2019 Frontier vs. Spectrum comparison
See how Frontier and Spectrum internet and TV services stack up against each other.



Is Frontier or Spectrum a better fit for you?
We’ve done the research on Frontier and Spectrum, so you can compare and choose the best internet, TV and home phone provider for you in one convenient spot. Depending on your home TV and internet needs, you may find either Spectrum or Frontier to be a better fit for you.
- Spectrum is available in 46 states, Frontier is available in 29 states with Frontier FiOS in three states: California, Texas and Florida.
- Spectrum offers cable internet and TV service, while Frontier offers DSL and fiber-optic internet and fiber-optic TV.
- Frontier offers the cheaper internet with plans starting at $20/mo.*
- Spectrum and Frontier both advertise gig internet with download speeds up to 940 Mbps, but Spectrum’s fastest speeds are available in more areas.
- Spectrum internet plans start at 100 Mbps; Frontier internet plans start at 1 Mbps.
*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. As of 07/09/19.
Frontier vs. Spectrum quick comparison
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Vantage Internet by Frontier
- Available in 29 states
- Internet and TV bundles starting at $62.99/mo.*
- Speeds from 25 Mbps to 500 Mbps
- Channel counts from 115+ to 495+
- DVR up to four shows at once
- Two-year term agreement for select bundles
-
Frontier FiOS
- Available in 3 states, FiOS TV available in 6 states
- Internet and TV bundles starting at $64.99/mo.*
- Speeds from 50 Mbps to 500 Mbps
- Channel counts from 200+ to 375+
- DVR up to 12 shows at once with Quantum TV Premium Service
- Two-year term agreement for select bundles
-
Spectrum
- Available in 46 states
- Internet and TV bundles starting at $89.98/mo.*
- Speeds from 100 Mbps to 940 Mbps
- Channel counts from 125+ to 200+
- DVR up to two shows at once with standard DVR, up to six shows with Enhanced DVR
- No contract, one-year price guarantee with select bundles
-
Vantage Internet by Frontier
- Available in 29 states
- Internet and TV bundles starting at $62.99/mo.*
- Speeds from 25 Mbps to 500 Mbps
- Channel counts from 115+ to 495+
- DVR up to four shows at once
- Two-year term agreement for select bundles
-
Frontier FiOS
- Available in 3 states, FiOS TV available in 6 states
- Internet and TV bundles starting at $64.99/mo.*
- Speeds from 50 Mbps to 500 Mbps
- Channel counts from 200+ to 375+
- DVR up to 12 shows at once with Quantum TV Premium Service
- Two-year term agreement for select bundles
-
Spectrum
- Available in 46 states
- Internet and TV bundles starting at $89.98/mo.*
- Speeds from 100 Mbps to 940 Mbps
- Channel counts from 125+ to 200+
- DVR up to two shows at once with standard DVR, up to six shows with Enhanced DVR
- No contract, one-year price guarantee with select bundles
-
Vantage Internet by Frontier
- Available in 29 states
- Internet and TV bundles starting at $62.99/mo.*
- Speeds from 25 Mbps to 500 Mbps
- Channel counts from 115+ to 495+
- DVR up to four shows at once
- Two-year term agreement for select bundles
-
Frontier FiOS
- Available in 3 states, FiOS TV available in 6 states
- Internet and TV bundles starting at $64.99/mo.*
- Speeds from 50 Mbps to 500 Mbps
- Channel counts from 200+ to 375+
- DVR up to 12 shows at once with Quantum TV Premium Service
- Two-year term agreement for select bundles
-
Spectrum
- Available in 46 states
- Internet and TV bundles starting at $89.98/mo.*
- Speeds from 100 Mbps to 940 Mbps
- Channel counts from 125+ to 200+
- DVR up to two shows at once with standard DVR, up to six shows with Enhanced DVR
- No contract, one-year price guarantee with select bundles
*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. As of 07/09/19.

Frontier vs. Spectrum service availability
Frontier offers internet, TV and home phone services in select areas of 29 states with Frontier FiOS available in California, Florida and Texas. Depending on where you live, Frontier may offer DSL, Vantage Fiber (a fiber to the node product) or FiOS (a 100% fiber-optic product). Spectrum offers internet, TV and home phone services in select areas of 46 states.
The two providers overlap in regions such as parts of New York, Ohio, southeast Tennessee, Minnesota, Southern California and other areas of the U.S. Click “Check availability” below to see if internet services from Frontier, Spectrum and other providers are available in your area.


Frontier vs. Spectrum bundles
Spectrum and Frontier offer comparable TV channel packages and premium channel promotions. They also offer similar internet speeds where Frontier Vantage and FiOS are available.
