AT&T vs. Frontier: Which Internet Provider Is Best for You?
Both providers offer fiber and DSL internet, but AT&T may have the upper hand in your area with pricing and variety. HighSpeedteck.com uses our proprietary data and expert insights to compare these internet service titans.
Best for speed
- Customer rating: 3.8/5
- Price: $55.00–$180.00/mo.*
- Speed: 25–5,000 Mbps
- Internet type: DSL, fiber, fixed wireless
- Data cap: None–1 TB
- Contract: Monthly
Best for wide availability
- Customer rating: 3.8/5
- Price: $49.99–$149.99/mo.*
- Fiber speed: 500–2,000 Mbps
- Internet type: DSL, fiber
- Data cap: None
- Contract: 1-year fiber contract
* Data as of 7/11/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Compare AT&T and Frontier head to head
AT&T is the best choice for fiber internet. It has four fiber plans at great prices, making it one of the best internet services for gaming. Frontier is no slouch in delivering fast fiber speeds, but its fiber network is far less available than AT&T’s. Both primarily deliver DSL internet if fiber isn’t in your area, although AT&T has the upper hand in megabit-per-dollar value.
Pros and cons: AT&T vs. Frontier
Pros:
Pros:- Great fiber internet prices
- Excellent reliability and customer service
Cons:
Cons:- Data caps on some plans
- No TV and fiber internet bundles
Pros:
- Unlimited data
- Affordable fiber
Cons:
- High fees
- 1-year contracts with fiber
Plans and pricing: AT&T vs. Frontier
Overall, AT&T has a larger footprint across the US than Frontier. Both primarily offer DSL internet as they slowly expand their fiber networks. But, if you want a variety of options—including fixed wireless—then AT&T is the way to go.
AT&T plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Speed | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Internet 300 | $55.00/mo.* | 300 Mbps | Fiber | |
| AT&T Internet 500 | $65.00/mo.* | 500 Mbps | Fiber | |
| AT&T Internet 1000 | $80.00/mo.* | 1,000 Mbps† | Fiber | |
| AT&T Internet 2000 | $110.00/mo.* | 2,000 Mbps† | Fiber | |
| AT&T Internet 5000 | $180.00/mo.* | 5,000 Mbps† | Fiber | |
| AT&T Internet up to 75 Mbps | $55.00/mo.# | 75 Mbps | DSL | |
| AT&T Internet up to 100 Mbps | $55.00/mo.* | 100 Mbps | DSL | |
| AT&T Fixed Wireless | $59.99/mo.** | 10–25 Mbps | Wireless |
*Plus taxes. Price after $5/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies.
† Internet speed claims represent maximum network service capability speeds and based on wired connection to gateway. 1GIG speeds avail. to new customers with the latest router (“BGW320”) and recommended setup. For 5 GIG speed, single device wired speed maximum 4.7 Gbps. Actual customer speeds may vary based on a number of factors and are not guaranteed. For more information, go to www.att.com/speed101.
# for 12 mos, plus taxes & equip. fee. $10/mo equip. fee applies. Incl 1TB data/mo. overage chrgs apply
** for 12 months plus taxes. Includes a $5/mo. discount with AutoPay and paperless billing discount. $10/mo. equipment fee applies.
AT&T is primarily a DSL internet provider—for now, at least. AT&T plans to reach 30 million locations with its fiber network by 2025.7
AT&T’s two DSL plans are pretty cheap in terms of megabits per dollar when you compare them against Frontier. If fiber isn’t in your area, then AT&T’s DSL is the way to go unless you have access to cable internet.
AT&T’s fiber plans are reasonably priced too. It also offers incredibly fast speeds over fiber—5G Internet delivers the fastest speeds from a major provider in the United States. You likely won’t need 5,000 Mbps speeds (unless you’re mining cryptocurrency). The Internet 300 plan will be a much better deal, although the price is still higher than what you can get from Frontier.
Frontier plans and pricing
| Package | Price | Speed | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Fiber Internet 500 | $49.99/mo. w/Auto Pay & Paperless Bill* | 500 Mbps | Fiber | View Plans |
| Frontier Fiber Gig | $74.99/mo. w/Auto Pay & Paperless Bill† | 940 Mbps | Fiber | View Plans |
| Frontier Fiber 2 Gig | $149.99/mo. w/Auto Pay & Paperless Bill‡ | 2,000 Mbps | Fiber | View Plans |
| Frontier Internet | $49.99/mo. w/Auto Pay & Paperless Bill§ | Up to 25 Mbps | DSL | View Plans |
* per month for 12 mos. One-year agreement, early termination fee, and one-time charge apply. Max speeds are wired. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary.
† per month for 36 mos. One-year agreement, early termination fee, and one-time charge apply. Max wired
speed 940/880 Mbps. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary.
‡ per month. One-year agreement, early termination fee, and one-time charge apply. Max speeds are wired. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary.
