Verizon 5G Home Internet is the better option, thanks to its more reliable connection and vastly superior customer service—but don’t expect fiber-like speeds.
Optimum Internet vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet
Speed and reliability
3.75 / 5
Dollar value
3.25 / 5
Customer experience
3.75 / 5
Speed and reliability
4.0 / 5
Dollar value
4.5 / 5
Customer experience
4.3 / 5
10 min readBoth Optimum and Verizon 5G Home Internet have a lot to offer, however Verizon 5G Home Internet is the clear winner here. Verizon 5G Home Internet is faster and more reliable—and it offers much better value for money. Additionally, in our experience, the customer service of Verizon 5G Home Internet is better. Verizon 5G Home Internet is powered by a 5G connection, so it may not be as fast as the fiber-based Optimum. However, those who want a reliable and well-managed connection should go for Verizon over Optimum.
Again, while Optimum comes in a distant second in this comparison, in some situations it may be the better choice. For example, those who specifically want a fiber connection may want to go for Optimum instead of Verizon. However, keep in mind the fact that Optimum provides fiber connections only in very specific areas. Customers who already have Verizon cellular services may want to go for Verizon's home internet because Verizon offers deals and discounts to those who bundle.
Want to know more about which service is better for your needs? Read on for the full comparison between Optimum and Verizon 5G Home Internet.
“It’s a consistent product … I’ve had zero problems with it,” –Clare Messink, a Verizon 5G customer in Salt Lake City, Utah
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Want to know if Optimum or Verizon 5G Home Internet are available where you live? Run a search with your zip code below to find out.
Optimum Black Friday deals
Get up to $400 with Optimum's Black Friday deals
Check out Optimum's Black Friday deals for some great bundle discounts and perks:
Bundle Optimum 1 Gig Internet or Fiber with either an Unlimited Mobile plan or an Entertainment TV package for $75/month and receive a $200 gift card.
Bundle 1 Gig Internet or Fiber with both an Unlimited Mobile plan and an Entertainment TV package for $100/month and receive a $400 gift card.
(Valid November 11–December 4)
Optimum vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet: Plans, pricing, and speed
| Provider |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | $40-$280* | $35-$70† |
| Download speeds | 300-8000 Mbps | 300-1000 Mbps |
| Upload speeds | 20-8000 Mbps | 10-50 Mbps |
| Details | View Plans | View Plans |
Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change. Data verified as of the article's publication date.
*
Prices w/Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Terms apply. Not available in all areas.
†
w/ Auto Pay. Available in select areas.
At first glance you might assume that Optimum and Verizon 5G Home Internet's base download speeds are the same. However, keep in mind the fact that they both quote “up to” 300Mbps, which means that you may get far slower download speeds depending on your 5G connection with Verizon or your cable connection with Optimum. Verizon offers download speeds up to an impressive 1,000Mbps, while Optimum, on its fiber-based connection, offers download speeds over 8,000Mbps. Upload speeds vary dramatically depending on your service and connection type. On Optimum's cable connections, you get far slower upload speeds. However, on its fiber plans, you'll get symmetrical upload speeds of up to 8187Mbps. Verizon's 5G-based upload speeds aren't quite as impressive, up to 37Mbps.
Both services offer reasonably priced entry-level plans. Optimum’s base plan starts at $40 per month. However, you have to expect the provider to raise its prices after a year. Verizon’s entry-level plan starts at $35 per month. However, that’s the price for a bundled service with a Verizon Cellular plan. Those who don’t have a Verizon cellular plan pay $50 per month with AutoPay for the base 300Mbps plan.
“They get the job done. It’s not bad.” –Geoffrey Turbeville, an Optimum customer in Brooklyn, New York
Optimum vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet: Fees for modem and installation
What makes this review legit?
Our fact-based research process centers on interviews with internet customers across the country, helping us understand how internet services hold up against diverse needs and challenges.
To put together this review, we looked at results from our speed test, pulled data from customer satisfaction surveys, and pored over the fine print to compare prices and speeds between the two providers. To flesh out our analysis, we also interviewed Optimum and Verizon 5G Home Internet customers to get their firsthand insights. We let their experiences guide our research and shape our conclusions. We also speak with ISP spokespeople and industry experts to get insights into connection types, speed capabilities, and other technical issues related to internet service.
The matchup: How we rate Optimum vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet
For all our internet reviews, we give a rating based on three main criteria—speed and reliability, dollar value, and customer experience—which we then average to make an overall score.
Here, we compare those ratings face to face. We then offer some analysis and context for important factors to keep in mind.
Want to know more? Read our full-length Optimum review and Verizon 5G Home Internet review.
