Frontier vs. AT&T In 2024
The overabundance of information and service reviews available online may make shopping for internet service extremely difficult. We are here to help you sift through it all by comparing two of our most popular providers: Frontier and AT&T. Although these two providers do not offer service in the same areas, you can still use this comparison to gain more intel about what each brand offers.
Table of Contents
- Frontier and AT&T Overview
- Speed Comparison: Frontier vs. AT&T
- Plans and Prices for AT&T and Frontier
- Frontier and AT&T Customer Satisfaction
- Perks Included in AT&T and Frontier Plans
- Additional Fees for Frontier and AT&T
- Frontier vs. AT&T FAQ
Summary
If you’re in the market for a new internet service provider (ISP), you of course want to consider your options carefully. Selecting the right service is key! If the available internet service providers in your area happen to be AT&T or Frontier, then your choice may not be easy! Even though these brands offer service in two different areas (their services do not compete with one another), you can use this post to help inform your purchase decision with breakdowns of some of the most important facets of these two leading internet service providers.
Frontier and AT&T Overview
If either AT&T or Frontier is included in your list of options to meet your internet service needs, you may soon feel like you’re slogging through countless particulars. To keep things organized for you, we’ll begin with a general introduction to each of the providers in question before we jump into any of the finer details of this internet service comparison. See below for a brief description and a list of pros and cons for each of these providers.
Frontier Overview
Frontier is a great choice for fast internet if you are located in a Frontier Fiber service area. Frontier Fiber has plans like Fiber 5 Gig which brings symmetrical speeds up to Mbps across its entire fiber network. This makes Frontier Fiber an incredible choice for gaming, streaming, working from home and more.
- Symmetrical upload and download speeds up to 5 Gbps
- Affordable low-tier plans
- Wi-Fi router included
- Fiber not available everywhere
AT&T Overview
AT&T is really great for a few reasons—they’re summarized below. The first is the Gig plan, which is one of the most wallet-friendly deals around for this high speed. They even offer Hyper-Gig plans for the super-connected web user.
- Super affordable Gig plan
- Hyper-Gig speeds (faster than 1 Gbps)
- Symmetrical upload and download speeds
- Expensive installation fee
- Fiber not available everywhere
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Speed Comparison: Frontier vs. AT&T
| Plan | Highest Speed | Lowest Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Frontier Fiber | 7000 Mbps | 200 Mbps |
| Frontier Internet | Varies | Varies |
| Plan | Highest Speed | Lowest Speed |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber Internet | 5000 Mbps | 300 Mbps |
In general, the range of speeds offered by AT&T and Frontier are comparable. The largest differences come into play when we look at the lower end of speeds available from these providers. Although Frontier has the potential to offer a much smaller amount of speed for those who just don’t need much, AT&T offers more affordable fiber internet options. That said, it bears reminding that fiber connections are not available in every geographic location. If your residence is only serviced by DSL connections, you may not be able to subscribe to a fiber or Gig-level service.
Internet providers typically only promote download speeds when advertising their services. That’s because download speeds are much more necessary for home and office use than upload speeds are for loading web pages, downloading large PDFs and more. Having a higher upload doesn’t hurt, though. An equal amount of upload and download speeds will save you a lot more time by preventing long sessions of staring at the loading screen while trying to upload 200+ photos of your dog to Facebook (No judgement here if that’s what you do, by the way). Either way, check on the current download/upload ratios for your internet service provider. Although they are often symmetrical (the same speed for both upload and download functions), it’s worth knowing for sure if there is a speed difference.
Yes, AT&T’s highest speed is as “blazing fast” as they say, but it’s a crazy amount of speed. Many people don’t really need that much bandwidth unless they are running a home office of 10+ people or running every device in the home has internet at all times without stopping. But hey, it’s a good price for that amount of speed so it might be worth it if you’re going to use it—otherwise you could be paying for speed that you don’t use.
