Frontier vs. Spectrum Internet: Comparing Speeds, Pricing, Deals, And More
We’ve researched everything from download speeds to contracts to find out whether Frontier or Spectrum reigns supreme.
$44.99–$129.99/mo.
$44.99–$129.99/mo.
$39.99–$79.99/mo.
$39.99–$79.99/mo.
Is Frontier or Spectrum better?
Frontier’s fiber internet plans have superior pricing and much faster download speeds compared to Spectrum, but if your area doesn’t have Frontier Fiber coverage, stick with Spectrum over Frontier’s outdated DSL network. Although Spectrum’s internet plans have high non-promotional prices, Spectrum offers better download speeds compared to Frontier DSL, and the provider also earned our Editor’s Choice award for best traditional TV service.
Keep Frontier’s customer service on a short leash, although neither company knocked our shoes off here. Frontier ranked 16th in overall satisfaction in CableTV.com’s annual Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey, as fewer than 70% of respondents said they were extremely satisfied with Frontier’s customer service. Spectrum came in 11th place thanks in part to price concerns—only half of Spectrum customers felt their prices were worth the service they’re getting.
But ultimately, we’d recommend Frontier’s fiber internet plans over Spectrum if you have access to them. If your area doesn’t have Frontier fiber, go with Spectrum for better internet performance. Still unsure between Spectrum and Frontier? Keep on reading for a full breakdown between both internet providers.
Compare Frontier or Spectrum internet head to head
Prices starting at
$54.99/mo.
Max download speeds up to
5,000 Mbps
Service Type
DSL/Fiber
Prices starting at
$49.99/mo.
Max download speeds up to*
1,000 Mbps
Service Type
Cable
* Speed based on wired connection. Available Internet speeds may vary by address. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed.
Pricing, speed and availability not guaranteed. Subject to change.
Frontier vs. Spectrum: internet plans and prices
Frontier and Spectrum are two very different ISPs, but they overlap in a few important areas. Here’s what you need to know about Spectrum and Frontier’s internet plans.
Frontier internet packages
| Plan | Price | Max download speed |
|---|---|---|
| Frontier Internet | $64.99/mo.^ | N/A |
| Frontier Fiber 500 | $44.99/mo.* | 500 Mbps |
| Frontier Fiber 1 Gig | $69.99/mo.† | 940 Mbps |
| Frontier Fiber 2 Gig | $99.99/mo.‡ | 2,000 Mbps |
| Frontier Fiber 5 Gig | $129.99/mo.** | 5,000 Mbps |
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See full disclaimer.
Frontier has both an old DSL network and new fiber internet infrastructure. With Frontier’s fiber internet plans, you’ll get download speeds of up to 5,000 Mbps for between $44.99–$129.99/mo.
We always recommend getting fiber internet wherever it’s available because you’ll get the best performance with it compared to cable or DSL internet. Fiber internet’s benefits include fast upload speeds and low latency.
Our favorite Frontier Fiber internet plan is Fiber 500, which offers speeds of up to 500 Mbps for $44.99 a month during your first year.
Spectrum internet packages
| Plan | Price | Max download speed |
|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet | $39.99–$49.99/mo. for 12 mos. | 300 Mbps |
| Spectrum Internet Ultra | $49.99–$69.99/mo. for 24 mos. | 500 Mbps |
| Spectrum Internet Gig | $59.99–$79.99/mo. for 24 mos. | 1 Gbps |
Data effective as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. See full disclaimer.
You’ll get more bang for your buck on Frontier’s fiber internet plans compared to Spectrum’s cable ones, with fiber’s better reliability and equal download and upload speeds. However, if you’re in a Spectrum location where you can get your internet plan on the lowest end of the price spectrum (no pun intended), Spectrum may be the better bet.
That said, Frontier’s limited fiber availability makes these price differences a moot point if you’re not in a state with fiber coverage. And of course, we wholeheartedly recommend Spectrum over Frontier’s DSL plans; Spectrum’s cable internet packages offer fast download speeds, and the same plan selection is available regardless of your address.
For most households, we’d recommend Spectrum Internet Ultra. With 500 Mbps download speeds at $49.99–$69.99/mo. for your two years, you’ll get an excellent price and enough bandwidth to support a whole family’s internet needs.
