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Frontier vs. T-Mobile: Which Is Best for You?

Frontier’s fiber is faster, but T-Mobile’s convenience resonates better with customers

  • Best for speed
    • Price: $29.99–$129.99/mo.*
    • Speed: Up to 5,000Mbps
    • Internet type: Fiber and DSL
    • Data cap: None
    • Contracts: None
  • Best for convenience
    • Price: $50.00–$70.00/mo.
    • Speed: Up to 245Mbps
    • Internet type: 5G fixed-wireless
    • Data cap: None
    • Contracts: None

Compare Frontier and T-Mobile head-to-head

The choice between Frontier and T-Mobile 5G Home Internet boils down to how much internet speed you need. Frontier’s speeds are top-notch, and its fiber internet connections come with increased performance compared to the competition, but its policies can be a bit tricky to navigate.

On the other hand, just about everything is easier with T-Mobile. Its one-size-fits-all approach takes a lot of the headache out of purchasing, installing, and using a new internet service. The downside is T-Mobile only offers one plan, so you have to make sure that plan is fast enough for your needs. If it is, we recommend going with T-Mobile for the added convenience.

Pros and cons: Frontier vs. T-Mobile

Pros:

  • Faster speeds
  • More plan variety
  • Symmetrical bandwidth

Cons:

  • Price hikes

Pros:

  • Flexible service
  • Price-lock guarantee
  • Easy setup

Cons:

  • Only one internet plan

Want to know if Frontier or T-Mobile are in your area?

Enter your zip code below to see if Frontier’s fiber or T-Mobile’s 5G home internet service is available where you live.

Plans and pricing: Frontier vs. T-Mobile

In general, you get faster speeds with Frontier. Most of its fiber internet plans offer at least double T-Mobile’s speeds—and with some, you’ll even score a cheaper rate. Along with speed and cheap rates come the perks and reliability of fiber internet. But Frontier isn’t perfect; rates typically increase after 12 months, and there are some unexpected annoyances in the fine print. That said, if top speeds are your top priority, a Frontier fiber plan is the better choice. This is all assuming you have access to Frontier’s fiber network; DSL internet, including Frontier’s, isn’t capable of meeting modern internet needs.

T-Mobile takes a unique, but efficient, approach to internet service. There’s only one plan, but its speed is perfect for the average customer, it’s affordably priced, and its simplicity means you won’t waste time agonizing over the technical details. And 5G home internet comes with its own unique set of perks, like an extremely easy setup without any cables, technicians, or appointments. It’s hands-down the simplest way to get up and running with a new internet service.

Frontier plans and pricing

PackagePriceSpeedDetails
Frontier Internet$64.99/mo.*Call for detailsView Plan for Frontier
Fiber 200$29.99/mo.
w/ Auto Pay and Paperless Bill
200MbpsView Plan for Frontier
Fiber 500$44.99/mo.
w/ Auto Pay and Paperless Bill
500MbpsView Plan for Frontier
Fiber 1 Gig$69.99/mo.
w/ Auto Pay and Paperless Bill
1,000MbpsView Plan for Frontier
Fiber 2 Gig$99.99/mo.§
w/ Auto Pay and Paperless Bill
2,000MbpsView Plan for Frontier
Fiber 5 Gig$154.99/mo.||
w/ Auto Pay and Paperless Bill
5,000MbpsView Plan for Frontier

Frontier has some incredibly fast plans. We think the Fiber 500 plan is best overall. You get 500Mbps of symmetrical internet speed for less than $50 per month. That’s enough speed to run five simultaneous 4K video streams and still have half of your bandwidth to support other tasks. Most Frontier internet plans also come with symmetrical internet speed (which means your upload speeds are equally as fast as your download speeds) and the increased reliability of fiber internet’s more elegant infrastructure.

On a lower note, Frontier’s price hikes are a major downside. For example, the Fiber 200 plan seems like a great pick for the budget-conscious, but its price doubles after only six months. Some Frontier rates are only guaranteed for a set amount of time, often for 12 months. This makes things even more difficult, as you don’t know how much the price will increase; hopefully not as drastically as the Fiber 200 plan!

