Compare Frontier vs. Suddenlink
Great home services are closer than you think. Shop available Frontier and Suddenlink plans in your area.



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Is Frontier or Suddenlink better for your home?
Frontier and Suddenlink provide internet, TV and home phone services in many areas across the U.S. Both providers present differences in price, availability and performance. We’ve done the research on Frontier and Suddenlink for you, so you can easily compare and choose the better internet, TV and home phone provider for your home.
*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 11/11/20.
Much of Frontier’s availability is made up of their DSL service, available in 25 states. Frontier FiberOptic is available in select areas of California, Texas, Indiana and Florida.
Suddenlink’s HFC network is available in most Suddenlink serviceable areas. In areas where an HFC connection is unavailable, Suddenlink uses a standard cable network. Both providers are available in parts of central Texas and Arizona, eastern North Carolina and throughout West Virginia.
Take a closer look at Frontier and Suddenlink services. Click the links below to compare Frontier and Suddenlink bundles, internet and TV services. Or, click “Shop plans” to view available bundles in your area.
On this page:
Frontier vs. Suddenlink internet and TV bundles
Frontier does not offer standalone TV plans, but you’ll find internet and TV bundles wherever Frontier FiberOptic services are available. Suddenlink internet and TV bundles are available in all Suddenlink service areas, but internet speeds and channels may vary by location. If you’re interested in Suddenlink TV, it’s actually cheaper to bundle with internet service than it is to buy standalone TV service. You can also add home phone to any internet and TV bundle for little-to-no extra cost.
*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 12/20/20.
Suddenlink bundles feature higher internet speeds, more TV channels and better pricing when compared to typical Frontier bundles. However, Suddenlink service will include monthly data caps on your internet service, so you’ll have to monitor your monthly usage.
Frontier plans come with unlimited data, but the cheapest bundles (illustrated above) include internet speeds that are better suited for smaller households with less internet-connected devices.
When it comes to channel lineups, both Frontier’s Custom Essentials TV and Suddenlink’s Value TV offer popular entertainment as well as basic, local stations that you’ll need to find weather and news content. Frontier regional channel lineups are available on the provider website. Although Value TV is Suddenlink’s most basic TV plan, the lineup includes favorites like HGTV, ESPN, Food Network and more.
TV equipment and fees
Along with your initial plan costs, Suddenlink will charge you $11/mo.* for each device requiring traditional cable TV service. TiVo Any Room HD DVR will cost $17/mo.* on each device equipped. Standard installation will incur a one-time charge of $59, while premium will cost $99. Premium installation includes standard activation, plus setup of streaming accounts, Wi-Fi configuration of up to six devices and hardwiring of one device.
Frontier TV equipment fees can add $15/mo.* or more depending on how many TVs you connect. Additionally, broadcast fees and regional sports fees can add around $17/mo. to your TV 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. Speeds may vary. As of 12/20/20.
Frontier vs. Suddenlink internet
Frontier’s DSL internet service is the most widely available, but select metro areas may have access to Frontier FiberOptic internet. Suddenlink’s HFC network is available in most Suddenlink-serviceable areas. Locations without access to Suddenlink’s HFC network may have fewer internet options and slower speeds.
Frontier FiberOptic plans and pricing
Plan | Starting price | Max download speeds |
Frontier FiberOptic 50 | $49.99/mo.* | 50 Mbps |
Frontier FiberOptic 500 | $59.99/mo.* | 500 Mbps |
Frontier FiberOptic Gigabit | $79.99/mo.* | 940 Mbps |
One of the greatest drawbacks to Frontier internet service is the wide variety of service types and capabilities which will vary by location. If you’re located in a region where Frontier DSL internet is offered, available speeds may be much slower than what’s available with Frontier FiberOptic.
