Frontier Internet Review: Customers Call It “Rock Solid”

Frontier’s fiber service is fast and reliable, but the call center still needs some work.

Frontier
Frontier Internet
4 out of 5 stars
4
Starts at$29.99/mo
  • Icon Blank

    4.25/5 - Speed and reliability
  • Icon Blank

    3.5/5 - Dollar value
  • Icon Blank

    4.25/5 - Customer experience
man popping out of a laptop with a speech bubbles with Wi-Fi, thumbs up, piggy bank
Kelly Huh
Oct 25, 2024
Icon Time To Read10 min read

It’s a brand new era for Frontier internet, which is making waves with a fresh strategy to expand its fiber network across the country.

Frontier’s goal is to fully transition into a fiber-only provider, although there are a few locations that still have DSL. DSL is too expensive for the sloth-like speeds you get out of it, but if Frontier’s fiber plans are available in your neighborhood, you should hop on that train, stat. Fiber is always our top pick for internet connection type, but customers tell Reviews.org that they especially love Frontier for its solid network and rare occurrence of outages.

“I love it. To me, the price is fair," says Sherwin Kamyab, a Frontier customer in Plano, Texas, who credits the provider for delivering consistent performance under all circumstances. "Even with the storms, no hiccups.”

Read our review to see whether it’s worth signing up for Frontier.

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Get to know Frontier: Plans and pricing

Plan
Price
Download speed
Details
Frontier Internet$64.99/mo.*Depends on location
Fiber 200$29.99/mo.Up to 200 Mbps
Fiber 500$44.99/mo. w/ Auto Pay and Paperless BillUp to 500 Mbps
Fiber 1 Gig$64.99/mo. w/ Auto Pay and Paperless Bill^Up to 1000 Mbps
Fiber 2 Gig$99.99/mo. w/ Auto Pay and Paperless Bill°Up to 2000 Mbps
Fiber 5 Gig$129.99/mo. w/ Auto Pay and Paperless Bill**Up to 5000 Mbps
Fiber 7 Gig$299.99/mo.††Up to 7000 Mbps
* w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill per month for 24 mos. One-time charge on disconnect applies.
w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 200/200 Mbps. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.
w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 500/500 Mbps. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.
^ w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 1000/1000 Mbps. Location dependent. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.
° w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 2000/2000 Mbps. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.
** w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 5000/5000. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.
†† w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 7000/7000. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.

Frontier offers reliable, fast speeds on its fiber plans that start at $29.99 per month for 200Mbps and get up to 7Gbps symmetrical speeds for $299.99 per month. All Frontier customers get unlimited data, so you can keep using your internet service throughout the month without worrying about your service slowing down. The plans are discounted for the first 12 months and then can increase by $10–$25 per month.

Installation is free, but there is a prorated early termination fee if you cancel before your first 12 months, up to $200 depending on your plan.

Frontier does offer DSL service for $64.99 per month plus a $100 installation in select locations. There are no guaranteed speeds on this plan. Since the company is phasing out DSL in favor of fiber, DSL requires more resources to keep it going. It’s best to call Frontier to check if it’s actually available for your address.

“I love it.” —Sherwin Kamyab, Frontier customer in Texas

Which Frontier Internet plan is right for you?

If you're choosing between Frontier's fiber plans and its DSL package, go with fiber. The 200Mbps fiber plan offers enough speed for average browsing and streaming, but if you need more speed, Frontier's Fiber 500 plan for $45 per month should easily cover you.

Frontier fees for modem and installation

Router

Included with all plans

Auto pay and paperless billing

$10.00/mo. bill credit

Printed bill fee

$3.49/mo.

Installation

Free for a limited time, $100.00 otherwise

Early termination fee

Up to $200.00 prorated fee if canceled between months 1–12

Whole-home Wi-Fi  with up to two extenders (optional)

$10.00/mo.

Additional extenders (optional)

$10.00/mo. each

Wi-Fi Secure powered by Eero (optional)

$5.00/mo.

Identity Protection (optional)

$10.00/mo.

Total Shield (optional)

$10.00/mo.

My Premium Tech Pro (optional)

$10.00/mo.

Data as of 23/7/2024

What makes this review legit?