Speed and reliability
Optimum: 3.75/5.0 | Verizon 5G Home Internet: 4.0/5.0
Optimum has the potential for incredibly fast service thanks to its fiber offering that reaches download speeds of up to 8,000Mbps. However, according to a 2024 report to shareholders, 92% of Optimum customers have cable connections rather than fiber, so they can’t enjoy those superfast speeds.
If you do have Optimum fiber in your area, you could get download speeds of up to 8,000Mbps. However, most people will be perfectly fine with 1,000Mbps for things like video streaming, video calls, and web browsing. Optimum’s fiber plans get you symmetrical download and upload speeds, whereas its cable plans will not.
Verizon 5G Home Internet is based entirely on a wireless 5G connection, so its speeds are a little unpredictable. Verizon does offer other types of internet connections, such as Verizon Fios; however, here, we’re only discussing Verizon’s 5G plans. Through Verizon 5G Home Internet, you get an option of two download speeds: One plan with up to 300Mbps and one plan with up to 1000Mbps. That said, keep in mind that 5G connections aren’t necessarily as reliable as fiber connections, so you may not get those maximum download speeds, and speeds may vary depending on the time and number of people connected to Verizon’s network in your area. Additionally, you may only have the option of a 300Mbps plan if Verizon doesn’t think that it can deliver the faster speed plan in your area. Unlike a fiber internet plan, Verizon 5G Home Internet plans do not offer symmetrical download and upload speeds. Instead, the upload speeds are relatively low—Verizon quotes upload speeds as being up to 37Mbps. For that reason, Verizon 5G Home Internet may not be the best choice for those who game online or stream on a service like Twitch. Note that Verizon still offers wireless home internet for those who don’t live in an area with Verizon 5G just yet—but it’s probably not worth signing up for Verizon LTE Home Internet unless you really don’t need fast speeds.
Verizon in general tops HighSpeedInternet.com’s list of reliable providers in its 2023 Customer Satisfaction survey. However, that’s for Verizon’s service as a whole, not specifically its 5G service. 5G internet connections do have some issues with reliability compared to fiber or cable, but according to the survey, 72% of Verizon 5G Home Internet customers note that they “never” or “rarely” experience outages. In the same survey, Optimum came second to last out of 15 providers in reliability. n fact, many of the customers we spoke to noted that they rarely get the download speeds they’re actually paying for.
Dollar value
Optimum: 3.25/5.0 | Verizon 5G Home Internet: 4.5/5.0
At face value, Optimum’s promotional prices may seem reasonable. However, Optimum is known for increasing prices after 12 months of service. According to Optimum, customers should expect an increase of $10–$30 per month after the first year.
Those on the fiber plan may find that the price is still worth the cost considering the high speed and reliability of fiber. However, remember that most Optimum customers are not eligible for fiber in their area. Optimum does have some promotions and deals, but it also charges $10 extra for things like modem rental, a Wi-Fi extender, and professional installation if you need it.
On the flip side, Verizon 5G Home Internet offers excellent value for money, especially for those who don’t want to spend much on their internet service in the first place. Unlike cable providers, Verizon 5G doesn’t charge you extra for things like installation, and your monthly fee includes equipment, so you don’t have to pay for the specialized 5G equipment. That makes Verizon 5G an excellent deal for those who want a flat monthly rate.
Additionally, Verizon offers a two-year or three-year price guarantee, so if you do eventually get your prices raised, it won’t be for the first few years. And if you have a Verizon cellular plan, you can sign up for Home Internet for as little as $35 per month with AutoPay. Even Verizon’s more expensive 1,000Mbps plan is a solid deal, at only $45 per month with AutoPay for those with a Verizon cellular plan, or $70 per month with AutoPay for those without a Verizon mobile plan.
Ultimately, Optimum offers decent value for those eligible for its fiber plans, however it’s hard to beat the excellent value on offer by Verizon 5G Home Internet.
Customer experience
Optimum: 3.75/5.0 | Verizon 5G Home Internet: 4.3/5.0
Internet service providers are known for their poor customer service, and Optimum is a perfect example of this. Optimum scored low in HighSpeedInternet.com’s Customer Satisfaction Survey, and it came in dead last in the American Customer Satisfaction Index for non-fiber internet service providers. We spoke to a number of customers who note they experience outages frustratingly often and that they get slower upload or download speeds than they’re paying for. Not only that, but a number of customers were frustrated by Optimum’s $80 fee for a technician to come and fix any issues.
Verizon, on the other hand, scores well among customers. Customers we spoke to note that installation is very easy and that their service offers relatively consistent speeds and almost no outages. We did speak to a customer who has a number of issues with improper billing, which haven’t been resolved. That said, HighSpeedInternet.com’s survey ranks Verizon second among major internet providers when it comes to overall customer satisfaction, beaten only by T-Mobile.
Overall quality: Which internet provider should you pick?
While Optimum has some things going for it, overall, Verizon 5G Home Internet offers better value and a better customer experience. Those who want even relatively fast speeds and a reliable connection should go for Verizon over Optimum.
