Frontier vs. Spectrum: Which is better?
Choosing the best home internet service for you can be tricky because, for some, there may be only one internet provider available in your area. If Frontier and Spectrum are available in your area, then you're in luck. Both providers offer decent speeds and simple pricing. In terms of coverage, Frontier and Spectrum overlap coverage in various regions across the Midwest, California, Texas, New York, Connecticut and Florida -- so there's a good chance you may be trying to choose between one or the other. It's certainly a close call, but Frontier Fiber's wide range of plans, symmetrical speeds and overall pricing value make it CNET's pick.
While more choices would be nice, it's safe to say that whichever ISP you choose, you'll get a good internet connection either way. Frontier Fiber offers top-notch high-speed internet with simple pricing that includes unlimited data and no contract requirements. Spectrum cable offerings are no slouch either, with competitive gigabit speeds and pricing in the first year, but if Frontier's fiber-optic services are available at your address, it's hard to pass up on speeds that fast and cost-efficient. However, Frontier also has a much slower DSL network. If DSL is the only option at your address, Spectrum becomes the easier choice.
If you're stuck deciding between Frontier and Spectrum for your home internet needs, read on to learn why Frontier is the better choice. We'll break everything down to each provider's connection type, speeds, coverage and customer satisfaction.
Locating local internet providers
Frontier
Fiber internet trumps DSL always
Our take - If Frontier's fiber internet service is available at your address, go with that. Verizon's acquisition of Frontier will expand the network's fiber services to over 10 million locations by 2026. In addition, Frontier Fiber is helping the company make positive strides in customer satisfaction studies. While the company's DSL service score decreased by 2% from the previous year, with a paltry 58 out of 100 in the most recent ACSI, Frontier Fiber nabbed a 76 score, meeting the industry average for all fiber ISPs.
Spectrum
Straightforward service terms and decent speeds
Our take - Charter's Spectrum Internet has competitive rates, unlimited data, no contracts and a $10 equipment fee for customers on the 500Mbps plan -- a cost you can avoid by buying your own router instead. Customers can also expect download speeds of up to a gigabit.
Frontier vs. Spectrum: Internet connection types
There are many methods internet providers can use to deliver internet connectivity to people's homes. Fiber internet is often the fastest option, but it is only available in neighborhoods equipped with ground-laid fiber-optic cable -- making it a slow-moving, expensive undertaking for internet providers.
Frontier offers services to 25 states, but its fiber internet can be found in 17 states, covering over a third of the company's customers, per the Federal Communications Commission. The rest of Frontier's customers get online with a much slower, copper-based DSL connection.
Locating local internet providers
Meanwhile, Charter only offers Spectrum fiber service to only 1% of its customer base, and it doesn't offer DSL service at all. Instead, the company gets 99% of Spectrum users online via coaxial cable connection. In fact, Charter Spectrum is our top pick for the best cable internet provider due to its broad coverage. It is also the nation's second-largest cable provider, largely thanks to Charter's acquisition of Time Warner Cable in 2016.
Frontier vs. Spectrum: Plans and pricing
That brings us to plans -- here's a look at what both providers have to offer:
Frontier internet plans
| Plan | Monthly price | Max speeds | Fees and service details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Internet (DSL) Read full review | $65 | Varies | No equipment fees, data caps or contracts | |
| Fiber 200 | $30 | 200Mbps down, 200Mbps up | No equipment fees, data caps or contracts | |
| Fiber 500 | $30 | 500Mbps down, 500Mbps up | No equipment fees, data caps or contracts | |
| Fiber 1 Gig | $50 | 1,000Mbps down, 1,000Mbps up | No equipment fees, data caps or contracts | |
| Fiber 2 Gig | $70 | 2,000Mbps down, 2,000Mbps up | No equipment fees, data caps or contracts | |
| Fiber 5 Gig | $90 | 5,000Mbps down, 5,000Mbps up | No equipment fees, data caps or contracts | |
| Fiber 7 Gig | $110 | 7,000Mbps down, 7,000Mbps up | No equipment fees, data caps or contracts |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Spectrum Internet plans
| Plan | Monthly price | Max speeds | Fees and service details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet 500 Read full review | $50 | 500Mbps download, 20Mbps upload | Modem free; $10 for router (optional); No data caps or contracts | |
| Spectrum Internet Gig Read full review | $70 | 1,000Mbps download, 35Mbps upload | No equipment fees, data caps or contracts |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
With Frontier, download speeds can reach as high as 7 gigabits per second if you're eligible for fiber service, with matching or near-matching upload speeds, too. With DSL, on the other hand, the company doesn't advertise its download speeds since they can vary depending on what's available at your address.
