Optimum Mobile, which used to be Altice Mobile, is not it the greatest cell phone carrier. They have only one okay plan, the $55 Unlimited Max Plan, but it is only that cheap if you already use Optimum cable TV or internet. If not, you have to pay an extra $20 every month.
Whether you are a current customer or not, if you are thinking about Optimum Mobile, you should read this review first.
- Is Optimum Mobile good for you?
- Pros and cons of Optimum Internet
- Mobile cell phone plans
- Family cell phone plans
- How does Optimum Mobile is different from other family plans?
- Optimum Mobile coverage
- Optimum coverage map
- Best Mobile devices and cell phones
- Recap: Is Optimum Mobile a good mobile phone company?
- Conclusion
Is Optimum Mobile good for you?
We are not excited about Optimum Mobile overall, as you might have noticed. But, there could be a few people who like what they offer.
Optimum Mobile used to be Altice Mobile, and Altice USA owns it. All of Altice USA’s services, like internet, cable, landline phone, and mobile, are only in three states: New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. If you live outside of these states, you can not get Optimum Mobile, even if you want to.
If you live in those areas, you can join Optimum Mobile, but it is only really a good deal if you already use another Optimum service. Optimum has some special offers for people who want to bundle services in December. Here they are:
If you bundle Optimum’s internet and mobile services between December 4th and January 7th, you can get a discounted mobile plan price locked for two years.
Use the code SLEIGH50 when you join for Optimum Internet. You will save $50 on your first month’s payment. This deal is good until the end of December.
If you include Unlimited Mobile plan, you can save up to $100 every month on Optimum Internet for the rest of December.
So, in simple words, if you already have Optimum Internet and TV services then Optimum’s cell phone service could be a good offer for you. If not, maybe it is the best to leave it out.
Pros and cons of Optimum Internet
Pros
- 5G nationwide coverage is great
- Discounts for internet service bundling
Cons
- Pricey for an MVNO
- Only available in three states
Mobile cell phone plans
Optimum Mobile has three phone plans: 1 GB, 3 GB and Unlimited Everything. Each scheme comes with a regular cost and a cheaper rate for those who are already using Optimum services. All three plans include talking and texting without any limits. They also allow you to use T-Mobile’s 4G LTE and 5G networks.
But, this is important that even if you are on the best plan (Unlimited Max), your internet speed will slow down a lot after using a specific amount of data. This makes it hard to watch videos, use your hotspot and more on Spotify once you have used all the data allowed.
Even when you are using your fast data, the video quality will be lower, at 480p. Many other similar carriers do this, but we do not like it, mainly when you are already paying a lot for just 50 GB of fast data.
Family cell phone plans
Optimum Mobile has family cell phone plans, which means you can save more money by adding lines for your family members. These plans give you good savings per line, extra benefits, and the convenience of having just one bill for everyone.
Optimum Mobile gives you a discount when you add more lines. For example, if you have four lines on the Unlimited Max plan, you save $60 every month. The chart shows that the cost for this plan with four lines (for existing customers) is $160 per month. That is $60 less than if you paid separately for four lines at $55 each.
But, if Optimum’s savings are not enough for you, there are also other carriers with affordable and strong family plans. You can check out some of favorites in the next section.
Important Links
How does Optimum Mobile is different from other family plans?
When we compare Optimum Mobile to other family plans, it turns out Optimum is quite pricey. In the chart below, we have listed some of the best family plans, including ones from big carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. Surprisingly, all of them are cheaper than Optimum.
Here’s a quick look at the savings you could get with other plans:
- You can save a whole $80 every month by picking Visible Wireless instead of Optimum.
- Another option is saving $75 and going directly with T-Mobile’s network.
In simple terms, there is no good reason to choose an Optimum family plan when there are much better alternatives available.
Optimum Mobile coverage
To use Optimum Mobile, you need to be in specific areas of New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut. Even though it is limited to these places, Optimum Mobile has coverage across the whole country. They use T-Mobile’s network, and you can check where the signal reaches by looking at the coverage map.
Optimum coverage map
T-Mobile, the network used by Optimum Mobile, has great coverage in many large cities. But, there may be some places without coverage in the countryside. T-Mobile covers this by having the quickest download speeds and a big 5G network all over the country.
Best Mobile devices and cell phones
The best time to buy a new phone is when you are starting a new phone plan. They usually have special deals and discounts that you can use. So, what sort of phone offers does Optimum give?
Let us look at the costs for the three best gadgets they are selling now.
Optimum’s prices are not very cheap, especially when you look at the buy-one-get-one-free deals and free phone offers that big companies like Verizon and T-Mobile sometimes give. But, at least, Optimum’s prices are not too expensive either.
Recap: Is Optimum Mobile a good mobile phone company?
Here is a quick recap:
Cell Phone Plans:
- Optimum offers three plans with 1-50 GB of data.
- Costs are lower for current Optimum/Altice users, but they might still be too expensive for most people.
Family Cell Phone Plans:
Optimum’s family plans help you save money when using more than one line, but the price cuts are not as good as other MVNO discount offers.
Cell Phones and Devices:
- When you sign up, you can get phones like Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy.
- The costs are okay, but they are not too expensive either.
Conclusion
In the end, Optimum Mobile might be good for some people who want to put services together. But even then, there could be better choices. In general, it is not a good option for most people.
