Compare Frontier vs. Suddenlink

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. While Suddenlink will get you the cheapest starting prices, Frontier is the more affordable option long-term and provides faster upload speeds.

• • Symmetrical download/upload speeds
  • Great value
  • No contracts or data caps
• • Cheap starting prices
  • Great bundle options
  • No contracts

*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 08/17/21.

Frontier vs. Suddenlink review 

Although Suddenlink offers cheaper internet plans in the first year compared to Frontier, after the first year, Suddenlink’s plans will increase by around $70/mo. Frontier OpticOptic, in contrast, will only increase by $10/mo., making it a more affordable option and better value for the long-term.

Although Frontier FiberOptic is a better option than Suddenlink, if only Frontier DSL is available in your area, you will want to consider choosing Suddenlink 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

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On this page:

• Frontier vs. Suddenlink internet 
• Frontier vs. Suddenlink fees
• Frontier vs. Suddenlink internet and TV bundles
• Frontier vs. Suddenlink customer satisfaction ratings
• Final verdict

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.

Allconnect Rating

3.79 / 5

Frontier FiberOptic plans and pricing

Allconnect Rating

3.28 / 5

Suddenlink plans and 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 08/17/21.

Which internet plan should you choose?

Best overall plan: Frontier FiberOptic 500

Best overall internet plan: Frontier FiberOptic 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 Suddenlink offers a similar plan, 400 Mbps plan for $50/mo., we would recommend choosing the Frontier 500 plan because after the first year, Suddenlink’s 400 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 plans: Suddenlink

Cheapest overall internet plans: Frontier Basic Internet and Suddenlink Internet 200 

When it comes to cheapest starting prices, Suddenlink has Frontier beat. Suddenlink offers 200 Mbps for $30/mo. Just keep in mind this plan will increase to $99.99/mo. after the first 12 months. Frontier’s cheapest plan is its DSL plan, which offers up to 9 Mbps for $37.99/mo. We would not recommend either of these plans if you are looking for a good long-term value. 

Fastest plan: Frontier Fiber

Fastest overall internet plans: Frontier FiberOptic Gig and Suddenlink Internet 1 Gig 

Both Frontier and Suddenlink offer gig speed internet plans. Frontier provides 940/880 (download/upload) Mbps for $74.99/mo. and Suddenlink provides 940/35 Mbps for $70/mo. We would recommend Frontier’s Gig plan since its upload speeds are faster and its price will not increase as much as Suddenlink’s price will increase by. 

Additional fees

Frontier: Equipment fees are included in the price. The only additional fee you have to worry about, therefore, is a one-time activation fee of $85 and a $3.99/mo. infrastructure fee with FiberOptic plans. There are no data caps so you won’t have to worry about an overage fee either.

Suddenlink: 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. Suddenlink has a data cap of 350GB on all plans as well. 

Frontier vs. Suddenlink 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 DISH TV.

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.

• Frontier FiberOptic 50 + DISH America’s Top 120+

  • Starting at $124.98/mo.*
  • Download speeds up to 500 Mbps
  • Unlimited data
  • 190+ channels
  • No contract

• Suddenlink Value TV and Internet 200

  • Starting at $40.00/mo.*
  • Speeds up to 200 Mbps
  • 350 GB monthly data allowance
  • 200+ TV channels
  • No contract

*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 08/17/21.

Suddenlink bundles feature 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. You also won’t receive as fast internet speeds with Suddenlink and will experience a major price increase after the first year. 

Frontier plans come with unlimited data, but the cheapest bundle package (illustrated above) is much more expensive than Suddenlink. Therefore, while Frontier is the best option for internet service, if cable TV is a priority, you may want to consider bundling with Suddenlink.

Frontier vs. Suddenlink TV service

Frontier is currently only offering TV service through DISH satellite TV. Suddenlink TV service is available wherever Suddenlink services are offered.

• • Plans starting at $64.99/mo.
  • 190-290+ channels
  • Record up to 16 shows at once
  • $10/mo.* DVR fee
  • No contract required

• • Plans starting at $58.00/mo.*
  • 225-340+ channels
  • Recordings vary by available device, up to four shows at once
  • DVR equipment fee varies by available device
  • One-year contract required

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.