Optimum Deals and Promotions: Save on Optimum

One of my favorite things to do to get away from the New York area’s never-ending, in-your-face pace is binging mixed martial arts fights on YouTube. Watching strangers exhibit my frustration is stress-relieving, but having a slow internet connection is just the opposite. If you live in New York (outside of New York City), Connecticut, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania, take a look at Optimum internet deals. Optimum offers super-fast speeds and perks such as access to public Wi-Fi hotspots at lower prices than most providers.

Optimum Internet Only Plans & Pricing

Optimum's plans and pricing start with introductory rates, making your first year or two a bit cheaper. Prices can also vary depending on your location and even on the day you look up prices. So make sure to check your area’s availability before assuming you’ll pay the rates below.

Optimum’s internet-only plans boast pretty fast internet speeds up to 940 Mbps. That's basically Gigabit speeds!

I recommend opting for one of the faster plans: Optimum 500 or Optimum 1 Gig. Optimum 500 is a good starter plan with up to 500 Mbps, which is more than enough to support my video-consuming family. Deals from other competitors offer lesser speeds for a slightly higher rate.

Optimum also offers a fiber gigabit plan with a lower price than most other providers. If you want more than 500 Mbps, the Optimum 1 Gig plan is the way to go. It costs only a little more than the Optimum 500 midtier plan, which has download speeds up to 500 Mbps.

Optimum Internet Deals

• Free installation: New customers can get free basic installation with any plan.
• $300 Visa Prepaid Card: Optimum offers a $300 Visa Prepaid Card to new customers who sign up for the Optimum 1 Gig Fiber Internet plan.
• $100 Visa Prepaid Card: Optimum offers a $100 Visa Prepaid Card to new customers who sign up for the Optimum 500 Mbps Fiber Internet plan.
• Mobile discount for existing customers: Add Optimum Mobile to your internet plan to get up to $30 off per month.

Speed and Data Caps

Offering both cable and fiber internet connections, Optimum doesn't have data caps on either connection type. From its 100-percent fiber network, Optimum leaves access open, which is great for cord-cutters who want to stream in 4K resolution on all day. Moreover, even if you only have Optimum cable in your area, you can still get the Optimum 1 Gig plan with speeds up to 940 Mbps.

Contracts and Fees

All of Optimum’s plans are contract-free. Most providers no longer require contracts, and there’s no reason to when providers such as Optimum, Verizon Fios, and Spectrum's internet plans offer contract buyouts as incentives to new customers. If you’re considering Optimum and you’re stuck in a contract, the company will pay up to $500 of early termination fees.

Optimum’s promotional pricing includes a $5 discount for autopay and paperless billing. This is pretty standard, and I’ve seen providers such as Suddenlink implement the same discount. If you are not into autopay or saving paper, expect an additional $5 tacked onto your bill. In 2019, Optimum also introduced a network-enhancement fee, which is currently $3.50 per month for all its internet plans. 

Setting up your service requires installation. Optimum’s standard installation is currently free, and it should be enough for most customers. For $59 you can upgrade to premium installation and the company will configure up to six of your devices — including your TV, gaming console, and smart home devices — to connect to your new network. Premium also includes the wiring of one device within six feet of your network equipment.

No matter which installation you choose, you’ll still need a modem. Optimum charges $10 per month for modem rental, which comes with a free smart router. You could purchase your own modem and router, but you’d need to ensure they’re compatible with your Optimum service. If you aren’t very tech savvy, it may be easier to just pay the extra $10 each month.

All of Optimum’s plans come with a 60-day, money-back guarantee. If you cancel your service within that period, it will refund your service fee. You likely won’t get a refund for extra costs such as premium installation or equipment rentals though.

Verdict: Is Optimum internet good for cord cutters?

On top of free installation, a free smart router that can blanket your entire home with a strong Wi-Fi signal, and a $64.99-per-month plan that has enough speed to support multiple streaming devices in 4K, Optimum customers also get access to more than 2 million Wi-Fi hotspots. That may not sound like a lot compared to what AT&T offers, but it covers a large number of Optimum’s customers when you look at how concentrated Optimum’s availability is in the northeastern U.S. Verizon Fios (read our review) may offer a free Disney Plus subscription and Hulu subscription, but you’ll save more money in the long run with Optimum.