CenturyLink vs. Frontier

Bottom line

CenturyLink has two plans—DSL (15–100 Mbps, depending on what’s available in your area) and fiber (940 Mbps).

Frontier, on the other hand, is great for low-cost plans and users who need flexibility, such as faster speeds than 100 Mbps but not as fast as gigabit.

CenturyLink vs. Frontier internet

CenturyLink vs. Frontier packages and pricing

CenturyLink and Frontier provide competitive packages, and no matter how you use the internet, you’ll find one that works for your needs and budget. Overall, Frontier has a slight edge due to its better prices per megabit, but depending on your use and availability, you still might want to pick up CenturyLink.

Don’t know how much speed you need? Head over to our handy How Much Speed Do You Need? Tool to find out what speed range your household should shoot for.

CenturyLink packages

CenturyLink internet plans definitely have some pricing issues, effectively being only worth the cost if its faster speeds are available in your area. While they’re well priced for their cost in the broader market, they can’t compete with Frontier’s overall lower prices per megabit.

Beyond its higher costs, CenturyLink offers only a single dedicated fiber plan, while Frontier offers three different fiber plans with varying speed tiers.

One plus is that, like Frontier, CenturyLink has unlimited data on all of its plans—a big plus for heavy internet users.   

Frontier packages

Frontier internet plans tend to be both cheaper and faster than most CenturyLink plans. The service definitely shines when it comes to options. Like CenturyLink, Frontier is a contract-free service that’s priced for the lifetime of your subscription.

By and large, you should plan to pick up one of Frontier’s mid-range options. Think between 25 and 115 Mbps. But if fiber service is available where you live, we recommend that over DSL. While you certainly can splurge on gigabit service (1,000 Mbps), it’s unlikely you’ll really need speeds that fast unless you live in a house full of professional gamers.

CenturyLink vs. Frontier: Who has the fastest internet speed?

Internet speeds

How do CenturyLink and Frontier speeds stack up? CenturyLink’s and Frontier’s fiber speeds are nearly equivalent, with CenturyLink advertising 940 Mbps and Frontier advertising 1,000 Mbps. CenturyLink’s fiber plan is about $10 cheaper though. So, if you’re looking for a fiber service and want to save a few bucks, go with them. On the other hand, if you’re more flexible in your speed needs, you could grab the Frontier FiberOptic 500 Mbps Internet plan and still get superfast fiber speeds.

Internet types

CenturyLink and Frontier both run largely on DSL connections, which run over existing telephone lines. Fiber infrastructure is more expensive and difficult to install, so that’s why those plans aren’t as widely available as their DSL plans. DSL has slower download and upload speeds (topping out at 100 Mbps), while fiber is capable of much faster download speeds and symmetrical upload speeds.

As long as you are ok paying for it, we recommend getting a fiber connection over a DSL one when it’s available.

CenturyLink vs. Frontier fees and contracts

CenturyLink and Frontier both have cut down dramatically on their fees and costs over the years. What remains for both services is a low-cost service at a price that should remain stable for the duration of your agreement.

Internet fees

CenturyLink fees

*Data as of 06/23/20. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

CenturyLink’s service is considerably streamlined, with the only guaranteed fee being taxes on the network itself. Installation costs vary based on location (if your home already has a fiber or cable line running to it, you won’t have to pay for it) and taxes also vary based on states and municipalities.

The only consistent fee for CenturyLink customers will be for equipment, which can be negated by buying a modem or router. CenturyLink’s modem/router combos are pretty good if you’d like to rent from your provider. But if you’re looking for router options, you can start here with our guide to the best modem/router combos.

Frontier fees

Data as of 06/23/20. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

With a $75 installation fee, Frontier edges CenturyLink out on a bare margin when all other factors are equal. Other fees, including equipment rental, are pretty comparable to CenturyLink.

Internet contracts

Although many internet providers will make you sign a contract only to raise prices on you later, neither Frontier nor CenturyLink do this. Both have managed to do away with price hikes in general and require contracts for only specific services.

Frontier still requires a two-year contract for its fiber plans, but you’re fine to sign a DSL contract with them for a month-to-month service. It also locks in your price for two years, which means one less thing to stress about.

CenturyLink doesn’t require contracts at all, regardless of whether you opt for fiber or DSL, allowing you to cancel at any time. It also locks in its prices for life, just as long as you remain on that specific contract.

CenturyLink vs. Frontier equipment

Renting

Renting equipment from CenturyLink and Frontier tends to be as simple as going to their brick-and-mortar stores and picking up the modem/router box. They can also mail it to you or bring it along when they come for a professional installation. When you get the equipment, just plug it in and set it up using your computer. Frontier has taken some heat for charging customers a rental fee despite not renting equipment to them, effectively adding $10 to their service fee. CenturyLink has no such policy.

Buying

If you’re the type who wants to get every penny out of their internet service and you plan on sticking with your internet plan for a while, you might want to invest in your own router and modem setup. Choosing your own router and modem can also give you significant speed and performance advantages. The only drawbacks are compatibility with your provider. Be sure to ask your ISP which equipment is compatible with its service before you purchase.

Customer satisfaction

CenturyLink and Frontier score near the bottom of internet providers when it comes to overall customer satisfaction, but CenturyLink leads its rival slightly in our HighSpeedInternet.com customer satisfaction survey.

CenturyLink vs. Frontier availability

CenturyLink has pretty dispersed coverage across the US, but its lines aren’t all the same. Some areas are served only by DSL while others (usually metros) get fiber lines. If you’re living in a more rural part of the county, CenturyLink likely has coverage.

Despite Frontier’s better plans, its more limited availability means you’re probably going to have to use CenturyLink unless you live in one of its select service areas. Check your ZIP code here to see what’s available in your area.

Pros and cons

Our verdict

CenturyLink, while not having the sheer speed varieties of Frontier, has everything you’ll likely need (and the coverage area to boot) for your internet use. That said, if either a Frontier or CenturyLink fiber plan is available in your area, we recommend you spring for that instead. Fiber is a much better user experience than DSL, and it’s usually worth every extra penny it may cost.

See what CenturyLink and Frontier plans are available in your area:

CenturyLink vs. Frontier FAQ

What’s the difference between fiber and DSL?

DSL travels on existing phone lines, making it widely available but not as fast as fiber. DSL speeds top out at 100 Mbps. Fiber is a newer technology built on fiber-optic glass lines that are capable of delivering much faster speeds (up to 1,000 Mbps) and equally fast upload speeds. Still interested? Check out our full DSL vs. Fiber comparison.

Do CenturyLink and Frontier have data caps?

Frontier and CenturyLink both don’t have data caps. You’re free to use as much data all month as you please.

Is it cheaper to buy or rent equipment?

Whether or not it’s cheaper to buy or rent equipment depends on how long you plan to keep your internet plan. If you plan on sticking with one provider for two or more years, it’s cheaper to buy your equipment outright rather than paying a monthly rental fee. But if you might move in a year or less, it’s probably better to just rent. If you buy your router and change plans later, your equipment might not be compatible with your new plan.