Plans and Prices for AT&T and Frontier
Let’s get right down to it. What do the plans and prices look like for both Frontier and AT&T? They have similar speeds and pricing, meaning both Frontier and AT&T offer solid fiber internet plans at a good price.
| Plan | Starting Price | Speed | Tech |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Fiber 500 | $44.99/mo. | 500 Mbps | Fiber |
| Fiber 1 Gig | $64.99/mo. | 1000 Mbps | Fiber |
| Fiber 2 Gig | $99.99/mo. | 2000 Mbps | Fiber |
| Fiber 5 Gig | $129.99/mo. | 5000 Mbps | Fiber |
| Plan* | Price | Speed | Tech |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 300Mbps speed | $55.00/mo. | 300 Mbps | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 500Mbps speed | $65.00/mo. | 500 Mbps | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber Up to 1 GIG speed | $80.00/mo. | 1000 Mbps | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 2 GIG speed | $145.00/mo. | 2000 Mbps | Fiber |
| AT&T Fiber 5 GIG speed | $245.00/mo. | 5000 Mbps | Fiber |
Again, both AT&T and Frontier offer high-speed, affordable, fiber internet solutions across their service areas. Simply put, you can’t go wrong with either provider if you are located in one of their service areas. You can call National Broadband today to find out which providers are available at your address.
Perks Included in AT&T and Frontier Plans
AT&T is the top choice for features that come with their different internet deals, especially if you bundle with their other services like TV and mobile. Frontier has your basic add-on features, but nothing that stands out too much.
AT&T Features
- 99% Reliability
- Speeds up to 5,000 Mbps
- Smart Home Manager App for connected devices
- Symmetrical speeds
- 30,000+ Wi-Fi hotspots
Frontier Features
- 24/7 Tech Support
- No data caps
- Speeds up to 5,000 Mbps across fiber network
- Symmetrical speeds for fiber plans
- Wi-Fi router included
Additional Fees for Fontier and AT&T
The sneaky reality of ISP subscriptions? Hidden fees. Thankfully, we’ve dug them up and displayed them here to promote complete transparency while you shop.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| One-Time Activation | $85 ($49 for FiberOptic in NY) |
| Equipment Rental | None |
| Broadband Processing Fee (Upon Disconnection) | $9.99 |
| Early Termination Fee | Up to $400 |
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Professional Installation | Up to $99 |
| Self-Install Kit | No charge, $35 activation fee |
| Broadband Processing Fee | None |
| Early Termination Fee | $15 for each remaining month |
It’s a fact that internet service providers require a lot of fees. With AT&T, the fee that stands out to us the most is the $99 professional installation fee, although you may be able to self-install for a lower price. If you don’t usually trust yourself with technical matters, though, a self-install option may not be for you.
For Frontier, the ETF (Early Termination Fee) is sky high. Although the activation fee is still a decently sized charge, Frontier does not have monthly rental fees.
Frequently asked questions
Are AT&T and Frontier the same?
No, AT&T and Frontier are two separate internet providers.
Is AT&T or Frontier faster?
Both AT&T and Frontier offer 5-Gig speeds, but AT&T only offers 5 Gbps speeds in select locations while Frontier's 5 Gbps speeds are available across the provider's entire fiber network.
How many Mbps do I need for Netflix?
25 Mbps is a basic speed for regular, single SD stream. If you want to have multiple streams at the same time with HD quality, 100 Mbps is the best.
Is AT&T better than Frontier?
In terms of fiber internet plans and pricing, AT&T and Frontier are actually pretty comparable, and a consumer would be lucky to have either of these providers available at their location.
Is Frontier fiber internet?
Yes, Frontier Fiber is a fiber internet provider with speeds up to 5,000 Mbps, or 5 Gbps.
Is AT&T Internet fiber?
Yes, AT&T Internet is a fiber internet provider with speeds up to 5,000 Mbps, or 5 Gbps.