Once known for their catchy “Can you hear me now?” mobile commercials, Verizon has not only taken a top spot among wireless providers while cementing its place in pop-culture history, the company has also quickly become one of the highest-rated internet service providers (ISPs) in the country. While Verizon Fios is currently a top contender for millions of Americans in the mid-Atlantic and New England region who want the fastest internet service available, the company is also working to expand their reach nationwide with plans like their 5G Home internet. In this article, we’re focusing on the ins and outs of what makes Verizon Fios, the company’s flagship internet service, one of the most awarded and highly sought after internet services on the market today.
Highlights |
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Verizon Fios |
100% fiber optic network that transmits data at the speed of light |
Lightning fast connection and powerful bandwidth to support multiple devices |
One of the only ISPs to offer matching download & upload speeds on most plans |
Ultra-low latency for smoother video connections and minimal lag when gaming |
No annual contracts, extra fees or data caps |
What is Verizon Fios Internet?
Verizon Fios is an 100 percent fiber optic network that delivers some of the fastest internet speeds to customers concentrated in the Northeast area of the country. Boasting 99.9 percent network reliability, Verizon Fios Home Internet utilizes fiber optics to send data at the speed of light, which makes for a fast, reliable internet connection and powerful bandwidth that can handle a variety of household devices and users simultaneously. Plus, Verizon is one of the only ISPs to offer nearly identical download and upload speeds, which makes a world of difference when video chatting, gaming or working from home.
Pros:
- Fully fiber optic network for fast and reliable connection
- Upfront pricing and plan structure—no hidden fees
- Three clear, simple plans to choose from
- Highest-rated, 24/7 customer service
- Closely matched upload and download speeds
- No data caps, early termination fees or equipment fees
- Bundled packages make it easy to save on internet, TV and phone
- Subsidized plans and rebates for eligible customers
Cons:
- Limited coverage area
- TV packages offer less selection compared to some competitors
- Installation may be time-consuming and costly (although Verizon will waive the installation fee if you order online)
Verizon Fios Availability
As one of the only providers with a 100 percent fiber optic network, Verizon Fios has a somewhat limited coverage area, with a focus on metro areas in the following eastern states—Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia—plus Washington, DC. Verizon offers a convenient address checker to see if you live within their service area for Fios.
Verizon Fios Plans, Packages and Pricing
Unlike many of their competitors, Verizon offers fairly straightforward plans and pricing for their Fios internet services.
With Verizon Fios, you can choose from three main tiers/plans based primarily on speed, with unlimited data and no annual contracts coming standard across all plans. And while plans and pricing may vary (and are subject to change), we found the following applied when checking our specific location:
- 300 Megabits per second (Mbps) for $49.99/month
- 500 Mbps for $69.99/month
- 1 Gig for $89.99/month
There were no other equipment fees (a Verizon router is included with all plans), and you can easily get the $99 installation fee waived by signing up online.
We particularly appreciated that the price listed per plan was inclusive of all taxes and fees as well, so it was clear what we’d be committing to paying each month. And with no annual contracts, it seems like an easy choice to give Verizon Fios a try without fear of penalties.
Verizon Fios Bundles
Verizon makes it easy to mix and match internet and TV packages (or even home phone) based on your household’s unique needs.
In addition to selecting from their three internet plans, you can also add on any of their six live and Spanish-language TV packages. And since there is no annual contract required, you can easily upgrade or downgrade, plus switch TV packages until you find the right fit for you. At the time of this review, Verizon also offers a home phone plan for $25/month when you bundle with internet and TV.
And Verizon Wireless customers get a special bonus reward when signing up for Fios internet. At the time this review was written, Verizon Wireless customers qualified for a $25 discount when they signed up for a new Verizon Fios internet plan, which is a nice perk just for pairing two of the most used services—internet and mobile—in many households.
Verizon Fios Deals
Signing up for Verizon Fios internet often comes with an array of bonus incentives depending on the plans you choose, like free streaming services, gaming equipment or gift cards.
In our area, the 1 Gig Fios plan (Verizon’s fastest and most expensive internet option) comes with a long list of perks for new customers to choose from, including an Xbox console, $200 Home Depot gift card, Disney+ subscription, and two terabytes (TB) of Verizon Cloud storage. Even their budget 300 Mbps plan comes with exciting extras as well.
And some customers may qualify for Fios completely free through the government provided Affordable Connectivity Program in combination with the Verizon Fios Forward Program discounts.
Verizon Fios Speed and Data
Whether you’re working from home, fighting for internet bandwidth across multiple devices, or looking for seamless gaming speed, Verizon Fios is known for being fast…like really fast.
With speeds ranging from 300 Mbps to 940/880 Mbps, Verizon’s fiber optic technology provides powerful upload speeds up to 25 times faster than traditional cable. It uses fiber to transmit data at the speed of light; much faster than the electrical pulses used by copper cabling. Fiber also offers a more reliable connection, plus powerful bandwidth to support multiple devices at the same time without the frequent lag and buffering often seen with cable.
