Lets start with AT&Ts benefits over Optimum: greater general accessibility and a more substantial fiber network throughout its footprint. Presently, its available to simply over 17 million homes compared with Optimums 1 million.As for the service itself, AT&T Fiber has no devices cost and no data cap and needs no long-term contract. Many clients within AT&Ts radius will just have access to its DSL service, which is inferior to the efficiency of cable internet.
Right off the bat, I need to admit that I wasnt even sure what to call this post. It was at first going to be AT&T versus Suddenlink. Then the latters parent company, Altice USA, announced it would be rebranding Suddenlink. So, should it be AT&T versus Altice USA? I d bet that the majority of CNETs readers are more familiar with Altices Optimum and Suddenlink brands than with Altice itself. Because Suddenlink will be transitioning to Optimum this year, Ive chosen to choose AT&T versus Optimum. Be conscious that on the Optimum side, Ill be consisting of the areas and areas that Suddenlink is presently servicing.Okay, with that developed, now that weve chosen to pit AT&T and Optimum home web services against each other, what exactly are we comparing? AT&T is among the titans of the telecom industry, with broadband services available to roughly 40% of homes in 21 states across the United States. Optimum also uses home web to customers throughout 21 states, so its adept, either.AT&& T Internet provides fiber-optic internet service, along with DSL and fixed-wireless choices. Optimum strategies are primarily cable television web, but with a growing number of fiber web tiers too. Each businesss fiber plans will provide consumers the most value. Well see that theres some overlap in between their respective protection maps, so in some cases, you could be faced with an option between them when going shopping for an internet service supplier. Furthermore, well compare plans, prices, promotions and more to see which ISP may fit your home best. Lets dive in much deeper to understand how they compare..
Sarah Tew/CNET.
Read our AT&T house web review
Sarah Tew/CNET.
Maximum objectives to keep things basic with quick speeds and solid value across its 3 main tiers– 300Mbps, 500Mbps and 1 gigabit. Like AT&T, it doesnt charge an additional equipment rental charge, need a term contract or enforce data caps. It also features fiber plans in some of its markets, though not as thoroughly as AT&T. When it comes to Optimums shortcomings, its discount rates stand for simply the first 12 months of service. After that point, your month-to-month charges will increase (and, in many cases, rather precipitously). Likewise, Optimum falls well except AT&T regarding client satisfaction ratings– while AT&T is typically near the top in various surveys, Optimum tends to fall near the really bottom.
.
Read our Optimum house internet review
Information Cap.
.
AT&T vs. Optimum: Availability and protection mapThe coverage map for AT&T (orange) seems to overwhelm Optimums schedule (in blue). While theres some overlap between the two, you can likewise see neither one blankets the nation.
FCC/Mapbox.
At the top of the page, I discussed that both AT&T and Optimum are available in 21 states throughout the United States. AT&T, on the other hand, doesnt have to compete with Optimum in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin.Where is there some crossover? AT&T features DSL, fiber and repaired cordless options, while Optimum provides cable and fiber plans.
Promo rate (very first 12 months).
Strategy.
AT&T strategies and prices.
Routine month-to-month cost (after 12 months).
Devices charge.
AT&T Fixed Wireless.
Max speeds.
25Mbps download, 1Mpbs upload.
None.
$ 70.
$ 70.
350GB.
AT&T Internet 10 (DSL).
10Mbps download, 1Mpbs upload.
None.
$ 70.
$ 55.
1TB.
AT&T Internet 18 (DSL).
18Mbps download, 1Mpbs upload.
$ 70.
$ 55.
None.
1TB.
AT&T Internet 25 (DSL).
25Mbps download, 2Mpbs upload.
None.
$ 55.
$ 70.
1TB.
AT&T Internet 50 (DSL).
50Mbps download, 10Mpbs upload.
$ 70.
$ 55.
None.
1TB.
AT&T Internet 100 (DSL).
100Mbps download, 20Mpbs upload.
None.
AT&T Fiber – Internet 300.
$ 55.
$ 70.
None.
300Mbps download, 300Mpbs upload.
None.
AT&T Fiber – Internet 500.
$ 55.
$ 55.
None.
500Mbps download, 500Mpbs upload.
None.
$ 65.
None.
AT&T Fiber – Internet 1000.
$ 65.
940Mbps download, 880Mpbs upload.
$ 80.
None.
$ 80.
None.
AT&T Fiber – Internet 2000.
2Gbps download, 2Gbps upload.
None.
$ 110.
AT&T Fiber – Internet 5000.
$ 110.
None.
5Gbps download, 5Gbps upload.
Max speeds.
Beginning month-to-month price.
Regular regular monthly rate (after 12 months).
Regular monthly equipment charge.
Data cap.
Maximum plans and pricing.
Optimum 300.
Agreement.
None.
Plan.
$ 180.
$ 180.
None.
300Mbps download, 20Mbps upload.
None.
None.
None.
Fiber Optimum 300.
$ 40.
$ 110.
300Mbps download, 300Mbps upload.
$ 40.
$ 110.
None.
None.
None.
Maximum 500.
500Mbps download, 20Mbps upload.
$ 60.
None.
Fiber Optimum 500.
$ 130.
None.
None.
500Mbps download, 500Mbps upload.
$ 60.
None.
None.
$ 130.
None.
Maximum 1 Gig.
940Mbps download, 35Mbps upload.
$ 80.
None.
Fiber Optimum 1 Gig.
None.
$ 140.
None.
940Mbps download, 940Mbps upload.
$ 140.
$ 80.
None.
None.