-
Frontier Premium Internet + Custom Essentials TV
- Starting at $62.99/mo.*
- Download speeds up to 25 Mbps
- Unlimited data
- 115+ channels
- Two-year contract required
-
Frontier FiOS Custom Essentials TV + Internet 50/50
- Starting at $64.99/mo.*
- Download speeds up to 50 Mbps
- Unlimited data
- 200+ channels
- Two-year contract required
-
Spectrum Double Play Select
- Starting at $89.98/mo.*
- Download speeds up to 200 Mbps
- Unlimited data
- 125+ channels
- No contract required
-
Frontier Premium Internet + Custom Essentials TV
- Starting at $62.99/mo.*
- Download speeds up to 25 Mbps
- Unlimited data
- 115+ channels
- Two-year contract required
-
Frontier FiOS Custom Essentials TV + Internet 50/50
- Starting at $64.99/mo.*
- Download speeds up to 50 Mbps
- Unlimited data
- 200+ channels
- Two-year contract required
-
Spectrum Double Play Select
- Starting at $89.98/mo.*
- Download speeds up to 200 Mbps
- Unlimited data
- 125+ channels
- No contract required
-
Frontier Premium Internet + Custom Essentials TV
- Starting at $62.99/mo.*
- Download speeds up to 25 Mbps
- Unlimited data
- 115+ channels
- Two-year contract required
-
Frontier FiOS Custom Essentials TV + Internet 50/50
- Starting at $64.99/mo.*
- Download speeds up to 50 Mbps
- Unlimited data
- 200+ channels
- Two-year contract required
-
Spectrum Double Play Select
- Starting at $89.98/mo.*
- Download speeds up to 200 Mbps
- Unlimited data
- 125+ channels
- No contract required
*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. As of 07/09/19.
What shoppers should consider in different regions
Both providers’ pricing and package options vary across the U.S., especially Frontier’s. Frontier offers different internet speeds in separate regions. Frontier also tends to offer higher internet speeds with bundles than with standalone internet plans.
Spectrum and Frontier both have select availability with TV services, too. In different areas, each provider may only offer TV service as part of a bundle. Because internet speed pricing changes so much and standalone options aren’t comparable in certain regions, potential “bundle savings” can differ across the U.S.
Frontier vs. Spectrum internet
Compare speed options based on lowest starting price
Provider/service | Internet type | Starting price* | Starting speeds | Fastest speeds |
![]() | DSL | $20/mo. | 1 to 6 Mbps | 24 Mbps |
![]() | FTTN | $30/mo. | 24 Mbps | 115 Mbps |
![]() | Fiber | $30/mo. | 50 Mbps | 500 Mbps |
![]() | Cable | $49.99/mo. | 100 Mbps | 940 Mbps |
*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. As of 12/03/19.
Frontier and Spectrum internet plans can be difficult to compare. Frontier offers diverse internet connection types, so plan options aren’t consistent across most of the U.S. Frontier sells DSL, fiber and FTTN (Fiber-to-the-node, a mix of fiber and DSL). Each type has different speed capabilities, and Frontier seldom offers multiple types in the same area.
Spectrum offers fewer internet speed options since they only sell cable products. While Spectrum doesn’t offer as many options, they do provide more consistent speeds and pricing across the country. In many areas, Spectrum tends to offer higher internet speeds than Frontier because Frontier fiber-optic internet has select availability.
Frontier vs. Spectrum cheap internet plans
In areas where Spectrum and Frontier are both available, Frontier offers the cheapest internet plans. However, most Frontier internet plans cost more per Mbps than Spectrum internet plans, making Spectrum internet plans more cost-efficient.
Frontier High Speed Internet
- $20/mo.* for up to one Mbps to six Mbps
- $3.33 per Mbps to $20 per Mbps*
- $5/mo.* Wi-Fi router rental with two-year contract, $10/mo.* Wi-Fi router rental with no contract
- $75 setup and installation fee
- Two-year term agreement or no monthly term agreement available
Vantage Internet cheapest internet plan
- $30/mo.* for up to 24 Mbps
- $1.25 per Mbps
- $5/mo.* Wi-Fi router rental with two-year contract, $10/mo.* Wi-Fi router rental with no contract
- $75 setup and installation fee
- Two-year term agreement or no monthly term agreement available
Frontier FiOS and Vantage Fiber cheapest internet plans
- $30/mo.* for up to 50 Mbps
- 60 cents per Mbps
- $5/mo.* Wi-Fi router rental with two-year contract, $10/mo.* Wi-Fi router rental with no contract
- $75 setup and installation fee
- Two-year term agreement or no monthly term agreement available
Spectrum cheapest internet plan
- $49.99/mo.* for up to 200 Mbps
- 25 cents per Mbps
- Internet modem included, $5/mo.* Wi-Fi rental available
- $49.99 setup and installation fee
- No monthly term agreement
*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. As of 12/03/19.