Verizon Fios is one of the only internet service providers to offer closely matched download and upload speeds, which is a major advantage when you’re video chatting, gaming and sharing large files or images.
And the icing on the cake: Verizon Fios offers zero data caps, extra equipment charges or annual contracts.
Verizon Customer Service
Verizon isn’t just known for its catchy commercials and super fast internet service. For the last decade, Verizon Fios has also led the pack when it comes to customer service.
According to the most recent results from American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), an annual independent study analyzing household customer data for more than 400 companies in 45 industries, Verizon Fios is rated in the coveted number one spot for 2022. That marks the seventh year that Verizon has taken the top spot in ACSI’s benchmarks.
Fios customers have access to around-the-clock help via the company’s robust online help center, convenient “chat now” feature on their website, social media channels and call center.
To speak to a representative, simply call 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966). You can even request that a rep call you back at a specific time, which is extremely convenient in today’s busy world.
Comparing Verizon Fios to Other Internet Providers
We’ve dug deep into what Verizon Fios offers, but with so many providers on the market to choose from, how does Fios fare against the competition? Let’s take a closer look:
Verizon Fios vs. Xfinity
Both well-established brands in the world of connectivity, Verizon Fios and Xfinity are often at the top of consumers’ minds when it comes time to choose an internet service. And while they both offer internet, phone and TV bundles to suit almost any household’s needs, Xfinity’s cable network is more widely available than the 100 percent fiber optic network from Fios, which currently services mainly Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states.
And while Xfinity does offer faster maximum download speeds of up to 1,200 Mbps on their Gig plan, Fios’s three straightforward plans mirror Xfinity’s most popular offerings. Where you’ll see a stark difference is in upload speeds, which are significantly slower on Xfinity. Fios is one of the only internet services to provide equivalent upload and download speeds.
Fios is also typically hailed as the more reliable network thanks to its all fiber connection, but most notably, it doesn’t come with any hidden fees, data caps or the confusing promotional prices that are often associated with Xfinity.
Verizon Fios vs Optimum
While not as widely-recognized as Fios, Optimum is making a name for itself in the home internet space. Both providers offer similarly structured plans around speed, with 300 Mbps, 500 Mbps and 1 Gig options to choose from.
While Fios serves millions of customers, their fully fiber optic network is only available to people living near metropolitan areas in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Optimum serves customers across 21 states with their primarily cable-based service, and they’re are beginning to offer 2 Gig and 5 Gig fiber internet in very select markets.
Both companies allow customers to bundle internet, phone and TV packages, and neither requires data caps, annual contracts or equipment fees. But while Fios’s pricing is pretty clear-cut, Optimum seems to run more promotional pricing that can change over time.
Bottom Line: Why We Love It
If you live in the Northeast and are in the market for a new or improved internet connection, it’s hard to beat the overall value and service that Verizon Fios offers. Their fully fiber optic network is known for delivering fast and reliable speed, and their clear-cut pricing and easy-to-understand internet plans are a welcome relief from the sometimes chaotic and confusing promotional pricing and packages from other providers. Plus, if you’re working remotely, frequently sharing large files, or you’re into gaming, Verizon Fios is one of the only services to offer nearly the same upload and download speeds, which makes a significant difference in daily use. Fios comes with no data caps, annual contracts or extra equipment fees, while also offering some of the best-rated customer service in the industry. We feel customers can’t go wrong by choosing Verizon Fios for their internet needs.
Verizon Fios FAQs
Verizon Fios delivers ultra-fast internet service to millions of households in the New England and Mid-Atlantic area of the country through its reliable 100 percent fiber optic network. Fiber optics transmit data at the speed of light, ensuring a high-speed connection you can count on to provide powerful internet service across multiple devices. Plus, Verizon is one of the only providers to deliver nearly equivalent upload and download speeds (DSL and cable internet plans typically prioritize download speeds with upload speed significantly lagging behind), which is a big perk for people who frequently work from home, share files, video chat or game.
While sometimes simply turning the router off and on again may help with connectivity issues, Verizon suggests the following steps to reboot your router:
- Unplug router
- Wait one minute before plugging the router back in
- Wait approximately one to three minutes
- Attempt to reconnect to the internet
Verizon makes it easy to save when you bundle their offerings together, either in a double play (internet and TV) or a triple play (internet, TV and phone) package. Their best pricing and promotions typically apply to their triple plays, or top-tier plans (like the 1-Gig internet plan), but it’s easy to mix and match their different offerings to best serve your needs. For most multi-person/family households, starting with the 500 Mbps internet plan makes the most sense; then build on the right Fios TV package based on channel selection and add phone if needed for the best bundle.
You can easily check your address at Verizon.com to see if Fios is available in your area. Verizon Fios currently is limited to metro areas in the following states/territories:
- Delaware
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Virginia
- Washington, DC
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