

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 30, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

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.

Will my monthly price rise after the promo period?+

Prices are not fixed: Price increases after promo period ends. The opening figure is a promotional rate, so the number that matters is the one you pay once that period ends. For context, the typical post contract price across the site sits at €43, so moving past a promo often means paying more each month.

How fast is Optimum broadband?+

The top plan reaches 8,000 Mbps download, a higher ceiling than Astound at 5,000 Mbps. What you actually get depends on the line: cable and fttp means cable and fibre are both in the mix, so the plan name alone does not settle the speed you get.

Is Optimum cable or fibre?+

Both: cable and fttp. Abissnet runs fttp only, so a fibre-only buyer may prefer it, while EarthLink lists fttp, 5G and satellite for people who want other ways of connecting. Optimum's mix suits a household that does not mind which kind of line reaches the property.

Do I have to pay for a router?+

The equipment is rented: Rent up to $14/mo unless you opt out. You can avoid that by opting out and supplying your own kit, which suits anyone who already has a router or plans to keep one after moving. Staying with the supplied router is the simpler route if you would rather not handle the equipment at all.

Where does Optimum operate?+

Optimum operates in the United States and the company behind it sits in the United States. Availability is a local matter rather than a single global footprint, so the plans, promos and speeds you can get depend on the address. Readers in other countries will not find these prices relevant.

Who runs Optimum?+

Optimum is run by Optimum Communications, Inc., a company based in the United States that has traded since 1996. A record that long points to an established operator rather than a recent entrant, which matters if you plan to keep the line and want the network to stay in place.

Sources

Compiled from 4 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Upload speed (Mbps).

Optimum

Fast US lines with no contract and no early termination charge.

9.3/10See alternatives

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