T-Mobile plans and pricing

PackagePriceSpeedView on provider site
T-Mobile Home Internet $50.00–$70.00/mo.*72–245MbpsView Plan for T-Mobile Home Internet

T-Mobile’s single internet plan is the shortest path to simple but great internet service. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet uses a fully wireless 5G signal from cell towers, so it can be installed by the customer in about 15 minutes: no cables, no appointments, and no hassle.

While T-Mobile isn’t as fast as Frontier, its speeds are nothing to scoff at. With bandwidth up to 250Mbps, T-Mobile is more than capable of handling average internet needs; However, it’s worth noting you can only expect T-Mobile’s max speeds in areas with decent 5G reception.

When it comes to internet speed, you only need enough to cover your online activities and a little extra headroom for bandwidth-heavy days. Any more than that is a waste; you don’t receive any benefit for purchasing more internet speed than you need.

Deals and promotions: Frontier vs. T-Mobile

Frontier

Save up to $120 on your first year of YouTube TV.

Save $10/mo. on your first year of YouTube TV. Watch 100+ channels of live sports, news, and shows on our ultra-fast fiber internet.*

Get the Deal
 
See disclaimers

T-Mobile Home Internet
Get $150 back when you switch to T-Mobile Home Internet. **
Get the Deal
 
See disclaimers

Want to know if Frontier or T-Mobile are in your area?

Take a look by typing in your zip code below.

Extra fees: Frontier vs. T-Mobile

Equipment FeeInstallation FeeOther Fees
Frontier Free
  • Free fiber installation
  • $100 DSL installation
  • $85 DSL activation fee
  • $50 restocking fee
  • $5/mo. no AutoPay fee
  • $2.99/mo. paper bill fee
  • T-Mobile Home Internet Free
  • $35 activation fee
  • <
  • Late fee varies by state
  • T-Mobile’s no-nonsense approach to internet service means very few unexpected fees, with the only ones being a one-time activation fee and state-dependent late fees.

    Frontier offers free internet equipment, but that’s where the good news ends. While the fiber installation is free, you get charged for it retroactively if you cancel your plan in the first 12 months. Frontier also employs a restocking fee, a very rare practice for internet service providers (ISPs); you’re charged $50 for simply canceling your plan any time after the first 30 days. There’s also the more common no AutoPay, paper bill, and late fees.

    Customer ratings: Frontier vs. T-Mobile

    OverallPriceSpeedReliabilityCustomer service
    Frontier 3.5/53.4/53.6/53.5/53.7/5
    T-Mobile Home Internet 4.1/54.1/54.0/53.9/54.1/5

    T-Mobile customers gave much higher ratings than Frontier customers in our annual customer satisfaction survey. In fact, T-Mobile scored some of the highest ratings we’ve ever seen from a national internet provider, with exceptional feedback for price and overall satisfaction.

    Frontier received consistently fair-to-low ratings, but we think this may be primarily due to its DSL service. When we separated Frontier’s DSL customer feedback from its fiber customer feedback, its overall average ratings improved. With that in mind, our Frontier recommendations come with the caveat that your home falls uses its fiber connection anyway.

    Internet types: Frontier vs. T-Mobile

    Internet typeView on provider site
    Frontier Fiber, DSLView Plans for Frontier
    T-Mobile Home Internet 5G fixed-wirelessView Plans for T-Mobile Home Internet

    Frontier’s fiber internet is the best type of internet connection you can get. Aside from more bandwidth, lower latency, and increased reliability compared to all other internet types, fiber internet is the only internet type with symmetrical speeds, which means exponentially faster upload speeds.

    T-Mobile offers fixed-wireless internet, which runs on the same technology that delivers internet signal to your cell phone. This is how T-Mobile can offer internet service without installing any cables in customers’ homes.

    In general, we think both of these internet types will work well for most customers. That being said, if you have particularly heavy bandwidth needs, or are looking for the lowest possible latency for online gaming or video calls, we recommend you choose Frontier’s fiber internet over 5G fixed-wireless. On the other hand, if you just want the breeziest experience possible, T-Mobile should be your pick.