Frontier vs. Spectrum: customer satisfaction
As part of CableTV.com’s annual Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey, we talked to more than 7,000 real internet customers across the U.S. to see how they felt about their internet providers.
Like with other DSL/fiber internet providers, Frontier’s survey results were weighed down by its aging DSL network. The provider ranked 16th for overall satisfaction, which was in line with providers like EarthLink, Xfinity, and Windstream. Frontier customers didn’t hate Frontier, but the ISP rarely inspired much enthusiasm.
- Only 64% of Frontier customers said they were completely or very satisfied with Frontier’s internet service.
- 60% of Frontier customers felt that Frontier’s internet quality justified its price.
- But 67% of Frontier customers felt it was extremely or very easy to work with Frontier customer service.
Similarly, Frontier fiber internet customers had few complaints about their service:
What do real Frontier internet customers think about Frontier?
Very fast and reliable fiber internet connection. I had an issue with the service one time, but they sent someone out the next day to fix it. After that, the internet went down again. But I was very satisfied that they sent another person right back to dive deeper and find the root of my issue. They were friendly, professional, and knowledgeable every step of the way. Highly recommend!
Spectrum landed in 11th place out of 25 providers in our survey. Spectrum subscribers disliked the ISP’s prices, although the provider still earned decent customer service scores.
- Only 52% of Spectrum internet customers felt their internet service was worth the price they were paying.
- 51% of Spectrum customers felt that Spectrum’s prices were excellent compared to the competition.
- But 68% of Spectrum customers were highly satisfied with Spectrum’s reliability.
In addition, 73% of Spectrum customers were highly satisfied with Spectrum’s internet speeds. However, the provider ranked 19th overall in average latency, which is mid-tier among comparable cable internet providers.
What do real Spectrum internet customers think about Spectrum?
I like their internet. Never have any problems with my service. I dislike their pricing.
How reliable is Spectrum or Frontier internet?
| Frontier | Spectrum | |
|---|---|---|
| Average latency | 19.9 milliseconds (12.2 ms for fiber internet) | 27.7 milliseconds |
| Internet reliability satisfaction rating | 64% positive | 68% positive |
| Internet speed satisfaction rating | 65% positive | 73% positive |
Frontier earned middling overall marks in our internet speed research, as Frontier ranked 18th in reliability and speed satisfaction. However, Frontier’s fiber network separated itself from the pack—according to latency data from our partners at HighSpeedInternet.com, Frontier’s fiber internet latency of 12.2 milliseconds ranked 4th overall among all internet providers.
In addition, 73% of Spectrum customers were highly satisfied with Spectrum’s internet speeds. However, the provider ranked 19th overall in average latency, which is mid-tier among comparable cable internet providers.
Is Frontier or Spectrum internet available in your neighborhood?
Frontier’s fiber internet plans are great, but for most customers, they come with a sizable asterisk. Frontier’s fiber network is only in some states at the moment, including Florida, California, Texas, and Indiana. Although fiber availability is generally inconsistent for most ISPs, it’s not much of a consolation for Frontier customers stuck with the ISP’s DSL network, which is available across 23 states.
By comparison, Spectrum is widely available nationwide across 41 states. Unlike Frontier, you’ll be able to get the same general speeds from Spectrum regardless of your location thanks to their cable internet network.
- Alabama
- Arizona
- California
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Alabama
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Spectrum vs. Frontier: specs and features
When it comes to internet plans, price and download speeds aren’t the only things you need to consider. Let’s break down what else you should know about Spectrum and Frontier’s internet plans.
Does Frontier or Spectrum have good internet deals?
Frontier Fiber internet deals
Frontier’s top deals frequently include Visa cash cards, multi-year price guarantees, discounted streaming service subscriptions and bundled mesh Wi-Fi hardware. But if your area only gets Frontier DSL, don’t expect much in the way of new customer bonuses.
Check out our internet deals guide to learn more about the latest savings.
Spectrum internet deals
Spectrum covers up to $500 in early termination fees, and they sometimes offer Visa gift cards when you sign up for Spectrum internet online. Depending on your area, Spectrum also may offer longer two-year price guarantees. But Spectrum doesn’t offer the number of deals you’d get from competing fiber or cable internet providers.