With Spectrum, cable internet speeds are pretty simple. The company offers just two plans that start at 500Mbps and can hit downloads as fast as 1,000Mbps. However, limited upload speeds are a common shortcoming with cable internet, and Spectrum is no exception. Even with the company's fastest plan, customers will get upload speeds no higher than 35Mbps.
Who wins this round?
As for prices, monthly costs for Frontier DSL service start around $65 per month, while the company's fiber plans range from $30 to $110 per month. Spectrum's cable plans feature competitive pricing, but the downside is that, like many cable ISPs, Spectrum is notorious for increasing its prices after a year. In most markets, Frontier might offer better value in the long term since pricing on all of its fiber plans is month to month.
With the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program in May, many low-income households were left without access to affordable home internet. Low-cost internet programs from different ISPs have never been more important. Read our state-by-state low-cost internet guide to see what's available in your area. Both providers offer discounted internet plans for qualified low-income customers. Charter has Spectrum Internet Assist, which offers download speeds of 50Mbps and upload speeds of 4Mbps with no contracts or data caps. Frontier participates in Lifeline, a federal subsidy that helps low-income families afford phone and internet services.
Frontier vs. Spectrum: Coverage and availability compared
Both Frontier and Spectrum offer residential internet service throughout much of the continental US. Spectrum also offers internet service in Hawaii.
With coverage across 41 states -- including Hawaii -- Charter Spectrum is one of the nation's largest internet providers and definitely surpasses Frontier on this front. Frontier is smaller, but it's a major player, too, connecting people in 25 states. The two services overlap in several regions, including parts of New York, Texas, southern California, and the Midwest.
According to the company's website, Spectrum Internet is available to over 57 million homes nationwide. Since Verizon acquired Frontier, its home internet service has already reached 25 million households and is steadily growing. According to Frontier's first quarter 2025 earnings report, its fiber services expanded to over 8.1 million locations.
How satisfied are customers with Frontier and Spectrum?
So, how satisfied are Spectrum and Frontier customers after signing up for home internet service? According to the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index there's some definite room for improvement for both providers.
Of the two, Spectrum ranked higher, earning an overall satisfaction score of 71 out of 100, which is a point higher than the overall category average of 70 for all non-fiber ISPs in the country and topped cable-competitor Xfinity's score of 69. Spectrum performed much better than in 2024, showing a 4% increase from a previous score of 68.
As for Frontier, the company finished near the bottom in the most recent survey with a score of 58 out of 100, showing a 2% decrease from its 59 the previous year. The good news is that its overall score is tempered by its fiber services, which earned a score of 71 for Frontier Fiber. The caveat is that Frontier Fiber still scored below the industry's average for fiber ISPs in the country. In addition, its score decreased by 7% in the past year. While Frontier Fiber performed better than its DSL service, there is still room for improvement.
On the other hand, according to the latest J.D. Power customer satisfaction study, Spectrum outranked Frontier in the East and North Central, but lost in the South.
It's a bit of a toss up with customer service satisfaction, but its safe to assume that both internet providers have some work to do.
Other things to consider with Frontier and Spectrum
There are a few other key points to keep in mind as you compare internet service from Frontier and Spectrum. Here's a quick rundown.
Bundles
Both Spectrum and Frontier offer additional services like TV and or mobile that you can bundle with your home internet plan at a potential discount. It's worth considering whether a bundle like that might be a good fit for you -- here's a helpful guide on bundling that'll let you know what to look for.
