If you’re an Optimum customer, then chances are that you’ve been offered a router for $9.95 a month. This Wi Fi router that the company is offering you is very mediocre, though, so save yourself the pain of slow speeds and some money by getting your own Optimum compatible router.
Benefits of Getting Your Own Optimum Compatible Router
There are a number of different benefits that you’re going to get when you buy your own router for Optimum rather than using the one that your internet provider is offering to rent you.
Faster Wi Fi Speeds
First and foremost, you’re going to have much faster Wi Fi speeds. The Wi Fi router that you get from Optimum is going to have terrible speed packages.
If you’re living in a house with a lot of devices, or you plan on using the Wi Fi for gaming, then you’re going to be extremely frustrated.
Every single Optimum compatible router on this list has a significantly better speed package then the default router for Optimum. This is going to give you faster uploads and downloads across the board on all of your connected devices.
Save Money
A big reason to get your own modem router combo for Optimum is to eliminate those monthly fees. You’re already paying a charge for your internet access, so you don’t want to be paying more for your router, as well.
Over the course of a year, you’re going to be paying almost $120 for your router. That’s $120 for a mediocre piece of equipment that you don’t even own.
Instead, you can spend between $200 and $300 on a good router that is going to last you for years, that you own, and that has a much higher performance level than the router on offer from Optimum.
Larger Square Feet Coverage
All of the best Optimum wireless router models out there have great square feet coverage. This is how far from the router, you can connect a device and still get good speeds.
The default router that you get is going to have terribly square feet coverage, which is going to make using it in a medium to large house a massive pain, especially if you have kids living in different bedrooms.
Modem Router Combo Choices
When purchasing your own devices, you have much more freedom when it comes to your modem router combo for Optimum.
You can opt to get each device separately, or for the best modem router combo that you can find. Either one of these options is going to be more beneficial than using the default wireless router that Optimum provides you with.
What We’re Looking For
Before I dive into the list, I’m going to briefly go over what I looked for in each router when picking out the best Optimum compatible routers.
Download speeds are the name of the game when it comes to modems and routers. High performance is directly related to the speed that your router provides, which is why I prioritized that.
I looked for tri band over dual band router models. Tri band router models offer greater overall range and speeds, so naturally, we want to get routers that feature it as much as we can.
After looking at dual band, I checked to see the number of ethernet and USB ports on the router. Ethernet ports are used to directly wire your connected devices to the internet and give a much higher speed when compared to wireless.
I made sure that the majority of the routers I included on the list have at least four ethernet ports, if not more.
Lastly, I looked at security and parental controls. Having parental controls on their internet is a must for a lot of people, which is why all of the routers I’ve found have some variety of controls available to them.
Security is another across the board feature that everyone should want with their router. All of the models I’m about to discuss are incredibly well built and high end, so you don’t need to worry about security when you use one.
Netgear Nighthawk R7000
The Netgear Nighthawk range is the king of high performance. The comparison between one of these models and your Optimum router is going to be comical.
The R7000 sits comfortably towards the top of the Nighthawk mountain. It’s not the highest performing router, but it does offer a staggeringly good internet speed package for the price.
You’re going to be reaching a speed of up to 1900mbps, which is more than enough for a household of devices on the internet connection.
If you’re in an apartment, for example, and only have one device, then the cable internet that you get from this router is going to blow you away.
The router is only a dual band, which is a shame, but it’s also going to cost you the same amount as one year of your rental fees.
It has four 1 gigabit ethernet ports, security features, smart connect parental controls, and more. It’s easy to set up and is fully compatible with Optimum internet.
If you’re looking for a new router that is going to give you unreal speeds for a fraction of the cost other routers sell for, make sure the R7000 is at the top of your shopping list.
Netgear Orbi
If you’re looking for the best performance over square feet, then this WiFi router is the best you’re going to get.
The Netgear Orbi is unique compared to the other best router models on this list. Rather than being a single WiFi router, it’s actually a series of devices.
The Orbi is made up of your initial WiFi router, and then a series of satellites that all connect to the router wirelessly. You place these satellites around your home, and they, in turn, boost the speeds you get over a longer range.
This is referred to as mesh WiFi and is perfect if you need to get high speed across a large living space.
The Orbi has a variety of security features and smart home features that make setting the device up and connecting the Satellites a breeze.
It doesn’t have the same functionality as a traditional router in terms of gigabit ethernet ports, but it is the best option for getting a good connection across a large home.
Gryphon AC3000
Gryphon is a lesser-known brand when it comes to Optimum approved routers. Despite that, the AC3000 delivers an incredible performance on a budget. Specifically, this router has some of the best security features that I’ve seen on any router, not just ones at this price point.
It’s also extremely interesting that this router can act as a mesh system. As a mesh system, you can use it to amplify your connection across your home just like with the Netgear Orbi.
The base router gives you 3000 square feet of coverage. If you need more than that, you can purchase another AC3000 and connect it as a satellite.
Out of all the best routers for Optimum that I’ve looked at, this one is the most unique. It is among the best router for Optimum models in terms of speed and security features even though it costs a fraction of the other, more established brands. On top of that, doubling as a mesh system is an ingenious idea that I wish more routers would start incorporating.
TP-Link Archer A7
The last entry on my best router for Optimum list is the TP-Link Archer A7. This router for Optimum isn’t going to give you the same speed of power that the other entries on this list can, but it is the most affordable option by far.
Using this router for Optimum internet is going to give you a maximum of 1750mbps, which is phenomenal for just how cheap this router is.
It doesn’t come with the other fancy smart parental controls that more expensive routers have, but there is enough functionality here to get by.
If you’re looking to get the best router, best, you stay away from this one and get a router that delivers higher speeds at a higher price point. However, if you’re looking for an incredibly affordable internet plan that punches well above its weight, then the A7 might just be the router you need.
Conclusion
We’ve just looked at five different routers to go with your cable modem. I tried to stay away from overly complicated material like virtual services, DOCSIS 3.0 modem, and proxies, and instead focuses solely on the stuff that matters to you when looking for a router and cable modem.
There can only be one definitive router that I prefer over the rest, though. The router best suited to Optimum internet, in my opinion, is the Gryphon.
The speeds that the router delivers at that price point are too great to ignore, and the features that it comes with are also phenomenal.
What’s more, the fact that this router can be used as a part of a mesh network is phenomenal and is going to dramatically increase your internet performance across the board.