Suddenlink plans and pricing
Plan name | Starting price | Max download speeds | Max upload speeds |
Internet 100 | $35/mo.* | 100 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
Internet 400 | $55/mo.* | 400 Mbps | 40 Mbps |
Internet 1 Gig | $75/mo.* | 1,000 Mbps | 50 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. Speeds may vary. As of 11/11/20.
Suddenlink, on the other hand, offers comparable plans and pricing in every serviceable region (although there are less plans compared to Frontier).
Equipment and fees
On top of the base charges for your internet service, you’ll incur additional charges from both Suddenlink and Frontier for things like router and receiver rental.
Frontier includes the equipment rental fee with the total monthly costs, so there are no “additional” equipment fees.
A one-time activation fee of $85 will also be assessed when you first sign up for internet service and a $3.99/mo.* infrastructure fee will come with FiberOptic plans.
Suddenlink also provides router rental for Wi-Fi subscribers, but if you’ve got your own equipment, you may opt out of the extra fee. A one-time installation fee of $59 or $99 will be included in your first month’s bill, depending on whether you opt for standard or premium installation.
Frontier vs. Suddenlink cheap internet plans
Some of the most popular plans from any provider are often the most affordable and these plans are no exception. Check out the cheapest plans you can find with each provider and how they compare.
Though starting prices are similar, you’ll find that speeds vary widely between providers. Frontier’s starting speed will actually vary from location to location. Suddenlink, on the other hand, offers competitive starting speeds and affordable pricing compared to Frontier. However, subscribers will incur a one-time fee of up to $99 and will need to operate within data limits of up to 250GB/mo.*
*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 11/11/20.
Frontier vs. Suddenlink fastest internet plans
Where available, Frontier and Suddenlink deliver internet speeds comparable to other leading internet providers. Residents in select areas of Texas, Florida, California and Indiana will have access to Frontier FiberOptic, which delivers the fastest Frontier internet speeds. Suddenlink’s fastest speeds are available in most areas where Suddenlink service is offered.
*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 11/11/20.
Both plans give you internet speeds fast enough to stream HD and 4K video, game online, download music and more on multiple devices at once. When shopping for home internet, it’s important to know what internet speeds you need for your home. That way, you can avoid getting a connection too slow for your needs or overpaying for one that gives you more speed than you need.
Frontier vs. Suddenlink TV service
Frontier TV service is available in Frontier Vantage and Frontier FiberOptic service areas. Suddenlink TV service is available wherever Suddenlink services are offered.
*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 11/11/20.
Frontier and Suddenlink TV packages include local channels, HD channels and lots of add-on options including sports and movie networks. Click “Shop plans” to find the TV package with the channels and add-ons you want most.
Frontier vs. Suddenlink 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 Suddenlink services over the last three years.
Service | 2020 score | 2019 score | 2018 score | Avg. past three years |
Frontier internet | 55 | 54 | 55 | 55 |
Suddenlink internet | 57 | 60 | 61 | 59.3 |
Frontier TV | 58 | 57 | 56 | 57 |
Suddenlink TV | 56 | 55 | 58 | 56.3 |
Final verdict
The details are important, but when it comes down to it, who’s our pick for the best provider?
- Frontier internet is available in more areas than Suddenlink.
- Frontier delivers internet over a DSL, fiber to the node (FTTN) or 100% fiber network. Suddenlink uses a cable or cable/fiber hybrid (HFC) network.
- Frontier requires no contracts. Suddenlink contracts run for the length of promotional terms, usually one year.
- Suddenlink ranked higher than Frontier for internet customer satisfaction in 2019, but Frontier ranked higher for TV customer satisfaction.
Last updated 11/11/20.
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Written by:
Lisa IscrupeWriter, Broadband & Data Content
Lisa uses years of experience in sales and customer service for internet-TV providers to inform her writing on broadband. Her work has been referenced by CNN and other national sources. In Lisa’s Words: Ever… Read more
Edited by:
Robin LaytonEditor, Broadband & Wireless Content
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