However, things get a little more complicated for those who have access to Optimum’s fiber service. Optimum’s fiber plans are faster and more reliable than its cable plans, and those who need high-speed internet and have access to the fiber option might want to go for it instead. However, if you live in an area where Verizon 5G Home Internet is available and only Optimum’s cable plans are available, Verizon is the better way to go.
Optimum vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet: What deals and promotions can you get?
Optimum is offering customers who sign up online free installation, along with a free cash-loaded MasterCard for those who sign up online for a plan of 500Mbps or higher.
Verizon, on the other hand, offers discounts for those who bundle its cellular and internet services, along with the ability to add on services like streaming, service trials, and subscriptions at a low cost.
Get free installation
Get free installation and a $50–$200 prepaid card if you sign up online for 500Mbps or faster plan.
Get NFL Sunday Ticket for FREE
Right now, you can get NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube, a $449 value, or save $400 on Samsung home appliances if you sign up for 5G Home Plus.
Optimum add-ons and perks
Sign up for a 1Gbps internet plan.
Sign up for a 1Gbps internet plan.
Sign up for a 1Gbps internet plan.
Sign up for a 300Mbps plan and mobile bundle.
Transfer up to 4 numbers on any Unlimited line and get up to $100 per line on an Optimum Prepaid Mastercard.
Sign up for a 1Gbps internet plan.
Verizon add-ons and perks
Verizon 5G Home Plus and Verizon LTE Home Plus plan (Black Friday offer valid 11/21/2024–12/01/2024)
Verizon 5G Home Plus and Verizon LTE Home Plus plan (Black Friday offer valid 11/21/2024–12/01/2024)
Verizon 5G Home Plus and Verizon LTE Home Plus plan (Black Friday offer valid 11/21/2024–12/01/2024)
Add it as an add-on to some available plans
Add it as an add-on to some available plans
Optimum vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet: What do customers think?
We spoke to a number of Optimum customers and found that they have mixed experiences. Some customers note that Optimum regularly hikes its prices and can get away with doing so, considering the fact that there weren’t any other major options in the area.
Geoffrey Turbeville, an Optimum customer in Brooklyn, New York, felt that he wasn’t able to switch. “I don’t have any bargaining power,” says Turbeville, who has been an Optimum customer for six years and spoke to us for our full-length Optimum review. “We really only have one option.”
Josh Michael, however, was able to negotiate a lower rate after another provider became available in his area. “Once Verizon Fios came to my street, it changed things,” notes Michael. Michael said in our interview with him (also for the ISP review) that he told Optimum reps that he would switch providers if he didn’t continue getting promotional pricing—a tactic that has worked for three years.
Some other customers find that Optimum offers a decent price, but that its internet service isn’t reliable. “It’s a good value, but you get what you pay for,” says Courtney Joan, an Optimum customer in Beacon, New York, who works from home and uses her internet to take video calls. “I don’t like the speed and the irregularity of it. There are certain times Wi-Fi just drops out.”
“If there were multiple providers available, companies could really start on really making sure customers are happy instead of making promises they can’t keep.” –Luther Shoultz, an Optimum customer in New Jersey.
We spoke to a number of Verizon 5G Home Internet providers who had positive feelings bout their experience with the company. Customers are happy with the speeds on offer and found the service generally easy to set up.
“I like how it gives us fast speeds without a video throttle cap, so we can watch 4K shows,” says Johnothy Michael, who works in IT and accounting in Robinson, Illinois. As we write in our full review of Verizon 5G Home Internet, Michael had T-Mobile 5G Home Internet, before switching to Verizon in 2023.
Not all customers are thrilled with the service though. Clare Messink, a teacher in Salt Lake City, Utah, told us in a recent interview that her Verizon 5G service is a little expensive at $50 a month—at least compared to what she’s used to. “I moved back to the States last June after being overseas for a long time,” she says. “I sort of feel like, ‘Man, this should be $25 a month,’” Messink says. “But also the last time I paid for home internet in this country, it probably was $25 a month.”
Angelo Ilumba is a new Verizon 5G Home Internet customer, and had to switch from a fiber plan after moving to a rural area. Still, he’s happy with his service overall, and notes that he gets download speeds in the 300Mbps range, as advertised.
“It’s nothing fancy, but I don't need fancy.” —Clare Messink
Want Optimum or Verizon 5G Home Internet? Find it in your area.
Verizon 5G Home Internet offers better customer service and a more reliable connection. Most users who have the option of both providers should go for Verizon over Optimum, especially those who don’t mind the slower upload speeds.
Optimum may be better for those who have access to fiber internet plans, though, especially those who do need faster upload speeds for things like online gaming and online streaming.
Type in your zip code below to find Optimum Internet or Verizon 5G Home Internet near you.
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