Xfinity vs. Frontier Internet Review 2023

Xfinity and Frontier internet prices seem to play leapfrog. Depending on what speed you’re looking at, one or the other might offer a better promotional price.

That said, we think Frontier’s Fiber internet service is the best deal thanks to its low cost, fast speeds, and unlimited data options—not to mention its newer and generally more reliable fiber technology.

But not everyone can get Frontier’s fiber internet service. And if you’re stuck with its DSL service, Xfinity Internet is the clear winner. Here’s what Xfinity’s promotional prices look like for the Central part of the US:

In today’s world, DSL internet doesn’t quite cut it. Frontier’s lowest speed of 6 Mbps is barely enough to surf the web and send a few emails. We imagine you’ll hear dial-up noises in your head while trying to load Gmail or other sites.

And the 25 Mbps and 45 Mbps speeds aren’t much better—but they’ll at least connect you to a Zoom call if you’re the only person online in your home.

So, if it’s a tossup between Xfinity and Frontier DSL internet, go with Xfinity. 

But, like we said, if you can grab Frontier’s Fiber internet, go for it. It comes with no contracts and unlimited data (Xfinity caps data at 1.2 TB), plus the prices are pretty low for the speeds you get.

Xfinity and Frontier’s fiber internet service are pretty much neck and neck when it comes to promised download speeds.

We recommend at least 50 Mbps for one person to stream, game, and take Zoom calls, and both ISPs offer these speeds plus faster download speeds for larger families.

But, as we said previously, Frontier’s DSL internet speeds leave a lot to be desired. We don’t recommend these speeds for anyone—unless you absolutely have no other choice. (Frontier’s DSL prices and unlimited data are still a better deal than satellite internet.)

(Not sure what download speed is right for you? We feel you. That’s why we created our internet speed guide to help you make choosing an internet plan a little bit easier.)

Looking at our latest report on internet speeds, Xfinity gives you the most bang for your buck when it comes to the actual download speeds you’ll get.

That said, Frontier’s speed score is likely brought down by its DSL internet service. In 2019, we analyzed download speed, upload speed, and latency from over a million speed tests, and DSL’s slower download and upload speeds automatically put it at a disadvantage.

Our spidey sense tells us that Frontier’s fiber internet speeds probably match Xfinity’s speeds.

There’s no hemming and hawing here: Frontier takes the win with unlimited data on all of its internet plans. Even its DSL internet.

Xfinity, on the other hand, caps your data at 1.2 TB (unless you qualify for Xfinity's Gigabit X2 plan exclusive to Seattle). While most of us probably won’t go near that data cap, it definitely starts to loom large by the end of the month if you’re working from home or need to download a boatload of video games.

• Xfinity data cap: 1.2 TB
• Frontier Fiber data cap: Unlimited
• Frontier DSL internet data cap: Unlimited

Okay, let’s start this chat by saying that no internet provider offers amazing customer service. It’s the sad truth, and we wish it would change.

That said, Frontier’s customer service is on the lower end. It scored 61 out of 100 points in the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) report for the second year in a row. Still, yuck.

On the other hand, Xfinity scored 68 out of 100, putting it right in the middle of the pack. That's better than the 66 out of 100 score the previous year. Sure, we’ve all heard the horror stories about Xfinity customer service, but we’d rather deal with Xfinity than Frontier.

If you do need to call your ISP’s customer service center, be not afraid. You can take these steps before you call to make your life easier.

• Xfinity customer service: 1-800-XFINITY (1-800-934-6489)
• Frontier customer service: 1-800-921-8101

Xfinity and Frontier are pretty evenly matched. But if you can get Frontier’s Fiber internet plans where you live, the prices are lower, you won’t need a contract, and you’ll get unlimited data.

But if you’re comparing Frontier DSL service with Xfinity, go with Xfinity.

• Price: Frontier Fiber. Both Xfinity and Frontier Fiber internet offer great promo prices. But Frontier’s no contracts and unlimited data push it into the lead. That said, Frontier’s DSL internet prices aren’t good for the speeds you get.
• Internet speed: Xfinity. Xfinity scored well in our fastest ISPs report, but it’s hard to say how Frontier performs. We think its Fiber internet matches Xfinity, but its DSL service isn’t worth writing home about.
• Data caps: Frontier. You get unlimited data on every Frontier internet plan—including its DSL service. But Xfinity puts a 1.2 TB limit on your data.
• Customer service: Xfinity. Internet customer service isn’t great, but at least Xfinity improved. That said, Frontier’s rock-bottom score is scarier than a Stephen King novel.

Some services are hard to gather data about, but there are objective ways to measure internet service! We look at speed tests and the ACSI scores of every ISP we review, and when possible, we run our own internet tests on various internet plans.

We have 8+ years of experience in testing, researching, and writing honest reviews to give you the best information on whether a service is right for you or not. 

When we review internet service providers, we look at the following factors to help choose our star ratings and overall rankings:

• Price for download speeds offered
• Variety of download speeds
• Availability
• Connection type