Frontier Fiber Web Overview: Plans, Pricing, Velocity and Availability

Frontier Fiber web evaluate

Frontier Fiber is definitely one of many high candidates amongst web service suppliers that provide high-speed web. Frontier Fiber additionally lands as certainly one of CNET’s high picks for the greatest web offers obtainable proper now, with a $45 month-to-month plan for symmetrical speeds of 500 megabits per second. Limitless knowledge is on the market for all plans, which suggests you will not have to fret about looming knowledge overage charges. However earlier than you join, there are essential particulars you need to know.

Signing up for Frontier might imply having to take care of its a lot slower and inconsistent DSL service. Its DSL service would not supply the form of worth that you may get from its fiber tiers. Plus, Verizon introduced in September 2024 that it plans to accumulate Frontier in a $20 billion deal. The deal nonetheless has some regulatory hurdles to beat and is anticipated to shut in early 2026 however because it’s unclear how this can impression service or pricing, now could possibly be a very good time to lock in a deal.

In the event you’re a present or potential Frontier buyer, it’s too early to say precisely how the acquisition will unfold. Nevertheless, Frontier Fiber’s present choices will seemingly disappear as soon as the deal is finalized, as Verizon has said its intent for an “instant integration post-close with Verizon’s best-in-class choices.”

If that is certainly the case, signing up for Frontier Fiber now with the hopes you’ll be able to hold your value and plan as soon as Verizon takes over is a strong transfer. Each fiber suppliers go above and past when it comes to speeds, pricing and general worth, however Frontier Fiber presently provides extra pace choices and decrease pricing in comparison with Verizon Fios. If I had my alternative of the 2, I would go together with Frontier, even when it means passing up Verizon’s tempting promotions.

Frontier fiber web plans and pricing

The Fiber 500 plan, presently provided at $45 monthly, is CNET’s decide for one of many greatest web offers obtainable. That comes down to a price per mbps of 9 cents. Frontier’s fiber plans are pretty much as good a price as you will discover from almost any supplier. The plan has a decrease beginning value level than many fiber ISPs — AT&T and Verizon included — whereas nonetheless delivering loads of pace.

Frontier Fiber provides six plans with speeds starting from 200 megabits per second to 7,000Mbps, or 7 gigabits per second. Many markets solely have entry to the 5Gbps pace tier because the top-end plan. You may discover a major pace leap from one Fiber plan to the subsequent, making it simpler to seek out the correct plan in your wants.

In most markets, pricing on all Frontier Fiber plans is month to month, so there are not any set value will increase. Some areas, resembling Charleston, South Carolina, West Virginia and Tampa, Florida, might have decrease introductory pricing on choose plans good for 12 months, after which the value will increase to the usual (however nonetheless comparatively low) value.

What’s the greatest Frontier Fiber plan in your house?

• Fiber 200: Finest for one to a few customers, as much as 10 units. Good for flats and smaller households with a restricted variety of units used for streaming or working from house.
• Fiber 500Mbps: Finest for 3 to 5 customers, as much as 20 units. Good for reasonable use, resembling streaming on a number of TVs directly, working from house and connecting good audio system and safety cameras.
• Fiber 1 Gig: Finest for 5 to 6 customers, 20 to 30 units. Good for heavier use, together with streaming in 4K, severe on-line gaming and connecting a number of units per room. I’ve 1 gigabit web (not from Frontier) and it exceeds my each day wants.
• Fiber 2 Gig: Finest for six to 10 customers, 30 or extra units. Good for bigger households with a number of customers working or studying from house and streaming on separate units. Preferrred for an arsenal of good house units, from gaming consoles and TVs to audio system and cameras.
• Fiber 5 Gig: Finest for a just about limitless variety of units and makes use of. An uncompromisingly quick connection to fulfill any house.
• Fiber 7 Gig: Supported by Wi-Fi 7, greatest for bigger properties and a just about limitless variety of units and makes use of. These speeds optimize your expertise for 4K streaming and on-line gaming. This plan contains an extra Eero Max 7 gadget, increasing your web protection to as much as 2,500 sq. toes.

Whereas the concept of high-speed web is mostly fashionable amongst house web customers, the typical US family might not even want that a lot pace. In accordance with the most recent OpenVault report, smaller households of 1 or two members use 578Mbps or under and bigger households with 4 or extra members use 800Mbps. In different phrases, it’s possible you’ll not even want to join a gigabit or multi-gigabit service. Learn our complete information and verify how a lot pace your family wants.

The place are you able to get Frontier Fiber web?

Frontier Communications is likely one of the nation’s largest web suppliers, serving 25 states from Connecticut to California, with a powerful presence within the Midwest and Northeast.

Fiber protection on the rise

Till just lately, Frontier Fiber was reserved for elements of California, Florida, Indiana and Texas. Because of current fiber-optic expansions, the service is now obtainable in 17 states and rising. Final yr, the corporate acquired over $23 million in Federal Funding grants, increasing its fiber service to underserved communities in San Bernadino and Riverside counties in California.

Though availability remains to be considerably restricted, Frontier has acknowledged the necessity for extra important fiber enlargement and plans to increase service to extra areas within the close to future. “Frontier is concentrating on substantial fiber upgrades over the subsequent a number of years to places in and close to Frontier’s footprint,” a spokesperson stated.

However we’ll have to attend to see what Verizon’s acquisition of Frontier Fiber means for these fiber enlargement plans.

