Frontier Internet Review
The roots of Frontier Communications began in rural communities and small cities over 85 years ago, however, the company has since expanded to serve many metropolitan markets and currently offers services in 25 states.
Depending on your location, Frontier either offers Frontier Fiber plans (previously called Frontier FiberOptic) or Frontier Internet, which is DSL. In enabled areas, Frontier Fiber internet runs on a fiber-optic network with max wired download speeds of up to 2,000Mbps. In areas where fiber isn’t available, standard Frontier internet plans will vary by address and it’s important to note that Frontier is currently in the process of expanding the area that its fiber network serves.
- Who is Frontier internet for?
- Key considerations
- What others say about Frontier internet
- How does Frontier internet compare to other providers?
Who is Frontier internet for?
If you are in a more rural market covered by Frontier, they offer DSL internet plans which vary by location. However, you’ll be at the mercy of the plan available at your specific address rather than being able to choose for yourself, so keep that in mind. And depending on which Frontier internet tier is available at your address, your service may not support streaming, gaming, video or simultaneous users. However, no matter which plan you have access to all come with unlimited monthly data and a Wi-Fi router with no rental fees.
Where Frontier Fiber is available, there are three fiber internet plans to choose from. Each plan offers industry competitive download speeds, with upload speeds that are at or near the same level.
If your household only needs internet for casual online use including browsing and reading emails – the Fiber 500 plan offers just enough oomph to get the job done.
For households with heavy internet usage including gaming, video-conferencing, and streaming on less than 8 devices, the Fiber Gig plan offers up to 940Mbps.
If your household includes several people working from home, a heavy gamer (or three), and is often streaming on multiple devices at once, the Fiber 2 Gig plan effectively serves homes with heavy usage on 8 devices or more.
One unique aspect of the services offered in all Frontier internet plans is the price is based on download speeds versus data usage. This means there are no data caps and no overage fees.
Though prices for Frontier Fiber internet plans vary based on the location where they are available, monthly costs generally range between $49.99 and $149.99 with Auto Pay for the first year.*
Key considerations
How long is the price locked in?
With the Fiber 500 plan, the price will remain the same for your first 12 months of service. If Frontier Fiber Gig service is available, the price for these plans is guaranteed for 36 months.
Do I have to sign a contract?
There is no requirement to sign an annual commitment with Frontier internet plans. However, some special promotions may require a term agreement and early termination fees will apply.
Are there data overage charges?
No. There are no monthly data limits so you will never incur data overage charges.
Is there a monthly equipment rental fee?
No. All Frontier internet plans include a Wi-Fi router that has no monthly rental fees.
What others say about Frontier internet
Overall, Frontier ranks well among its major competitors. In fact, US News noted that for 2022 Frontier ranked in 7 out of the 8 categories US News considers when naming the Best Internet Provider of the year. Most notably, Frontier ranked No. 1 for Best DSL Provider, No. 1 in the Best Gaming ISP category, and No. 4 overall for Most Affordable ISP.
Another recent review from CNET stated that “Frontier is one of the best in the internet market at cutting hidden fees, so customers know what to expect on their bill.”
How does Frontier internet compare to other providers?
Though competitors vary across markets, Frontier’s most common competitors include Spectrum, Xfinity, and Suddenlink. When comparing Frontier to these providers, their packages are middle-of-the-pack in terms of pricing (in most markets), however, they are still the DSL leader in rural markets. Where Frontier falls short in comparison is in customer service with their peers ranking higher in overall customer satisfaction according to the ACSI telecom study from 2021.
*Pricing varies by location and availability. Speeds may vary. All prices subject to change; for current pricing and availability visit our internet service page. Prices as of 1/20/22.
Disclosure | Updater articles are based on our own data and research, independent from partner relationships. We are not compensated by partners for information and opinions presented here. Our Editorial Terms of Service can be found here.
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