Contracts, fees and rising costs
Don't forget about taxes and fees, which are mostly unavoidable as you shop for an internet plan. Your specific fees will depend on your plan, but know that Frontier's equipment rental costs are already included in your monthly price. With Spectrum, your modem rental is free, but if you're on the entry-level 500Mbps plan, you'll need to pay $10 a month to rent one of the company's routers.
Neither Frontier nor Spectrum's internet plans require a long-term contract, so you can cancel at any time without fear of penalty.
Data caps
Neither Frontier nor Spectrum enforces data caps with any of their internet plans, so you can feel free to browse, stream and game online as much as you like without fear of incurring extra charges.
Privacy policies
You generate data whenever you use the internet, so it's worth considering what your ISP does with that data. Both Frontier and Spectrum clearly list that information in their respective privacy policies, each of which is less intimidating to read through than you might expect.
Frontier's privacy policy clarifies that the company gathers usage data, including browsing history and viewing habits. Along with letting Frontier manage its network and billing, the stated purpose of that data collection is "to better understand our customers and market our services, as well as to deliver relevant advertising."
Frontier discloses that it may share data that can identify you with select third parties, but adds that it requires those agents and vendors to use that data as Frontier directs, and in full accordance with Frontier's policies for keeping it secure.
"We do not otherwise share your personal information," Frontier's policy states. "We may, however, share anonymous or aggregate information with third parties, including to improve how we provide service to existing and potential customers."
Frontier maintains an internal Do Not Call list for customers who wish to opt out of marketing calls. You can put your phone number on it by calling 800-921-8101. To opt out of marketing emails, send a message requesting to unsubscribe to privacy@ftr.com.
Meanwhile, Spectrum's privacy policy acknowledges that Charter gathers usage data and third-party data to refine its services and recommendations. It also commits that Charter will not sell personally identifiable information to anyone for any purpose. That includes your browsing history, call records and viewing activity.
"We do not sell or otherwise share information that personally identifies our customers... to third parties for those third parties' own use, such as marketing or advertising of their own products and services," Spectrum's privacy policy reads. "While we have no plans to do so, if we ever changed this business practice, we would provide customers with advance notice and obtain their express consent."
You can also visit Spectrum's privacy preferences page to opt out of sales calls, marketing emails and promotional mail.
What's the bottom line on Frontier and Spectrum?
While Spectrum might be one of the largest cable providers in the country, offering coverage to over 57 million homes, its speeds are no match for fiber. So, if Frontier Fiber is available at your address, we recommend going with that option. Its service delivers fast symmetrical download and upload speeds (up to 7,000Mbps in select markets), which can't be said for Spectrum.
Frontier vs. Spectrum FAQs
What's the difference between Frontier and Spectrum?
One of the most important differences between Spectrum and Frontier is how they deliver the internet to your home. Spectrum's internet service is almost exclusively through cable connections, while Frontier delivers the internet via DSL or fiber, depending on one's address. That means Spectrum service will be consistent no matter where you're located -- you'll have two plan options, either 500Mbps or 1,000Mbps. On the other hand, Frontier offers much slower speeds if all you can get are its DSL plans, where speeds vary based on location. However, if you can get it's fiber offerings (speeds up to 7,000Mbps) at your address, this will be the faster and most optimal choice, topping both DSL and cable internet.
Does Spectrum or Frontier offer fiber service?
Spectrum's internet service is delivered strictly via cable connections across the US. On the other hand, according to the FCC, Frontier offers fiber internet service to approximately a third of its national footprint across 17 states. Its Frontier Fiber product has 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 7,000Mbps speed tiers.
Should I switch from Frontier to Spectrum?
That depends. If you're currently getting Frontier DSL service, which has much slower and inconsistent speeds, switching to Spectrum, whose slowest plan is 500Mbps, makes sense. However, you wouldn't be getting an upgrade if you currently have Frontier Fiber, which provides symmetrical download speeds (which Spectrum can't match). So, in that scenario, a change doesn't make much sense.