Quick Summary
Verizon Fios: 100% fiber internet; symmetrical speeds, high reliability, low latency, consistent customer satisfaction. Prices often include taxes/fees and multi-year guarantees.
Astound Broadband: Primarily cable, growing fiber options. Aggressive promos, "Price for Life" on select Gig+ fiber. Promotional prices increase significantly post-promotion.
Best for Performance: Fios for demanding users (gaming, live streaming) needing symmetrical uploads and superior reliability.
Best for Initial Value: Astound for aggressive intro pricing, especially "Price for Life" fiber (where available).
Is Verizon or Astound available where you live?
Enter your zip code to see the connection types and speeds they offer to you.
Verizon vs. Astound Pricing & Value: Promotional vs. Long-Term Costs
Comparing Verizon Fios and Astound requires looking beyond initial promotions; long-term value, post-promotional increases, and fees differ.
| Fios Plan (Symmetrical) | Monthly Price (with Auto Pay) | Price Guarantee | Included Perks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 Mbps | $34.99 - $40.00/mo* | 3 Years | Standard Wi-Fi |
| 500 Mbps | $59.99/mo | 4 Years | Router Included |
| 1 Gig | $74.99/mo | 5 Years | Whole-Home Wi-Fi |
| 2 Gig | $90.00/mo | 5 Years | Router Included |
| 5 Gig | $100.00/mo | 5 Years | Router Included |
Important Fios Fees & Discounts:
Mobile Discount: The 300 Mbps plan drops to $30/mo if you have an eligible Verizon postpaid mobile plan (Mobile & Home discount saves $20/mo total).
Equipment: A router is typically included on current plans, though older or specialized setups may incur a $15-$18/mo rental fee.
Installation: The $99 setup fee is frequently waived for online orders.
| Astound Speed Tier | Monthly Price | Term Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 Mbps | $19.95/mo | 12-Month Promo | - |
| 300 Mbps | $20 - $30/mo | 12-Month Promo | - |
| 600 Mbps | $45.00/mo | 12-Month Promo | - |
| 1 Gig | $40.00/mo* (or $60/mo) | Price for Life* (or 12-Mos) | Price for Life is Fiber-only (incl. eero WiFi) |
| 1.5 Gig | $60.00/mo* (or $70/mo) | Price for Life* (or 12-Mos) | Price for Life is Fiber-only (incl. eero WiFi) |
| 2 Gig | $90.00/mo | 12-Month Promo | - |
| 5 Gig | $175.00/mo | 12-Month Promo | Fiber network only |
Important Astound Fees & Bundles:
Hidden Fees: Astound charges a recurring "Network Access/Maintenance Fee" (commonly around $16.93/mo) in many markets. A $14.99 Setup Fee may also apply.
Price Hikes: Standard promotional prices typically increase by $20-$40/month after the first 12 months.
Price for Life: To get the "Price for Life" $40 (1 Gig) or $60 (1.5 Gig) deals, you must be on their Fiber network and use Auto Pay/paperless billing.
Equipment & Installation: Self-install is $15; Pro-install is $79.95 (often waived). Standard modem rentals are $10-$15/mo in some areas, but Gig+ plans usually include eero Whole Home WiFi.
Mobile Bundle: You can get 1 free line of Unlimited Mobile for 12 months when paired with internet.
Verizon vs. Astound Speed & Technology: Fiber vs. Cable Performance
Internet experience depends on technology. Verizon Fios is 100% fiber; Astound is primarily hybrid fiber-coaxial (cable) with limited fiber, impacting uploads and reliability.
Verizon Fios (Pure Fiber Network)
- Technology: 100% fiber-optic straight to your home.
- Speed: Symmetrical speeds across all plans (your upload speed matches your download speed, up to 5 Gig).
- Reliability: Highly reliable with low, stable latency (<20ms). Because it's pure fiber, you get advertised speeds even during peak evening hours. Perfect for heavy gaming and video calls.
Astound Broadband (Hybrid Network)
- Technology: Primarily a hybrid cable network, with pure fiber offered only in limited, newer areas.
- Speed (Cable): Fast downloads (up to 1.5 Gig), but much slower uploads (e.g., maxing out around 20-50 Mbps).
- Speed (Fiber): Symmetrical speeds up to 5 Gig (but you must be in a specific fiber-to-the-home zone).
- Reliability: Good, but the cable network can experience congestion and speed fluctuations when your neighbors get online.
