Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Optimum vs RED by SFR
Optimum vs RED by SFR: the differences
| Compare | Optimum ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 8,000Higher | 2,000 |
| Price from | $30 | €1.99 |
| 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 | 1Go: 1.99EUR per month, 1GB, no commitment; 120Go 5G: 12.99EUR per month, 120GB, no commitment; 250Go 5G Voyage: 15.99EUR per month, 250GB, no commitment |
| Setup fee | $150 | €0 to €29 |
| Exit fee terms | No contracts - cancel without early termination fees | Termination fee 59 EUR fibre/THD, 29 EUR Box 5G |
| Router | Rent up to $14/mo unless you opt out | SFR Box 7, SFR Box 8 option, Box 5G |
| Markets | US | FR |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | Not confirmed | 1,000 |
| Mid-contract price rises | Price increases after promo period ends | Not confirmed |
| Address checker | Not confirmed | https://www.red-by-sfr.fr/offres-internet/eligibilite-fibre-adsl-vdsl/ |
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Key differences
- RED by SFR scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Top download speed (Mbps) is higher at Optimum: 8,000 vs 2,000.
- Technology: only RED by SFR offers 5G.
- Markets: only Optimum offers US.
- Markets: only RED by SFR offers FR.
Our verdict on each
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.
RED by SFR
RED by SFR suits readers in FR who want a sim only plan on 1 month terms with rolling billing and no commitment. Data does not roll over and EU roaming runs on fair use terms, so the low entry price fits light users and short stays rather than heavy data habits.
Score breakdown
| Area | Optimum | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.6Entry price of $30 looks fair, but Price increases after promo period ends and a $150 setup fee weigh on the total. | 9.8HigherEntry price of €1.99 a month sits well under the site median of €9.30, and it ranks 32 of 258 brands on entry price. |
| Offer | 9.8HigherSpeeds of 8,000 Mbps on terms of 1 month, with both cable and fibre available. | 9.1Each plan carries 5G, an eSIM and hotspot sharing, with the larger allowances aimed at streaming, plus roaming in 137 countries. |
| Trust | 9.8A US operator trading since 1996 under Optimum Communications, Inc., with US as its market. | Not confirmed |
Licences and countries
| Country | Optimum | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | France |
Additional countries for Optimum: 1. Additional countries for RED by SFR: 1.
If neither fits
Singtel has top download speed (mbps) at 10,000, against 8,000 for Optimum and 2,000 for RED by SFR.
Singtel reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Optimum | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband providers | 36 of 124 | 29 of 124 |
| Full fibre providers | 23 of 107 | 17 of 107 |
| Broadband without a long contract | 15 of 46 | 10 of 46 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Optimum | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Cable, Fttp | Fttp, Cable, 5GCovers more |
| Contract length | 1 | 1 |
| Legal entity | Optimum Communications, Inc. | SOCIETE FRANCAISE DU RADIOTELEPHONE - SFR |
| Headquarters | United States | France |
| Founded | 1996 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Chat, Phone, Help centre, Community |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Optimum | RED by SFR | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 8,000highest quarter | 2,000above the median | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | Not confirmed | 1,000above the median | 900 |
Median across 116 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
RED by SFR
Pros
- Sim only plans, so a new line can be activated on its own without a handset in the same order.
- Billing is rolling on 1 month terms, so a line can end without serving a long fixed period.
- The host network is SFR, and the same provider also sells fixed lines at 2,000 Mbps with routers SFR Box 7, SFR Box 8 option, Box 5G.
Cons
- Data rollover is not offered, so data left at the end of a month expires instead of carrying over.
- EU roaming runs on fair use terms, so frequent travel across Europe is not a flat included allowance.
- Billing is rolling only, while GETESA (prepaid and contract) and Lonestar Cell MTN (contract and prepaid) also list contract billing, so no committed term sits behind a lower monthly figure.
Who each suits
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.
RED by SFR
Who it suits
- Readers in FR who pay as they go and would rather not serve a fixed minimum term
- People who want 5G, an eSIM and hotspot sharing on one bill without a handset
- Households after mobile and fixed lines from one provider, with fibre at 2,000 Mbps and a choice of SFR Box 7, SFR Box 8 option, Box 5G
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want a contract term, since GETESA (prepaid and contract) and Lonestar Cell MTN (contract and prepaid) both list contract billing while this brand bills rolling
- Readers whose address has weak reception on SFR, since yesss! runs on A1 instead
Country by country
| Country | Optimum | RED by SFR |
|---|---|---|
| France | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
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.
RED by SFR
What does the entry plan cost and what comes with it?+
The entry plan is priced at €1.99 a month and runs on 1 month terms with rolling billing, and it carries a small data allowance. Larger plans sit above it, all on no commitment terms, with allowances sized for streaming and heavier use. The price list holds the full ladder to compare.
Do I have to sign a minimum term?+
No commitment is attached to any of the plans, and billing is rolling, so the arrangement can be stopped without serving a long fixed period. That is the main difference from brands such as GETESA, where billing covers prepaid and contract, and Lonestar Cell MTN, which lists contract and prepaid.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
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- Optimum vs Kinetic
- Optimum vs 4th Utility
- Optimum vs TalkTalk
- Optimum vs OiSTER
- Optimum vs EarthLink
- Optimum vs Odido Thuis
- Optimum vs toob
- Optimum vs Frontier Communications
- Optimum vs hollandsnieuwe
- Optimum vs YouFibre
- Optimum vs Astound
- Optimum vs PremiumSIM
- Optimum vs sim.de
- Optimum vs Eni Plenitude
- RED by SFR vs Singtel
- Optimum vs Homefi