Verizon Fios review
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Verizon Fios is one of the leading internet services in the United States. With its fiber availability, impressive network speeds, and reliability, Fios has extensive fiber coverage in the Northeast, and it comes with some great perks.
As a Cybernews expert, I’ve partnered with our research team and dug through tons of research, customer feedback, and professional reviews to give you the most up-to-date information and verdict on this leading US network provider. In the sections below, I’ll dive further into what Verizon Fios is all about, its strengths and weaknesses, and how it compares to the competition. Keep reading to get the full overview.
About Verizon Fios
Verizon Fios is a fiber-optic internet provider in the United States. It’s known for having the widest fiber coverage in the Northeast, and its internet service comes with excellent speed and reliability. Verizon Fios has been in operation since 2004. With more than 20 years of experience under their belt, you know you’re getting top-quality products and customer service from the team behind America’s leading internet provider.
Fios offers 100% fiber optic technology to its customers. This technology allows data to be transmitted as light pulses through plastic or glass fiber. That makes your internet lightning-fast. Fiber is also much more reliable than wireless networks since it uses underground infrastructure that connects you directly to the source of your network provider. In other words, there are no disruptions due to bad weather or blackouts.
Additionally, you’ll get symmetrical upload and download speeds, which are excellent for streaming and gaming. Even better, your data is unlimited, with no monthly cap on any plans. Verizon Fios’ fiber internet service is available in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern US across nine different states. Even if you live in one of these areas, it's still important to check whether fiber is available at your precise location since the infrastructure needs to be put in place first.
Rating: | |
Price: | From $35.00/month |
Connectivity type: | 100% fiber |
Availability: | 9 US states |
Bundling options: | Yes, with mobile and streaming services |
Verizon Fios: pros and cons
Verizon Fios plans and pricing
Verizon Fios offers a tiered pricing structure. Each plan comes with a different price and connection speed. All plans offer fiber optic connectivity, so they’re all relatively fast. The entry package comes in at $35.00 per month, offering you a speedy 300Mbps download and upload speed.
The highest package on offer at Verizon Fios is $84.99 per month with a rapid 2.3Gbps download speed and a 1.5Gbps upload speed. There are two other mid-tiered packages offering 500Mbps ($59.99) and 1Gbps ($64.99) respectively.
However, perhaps the best part about Verizon Fios is the fact that it comes with a no-contract structure. If you want to upgrade or downgrade your package, you can do so instantly. Plus, you can cancel your contract without having to pay any penalty fees. No more getting locked into 12-month contracts with high early cancellation fees.
You can also grab some great Verizon Fios deals that bundle your internet with additional services like Amazon Prime, Netflix, ViX Premium, and more.
Plan | Monthly cost | Connection type | Download speed | Upload speed | Data cap | Contract commitment | Free equipment included |
Fios 300 Mbps | $35.00 | Fiber-optic | 300Mbps | 300Mbps | Unlimited | None | Yes |
Fios 500 Mbps | $59.99 | Fiber-optic | 500Mbps | 500Mbps | Unlimited | None | Yes |
Fios 1 Gig | $64.99 | Fiber-optic | 940Mbps | 880Mbps | Unlimited | None | Yes |
Fios 2 Gig | $84.99 | Fiber-optic | 2300Mbps (2.3Gbps) | 1500Mbps (1.5Gbps) | Unlimited | None | Yes |
Key features of Verizon Fios
Verizon Fios uses fiber-optic technology to reach incredible connection speeds and reliability. According to their website, they have 99.9% reliability. While it’s impossible to authenticate that figure, it could be accurate considering the uptime figures from fiber internet providers (all at 99.9%). Essentially, fiber means that you always have a direct connection to your source of internet, so the only interruption you would face is maintenance or repairs.
When you start your Fios plan, all the equipment is included in your monthly cost. This is great because it means you don’t need to go out and look for a router and set everything up yourself. With an all-inclusive package, you know that you’ll get excellent equipment that will give you the best possible internet connection and help you make the most of your package.
The Verizon Fios app makes it easier than ever to manage your internet from anywhere. Using the app, you can pay, view, or manage your bill easily or set up auto-pay. You can also check your plan details and access tools such as an internet speed test and Wi-Fi settings or troubleshoot any potential problems with your Wi-Fi.
Verizon Fios coverage and availability
You can currently get access to Verizon Fios fiber internet across nine different states. It’s also officially available in 15 cities. However, you still need to double-check availability in your area. Even though Verizon lists these as the areas that offer fiber optic internet, there may be some that don’t have the infrastructure in place yet.
You can head over to the Verizon website and input your street address. The map will show you if fiber internet is available in your location. Doing this before you start the process of getting fiber internet is crucial so that you don’t end up wasting your time.
