Frontier vs. Optimum

Compare Frontier vs. Optimum plans

Frontier Fiber is your best bet for internet service. Optimum offers better TV options and bundles for its fiber and cable internet plans. Our broadband experts compare these two top providers to help you choose the best fit for your home.

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Frontier vs. Optimum overview

Frontier Internet

(893) 893 customer reviews

Plans starting at

$29

99/mo*

For 12 mo.

Speeds up to

5,000

Mbps

(844) 451-2720

Check plans with Frontier

(844) 451-2720 Check plans with Frontier

(844) 451-2720

Check plans with Frontier

*Per month w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 200/200 Mbps. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply. In select areas where available.

Optimum Internet

(605) 605 customer reviews

Plans starting at

$40

00/mo*

For 12 mo.

Speeds up to

8,000

Mbps

(844) 451-2720

Check plans with Optimum

(844) 451-2720 Check plans with Optimum

(844) 451-2720

Check plans with Optimum

*w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill

Key takeaways

Frontier and Optimum are fiber internet providers offering some of the fastest speeds in the country
Frontier’s overall value wins out over Optimum’s higher fees, but Optimum is the better choice if you want to bundle internet and TV
Optimum also offers cable internet options for those outside its fiber coverage area; Frontier offers an additional DSL plan

Is Frontier or Optimum better for your home?

Frontier and Optimum provide internet, TV and home phone services in many areas across the U.S. While Optimum will get you the cheapest starting prices, Frontier is the more affordable option long-term and provides faster upload speeds.

Affordability: With 500 Mbps speeds starting under $50/mo., Frontier Fiber plans are fast and competitively priced

Performance: Frontier Fiber can deliver max speeds as fast as 200 to 5,000 Mbps

Value: Frontier internet plans offer fast speeds with no hidden fees, your monthly fee includes your equipment rental and unlimited data
Affordability: Optimum’s rates jump up significantly after 24 mos.

Performance: Optimum’s Fiber Internet 500 Mbps and 1 Gig plans can keep a large household of gamers and work-from-home folks connected

Value: There are no data caps and contracts

Frontier vs. Optimum internet plans

Frontier’s DSL internet service is the most widely available, but select metro areas may have access to Frontier Fiber internet. It’s the best option between the two providers. Optimum internet is available in 21 states. Locations without access to Optimum’s fiber network may have fewer internet options and slower upload speeds.

Provider	Starting price*	Speed range	Connection type
Frontier	$29.99/mo.	200 – 5,000 Mbps	Fiber
Optimum	$40.00/mo.	300 – 1,000 Mbps	Cable
Optimum	$40.00/mo.	300 – 8,000 Mbps	Fiber

Frontier Fiber plans & pricing

Plan	Starting price*	Download/upload speeds
Fiber 200 Mbps	$29.99/mo.	200/200 Mbps
Fiber 500 Mbps	$44.99/mo.	500/500 Mbps
Fiber 1 Gig	$64.99/mo.	1,000/1,000 Mbps
Fiber 2 Gig	$99.99/mo.	2,000/2,000 Mbps
Fiber 5 Gig	$154.99/mo.	5,000/5,000 Mbps
Frontier® Internet	$64.99/mo.**	Varies

*w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill per month. Max speeds are wired. Location dependent. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply. Updated as of 07/03/25.

Optimum plans & pricing

Optimum plan	Starting price*	Download speed	Upload speed	Connection type	Allconnect score
Optimum 300	$40.00/mo.	300 Mbps	20 Mbps	Cable	4.25 / 5
Optimum 500	$50.00/mo.	500 Mbps	20 Mbps	Cable	4.21 / 5
Optimum 1 Gig	$60.00/mo.	940 Mbps	35 Mbps	Cable	4.29 / 5
Optimum Fiber 300	$40.00/mo.	300 Mbps	300 Mbps	Fiber	4.25 / 5
Optimum Fiber 500	$60.00/mo.	500 Mbps	500 Mbps	Fiber	4.22 / 5
Optimum Fiber 1 Gig	$80.00/mo.	940 Mbps	940 Mbps	Fiber	4.21 / 5
Optimum Fiber 2 Gig	$100.00/mo.	2,000 Mbps	2,000 Mbps	Fiber	4.01 / 5
Optimum Fiber 5 Gig	$180.00/mo.	5,000 Mbps	5,000 Mbps	Fiber	3.88 / 5
Optimum Fiber 8 Gig	$280.00/mo.	8,000 Mbps	8,000 Mbps	Fiber	3.88 / 5

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. Updated as of 07/03/25.

Which internet plan should you choose?

Consider a few factors when comparing Frontier plans and Optimum plans. First, identify the internet speed you will need. This depends on the number of people in your home and their online activities.