Frontier Fiber charges, knowledge caps and contracts

Whatever the Frontier Fiber plan you select, service comes with free tools rental and limitless knowledge at no additional price.

Wi-Fi router rental — an Amazon Eero 6 Plus — is free, however whole-home Wi-Fi, which incorporates as much as two mesh Wi-Fi units, is on the market for an extra $10 monthly or $30 a month for the Complete House Wi-Fi Plus. Nonetheless, the Eero router will work with Alexa and has a built-in Zigbee good house hub.

I would suggest beginning with the free rental, then upgrading to whole-home Wi-Fi when you discover any areas with a gradual or spotty connection. Upgrading to mesh Wi-Fi is an choice in order for you it later, and the $10 month-to-month payment is decrease than many suppliers cost for merely renting a router.

There’s usually no contract, though Frontier web will not be completely contract-free. Accepting a signup bonus, like a free present card, will include a time period settlement. If you don’t need that, merely decline any particular provides if you join.

Is Frontier’s DSL service price it?

In case your tackle is simply serviceable for DSL, it’s possible you’ll need to additionally discover different rural web options resembling Starlink or 5G house web. I am not saying Frontier’s DSL service is unhealthy, however I would not suggest DSL web from any supplier.

With Frontier Web — that is the DSL service — clients have one plan choice beginning at $65 month-to-month for the quickest speeds obtainable to your tackle. 

That is typical for a DSL supplier, however Frontier would not promote speeds for its DSL service in any respect, so there is no telling what speeds you will get till you join. I can mood your expectations a bit. Current Federal Communications Fee knowledge exhibits that solely 4% of the nation is eligible for DSL broadband speeds of 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up.

How does Frontier web examine?

As a DSL supplier, Frontier could also be a viable house web choice in rural areas, relying on the speeds you may get. As a fiber web supplier, Frontier’s pricing and repair phrases are pretty much as good as any and higher than most.

In all probability, you will not have the choice of different DSL or fiber suppliers in Frontier service areas. Competing web suppliers of the identical expertise usually keep away from providing web to the identical tackle. You’ll discover cable web suppliers resembling Spectrum or Xfinity obtainable in most of the similar areas as Frontier.

Cable beats DSL, fiber beats cable

Cable web suppliers in Frontier service areas embody Mediacom, Optimum, Spectrum and Xfinity. In contrast with cable web, Frontier Web (DSL) is slower and costlier, particularly contemplating the price per Mbps.

Most cable web suppliers supply gigabit obtain speeds whereas Frontier Web will come nowhere near that. Cable web plans can attain $100 a month or increased, and the speeds you get for the value are prone to be a a lot better worth.

Nevertheless, when you’re evaluating cable web with Frontier’s fiber choices, fiber is a way more cost-efficient choice. For instance, Frontier Fiber has pricing just like Xfinity’s cable web plans on comparable pace tiers — each suppliers supply gigabit service beginning at or round $70 monthly, as an example — however you will get sooner add speeds and limitless knowledge with Frontier Fiber.

In the end, if Frontier Fiber is on the market in your space, I would suggest it over cable web service, particularly when you’re contemplating the upper 500Mbps or gigabit pace tiers. The pricing is prone to be on par with or decrease than related tiers from a cable supplier, and the simple pricing and limitless knowledge give Frontier Fiber a bonus over most suppliers normally. If you wish to be taught extra, learn our evaluate on cable vs. fiber.

Frontier Fiber buyer satisfaction is on the up — DSL, not a lot

Buyer satisfaction scores are by no means fairly for cable and web suppliers, however Frontier’s have been downright ugly for some time. 

When the American Buyer Satisfaction Index started separating fiber from non-fiber suppliers final yr, the supply of Frontier’s bitter scores turned obvious. Frontier Fiber acquired a 74 out of 100 in 2023, whereas Frontier Web, the DSL service, got here in at 61.

In the newest ACSI report, Frontier Fiber continued to enhance, incomes a 76 out of 100, tying the trade common and scores from competing fiber ISPs Quantum Fiber and Google Fiber. There’s room for additional enchancment, however at the very least the ISP appears to be transferring in the correct course.

In accordance with the most recent survey knowledge from J.D. Energy’s 2024, Frontier nabbed a rating of 481 within the East– placing it behind cable web suppliers Spectrum and Xfinity. Within the West and South, nonetheless, Frontier fared a lot better, scoring above the trade averages and staying in second place general.

DSL is a unique story

Regardless of progress on the fiber aspect of Frontier, DSL buyer satisfaction ranges recorded by the American Buyer Satisfaction Index fell from 61 in 2023 to 59 in 2024. Solely Kinetic by Windstream had a decrease rating (56).

Given the expertise sort, the low rating is comprehensible. Once more, I would not usually suggest DSL web from any supplier as a result of gradual, spotty speeds.

What is the ultimate verdict on Frontier Fiber?

In the event you can overlook the low buyer satisfaction file and gradual DSL speeds, Frontier is price contemplating, particularly if fiber service is on the market. Frontier Fiber web provides speeds and pricing corresponding to or decrease than many different high suppliers, and Fiber’s quick add speeds and reliability give it an edge over cable web service.

Relying on the obtainable speeds, Frontier’s DSL-based service could possibly be one of the best web choice in rural areas the place satellite tv for pc is the one different approach to join. Experiences of gradual service might make you need to give satellite tv for pc web one other look. 

Frontier web FAQs