§ per month for 24 mos. One-time charges apply.
Like AT&T, Frontier is mostly a DSL internet provider with some fiber. Both are working to swap out old DSL lines with the faster fiber connections, but if DSL is all you can get, then AT&T is the way to go.
Frontier goes head-to-head with AT&T at speeds of 500 Mbps and higher. For instance, Frontier’s 500 Mbps plan is slightly cheaper than AT&T, but AT&T becomes the cheaper option if you want speeds up to 2,000 Mbps. Frontier currently does not have a fiber plan that competes with AT&T’s 5,000 Gbps service.
Overall, Frontier aims to reach 10 million locations with its fiber service by 2025. The company launched its 2 Gbps fiber plan in February 2022 and expects to reach 10 Gbps in the near future.8
Deal and promotions: AT&T vs. Frontier
Get a subscription to HBO Max™ at no extra cost by signing up for an AT&T gigabit internet plan.
You’ll get $5 off your monthly bill when you set up online autopay.
Extra fees: AT&T vs. Frontier
| Equipment Fee | Installation Fee | Other Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
 AT&T |
|
|
|
 Frontier |
|
|
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Data as of 7/11/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
* When you order service online.
Frontier’s monthly rates include autopay and paperless billing discounts, so expect to pay $7.99 extra each month if you opt out of both. If anything, Frontier’s Internet Infrastructure Surcharge fee should be a little alarming, as you’re investing in maintenance and other network infrastructure costs.1
Customer ratings: AT&T vs. Frontier
| Overall Rating | Speed Rating | Price | Reliability | Customer Service | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AT&T* | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.8 |
| Frontier* | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.7 |
* Data based on our 2020 customer satisfaction survey.
Note: We pulled these numbers from our 2020 survey because Frontier didn’t have enough respondents to appear in our 2021 customer satisfaction survey.
For 2020, AT&T ranked slightly ahead in every category, scoring 4.09 in speed satisfaction versus Frontier’s 3.98, for example (we rounded the numbers in the chart). Yet AT&T’s speed, reliability, and customer support satisfaction scores were lower in 2021, while Frontier didn’t rank at all.
Best TV and internet bundles
| Internet speed | TV channels | Price | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV ENTERTAINMENT All-Included Package + AT&T Internet | Up to 100 Mbps | 160+ | $129.99/mo.* | |
| DIRECTV CHOICE™ All-Included Package + AT&T Internet | Up to 100 Mbps | 185+ | $134.99/mo.* | |
| Fiber 500 Mbps + DISH America’s Top 120 | Up to 500 Mbps | 190 | $119.98/mo.# | View Plans |
| Fiber 500 Mbps + DISH America’s Top 120+ | Up to 500 Mbps | 190+ | $134.98/mo.† | View Plans |
* for 12 months plus taxes & internet equip. fee w/ 24-mo. TV agmt. Autopay & paperless bill req’d. Prices higher in 2nd year. $10/mo. internet equip. fee applies. Geo & svc. restr’s apply.
# per month with 2-yr. agmt. on new DISH service. One-time charges apply. Maximum speeds are wired speeds. Wi-Fi, actual speeds vary. Service performance details at frontier.com/internetdisclosures
† per month for 12 mos. w/ 2-yr. agmt. on new DISH service. One-year internet service agreement, early termination fee, and one-time charges apply. Maximum speeds are wired speeds. Wi-Fi, actual and average speeds vary. Service performance details at frontier.com/internetdisclosures.
AT&T doesn’t bundle TV with its fiber internet. Instead, it pairs four DIRECTV packages with its 100 Mbps DSL service. The ENTERTAINMENT package includes SHOWTIME®, STARZ®, CINEMAX®, and EPIX® for free during the first three months.
Frontier bundles DISH TV with its fiber and DSL services. The America’s Top 120 package includes 190 channels, while the Plus package adds regional sports channels to the lineup. Both plans include SHOWTIME and the DISH Movie Pack for free during the first three months.
Internet types: AT&T vs. Frontier
| Internet type | Details | |
|---|---|---|
AT&T | DSL Fiber Fixed wireless | |
Frontier | DSL Fiber | View Plans |
Both companies primarily offer DSL, which uses telephone cables to bring the internet into your home. A 140 Mbps or slower speed is typical for a DSL connection, although Windstream’s DSL service can reach up to just over 200 Mbps.
Fiber-to-the-home services from AT&T and Frontier have a somewhat smaller footprint, generally covering around 30% of their national markets. AT&T is the only provider of the two with a fixed wireless service, however, which sends internet via transmitters to homes that can’t get a landline connection.
Should you get fixed wireless?
Fixed wireless isn’t just for rural areas. Perhaps you live in an area where fiber and DSL internet just isn’t reliable. Take a look at our fixed wireless internet guide for more about speed, plans, and pricing.