Our fact-based research process centers on interviews with internet customers across the country, helping us understand how internet services hold up against diverse needs and challenges.

To put together this review, we interviewed a couple Frontier customers in Texas and chatted with a dozen other customers via Reddit who shared the pros and cons they’ve experienced while being a customer. We let their experiences guide our research and shape our conclusions. We also called (and waited for) Frontier customer service at different times throughout the week to ask about the provider’s price increases and extra fees. To make sure we understood what customers were really getting themselves into, we pored over the fine print on Frontier’s website and read through the latest internet customer-satisfaction reports.

how we review products and services

Our breakdown of Frontier Internet

For all our internet reviews, we give a rating based on three main criteria—speed and reliability, dollar value, and customer experience—which we then average to make an overall score.

Want to know how Frontier stacks up? See our full take below.

Overall score: 4/5

Speed and reliability

internet speed
4.25/5

Frontier fiber customers are having a great time with their service. Since it’s a fiber connection, all speeds are symmetrical, so both download and upload speeds are the same. This makes it a significantly more reliable experience than cable, DSL, or 5G plans, which have lower upload speeds. Symmetrical internet is especially great for content creators who upload 4K videos, avid photographers saving their photos to the cloud, or remote workers who have back-to-back Zoom meetings.

The 200Mbps plan is the lowest speed available and is suitable for day-to-day internet browsing and video calls. If you upgrade your speed, the service becomes increasingly more robust. That means no need to argue over what show to put on the TV—your sister can binge watch Love Island while you ugly cry over My Octopus Teacher. You don’t even have to find something to fill your time while downloading a large game file.

Frontier doesn’t quite make it on to our Fastest Internet Providers list, falling behind top providers like Xfinity and Verizon. Our results show that the average Frontier customer who runs our speed test gets 114Mbps download speeds and 128.642 upload speeds. This is still a decent speed that most solo-dwellers or couples will find works for them.

If you can get Frontier DSL, speed works differently. Frontier doesn’t promise that you can perform any particular internet activity or get any level of speed on its DSL, which is lowkey admitting that the service is unreliable. At least they’re honest? A customer service representative did tell Reviews.org that if you sign up for DSL, a technician first comes to your home, installs the service, and then runs a speed test. If you’re happy with the speed, you finish signing up for the service and pay for installation. If you’re not satisfied, you can decline the service and don’t have to pay a dime.

Dollar value

dollar value
3.5/5.0

You get a good deal for your dollar with Frontier fiber. All plans begin with a one-year price guarantee. After the year ends, plans can increase by $10–$25 per month according to Frontier’s website. Price increases aren’t ideal, but they’re a typical practice by most internet service providers who are trying to reel you in with their so-called discounts. Despite the price increase, you still get fast, reliable internet out of your plan. You could also reduce your speed for a cheaper monthly fee and see if it makes a noticeable difference.

There are a few additional fees, but nothing too crazy. Installation can cost $100, but it’s currently free—so get on that while you can. A nice Eero router is also included with your service, and you get a $10 credit every month if you opt for paperless billing. There is a fee of $3.49 per month if for some reason you want your bills in the mail, so make sure you double check you’re enrolled in paperless billing through My Bills online or Billing in the app. You will also have to pay an early termination fee if you cancel before your first year of service is over, up to $200.00, depending on how many months you have left.

On the other hand, you don’t get a good deal with Frontier DSL. DSL is an older technology that requires more resources to maintain, hence the hefty monthly fee that is on par with Frontier’s (far superior) 1 Gig fiber internet plan. In our opinion, you’d be better off searching for a cable or 5G internet provider if only Frontier’s DSL plan is offered in your location.

Customer experience

customer experience
4.25/5.0

Frontier gets an average score in HighSpeedInternet.com’s Customer Satisfaction Survey, as a result of 7,000 online customer survey responses about various internet providers. This is a good sign that the provider is meeting expectations of price, speed and reliability, and customer service. In the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ASCI), Frontier fiber is on par with other fiber internet service providers. Frontier’s DSL service performs poorly, scoring well below expectations for non-fiber providers.

Frontier’s fiber installation is similar to other fiber providers. “Setting it up was easy. I requested service, they came the next day and installed the ONT in the garage. Ever since then, no downtime,” explains Sherwin Kamyab, a Frontier customer in Texas. The provider has announced an option for self-installation for fiber plans, though eligibility depends on your location.