Visit our Spectrum deals guide to learn more about current Spectrum internet deals.
Frontier offers a few more equipment freebies
Frontier equipment
Frontier bundles a free Wi-Fi router/modem for subscribers. We’ll give Frontier the win here (who doesn’t like free stuff?), although a free combo router/modem isn’t necessarily the biggest needle-mover. Still, it’s one less thing you’ll have to buy if you’re setting up a home network from scratch.
Spectrum equipment
By comparison, Spectrum includes only a free modem for new internet customers. But Spectrum customers can rent a Wi-Fi router for an additional $5.00 monthly.
You can bring your own Wi-Fi router to Spectrum if you don’t like renting hardware (check out our best Wi-Fi router guide for our top router picks), as we’re generally not fans of rental fees from internet providers.
But Spectrum’s more straightforward about fees
Frontier price increases
We wish Frontier would’ve been clearer about its prices. Frontier’s DSL plans are no-contract with flat-rate pricing, but the ISP’s fiber internet plans (except for Fiber 2 Gig) lock you into a one-year agreement complete with early termination fees in order to receive expert installation.
Frontier doesn’t openly disclose what you’ll pay after your price guarantee, but Frontier customers online have mentioned increases of around $10 depending on their location. If you’re shopping for Frontier fiber internet, we’d suggest confirming whether you’ll get a price increase and how much it will be before signing the dotted line.
Spectrum price increases
Spectrum tacks on a $25 monthly price hike after your promotional rate ends, which is after 12 months for Spectrum Internet and 24 months for Internet Ultra and Internet Gig. Although we don’t love it when ISPs pull this move, Spectrum doesn’t have any contracts.
But at the same time, Spectrum’s non-promotional prices mean that you’ll pay well over $50 monthly for internet service. If you need more bandwidth for a large household, you’ll likely near the $100 per month mark once you’re out of Spectrum’s promotional period.
Frontier vs. Spectrum internet FAQ
What's the difference between Spectrum and Frontier?
Spectrum offers cable TV, phone, and internet service, while Frontier offers DSL internet, fiber internet, and home phone service for home subscribers.
Which Wi-Fi is better: Spectrum or Frontier?
Spectrum cable internet is better than Frontier’s DSL plans, but Frontier’s fiber internet trumps Spectrum’s internet plans.
Can I have Frontier and Spectrum?
You can have separate Frontier and Spectrum plans, since Frontier offers internet but not cable TV, while Spectrum has cable TV plans. Check out our Spectrum cable TV review to learn more about the service.
Is Verizon Fios the same as Frontier?
No, Verizon Fios is not the same as Frontier, although Frontier did purchase its fiber internet network from Verizon. However, Frontier and Verizon are two different ISPs with separate internet plans and fiber internet networks.
Methodology
We analyzed all eight internet plans from Spectrum and Frontier for more than 16 hours to see how they compared on price, performance, and availability. We also used our annual internet customer satisfaction survey to see what actual Spectrum and Frontier customers said about their provider.
For more information on our methodology, check out our How We Rank page.
Disclaimer
Spectrum Internet
*Spectrum Internet: For 12 months when bundled. Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Taxes, fees and surcharges extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra.
Spectrum Internet Ultra: For 24 months when bundled. Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter.
Spectrum Internet Gig: For 24 months when bundled. Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter.
◊To qualify for the Contract Buyout Program, a customer must order and install a qualifying Triple Play or limited Double Play promotion; offers not available in all areas. Offer available to qualifying customers only who have no outstanding obligations to Charter. Payment amount will be determined by the Early Termination Fee on the final bill from the previous provider, not to exceed $500. For Contract Buyout qualifications, go to Spectrum.com/buyout.
**Speed based on wired connection. Available Internet speeds may vary by address. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit Spectrum.net/modem.
Frontier Internet
^ w/ Auto Pay and Paperless Bill per month. One-time charges apply.
* w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill per month. Max speeds are wired. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charge on disconnect applies.
† w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill per month. Max wired speed 1000/1000 Mbps. Location dependent. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charge on disconnect applies.
‡ w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill per month. Max speeds are wired. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charge on disconnect applies.
**w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill per month. Max speeds are wired. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charge on disconnect applies.