Customers may be able to cut costs on both Frontier and Spectrum plans because both providers offer free installation and setup with select plans and packages. Both providers also offer unlimited data.
Frontier vs. Spectrum fastest internet plans
Depending where you live, Frontier may offer internet speeds from one Mbps up to 940 Mbps, but speeds up to 940 Mbps are very limited. More commonly, the fastest internet speeds available with Frontier’s two fiber brands are speeds up to 500 Mbps.
Frontier offers its next fastest tier of internet plans with speeds up to 115 Mbps. The fastest speeds for Frontier Broadband plans (DSL) are up to 24 Mbps.
Spectrum started rolling out gig speeds in April 2018. In many areas, customers can upgrade from starting speeds of 100 Mbps to 940 Mbps for an added monthly cost.
Frontier FiOS and Vantage Fiber fastest internet plans
- 500/500 – up to 500 Mbps
- $150/mo.*
- Fiber internet
Vantage Internet
- Vantage Internet Power – up to 115 Mbps
- $60/mo.*
- High-speed broadband internet
Frontier Broadband
- Simply Broadband Elite – up to 24 Mbps
- $35/mo.*
- DSL internet
Spectrum fastest internet plan
- Spectrum Internet GIG – up to 940 Mbps
- $109.99/mo.*
- Cable internet
*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. As of 12/03/19.
Frontier vs. Spectrum TV
Spectrum’s TV plan pricing starts lower than Frontier’s TV plan pricing. Spectrum charges fewer monthly fees than Frontier and also charges less for installation and monthly set-top box rental. However, both providers frequently waive installation and setup fees for qualifying deals.
Frontier TV costs vs. Spectrum TV packages and costs
-
Frontier Vantage TV
- Plans starting at $62.99/mo.* when bundled
- 115-495+ channels
- Record up to four shows at once
- $15/mo.* Whole Home DVR fee
-
Frontier FiOS TV
- Plans starting at $75.99/mo.*
- 200-375+ channels
- Record up to 12 shows at once
- $15/mo.* Whole Home DVR fee
-
Spectrum TV
- Plans starting at $44.99/mo.*
- 125-200+ channels
- Record up to two shows at once
- DVR equipment and service fee varies
-
Frontier Vantage TV
- Plans starting at $62.99/mo.* when bundled
- 115-495+ channels
- Record up to four shows at once
- $15/mo.* Whole Home DVR fee
-
Frontier FiOS TV
- Plans starting at $75.99/mo.*
- 200-375+ channels
- Record up to 12 shows at once
- $15/mo.* Whole Home DVR fee
-
Spectrum TV
- Plans starting at $44.99/mo.*
- 125-200+ channels
- Record up to two shows at once
- DVR equipment and service fee varies
-
Frontier Vantage TV
- Plans starting at $62.99/mo.* when bundled
- 115-495+ channels
- Record up to four shows at once
- $15/mo.* Whole Home DVR fee
-
Frontier FiOS TV
- Plans starting at $75.99/mo.*
- 200-375+ channels
- Record up to 12 shows at once
- $15/mo.* Whole Home DVR fee
-
Spectrum TV
- Plans starting at $44.99/mo.*
- 125-200+ channels
- Record up to two shows at once
- DVR equipment and service fee varies
*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. As of 07/09/19.
Frontier offers the highest channel counts, but TV package options vary quite a bit. In some areas, Frontier Vantage TV packages start at 115 channels, but they may be unavailable as standalone plans. In other regions, you can purchase standalone FiOS TV packages starting with 300+ channels.
Spectrum TV plans are fairly consistent in each region, with the main differences in channel lineups being local channels and regional sports networks. Consequently, pricing for Spectrum TV plans is also more consistent than Frontier Vantage or FiOS.
Frontier vs. Spectrum customer satisfaction
The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) scores internet and TV providers based on feedback from customers in the areas of service quality, costs, customer service and more. Here’s how Spectrum and Frontier/Frontier FiOS scored over the past three years for internet and TV customer satisfaction.
Provider/service | 2019 score | 2018 score | 2017 score | Avg. past three years |
Frontier DSL internet | 54/100 | 55 | 56 | 55 |
Spectrum internet | 59 | 60 | 65 | 61.3 |
Frontier TV | 57 | 56 | 60 | 57.7 |
Spectrum TV | 59 | 58 | 63 | 60 |
Last updated 07/10/19.
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