Frontier vs. Spectrum 2020 comparison
See how Frontier Communications and Spectrum internet and TV services stack up.
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 25 states with Frontier FiOS in four states: California, Texas, Florida and Indiana.
- 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 $27.99/mo.*
- Spectrum and Frontier both advertise gig internet with download speeds up to 940 Mbps.
- Spectrum internet plans start at 60 Mbps; Frontier DSL internet plans start at 1 Mbps and Frontier FiOS internet speed tiers start at 50 Mbps.
*Pricing per month plus taxes. 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 06/01/20.
Compare Frontier vs. Spectrum
*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 06/01/20.
Frontier vs. Spectrum service availability
Frontier availability spans select areas of 25 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). Areas of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington formerly eligible for Frontier service are now served by Ziply Fiber.
Spectrum is the second largest cable provider in the U.S. Spectrum coverage areas bring cable internet, TV and home phone services to 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.
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.
*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 06/01/20.
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 bundles
Internet service from Frontier and Spectrum come with no data caps and no contract requirements.
Available internet plans, pricing and speeds vary by location with Frontier and Spectrum. Because of Frontier’s diverse internet connection types, you will likely find their internet plans to have the most variations from location to location.
We’ve listed Frontier FiOS plans below as they are most similar to the internet plans you’ll find with Spectrum.
Frontier FiOS internet plans
| Plan | Monthly starting price* | Download speeds up to |
| 50M/50M | $29.99 | 50 Mbps |
| 500M/500M | $39.99 | 500 Mbps |
| Gig Service | $74.99 | 940 Mbps |
Spectrum offers up to three internet plans — Spectrum Internet, Internet Ultra and Internet Gig — in most areas with available speeds ranging from 60 to 940 Mbps. You’ll find details of Spectrum internet plans below.
Spectrum internet plans
| Plan | Monthly starting price* | Download speeds up to |
| Spectrum Internet | $49.99 | 200 Mbps |
| Internet Ultra | $69.99 | 400 Mbps |
| Internet Gig | $109.99 | 940 Mbps |
Frontier vs. Spectrum cheap internet plans
In areas where Spectrum and Frontier are both available, Frontier will likely present the lowest-priced internet options. Depending on the plan you choose, however, Spectrum plans may come with more speed for the price, making it a better value.
Frontier High Speed Internet
- $27.99/mo.* for up to 6 Mbps
- $10/mo.* Wi-Fi router rental
- $85 activation fee
- No contract required
Vantage Internet cheapest internet plan
- $24.99/mo.* for up to 9 Mbps
- $10/mo.* Wi-Fi router rental
- No contract required
Frontier FiOS and Vantage Fiber cheapest internet plans
- $29.99/mo.* for up to 50 Mbps
- $10/mo.* Wi-Fi router rental
- No contract required
Spectrum cheapest internet plan
- $49.99/mo.* for up to 200 Mbps
- Internet modem included, $5/mo.* Wi-Fi rental
- 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 06/01/20.
Spectrum internet plans are a bit pricier than Frontier, but their equipment costs are lower as Spectrum includes a free modem and Wi-Fi router rental for only $5/mo. Customers of Spectrum can cut monthly costs by using their own modem and router. For almost all plans, Frontier requires that you get a router from them for $10 per month
Frontier vs. Spectrum fastest internet plans
Depending where you live, Frontier may offer internet speeds up to 940 Mbps, but gig internet availability is limited. More commonly, the fastest internet speeds available with Frontier’s two fiber brands are speeds up to 500 Mbps.
The fastest speeds for Frontier Broadband plans (DSL) are up to 24 Mbps.
Spectrum’s gig internet offers speeds up to 940 Mbps and are available in the majority of Spectrum service areas.
Frontier FiOS and Vantage Fiber fastest internet plans
- Gigabit – up to 940/880 Mbps
- $74.99/mo.*
- 100% fiber-optic network internet
Vantage Internet
- Vantage Gigabit – up to 940/880 Mbps
- $150/mo.*
- FTTN internet
Frontier High Speed Internet
- 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 06/01/20.
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
*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 06/01/20.
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 06/01/20.
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