Best Optimum Deals and Promotions

Best Optimum promotions and discounts this month

Optimum deals are a good motivation to give the services a try, but be ready to jump through hoops to get all the benefits. Some deals are available only in the West, and others only in the East. At the same time, some deals are only good if you shop online, while others are good only if you shop in an Optimum store.

The most widely available deal is a $25 monthly discount when you bundle gigabit internet and an unlimited phone plan. You get both for $80 per month after the discount if you opt into paperless billing and autopay. There are a few things to know, though. First, you probably don’t need that much speed or that much internet data. Consider skipping the deal and opting for a cheaper plan from the start. Second, internet prices on this deal will go up after the first year, so you’ll end up paying at least $15 more every month after the first year.

The $400 gift card deal for an 8Gbps plan is also appealing, but virtually no one needs speeds that fast from their home internet provider. You could save hundreds every month by choosing a 300Mbps plan and skipping the gift card song and dance altogether.

Best Optimum internet plans

Optimum offers some of the lowest internet prices on the market, but prices typically go up by $15 per month after year one and another $15 per month after year two, making final prices in year three $30 higher than where you started. It’s a bummer, but even third-year prices are relatively affordable.

With some plans, you can dodge the increases by choosing a deal with a multi-year price guarantee. These vary based on your internet type (cable or fiber), the speed you choose, and where you live. The best way to know what you can get is to look for deals during the online checkout process or to ask about them on the phone or in an Optimum store.

You need an Optimum internet plan to sign up for a TV plan, and there are no extra discounts on TV for bundling. That means TV is expensive, even before about $20 in hidden fees every month.

Optimum TV is good if you just want to pay one bill and be done with it, but you can probably get cheaper service and more choice in channels by buying your own streaming box (such as an Apple TV or Chromecast) and buying streaming services à la carte.

Best mobile and internet bundles from Optimum

Optimum offers two mobile phone plans: 1 GB Mobile and Unlimited Mobile. The 1 GB plan gives you unlimited talk and text, but only 1 GB of mobile data every month. That’s probably fine if you mostly use your phone on Wi-Fi. If you use maps apps or watch social videos while you’re out and about, though, go with an Unlimited Mobile plan.

Unfortunately, it’s not easy to choose mobile plans if you’re checking out online—you get funneled into one or the other based on the internet speed you choose. If that’s not what you want, try calling in or going to an Optimum store in person.

Optimum internet discounts: How can you lower your bill?

There are three main ways to save on your Optimum deal:

• Hunt for a deal when you sign up online
• Bundle more than one service from Optimum
• Agree to autopay and paperless billing

If you choose to bundle mobile and internet, you will be billed for each service separately, but you can expect a $25 monthly discount on your internet bill.

• Look for deals when you buy online, including free installation and a $100 service credit.
• Save $5 per month by signing up for autopay and paperless billing.
• Save $25 per month when you bundle mobile phone and home internet service.

Discounts for Veterans, seniors, and public servants

Optimum doesn’t offer special discounts based on your status as a Veteran, senior citizen, or public servant, but you may qualify for perks based on where you live and what internet speeds you choose.

Learn more about Optimum plans and prices.

Discounts for low-income customers

In some parts of the country, low-income folks qualify for the Optimum Advantage Internet plan, which costs $14.99 per month. You get download speeds of 50Mbps. That’s pretty slow but usable if you have a small household.

Learn more about low-income internet from Optimum.

Apply for the Lifeline Program to lower your bill even more

Low-income folks may be able to get a $9.95 service credit on their Optimum bill by signing up for the federal Lifeline program.

What fees do you pay with Optimum internet?

Optimum no longer charges cancellation fees, and you can usually get out of internet equipment fees (unless you need more than one mesh extender). However, prices on internet plans typically go up after 12 and 24 months.

Self-setup is free if you order online, but you may have to pay up to $100 if you need a pro to come out and help.

Optimum internet fees

Internet fees are minimal, but fees start to add up if you choose Optimum TV service. The following charges may show up on your bill:

Cable box or Optimum TV Box: $14.00/mo.

Optimum One: $24.00/mo.

Optimum Stream: $12.00/mo.

TV Broadcast fee: $9.99/mo.

Regional sports network fee: $10.47/mo.

You may be able to find deals that get you free TV equipment, but the broadcast and sports fees are hard to escape.

Our take: Are Optimum deals worth it?

Before you start shopping, I recommend figuring out how much speed you need for home internet and how much data you need for your mobile phone. (It’s probably less than you think.)

From there, take advantage of Optimum deals if they’re offered, but don’t pay for faster internet or more mobile data than you need. It will become a huge hassle down the road.

It’s also a good idea to shop for internet service about once a year—it’s tough to get out of Optimum’s price increases, but you might be able to save by switching providers.

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