T-Mobile 5G Home Internet vs. Frontier Internet: Which Is Better for You?

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is $50–$70 for maybe 245Mbps download speeds, but you can get up to 500Mbps with Frontier for $45 per month.

We don’t like how T-Mobile gives you a download speed range between 72 and 245Mbps. Most internet service providers promise “up to” a specific download speed, such as 300 or 500Mbps. But with T-Mobile, your speeds today might be different than tomorrow.

But don’t let us talk you out of T-Mobile Internet if you fall into these categories: you’re looking to bundle with T-Mobile cell phone service and you don’t need superfast internet. T-Mobile also offers low-income perks and discounts for qualifying households.

When you bundle your T-Mobile internet and cell phone services, you get up to $20 off your monthly T-Mobile bill. If you’re unsure what speeds are best for your household, check out our internet speed guide.

Frontier has a fiber-optic connection, and this type of internet connection is speedy and fast. It also offers some great deals and perks, including a streaming and security package along with a $100-$200 Visa reward card. T-Mobile also offers fiber, but it's still new and only available in eight states.

It’s a no-brainer that $45 for 500Mbps of fast download speeds is a solid deal—not to mention $30 for 200Mbps or $70 for gig internet.

But unfortunately, fiber internet is not available everywhere.

Use our zip code checker to see if Frontier Fiber is available in your area.

If you don’t live in an area where T-Mobile 5G Internet or Frontier Fiber Internet is available, Frontier also offers DSL internet. (DSL internet is best for rural areas.)

Frontier doesn’t reveal its DSL internet speeds; however, Frontier speed tests averaged 213Mbps download speed and 185Mbps upload speed. So, during your checkout process, contact Frontier to get an accurate download speed offered in your area.

Frontier’s fiber internet plans will give you faster download and upload speeds than T-Mobile’s 5G internet service.

Fiber internet uses fiber-optic cables to deliver the fastest and most reliable internet connection. And if you live in an area that offers it, you’re one of the lucky ones. You can get excellent high-speed internet at a great price.

But most of us won’t have access to fiber. 5G internet is a relatively new internet product that doesn’t require any wires, cables, or dish installations. It’s widely available, has a good value, and is extremely easy to sign up for and get installed. Plus, 5G home internet packages usually don't require contracts.

Lastly, with fiber, your upload speeds will match your download speeds. Fast upload speeds prevent lag when uploading big files, gaming, and livestreaming.

If you’re unsure how much speed you and your family need, check out our internet speed guide. If you need different speeds, check out our list of best internet service providers.

Both T-Mobile 5G Internet and Frontier Internet offer unlimited data caps.

This means, in one month, you can watch all seasons of Real Housewives and all NFL games, scroll for hours on social media, work from home eight hours each day, and connect your smart home devices without worrying.

You won’t have to worry about extra fees or your internet slowing down because you went over your data cap. In short, an unlimited data cap is the bee's knees.

T-Mobile’s internet equipment is easy to set up yourself, Frontier Fiber’s equipment installation is free, and both routers come with Wi-Fi 6 technology.

When you order T-Mobile Home Internet, you get sent a 5G Gateway device that functions as a router/modem combo. T-Mobile’s Gateway device includes Wi-Fi 6 technology, which means your wireless signal will cover even more of your home.

Equipment setup takes two simple steps—take the Gateway device out of the box and place it in a place that will get the best signal reception. We recommend putting your router or modem high on a shelf or near a window.

When you order Frontier Fiber, you’ll get free expert installation for your Amazon eero Pro 6 with the 1Gig plan, the Ultrafast Wi-Fi 6E router with the 2Gig plan, or the Archer AXE300 Wi-Fi Router with 5Gigs.

When you order Frontier DSL internet, you can choose between the Pro 6 or Wi-Fi 6 routers for your internet service. A one-time $100 fee for DSL internet will be charged for installation.

With both internet providers, you won’t need to pay a monthly fee for the equipment rental, which is a nice bonus compared to other ISPs.

After interviewing over 23,600 internet customers, the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) found the results of how happy customers were with top ISPs.

T-Mobile is second-best in the customer service satisfaction department. Frontier, unfortunately, sits below average at 61.

You can count on T-Mobile’s representatives to help solve an issue quickly and efficiently. With Frontier, you will need patience when receiving help if your internet has slowed down, for example—or maybe have a tech friend on-call.

Or take advantage of our customer service tips we compiled to help you in these situations.

• Price: Frontier gives you the most bang for your buck by offering up to 1,000Mbps download speeds for $70 per month, while T-Mobile Internet will give you one-third of those speeds for $50–$70. Fiber isn’t available everywhere, though, and T-Mobile 5G Internet has a great price point for those in rural areas (especially when you bundle with T-Mobile cell phone service.)
• Internet speed: Fiber internet trumps all types of internet connections, so Frontier Internet speeds win. Fiber gives you supreme reliability and symmetrical speeds, which prevents lag during high-bandwidth activities, like gaming and video streaming. T-Mobile’s 5G Internet gives you 72–245Mbps download speeds, which is efficient for families who stream Disney+, scroll through social media, and use smart home devices.
• Data caps: Both internet providers don’t limit your internet and Wi-Fi use with their unlimited data caps.
• Customer service: If you foresee yourself needing aid with your internet and Wi-Fi questions or want to easily speak to someone about your bill, T-Mobile will be the safer choice for you. Its customer service is top-notch compared to the dozens of ISPs out there. Frontier is lacking in its customer service satisfaction with customers having problems with receiving help in getting their internet service to work properly during slowdowns.