Frontier’s customer service call center is the one aspect of the service that lacks efficiency. “It took a really long time just to talk to a real person,” says Kamyab, who was on the phone with Frontier for an hour and a half trying to get technical support. “Luckily I called after work. I know Frontier better than to try to call them during my work hours.”

When we called customer service, the agents were straightforward and not too pushy. We did, however, have to wait between three to seven minutes, which is a long time to listen to an advertising loop about Frontier. You can also chat with Frontier’s “AI-driven” chatbot, Giga, if picking up the phone gives you the ick. However, Giga seems to operate based on a limited selection of prompts before connecting to a live agent—basically the same as a phone tree when you call customer service.

How long it took to get a real human on the phone: Three to seven minutes

How the chat service is: Once you get through a troubleshooting menu, the chatbot diverts you to a live agent, who is helpful and prompt.

Overall quality

overall quality
4.0/5.0

Frontier fiber plans provide high quality internet service. Prices are reasonable for the great reliability and fast speeds, and pricing is fairly transparent and straightforward. Customer service isn’t outstanding, but the internet service itself is reliable, so hopefully you don’t need to call too often. If DSL is all you can get, find another provider because it’s an expensive plan for a potentially unusable service. 

Frontier: What deals and promotions can you get?

For a limited time, save $25 per month on Frontier’s fiber 500Mbps or 1Gbps speed plans. All fiber plans also currently offer free expert installation.

deals badge
Get $25/mo. off your service per month with Frontier’s 500Mbps or 1Gbps plans.

Frontier add-ons and perks


Unlimited Digital Voice (home phone) for $25.00/mo.

Add home phone service in addition to your internet plan. Non-promo price is $50.00/mo.


Save $10/mo. on your first year of Youtube TV

Sign up for YouTube TV alongside your Frontier internet plan.


Get a $200 Visa Rewards Card

Sign up for the Fiber 2 Gig plan. Prorated early termination fee applies.


Get the Eero Max 7 router ($599 value)

Sign up for the Fiber 5 Gig plan.


Refer a friend and you both get $150

Enroll in a Frontier internet plan and submit a referral for a friend. Once their service is confirmed, you will both receive a $150 gift card.

Valid between 3/1/2024 and 9/30/2024.


What do customers think of Frontier?

Customers are happy with Frontier’s fiber service itself but frustrated with customer service agents.

Fiber internet usually outshines other connection types because of its newer technology and symmetrical speeds. “No complaints. It's been rock solid,” says user Neatfeek83, who chatted with Reviews.org over Reddit about their experience working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Asynchronous speeds were a non-starter for me,” they explain. “A lot of my co-workers who didn't realize the difference between [synchronous/symmetrical and asynchronous speeds] quickly found themselves bottlenecked, waiting for files to upload at substandard speeds.”

They were originally on the 500Mbps service, and upgraded to 1Gbps plan during the pandemic. “It became clear that we needed more bandwidth for two adults working from home and two kids schooling at home.” Price-wise, they feel like they’re getting a good deal for $75 per month for 1Gbps of speed.

“With work-from-home, it’s not really an option to just have my internet go out for a full day,” –Mitch Jaben, current Frontier customer, referring to a time where he experienced a full-day outage on his Spectrum plan.

Mitch Jaben, another Frontier fiber customer, also feels like his internet is reliable for remote work. “I don’t notice any issues with speeds that make me feel like I’m not getting the speeds I pay for.” Jaben switched to Frontier after experiencing a full-day outage on his Spectrum plan, which forced him to work from the local library. “With work-from-home, it’s not really an option to just have my internet go out for a full day,” he explains. His current Frontier plan is more affordable than Spectrum, but even if it was more expensive, he wouldn’t switch back. “Unreliable service is worthless in my opinion.”

Frontier’s customer service

Despite rave reviews on the actual internet service, customers tell Reviews.org that Frontier’s customer service isn’t helpful. This isn’t a surprise, as call center satisfaction is the lowest-rated area of internet service providers according to the ACSI.