Next, know your monthly budget. Plan prices depend on the speed and type of internet you choose. If you are budget-conscious, consider combining your internet with a mobile plan.

Best overall: Frontier Fiber 500

If you are looking for high-speed internet for a great price, Frontier’s 500 Mbps plan for $44.99/mo.* is the way to go. While Optimum offers a similar 500 Mbps plan for $60/mo., we would recommend choosing Frontier 500 because after the first year, Optimum’s 500 Mbps plan will cost you $119.99/mo. Frontier’s 500 Mbps plan, in contrast, will only cost $10/mo. more after the first 12 months.

Cheapest: Frontier Fiber 500 and Optimum Internet 300

Optimum offers 300 Mbps for $40.00/mo, although this price will increase to $99.99/mo. after the first 12 months. Frontier’s cheapest plan is its Fiber 500 plan at $44.99/mo.

Fastest speeds: Optimum Fiber 8 Gig

Both Frontier and Optimum offer gig speed internet plans, but only Optimum goes all the way up to 8 gigs. This is more than all but the most connected households need, but if you want the fastest plan available, Optimum gives you 8,000 Mbps upload and download speeds.

*per month w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 500/500 Mbps. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply. Updated as of 05/30/25.

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How we scored internet providers

We evaluate broadband providers in four categories: affordability, performance, value and customer satisfaction. Each category contains multiple sub-factors, all of which are weighted differently to impact the provider’s overall score.

For each sub-factor, we score all providers on a continuous scale of 1 to 5, relative to the industry as a whole. Because the average download speed in America is currently 180 Mbps, for example, we assigned all plans with download speeds between 100 and 299 Mbps a score between 3 and 4. Xfinity’s 200 Mbps plan received a 3.50 score for download speed, while Spectrum’s 500 Mbps plan got a 3.71.

We only considered standardized data points in our scoring system. More abstract data like consistency of service and brand reputation is still part of our analysis, but we opted to let our writers address them in the context of each review.

Learn more about our methodology

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Additional fees

Frontier: Equipment fees are included in the price. Therefore, the only additional fees you must worry about are a $50 professional installation fee and a $3.99/mo. infrastructure fee with fiber plans.

Optimum: Charges $10/mo. for equipment. However, you can always opt to provide your own equipment to avoid this fee. You can also expect a network enhancement fee of $3.50/mo. and a one-time activation fee of $40. Installation costs $99 for standard installation or $149 for premium installation.

Winner: Frontier

Data caps

Frontier: There are no data caps so you won’t have to worry about an overage fee either with Frontier.

Optimum: Optimum also does not have data caps or overage fees.

Winner: Tie

Frontier vs. Optimum internet and TV bundles

Frontier does not offer a cable TV service, but customers interested in bundling can choose to bundle their Frontier internet service with YouTube TV.

Optimum internet and TV bundles are available in all Optimum service areas, but internet speeds and channels may vary by location. For an extra $15 per month, you can add a home phone to any internet and TV bundle.

Optimum bundles feature more TV channels and better pricing when compared to Frontier. However, you won’t receive as fast internet speeds with Optimum and will experience a major price increase after the first year. While Frontier is the best option for internet service, if cable TV is a priority, you may want to consider bundling with Optimum.

Winner: Optimum

Frontier vs. Optimum customer satisfaction ratings

Each year, the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) ranks internet and TV providers based on feedback from real customers. Here are the scores for Frontier and Optimum services over the last two years.

Winner: Frontier

Provider	2025 score	2024 score
Frontier	71/100	76/100
Optimum	71/100	66/100

Frontier vs. Optimum review

Although Optimum offers cheaper internet plans in the first year compared to Frontier, after the first year, Optimum’s plans will increase by around $70/mo. Most Frontier plans increase after the first year and three years.

Although Frontier Fiber is a better option, if only Frontier DSL service is available in your area, you will want to consider choosing Optimum instead.

Winner: Frontier Fiber

Categories	Frontier Fiber	Frontier DSL	Optimum
Affordability	2.81 / 5	3.87 / 5	3.79 / 5
Performance	4.64 / 5	1.79 / 5	4.59 / 5
Value	4.84 / 5	1.00 / 5	4.77 / 5
Customer satisfaction	3.58 / 5	2.73 / 5	2.75 / 5
Final score	3.86 / 5	2.52 / 5	4.13 / 5

Final verdict for Frontier vs. Optimum

When it comes to internet service, Frontier Fiber is your best bet. While Optimum offers the cheapest starting prices, you will face a $70/mo. price increase after the first 12 months, making Frontier the more affordable option in the long term. If you are considering bundling your internet and TV service, Optimum offers better TV options, but you will not get as fast speeds as you will with Frontier.