Frontier VS Xfinity – Which One is Better?

Although you can find more than one viable option while shopping for the best internet deals, choosing the most suitable provider can be somewhat challenging. If Xfinity and Frontier are available in your area, you should get to know them better to determine the provider suited for your needs. While Xfinity may seem like an obvious internet choice, Frontier’s FiberOptic can be a game-changer. Here is a detailed analysis of Frontier vs Xfinity.

Frontier and Xfinity are familiar names in US households, and you can’t go wrong with these providers. So, how do you know which one is a better option? Xfinity is a suitable choice for people who live in areas with no fiber availability. Otherwise, Frontier fiber internet is a slightly better option. You can read this guide to learn how Xfinity and Frontier differ.

Frontier Vs Xfinity

Frontier

Frontier is a well-known internet provider primarily known for its DSL internet service, although it also provides fiber internet now. It started as an internet provider for rural areas but gradually expanded its services to urban locations. It offers affordable DSL plans and fiber internet packages.

Pros:

• Unlimited data
• High-speed fiber internet plans
• Affordable DSL plans
• Availability in rural areas

Cons:

• Slow DSL speeds
• Limited fiber service

Xfinity

Xfinity is the largest cable internet provider known for its extensive coverage and reliable services. It is a division of Comcast Corporation and provides internet, cable TV, and phone services to people across the country. Although the company is primarily known for its cable internet services, it also offers fiber internet in select areas.

Pros:

• Wide coverage
• Wide range of plans
• High-speed internet

Cons:

• Data caps
• Prices vary depending on the location
• Some plans require contracts

Which is a Better Service Provider?

Services

Xfinity uses coaxial cable to provide cable internet, TV, and phone services. It offers decent connection quality and usually offers high fiber-like internet speeds. The service can slow down during rush hours. Xfinity also offers fiber internet in specific areas, but currently, it only provides one fiber internet plan.

Frontier mainly provides DSL internet and limited fiber internet services. Its DSL connection uses phone lines to transmit data and is slower than cable internet. Frontier offers affordable DSL plans.

Availability

Xfinity is the second largest internet provider in the US, serving more than 36% of the population, according to the latest report by FCC. While Frontier has a much smaller footprint, covering less than 11% of the population. Moreover, where Xfinity focuses on densely populated areas, Frontier predominantly operates in suburban and rural areas. They overlap in certain parts of Florida, the Northeast, and the Great Lakes.

Xfinity’s most comprehensive coverage area is in the Northeast and provides its services in the West and Central regions. On the other hand, Frontier’s DSL service is available in the Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest, and its fiber internet cover parts of California, Florida, Indiana, and Texas.

Plans & Prices

Frontier offers three fiber internet plans including a newly released multi-gig package. Its fiber internet is the best option with low costs, fast speeds, and unlimited data. Compared to that, its DSL plans are limited as their speed depends on your location.

Frontier FiberOptic Plans

 Frontier DSL Plans

Xfinity offers a broad range of plans at various prices, depending on your location. Its internet plans and costs vary according to the three regions, West, Northeast, and Central. However, no matter where you live, you can easily find high-speed Xfinity plans and don’t have to worry about the speeds. While Xfinity’s initial plans are reasonable, the price goes steeper as the speed increases. Another thing about Xfinity is that its plans come at a specified price hike after the first year. Here’s what Xfinity’s plans look like in the Central region:

Xfinity Plans

Equipment Fee

Frontier includes the equipment fees in the monthly plan costs, so you don’t have to worry about paying a monthly rental fee. However, you have to pay an equipment delivery fee of $10.

On the other hand, Xfinity allows you to buy your equipment. But if you choose their gateway, Xfinity charges a monthly $10 equipment rental fee.

Installation Fee

Both providers give you the option of free self-installation. However, Frontier charges a hefty activation fee of $85. For professional installation, Xfinity charges $39.99, whereas you have to pay $75 to Frontier. You can waive Frontier’s professional installation fee with a 2-year contract. Overall, Xfinity has cheaper installation fees than Frontier.

Internet Speed

According to the latest internet speed report, Xfinity provides a wide range of internet speeds from 50 Mbps to 3000 Mbps. Meanwhile, Frontier offers impressive internet speeds ranging from 500 – 2000 Mbps with fiber internet and slow DSL speeds from 9 Mbps – 115 Mbps. The speeds of Frontier fiber internet are more reliable as they don’t slow down during network congestion.

Data Caps

Frontier takes the win as it doesn’t enforce data caps on its plans, including DSL packages. On the other hand, Xfinity enforces 1.2 TB data caps on its internet plans in the Central and West regions. However, it has delayed the data caps in the Northeast region until 2022. So, as of now, all Xfinity plans in that region are available without data caps. Additionally, Xfinity charges $10 for every additional 50 GB of data once its customers exceed the allotted data limit.

Contracts

While Frontier does not enforce contracts on its DSL plans, its fiber internet plans require a one-year agreement for the best prices. The discounted pricing for fiber internet 500 lasts a year, and three years for Fiber Internet Gig. There is no discount for the Fiber Internet 2 Gig plan.

On the other hand, Xfinity gives you two options with monthly and contracted plans. You can opt for no-contract plans, but they are a bit expensive. Contract options allow you to save money and are ideal for customers who want to stay with Xfinity for a long time. While most of Xfinity’s plans come with contracts, they vary from region to region. Some internet plans require a one-year agreement, while others may require two years. 

Bundles

Frontier collaborates with DISH TV to offer bundles and delivers discounted digital service to its new customers. These bundles come with all the local channels plus a three-month free trial to the DISH Movie Pack Online TV service. However, you have to pay $30 once the trial ends.

Xfinity offers excellent bundles packed with outstanding features. However, it doesn’t include Gigabit Pro in its packages. As there are many bundles, here are some of the most popular ones:

Customer Service

Internet providers have a problem with poor customer ratings. Neither providers show impressive reviews about customer service, but Xfinity is slightly better as it scored 66 out of 100 in ACSI’s latest report compared to Frontier’s 55 out of 100 scores.

Final Words

Where Xfinity’s fiber-like speeds make it a popular choice where fiber internet is unavailable, Frontier fiber internet is the clear winner if it is available. With high internet speeds, unlimited data, no equipment fee, and reliable service, Frontier adds more value to your internet experience. Moreover, Frontier’s plans are affordable and much simpler to understand than Xfinity.