Data caps: AT&T vs. Frontier
| Data Cap | Details | |
|---|---|---|
AT&T |
| Zip |
Frontier |
| View Plans |
Frontier doesn’t enforce data caps on its DSL and fiber services, and AT&T refrains from imposing a data cap on its fiber connection. But AT&T limits data on its DSL and fixed wireless services to keep the services affordable. The company also admits that it can’t always measure your data use on a DSL connection, so it’s possible that you can go over the 1 TB limit, and it doesn’t show up in the data tracker. If that happens, you won’t be charged.2
Contracts: AT&T vs. Frontier
| Contract length | Details | |
|---|---|---|
AT&T |
| Zip |
Frontier |
| View Plans |
AT&T doesn’t require a contract in most cases. Instead, you pay a discounted price each month for 12 months, and then the plans increase around $10 (DSL) and $20 (fiber)—the fixed wireless service doesn’t appear to have promotional pricing.
However, AT&T may require a contract if you order internet service with additional promotional discounts. The early termination fee applies if you cancel service after 14 days.3 The fee is prorated and reduced each month.4
Frontier also doesn’t require a contract when you sign up for DSL. However, all three fiber plans require a one-year agreement. Frontier’s Internet 500 and Internet Gig plans increase by around $10 per month after 12 months and 36 months, respectively. The 2 Gig plan doesn’t have discounted pricing.
Installation: AT&T vs. Frontier
| Installation options | Details | |
|---|---|---|
AT&T |
| le in Zip |
Frontier |
| View Plans |
* When you order service online.
Modern AT&T fiber installations include a termination box outside and a fiber jack installed in the room where AT&T’s desktop optical network terminal (ONT) resides—this device is actually a gateway supporting fiber. Older fiber installations have a smaller ONT mounted on the fiber jack and use Ethernet to connect a standard gateway or router.
With Frontier’s fiber-to-the-home service, a technician installs the ONT in your garage, basement, or closet. After that, the ONT connects to your home’s existing Ethernet or coaxial cable wiring—a MoCA adapter and splitter are required for coaxial cabling and TV. The supplied gateway connects to the Ethernet or coaxial cable jack mounted in the wall.
Like self-installing cable and DSL equipment, your home already needs a fiber connection before you can order a self-install kit from AT&T. Frontier currently does not have a self-install option.
Availability: AT&T vs. Frontier
AT&T has a larger footprint stamped across the US than Frontier. Most of its coverage spans through the south and southeast and stretches up into Wisconsin and Michigan. There are scattered spots throughout Kansas and Oklahoma and very little elsewhere until California.
According to the Federal Communications Commission, AT&T’s DSL internet covers 96% of its nationwide market while fiber is available in 31% of its service areas—fixed wireless is available in just 4%.9
Frontier mainly resides in the states surrounding the Great Lakes and extends down into West Virginia. It’s also available in parts of the northeast (Verizon territory) and scattered places in the southwest—mostly Arizona and California.
Frontier’s DSL service covers 99% of its service area followed by fiber at 34%.
Final call: AT&T vs. Frontier
AT&T is our top pick of the two for fiber internet. The incredibly fast speeds are great, and there’s a wider variety of plans that should fit the needs of most homes. But, like Frontier’s fiber service, it’s hard to find unless you live around densely populated areas like Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Orlando, and San Francisco.5
AT&T is also our top pick for DSL internet. But if you don’t have access to either DSL or fiber, AT&T has your back with its fixed wireless service.
Methodology
Our HighSpeedTeck.com editorial team bases our analyses on customer input from our annual customer satisfaction survey, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. To strengthen our research, we look closely at provider contracts to get hard-to-find information on price hikes, data caps, and extra fees, and we keep tabs on the latest news reports and online reviews. When applicable, we also rely on our personal experiences testing these services.
More about AT&T and Frontier
- Xfinity vs. Frontier
- Spectrum vs. Frontier
- CenturyLink vs. Frontier
- AT&T vs. Cox
- AT&T vs. Spectrum
- AT&T vs. Xfinity
Sources
- Frontier Communications, “Answering Your Questions,” Accessed January 4, 2022.
- AT&T, “Get Home Internet Data Usage Info,” Accessed January 4, 2022.
- AT&T, “Contract Requirements for U-verse, AT&T Internet, AT&T Phone Service,” December 6, 2018. Accessed January 3, 2022.
- AT&T, “AT&T Internet Cancellation Policy,” Accessed January 4, 2022.
- AT&T, “Want to Know If You Can Get AT&T Fiber at Your Address?” Accessed January 4, 2022.
- AT&T, “Get Home Internet Data Usage Info,” Accessed January 4, 2022.
- AT&T, “AT&T and Frontier Communications Strike Network Deal,” October 6, 2021. Accessed January 4, 2022.
- Frontier, “Frontier Investor Day Presentation,” August 5, 2021. Accessed January 4, 2022.
- Federal Communications Commission, “Fixed Broadband Deployment,” December 31, 2020. Accessed January 4, 2022.