Frontier vs. Xfinity: Which provider should you choose?

Frontier vs. Xfinity overview

Thinking about Frontier or Xfinity services for your home? Frontier is now available in 25 states nationwide while Xfinity is available in 41 states. Areas where Frontier and Xfinity service may overlap include parts of Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, central California and West Virginia. Here’s how Xfinity’s service compares to Frontier overall:

• Best for cheap internet: Xfinity has lower starting internet pricing than Frontier.
• Best for fastest internet: Frontier offers the fastest plan with speeds up to 5,000 Mbps. Xfinity offers plans with speeds up to 3,000 Mbps in select areas.
• Best for TV packages and bundle savings: Xfinity will be your best bet for signing up for new TV services and taking advantage of bundle savings.
• Best for overall customer satisfaction: Frontier scores higher for internet service, but the two rank about the same for TV, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ASCI).

Frontier vs. Xfinity internet

Regardless of which Frontier internet service is available in your area, Xfinity is likely to give you more plan options. Available speeds and pricing will vary, but Xfinity typically presents six or seven plan options with speeds ranging from 25 to 3,000 Mbps. 

Frontier Fiber comes with fewer plan options than Xfinity, but offers choices of fiber plans from 500 to 5,000 Mbps. On the other hand, Frontier Internet may have only one DSL plan to choose from as this service is limited to whatever speeds are available at your address.

In general, if you can get Frontier Fiber at your address, it will provide faster upload speeds than Xfinity, but its DSL plans are usually on the slower side. Xfinity has some of the fastest download speeds in the country, but its upload speeds are usually lower, which could be a problem for activities like online gaming.

Frontier Fiber internet plans and pricing

*w/Auto Pay and Paperless Bill per month.  Exclusive offer for qualified addresses. For new residential Internet customers only. Max speeds are wired, Fiber 1 Gig location dependent. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. Max speed capable range for Fiber 500 (450-500 Mbps download/upload), Fiber 1 Gig (846-1000 Mbps download, 792-1000 Mbps upload), Fiber 2 Gig (1800-2000 Mbps download/upload) and requires 2 Gbps capable devices and wiring.  Fiber 5 Gig (4500-5000) and requires 5 Gbps capable devices and wiring.  Performance details: frontier.com/internetdisclosures. Requires Auto Pay or $10/mo fee applies. Printed bill available for $2.99/mo. Fee does not apply to select customers. A $50 equipment restocking fee per household applies when Internet is disconnected. A fee up to $150 per device for Fiber 500, 1 Gig, and 2 Gig, and up to $400 for Fiber 5 Gig also applies if equipment is not returned. Other applicable charges and additional services are extra. Subject to availability. Price and terms subject to change. Cannot be combined with other offers. Other restrictions, Frontier policies and service terms apply. Last updated: 08/22/24.

**For new residential Frontier Internet customers only. Frontier Internet service is not provided based on speed tiers or other level of performance and Frontier does not guarantee that you will be able to perform any particular internet activity with the service. For details see: frontier.com/internetdisclosures. Requires Auto Pay or $10/mo fee applies. Printed bill available for $2.99/mo. Fee does not apply to select customers. Activation ($85) and other applicable charges, additional services and taxes are extra & subject to change during & after the promo period. A $50 equipment restocking fee per household applies when Internet is disconnected. A fee up to $150 per device also applies if equipment is not returned. Service subject to availability. Price and terms subject to change. Cannot be combined with other offers. Other restrictions, Frontier policies and service terms apply. Last updated 08/22/24.

Xfinity internet plans and pricing

Xfinity has different plans and prices throughout the country, so the options you see at your address may not match exactly what you see below.

*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. Last updated 08/21/24.

Frontier vs. Xfinity pricing

Price is the main thin most internet customers are concerned with, aside from speed. We’ll break down Frontier and Xfinity pricing below so you can compare them side by side.

Plan pricing

Frontier’s plans offer great value because they are fiber-optic internet plans, which offer more speed and reliability than cable internet. Its 500 Mbps plan is under $50/mo., one of the best-priced fiber internet plans available.