But if fiber isn’t available in your area just yet, you can opt for a DSL or wireless connection. Fiber optic internet is much faster and more reliable, but the infrastructure needs to be in place for you to use it. Fios is still rolling out each day. According to reports, they’re aiming to expand to 650,000 users annually. Keep an eye on their website and your local news outlets to get an update on when they reach your area.
How does Verizon Fios compare with competitors?
Verizon Fios stacks up pretty well with its competitors in all areas. In terms of speed, only AT&T fiber beats it with a rapid 5Gbps maximum speed. However, Fios is a more affordable option, offering lower prices for their packages. Nevertheless, Fios and AT&T fiber are not available in the same areas, so you won’t need to decide between these two.
If you’re looking for the most affordable internet access, Verizon’s 5G packages are much lower in price. However, you will have to deal with lower speeds compared to a fiber network. 5G network is also less reliable compared to fiber, and you may end up with slower speeds than what you’re paying for.
Provider | Speed range | Pricing | Coverage | Special features |
Verizon Fios | Up to 2Gbps | $35.00-84.99 | Northeast | Fiber-optic network |
Xfinity | Up to 1.2Gbps | $25.00-299.95 | Nationwide | Bundled with Xfinity TV |
AT&T Fiber | Up to 5Gbps | $55.00-180 | Select metro areas | Fiber-optic network |
Verizon 5G | 300Mbs-1Gbps | $35.00-60 | Nationwide | 5G network |
Spectrum | Up to 1Gbps | $40.00-100 | Nationwide | No data caps |
Verizon Fios user reviews
I’ve dug into user reviews to see what Verizon Fios customers say. Whether it's good or bad, I’m summarising it all down below for you. This will make it easier for you to decide whether Fios is the right option for you.
Most user experiences have been overwhelmingly positive. Customers find the fiber connection fast and reliable at all times, which is great if you spend your time gaming or streaming. However, if you don’t need rapid speeds and massive amounts of bandwidth, you could probably get away with DSL internet. One major concern is the customer service from the Verizon Fios team.
Common praises
Users have reported that their 300/300 line is excellent with minimal latency (9ms). Many users have moved from other service providers and insist that their experience with Verizon Fios has been far better.
Another positive is customers have not experienced any outages – with one customer using Fios for over eight years. Another customer stated that they had a 10-minute outage in their decade of using Fios.
Some users have reported excellent customer service from Verizon Fios, having their issues solved quickly. However, as you’ll see below, there have also been some complaints about their customer service.
Common complaints
One customer had an issue where a technician disrupted their connection while working on a neighbor’s Fios cable. The team took three days to send out another technician to solve the problem, and the customer was not credited for the lost time.
There have been many complaints about their customer service. Some users reported being unable to solve their problems despite long conversations with the team. Others reported that the customer service process was too long and complex, and they were unable to get on the phone with an agent quickly enough.
Many customers have reported that additional charges have been added to their bills. One user found a Disney+ charge added to their bill, while others found charges for maintenance and repairs unrelated to their service or home.
Verizon Fios: our verdict
Verizon Fios is an excellent internet solution for those who need high-speed, reliable internet. Thanks to fiber-optic technology, Fios has rapid speeds with 99.9% reliability and no outages. Thousands of users have reported that they’re much happier with Fios compared to their previous internet service provider. Plus, Fios doesn’t lock you into any contracts, and its packages are excellent value for money.
Some users reported slower customer support responses, though the issues are typically resolved quickly as soon as a customer support agent is on the case. The main complaint is a smaller coverage area. However, Verizon Fios is undergoing an expansion to more regions and cities.
Fios is ideal if you’re a gamer, enjoy streaming movies, or need high-speed internet for other high-bandwidth online activities, such as conference calls. However, if you don’t need super fast internet or Fios isn’t available in your area yet, you might be best off going for a more affordable package such as Verizon 5G.
FAQ
Can I bundle Verizon Fios with other services?
Yes, Verizon Fios can be bundled with extras such as Disney+, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Max (with ads). Always check which bundles and deals are available on the Verizon Fios website.
What internet speeds does Verizon Fios offer?
Verizon Fios speeds range between 300Mbps and 2Gbps. There are several different packages you can choose from, all with symmetrical upload and download speeds.
Is Verizon Fios available nationwide?
No, Verizon Fios is only available in the Northeast. Fios is currently supported in 9 different states and 15 cities. There are plans to expand the service rapidly over the next couple of years.
Does Verizon Fios require a contract?
No, Fios is a no-contract internet service provider. This gives you the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade your package as needed. It also means you won’t have to deal with any early cancellation fees if you choose to move to another provider.
How does Verizon Fios compare to cable internet?
Fios is much faster and more reliable than regular cable internet. Because of the fiber-optic technology used by Verizon Fios, you have a direct connection to your internet source. Data is transmitted through underground glass cables, making it the fastest possible connection you can get.
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