Verizon Fios Reviews 2023
Packages & Pricing | Modem & Router | Features | Customer Service | Final Recommendation
- Verizon Fios Review Highlights:
- Verizon FiOS offers 3 plans with internet speeds ranging from 200 Mbps to 940 Mbps for $39.99/mo to $79.99/mo
- Verizon FiOS has coverage in the Northeast including New York, Maryland, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania
- Current Verizon FiOS offers include router rental included with select plans, no contracts, no data caps, and more
While many providers offer fiber services using hybrid fiber-coaxial networks, Verizon Fios is among those who deliver their services via fiber only. Advertising as a 100% fiber-optic network that goes straight to their customer’s home, the highest speeds that they can deliver are 940Mbps download and 880Mbps upload. While technically not 1Gbps, it’s the closest you will get with any 1Gbps plan due to current technology limitations.
These speeds are only available in select areas of with the highest population covered being in the state of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland.
Verizon Fios was an early adopter of fiber to home plan, which aims to bring fiber to every household where they have built their infrastructure. Since their services are available via fiber only, customers will need an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) in your home area if you want to use their services. The ONT box is used to reroute the signal to the wiring within your home.
Packages and Pricing
Verizon Fios offers three different internet plans delivered via their 100% fiber network. All three plans have affordable pricing, are available without any contracts, but price locks and benefits vary between them, with the best deals only available for their highest-tier plan. But, on the upside, users can test any plan and cancel within the first 30 days with no early termination fee (ETF) to worry about.
Better Browsing – 100Mbps Down / 100Mbps Up
This is their entry-level plan for $39.99 per month. For that price, you will get download speeds of 100Mbps and 100Mbps upload with a 1-year price lock. After the price lock expires, the monthly fee will increase by $15. For the first 12 months, the price with all the taxes and fees works out at around $52 (including router rental fee).
This plan is a good pick if you have one to two devices that you will use for HD streaming, and have a few more devices connected at the same time.
Better Streaming – 300Mbps Down / 300Mbps Up
Their mid-level plan is available to new customers for $59.99 per month, with a 2-year price lock. The monthly price you can expect to pay with all the fees and taxes included will bring the price up to $72.71. This includes the router rental fee. It’s well suited for those who wish to download or stream a lot.
Better Everything – 940Mbps Down / 880Mbps Up
This is their highest tier fiber internet option, best suited for large households with lots of streaming-capable devices. With this connection, users can enjoy 4K definition movies and TV shows, stream games, even use services like Google Stadia.
The advertised pricing for this plan is $79.99 per month, and it includes a 3-year price lock. This is the only plan where the advertised and actual monthly price is the same, thanks to a current promo where you get their router for free during the 3-year price lock period.
Promotional Prices and Deals Limitations
The above-mentioned prices for each package are available only if you choose the autopay option and paper-free billing. Without these options, the prices increase by $10 per month.
You may also have to go through the credit approval process, and in some cases, pay a deposit to get these prices too.
All the speeds mentioned for each package are wired speeds, and Fios states that Wi-Fi connected devices might experience different or lowered speeds. This is due to the differences in device capabilities. If your phone only supports speeds up to 500Mbps, you won’t get any higher speeds when connected to your home Wi-Fi.
Fees
In addition to the monthly internet fee, you will also have to pay $12 per month for the router, and your monthly bill will be increased for applicable charges and other applicable fees. You may also have to pay the initial setup fee of $99, but this can be avoided if you order their internet plan online.
These are actually the only fees to worry about since Verizon Fios has no contract and therefore no early termination fees.
Verizon Fios Modem & Router Review
You can choose to rent out the modem from Verizon, buy it from Verizon directly or use your own router instead. Currently, users can get a Fios Quantum Gateway router (Verizon G1100) that supports fiber internet speeds.
The monthly fee for the router is $12 per month, but if you’re planning long-term you can also buy the router for a $199 one-time payment.
If you choose to use your own router, you should be aware that some router models might not support all the services Verizon Fios offers, and Verizon won’t be able to offer their usual tech support services either. For internet services, Verizon states that they will offer support and install services for their routers only.
Note: Even if you get the same model as the one they offer, if it’s not Verizon branded, you won’t get the support.
Features and Benefits
Verizon Fios offers several additional benefits internet plan users:
Visa Debit Card with Select Plans
Currently, customers can get a $50 Verizon Visa prepaid card when they choose their Better Browsing 300/300 plan. The Visa card is issued by MetaBank, and you can use it anywhere where Visa debit cards are accepted.
The $50 you get on the card doesn’t have an expiry date, but the card has, so customers should use the funds while the card is still valid within 12 months. In order to get the card, you need to use the service for 31 days first and then register for the Visa card within the next 60 days. The card is usually mailed within 30 days after registration.
