Frontier vs. Optimum

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 500 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.

  • Customer satisfaction: The American Customer Satisfaction Index ranked Frontier below among major internet providers with a score of 61/100 in 2022.
• • Affordability: Optimum’s rates jump up significantly after 24 mos.

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

  • Value: There are no data caps and contracts.

  • Customer satisfaction: The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) gave Optimum a 59/100 in 2022, which is 1 point lower than its score in 2021.

Frontier vs. Optimum internet

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

Frontier Fiber plans & pricing

*w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill per month. Max speeds are wired. Location dependent. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.Last updated 03/13/23.

Optimum plans & pricing

*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. As of 8/1/22.

Which internet plan should you choose?

Best overall: Frontier Fiber 500 

If you are looking for high-speed internet for a great price, Frontier’s 500 Mbps plan for $49.99/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/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 $49.99/mo.

Fastest speeds: Frontier Fiber 5 Gig 

Both Frontier and Optimum offer gig speed internet plans, but only Frontier goes all the way up to 5 gig. This is more than all but the most connected households need, but if you want the fastest plan available, Frontier gives you 5000 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. 03/13/23.

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.

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.

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 400 Mbps plan got a 4.16.

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

Show summary Hide summary

Additional fees

Frontier: Equipment fees are included in the price. The only additional fee you have to worry about, therefore, is a professional installation fee of $50 for its fiber plans and a $3.99/mo. infrastructure fee with Fiber plans. There are no data caps so you won’t have to worry about an overage fee either.

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.

Frontier vs. Optimum internet and TV bundles

Frontier is currently not offering its own cable TV service but customers who are 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. You can also add home phone to any internet and TV bundle for an extra $15 per month.

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.

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 three years.

Final verdict

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.