Verizon Fios Internet review: Cost, coverage and consumer experience guide

Verizon Fios at a glance

Bell Atlantic and GTE merged in 2000 to become Verizon Communications, a global communications company offering home phone, mobile phone, television and internet services.

Fast facts

What we like

Verizon Fios has a solid reputation for fiber internet. Its customers can access top upload and download speeds and unlimited data without a contract. Verizon Fios has money-saving bundling options if you’re interested in other services, such as a mobile phone or television.

What we don’t like

Unfortunately, Fios is only available in nine states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, plus Washington, D.C. Verizon offers great discounts, but if you’re unable to set up AutoPay and don’t have mobile service with the company, you’ll miss those extra savings.

* BBB ratings are accurate as of July 2024.

Verizon Fios pros and cons

Verizon Fios is a solely fiber optic system offering some of the fastest internet connection speeds available. The company’s internet plans have near-matching upload and download speeds, and all plans come with unlimited data and no contracts. When you install the service, you will receive a free router and Wi-Fi extender with 1 Gig or 2 Gig plans.

Availability is limited because Fios only services Washington, D.C., and nine states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania.

Without a discount, Verizon’s monthly plans start at $59.99, and it has a $99 setup fee for new Fios customers selecting its 300 or 500 Mbps plans.

Pros

Cons

How much does Verizon Fios cost?

Verizon Fio plans cost between $59.99 and $119.99 before discounts. Bundling internet and mobile phone services can save you $15 to $35 per plan. This requires unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband wireless service, postpaid automatic payments and paperless billing. Fios has no data caps on any internet plan.

When you initiate service, Fios charges a $99 installation fee. However, Verizon will waive the cost if you sign up for a 1- or 2-Gig plan online. If you previously had a fiber connection at your home, you can install Fios yourself for free.

Verizon provides one free Wi-Fi router rental, or you may buy your own. If you select the 1 or 2 Gig plans, Verizon will include the router and up to three extenders at no extra cost with your internet service.

*Discounted prices
+Average wired speeds

Savings and discounts

You can save $10 by choosing automatic payments and paperless billing. If you bundle internet and phone service, you can save up to $25 on your Verizon internet bill. To qualify for the maximum savings, you must have unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband mobile phone service and a postpaid plan, meaning you get billed at the end of your monthly usage period.

In addition to AutoPay and bundling discounts, Verizon offers discounts for military service personnel, veterans, teachers, first responders and nurses. Students enrolled in an accredited college program also may qualify for discounts.

What plans and services does Verizon Fios offer?

Verizon Fios has four fiber plans, with upload and download speeds ranging from 300 Mbps to 2 Gbps. None of the plans requires a contract, and all have unlimited data.

If you don’t have access to Fios in your area, Verizon offers DSL, 5G Home and LTE wireless connections. Compared to Verizon Fios, Verizon 5G has similar prices but more variable speeds.

You don’t need a service call to install the router — you can do it yourself. Equipment rentals are free for one router and extender but are Verizon’s property. At the end of your service agreement, you must return them.

Verizon Fios services

Verizon Fios add-ons and optional features

Additional services

Verizon frequently runs specials to bundle Fios with Verizon’s TV and home phone services. With AutoPay, prices range from $85 to $129 for Verizon TV or YouTube and $25 for added phone service. Offers may include additional free subscriptions or gift cards.

Specials

Verizon now offers a $500 credit if you end a prior internet contract with a different provider and connect a new Fios service. If the change occurred within four months of your new Fios internet plan, you could receive credits on your Verizon bill to offset the charges.

The company includes other special offers, such as Verizon gift cards, discounts on Samsung appliances and Ray Ban sunglasses. These special offers change frequently, so check with your representative to see what’s available at the time of purchase.

Verizon Fios customer service and experience

If you experience a problem with your internet service, you can reach Verizon via the web, phone, chat or Facebook Messenger. On the web, just click on the support tab located at the top of Verizon’s homepage.

The support page is categorized by service type and includes top solutions for frequently searched topics. For more detailed help, you can log in and access your account online. Alternatively, you can use this support page or click the “Contact Us” tab to select the chat option.

If you want to speak to someone directly, call 1-833-VERIZON (1-833-837-4966) from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, or from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Verizon’s phone support team is off on Sundays.

If you want to speak to someone in person, you can find a Verizon store near you by clicking on the stores tab at the top of the website.

Select “Contact Us” from the main page if you’d like a callback. Follow the prompts for internet service and then select “We’ll call you.” Next, you can select “Talk to Us,” or “Connect with Us” to reach Verizon through Facebook Messenger.

Please note that you’ll need to log into your account to schedule a time for Verizon to call you.

Customer feedback

Verizon offers prompt customer service over the phone with a short wait time. However, according to most Fios reviews, your wait time depends on your issue, the time you call and whether the representative can solve the problem without transferring your call.

Here’s what some customers had to say in some Verizon Fios internet reviews:

How does Verizon Fios compare with competitors?

Verizon Fios is not the most affordable internet option compared to competitors like Mediacom, Xfinity or T-Mobile. Yet when compared with AT&T Home Internet, Fios internet reviews show it’s on par with maximum internet speeds and plan features such as unlimited data and no contracts.

However, Verizon Fios lacks availability. With access in only nine states and Washington, D.C., it lags far behind the top internet service providers on our list.

Methodology

Our methodology compares product features, internet reviews and ratings for 22 internet service providers. Specifically, we gather numerical data and analyze scores in the following categories:

We rank companies on our list based on which ones provide the best options, fastest speeds, are most convenient and have the lowest cost.

Bottom line

Verizon Fios will benefit customers in metro areas in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions who need a fast internet connection. Fios is an especially good fit if members of your household game or telecommute and need fast internet access across multiple devices.

You will likely save money if you’re already a Verizon wireless customer or looking to bundle a TV or streaming package with internet service. However, if you’re looking for high-speed, affordable internet in other parts of the country, it may be best to go with Comcast Xfinity or AT&T.

FAQs