ETF Coverage Credit
Verizon Fios offers its customers the ability to switch easily even if they are still under contract with other providers. They offer up to $500 in early termination fee credit for these types of cases, where they will add up to $500 to your Verizon account against the cost of their services. This could cover your internet bill for a while at least!
In order to be eligible, new customers will have to send documentation about the early termination fee for their TV, internet, and phone service (whichever services they had) with their prior ISP to Verizon Fios within 90 days, starting from the day of the installation of Verizon Fios services.
In case you cancel the service within 90 days, Verizon will charge the early termination fee credit that has been used, on your final bill.
My Fios APP
Their app for mobile devices makes it easy to have a complete overview of services, billing and payment, and tech support updates. Users can check when technicians will be arriving and use this information to plan their activities.
TechSure
With TechSure, users get access to around-the-clock tech support, as well as protection for all their devices, identity, and privacy. Customers who choose TechSure will also get priority call routing, access to tech professionals via their My Fios app with PC diagnostics, and virus and malware removal assistance. There are four TechSure bundles to choose from:
- TechSure for $10 per month – Includes premium Tech support only
- TechSure Plus for $15 per month – Includes premium tech support, identity theft protection, the McAfee Security & Safe Family suite (security for all devices, parental controls), and inside wire maintenance for all jacks and wires that provide Fios services. TechSure Plus is also available as an annual subscription for $150 per year (2 months free when compared to a monthly subscription model).
- TechSure Premium for $30 per month – Includes all of the above plus device protection for all home devices (except phones) and password security with LastPass Families.
Free Samsung Chromebook and Credit for Other Samsung Gear
Currently, users who choose the Better Everything plan can get the Samsung Chromebook 3 for free, or if they don’t want it, they will get $200 credit for other Samsung tech that Verizon Fios offers, like the Galaxy Watch, 4K UHD TV, Galaxy Tab A, and other eligible picks.
Customer Service
Verizon Fios enjoy a good reputation with their customers, which is quite rare among internet service providers. Thanks to options like unlimited data use policies for streaming services (Netflix, YouTube, and others), the majority of customers are satisfied with the delivered speeds.
Users can also resolve issues on their own thanks to the support section of their website that covers everything: from frequent internet issues all the way to billing and account problems. Users can also use their forums and look through threads opened by other users.
Customer and tech support is also available via chat (chatbots included), or by calling 833-696-FIOS (3467).
The most common complaint about Verizon Fios is that they don’t offer much in terms of benefits to existing customers and that their Wi-Fi signal could be better. Users who wish to connect lots of devices and are worried about bad Wi-Fi signal should, therefore, look for backup options: either a mesh extender or a powerline extender to get a wired connection for devices that require stable connections to work well.
Ways to Save on Verizon Fios
Bundle Up
In addition to their internet services, Verizon Fios offers Fios TV with Custom TV options where users only pay for those types of channels they are interested in. A total of 425 channels are available. In addition, Fios TV also includes On-Demand options with over 145,000 titles, and with over 35,000 of them free of charge. You can also stream Netflix directly from the Fios TV menu. Fios Digital Voice is their phone service and is available via their fiber network. Users should be aware that this means that if the service goes down, you won’t have a working phone line either.
Choose the Plan with Most Benefits
If you have all three plans available in your area, choose the plan that is the most cost-effective. Here, look out for the length of the price lock and other available benefits. Currently, their Better Everything 1Gbps plan is the best option you can get, since the price stays the same for three years, and you get a free router rental for three years too, which saves you around $432.
Order Your Services Online
When you order services online, you get access to exclusive promos and deals, such as free installation, which would otherwise cost you $99.
Ask Verizon to Cover Your ETF
If you’re currently in a contract with another ISP, Verizon Fios will cover your early termination fee up to a price of $500. Note that they won’t pay to your current ISP, but give you the amount on your Verizon account in credit.
Buy Your Router
If you plan to stick with Verizon Fios for a long time, you can save by buying a router instead of renting it. You can buy their Fios Quantum Gateway router for a one-time purchase of $199.
Our Recommendation – Verizon Fios
If you live in an area where you can get Verizon Fios services, consider switching to them. As the 2019 winner for the most affordable high-speed internet provider, and the fastest ISP nationwide, there’s really not much that speaks against Verizon Fios.
There’s basically no small print to worry about since Verizon Fios clearly states what type of fees and restrictions you might have to deal with for each of their plans. Their Better Everything plan is the clear go-to option, thanks to a price lock of three years, no modem rental fee during that period, and a 1Gbps download speed for only $79.99 per month.
The only downside is that their service is still rather limited, so you might not be in an area where you can get their fiber internet.