Xfinity, on the other hand, has very low starting prices, depending on your region, of less than $30/mo. But unless you are one of the very small service areas able to get Xfinity Fiber, its cable plans will be less reliable than Frontier’s Fiber plans.

Price increases

Your prices will increase with both Frontier and Xfinity after your first or second year. Both have significant promotional discounts, so these price increases could come as a shock.

Installation, equipment and contracts

Frontier offers free installation with all of its internet plans, and Xfinity has a free self-install option, or you can pay $100 for professional installation. Equipment is also included with Frontier’s plans but you’ll pay an additional $15/mo. for Xfinity’s gateway device, unless it’s included in your first year of service.

Xfinity and Frontier pricing generally locks you into a one or two-year contract and you’ll get hit with an nearly termination fee if you cancel your service before the end of your contract.

Frontier vs. Xfinity bundles

Frontier doesn’t offer true internet and TV bundles like other providers. Instead, it offers Frontier internet customers a $10/mo. discount for one year of YouTube TV. You must be a new YouTube TV customer to redeem this offer.

Bundling Xfinity services, on the other hand, can get you a variety of discounts, including its multi-product discount, autopsy and paperless billing and any promotional discounts available.

We’ve listed some popular Xfinity bundles below for you to compare. Keep in mind that Frontier doesn’t offer TV service itself but partners with YouTube TV to offer a discount to Frontier customers for one year only, so your YouTube TV price will increase to its normal rate after this period. Xfinity bundles vary based on your location, so you might see different options than the ones listed below.

Frontier internet and TV bundles

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*Limited time offer for Frontier Internet subscribers who are first-time YouTube TV customers. Terms apply^ 08/22/24.

^For Frontier internet customers new to YouTube TV. This YouTube TV discount is only open to participants in the United States who have activated the offer from Frontier on or after October 1. Promotional offer only available to users who are not current YouTube TV subscribers, have not been YouTube TV subscribers or participated in a YouTube TV trial before. If eligible:  Frontier Internet customers will receive the standard free trial, and then a discount of $10 per month for 12 months on the standard subscription price; or Frontier Internet with current Frontier TV or Fiber TV will receive the standard free trial, and then a discount of $15 per month for 12 months on the standard subscription price offered by YouTube TV.  Standard subscription price is subject to change. You will not be charged until the trial period expires. You can cancel your standard trial at no charge at any time before the trial is over. You can also cancel your YouTube TV paid membership at any time. You will continue to receive access to YouTube TV until the end of your YouTube TV billing period, but refunds and credits are not issued for partial billing periods. Offer valid for one redemption of YouTube TV discount per eligible Frontier account. Eligible participants must use the activation link provided by Frontier and complete activation through Google to claim offer. Offer requires a Google account.  Promotional value of offer is non-transferable, not for resale, non-redeemable for cash, and non-refundable. Must be 18 years or older. Free trial, offers, or promotional offers available only for YouTube TV Base Plan. Equipment, installation and other service charges, taxes and fees extra.  Frontier Internet account required. Offer and billing subject to Frontier Terms and Conditions.  Frontier reserves the right to change or cancel the offer at any time and for any reason.  YouTube Paid Service Terms of Service also apply.  08/22/24.

Xfinity internet and TV bundles

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. Prices and plans shown were obtained with a Pennsylvania serviceable address. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Last updated 08/22/24.

Frontier vs. Xfinity customer satisfaction

The American Customer Satisfaction Index’s Telecommunications Report provides a ranking based on customer satisfaction for top internet providers. Here’s how Frontier and Xfinity scored in customer satisfaction over the past couple of years.

Frontier customer reviews

Frontier has an overall customer satisfaction rating of 3.9/5 from our customer satisfaction survey. Frontier’s affordable fiber plans set it apart from other providers. Read more Frontier customer reviews.

Xfinity customer reviews

Xfinity also has an overall score of 3.9/5 in our customer satisfaction survey. Customers mainly praised Xfinity’s speed and reliability. Read more Xfinity customer reviews.

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Frontier vs. Xfinity FAQs