Neatfeek83, Reddit user, explains that their ONT went out after a storm, and Frontier originally said that it would take a full week before a technician could come to fix it. “That wasn’t going to fly with two working adults and two kids doing remote school,” they explain. They were determined to get the internet back up and running, so emailed the office of the President of Frontier, and within three hours, a tech was at their door.

“It’s easier to herd cats than it is to get in contact with their customer support sometimes.” —Sherwin Kamyab, Frontier customer in Texas

Sherwin Kamyab, another Frontier customer, has also struggled with customer service when trying to order a MoCa adapter for his 10,000 square feet home he shared with his family of four. On the main floor, he was getting 2Gbps speeds, but upstairs he was only getting 300Mbps wirelessly. He decided to order a MoCa adapter through Frontier because he read on Reddit forums that MoCa adapters could improve a home internet network by piggy-backing off of existing coaxial wiring in a home. 

Kamyab was transferred multiple times on the phone before he got to someone who could help. “It’s easier to herd cats than it is to get in contact with their customer support sometimes,” he remarks. Instead of receiving a MoCa adapter, Kamyab was sent a router. When he reached out again, Frontier realized its mistake and sent him a MoCa adapter. However, when he opened the package, he realized that the cable they sent was incompatible with his network.  “Don’t get me wrong. Their network service is great. It’s just customer service.” He eventually gave up and set up his own mesh network.

Need to contact Frontier customer service or tech support?

Where is Frontier available?

Frontier has 6.8 million locations with fiber according to Frontier’s 2024 first quarter results. This spans 25 states across the East Coast, Midwest, and some locations in the West. Type in your zip code below and see if Frontier is available for you. 

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Have you tried our zip code checker? See if Frontier and other top providers are available in your neighborhood.

Frontier vs. the competition

Frontier’s fiber plans make it a solid internet provider that’s faster and more reliable than cable companies Spectrum or Xfinity. While customers tell us they aren’t happy with Frontier’s customer service, cable providers can’t compete with Frontier’s top speeds. “While [Spectrum] has really good customer service, their speeds just aren’t what I need them to be, especially for multiple devices in the house,” says Sherwin Kamyab, a current Frontier customer who previously used Spectrum.

Frontier also gets the same ASCI customer satisfaction score as other popular fiber providers including Google Fiber and CenturyLink Fiber. The provider actually scores higher than a few major competitors including Xfinity Fiber, Kinetic Fiber by Windstream, and Optimum.

Compare internet providers and prices

Service
Plan
Price
Download speed
Details
SpectrumInternet Premier$50/mo. 1 yr price guarantee‡‡Up to 500 Mbps
XfinityConnect More$35/mo.^^Up to 200 Mbps
Optimum300 Mbps Fiber Internet$40/mo.°°Up to 300 Mbps
T-MobileT-Mobile 5G Home Internet Unlimited$50/mo.***Up to 245 Mbps
‡‡ Limited time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum services within past 30 days) and in good standing with Spectrum. Taxes and fees extra in select states. SPECTRUM INTERNET: Standard rates apply after promo period. Additional charge for installation. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Services subject to all applicable service terms and conditions, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.
^^ No term contract. Taxes not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Prices may vary by location.
°° w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. Terms apply.
*** w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms.

Frontier FAQs

While both Spectrum and Frontier offer high-speed internet plans with a large coverage area, Frontier's fiber plans are a better deal for speed and price. However, if Frontier's DSL service is all that's available in your area, Spectrum Internet is a solid second choice.

If your Frontier Internet bill seems higher than usual, your promotional pricing has ended. Frontier's introductory prices are locked in for 12 months before increasing by $10 to $25 monthly. To save some money each month, you can downsize your plan or consider switching to a cheaper alternative.

Want Frontier? Find it in your area

Frontier fiber is a great choice for an internet service provider, with many happy customers who rave about their seamless service. See if you can sign up with our zip check below.

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Run a search with your zip code to see if Frontier is available in your area.
Kelly Huh
Written by
Kelly Huh is a journalist who covers internet service providers for Reviews.org. Originally from New Zealand, Kelly bought a one-way ticket to America to study at Brigham Young University, where she graduated with a BA in Communications. Since college, Kelly has gone on to write and edit featured content for technology companies in the Economist, Forbes, Vox, Bloomberg Green, and industry trade publications.

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