- Availability: Available across 12 states (including NY, IL, D.C., MA, CA, and TX), but you must check your specific zip code to see if you qualify for Cable or Fiber.
Features & Customer Experience
Both offer modern conveniences. Customer satisfaction and terms differ, though neither requires annual contracts and both generally offer unlimited data.
Verizon Fios Highlights
- Contracts & Data: No annual contracts. 100% unlimited data on every single plan.
- Customer Satisfaction: Consistently ranks at the top of the industry (J.D. Power, ACSI 2024).
- Smart Home & Gaming: Excellent. The stable, symmetrical speeds easily handle dozens of smart home devices and competitive gaming without lagging.
- Router Quality: Premium routers are often included for free, supporting high speeds and Whole-Home Wi-Fi.
Astound Broadband Highlights
- Contracts & Data: No annual contracts. Unlimited data is included on 1 Gig+ plans, but lower tiers (300/600 Mbps) may have strict data caps (400GB to 1TB) depending on your region.
- Customer Satisfaction: Mixed reviews. Customers frequently report customer support delays and billing issues.
- Smart Home & Gaming: Good for covering large homes (thanks to eero mesh Wi-Fi), but the asymmetrical cable upload speeds can bottleneck heavy gaming or Twitch streaming.
- Router Quality: Excellent. Top-tier eero Whole Home WiFi mesh systems are included with Gig+ plans.
Pros and cons: Verizon vs. Astound
Verizon Fios
Pros:
- 100% Pure Fiber: Superior speed, rock-solid reliability, low latency, and symmetrical uploads (ideal for gaming/streaming).
- Top-Tier Support: Consistently high customer satisfaction and network performance.
- Transparent Pricing: Multi-year price guarantees with taxes and fees often included in the sticker price.
- No Limits: Unlimited data on all plans with absolutely no annual contracts.
Cons:
- Limited Footprint: Only available in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
- Starting Price: Potentially higher initial cost compared to Astound's aggressive introductory promos.
- Setup Fee: A $99 setup fee may apply (though it is often waived online).
Astound Broadband
Pros:
- Huge Discounts: Very aggressive promotional pricing for the first 12 months.
- Price Lock: Offers "Price for Life" on select 1 Gig and 1.5 Gig fiber plans.
- Availability: Broader geographic footprint across 12 states.
- Equipment Perks: Excellent eero mesh Wi-Fi included for free on Gig+ plans.
- No Contracts: Generally unlimited data on higher plans with no annual contracts.
Cons:
- Price Hikes & Hidden Fees: Expect a $20-40+/moincreaseafterthepromoends,plusasneaky40+/mo increase after the promo ends, plus a sneaky16.93/mo "Network Access Fee" and potential modem rentals ($10-$15/mo).
- Slower Uploads: Primarily a cable network, meaning you suffer from asymmetrical uploads (e.g., only 20-50 Mbps upload on 1.5 Gig plans).
- Mixed Support: Lower customer satisfaction with frequent reports of billing and support delays.
- Fiber is Rare: True fiber availability is not readily public; you must check your specific address.
FAQ
Q: Which provider offers the fastest symmetrical speeds?
A: Fios offers symmetrical speeds (100% fiber). Astound offers symmetrical speeds only where direct fiber-to-the-home is available; cable plans have slower uploads.
Q: Are there data caps with either Verizon Fios or Astound Broadband?
A: Fios offers unlimited data on all plans. Astound generally offers unlimited data on 1 Gig+; lower-tier cable (300/600 Mbps) has data caps (400GB/1TB) in some regions.
Q: How do post-promotional prices compare for Astound Broadband?
A: For Astound plans without "Price for Life," expect a price increase of ~$20 to $40/month after the initial 12-month promo. Increase varies by plan/location.
Q: Can I get fiber internet from Astound Broadband in my neighborhood?
A: Astound offers fiber in specific, growing areas, but availability is more limited than its cable network. Verify fiber availability at your address directly on Astound's website using your ZIP code.
Q: What are the main additional fees I might encounter with these providers?
A: For Fios, expect potential router rental fees (if not included, ~$15-18/month) and a $99 setup fee (often waived online). For Astound, watch for potential modem/router rental fees (~$10-15/month), an activation fee ($15), professional installation ($79.95, often waived), and a recurring "Network Access and Maintenance Fee" (~$16.93/month in some markets).