If youre feeling details overload at the moment, I can feel your discomfort. Lets see what we can do to streamline things. All of Optimums offerings are much better than AT&Ts DSL and fixed cordless choices. You get much better download and upload speeds and wont have to deal with restricting data caps. But as soon as we start taking a look at the 300Mbps tiers and above, it becomes a win for AT&T. To start with, fiber internet constantly outperforms cable internet connections. Fiber connections feature symmetrical download and upload speeds (cable television web has much slower upload speeds than download speeds). Now, Optimum features some fiber plans too. According to what a spokesperson informed CNET previously, theyre readily available to just over a million customers. However AT&T, out of its first-quarter reporting for 2022, states approximately 17 countless its clients are eligible for fiber. Furthermore, when it pertains to cost, AT&T has the edge. While AT&T and Optimum are practically equivalent on beginning costs for equivalent speed strategies, AT&Ts rate is the rate. Theres no steep jump after your very first year of service, as is prowling with Optimums plans. To be reasonable, numerous ISPs take the exact same method as Optimum and give you an alluring cost out of the gate but bump up your expense quantity after 12 months. I appreciate that AT&T takes a various method, and I believe your family budget will invite that predictability. AT&T vs. Optimum: Terms and feesLet me cut to the chase: Both AT&T and Optimum appear to intend to do right by their clients by reducing the extra charges and fees. Neither provider needs a term agreement, so theres no fear of early termination costs. Lets take a peek at other terms and conditions you might come across. No month-to-month modem costs This is relatively recent news. At the start of 2022, both AT&T and Optimum charged an additional $10 per month for equipment. Even worse, AT&T didnt provide you a chance to skip that charge by utilizing your own devices. However, efficient immediately, both providers have actually trashed their previous fees and now consist of gateway gadgets (modem or router) in the regular monthly cost. Thats great news.One-time setup charge Optimum has the more affordable setup charge, which runs $59, however is included if you buy online. Likewise, AT&T will waive its installation charge– a greater, $99 cost– if clients order online.No data caps to fear, for the a lot of part All Optimum consumers get endless information with all plans. That gets rid of any stress over possible data excess costs or throttling problems to impede the efficiency of your broadband connection. The exact same can be said with a lot of AT&T plans, other than the DSL and fixed cordless alternatives. Those are still strained with information caps, sadly. Consumers will be charged an extra $10 for each additional 50GB of information used per month, as much as $100 per month (or $200 per month for repaired wireless customers). Chalk this one up as a win for Optimum.HBO Max plays a part in both companies promotion bundles, though AT&Ts fastest tiers offer you the streamer totally free for as long as you have your plan.
Sarah Tew/CNET.
AT&T vs. Optimum: Perks and promosBoth Optimum and AT&T provide some enticing discounts to attempt to draw potential customers. HBO Max, in specific, plays a part in both service providers offerings.First, Optimum gifts brand-new consumers a Visa Prepaid Card, varying from $50 to $200, depending on the tier you select. Second, new customers have a chance to add 2 or more lines of Optimum Mobile for the lowered expense of $30 monthly. Third, an HBO Max subscription (a worth of $15 a month) is included for anywhere from three months (for customers of the most affordable, 300Mbps tier) to a full year (Gig consumers). AT&T likewise comes strong with the benefits. To begin, clients who sign up online will get a $150 AT&T Visa Reward Card. Next up, new fiber clients will get complimentary access to AT&Ts nationwide network of 30,000 hotspots. All AT&T fiber customers with gigabit speed or above will get a free HBO Max membership for as long as they remain with the service. Thats a strong worth of $180 a year for the period of your time as an AT&T consumer..
American Customer Satisfaction Index.
AT&T vs. Optimum on consumer fulfillment– its not even closeLets start here: ISPs are dead last among all markets for customer satisfaction. Ouch.AT&& T vs. Optimum: Whats the bottom line?In truth, even though theres some crossover in the states they cover, AT&T and Optimum will not frequently go head-to-head for your dollars. Optimums looming price boost after 12 months indicates that youll get the greater value in the long run from AT&T.
None.
Is Optimum more affordable than AT&T?
For the many part, Optimums beginning prices are more affordable than equivalent AT&T plans. For instance, Optimums 300Mbps strategy starts at $40 monthly, while AT&Ts 300Mbps is $55 monthly. Optimums 500Mbps plan starts $5 cheaper than AT&Ts. The gigabit prepares start even, both priced at $80 per month. Nevertheless, after 12 months, when Optimums rates increase, AT&T becomes less expensive throughout all strategies.
Does AT&T offer faster speeds than Optimum?
More extensively, yes. AT&T provides multi-gigabit speeds– 2Gbps and 5Gbps– to just over 5 million consumers across its footprint in over 70 different cities. Maximum currently uses those same multi-gig plans only to parts of Long Island, New York. Nevertheless, both companies use gigabit strategies to the majority of their consumers.
Are AT&T and Optimum the same company?
No. Optimum Mobile does utilize the AT&T network. AT&T is a telecommunications company that provides broadband and mobile services, while Optimum is owned by Altice USA, itself one of the largest communications companies in the country.
While AT&T and Optimum are simply about equal on starting costs for equivalent speed strategies, AT&Ts cost is the cost. AT&T vs. Optimum: Terms and feesLet me cut to the chase: Both AT&T and Optimum appear to intend to do right by their consumers by reducing the extra charges and charges. AT&T vs. Optimum: Perks and promosBoth Optimum and AT&T use some enticing promos to try to lure potential clients.
Be aware that on the Optimum side, Ill be consisting of the regions and areas that Suddenlink is presently servicing.Okay, with that developed, now that weve chosen to pit AT&T and Optimum home internet services against each other, what precisely are we comparing? Optimum falls well short of AT&T concerning consumer satisfaction scores– while AT&T is often near the top in various surveys, Optimum tends to fall near the really bottom.