    Data caps: Frontier vs. T-Mobile

    ProviderData CapView on provider site
    Frontier NoneView Plans for Frontier
    T-Mobile Home Internet NoneView Plans for T-Mobile Home Internet

    Neither T-Mobile nor Frontier imposes data caps. Feel free to stream, game, download, and surf away without a second wasted worrying about how much data you’re using.

    Contracts: Frontier vs. T-Mobile

    ProviderContract lengthView on provider site
    Frontier None (with caveats)View Plans for Frontier
    T-Mobile Home Internet NoneView Plans for T-Mobile Home Internet

    T-Mobile doesn’t impose a term contract. You can cancel anytime without any penalties, plain and simple. Even better, your rate is guaranteed indefinitely.

    Frontier’s policies are a little more tricky. Sure, there’s technically no term contract, but Frontier will charge you a prorated portion of the hefty $100 installation fee if you cancel before 12 months is up. Additionally, you’ll pay a $50 restocking fee regardless of when you cancel.

    Installation: Frontier vs. T-Mobile

    ProviderInstallation optionsView on provider site
    Frontier
  • Free fiber installation
  • $100 DSL Installation
  • View Plans for Frontier
    T-Mobile Home Internet
  • $35 activation fee
  • View Plans for T-Mobile Home Internet

    T-Mobile has the easiest internet installation process in the business. All you need is your T-Mobile gateway and smartphone with the T-Mobile Internet app. The app will even help you find the best spot in your home to place the gateway. The whole process takes about 15 minutes, with no cables or inconvenient installation appointments.

    Frontier’s fiber internet installation is free (unless you cancel your contract after the first 30 days and before the first 12 months of service). The installation itself may or may not require a technician.

    Availability: Frontier vs. T-Mobile

    According to the FCC, Frontier coverage is available to roughly 5% of U.S. households, and about 3% of that coverage represents fiber internet connections. Frontier’s coverage is scattered throughout the continental U.S. with dense pockets in southern California, Connecticut, New York, the Midwest, and Texas.

    T-Mobile’s 5G home internet uses its massive nationwide cellular network. You can get it in most heavily populated areas.

    Use our zip search below to see if either service is available in your area.

    Ready to get Frontier or T-Mobile? Let’s go!

    Enter your zip code below to see if one of these providers is available to you.

    Final call: Frontier vs. T-Mobile

    If you need more than 250Mbps speeds, Frontier is the obvious choice, provided you have access to its fiber plans. You also may appreciate Frontier’s fiber more if you’re a remote worker, content creator, or anyone that relies heavily on stable internet service. You’ll get your fast speeds, a fancy fiber connection, and a great introductory rate. But as we covered, you’ll also encounter a few uncommon fees, and, eventually, your rates will go up.

    If you have average internet needs, such as streaming and surfing the web, and a household with four or fewer people, we say give T-Mobile a shot. The speeds are perfectly adequate, and you bypass a lot of the usual ISP annoyances like expensive installations and term contracts. Additionally, you’ll be up and running a lot faster with T-Mobile’s seamless onboarding experience.

    Methodology

    Our HighSpeedInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on customer input from our annual customer satisfaction survey, results from our speed test tool, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. To strengthen our research, we look closely at provider contracts to get hard-to-find information on price hikes, data caps, and extra fees, and we keep tabs on the latest news reports and online reviews. When applicable, we also rely on our personal experiences testing these services.

    More about T-Mobile and Frontier

    Author -

    Austin worked as a broadband technician installing and troubleshooting countless home internet networks for some of the largest ISPs in the U.S. He became a freelance writer in 2020 specializing in software guides. After graduating with a BS in technical communication from Arizona State University, he joined the team at HighSpeedInternet.com where he focuses on home network improvement and troubleshooting.

    Editor - Jessica Brooksby

    Jessica loves bringing her passion for the written word and her love of tech into one space at HighSpeedInternet.com. She works with the team’s writers to revise strong, user-focused content so every reader can find the tech that works for them. Jessica has a bachelor’s degree in English from Utah Valley University and seven years of creative and editorial experience. Outside of work, she spends her time gaming, reading, painting, and buying an excessive amount of Legend of Zelda merchandise.