AT&T vs. Frontier: Which Internet Provider Is Best for You?

Overall, AT&T has a larger fiber footprint across the US than Frontier. Both offer alternative internet options, too, if you can’t get fiber: fixed wireless with AT&T and DSL with Frontier. AT&T still has DSL internet, but like Verizon, it doesn’t offer DSL to new customers.

* Price after $5/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount (w/in 2 bills). Plus taxes & fees. Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. One time install charge may apply. Ltd. avail/areas. Call or go to www.fiber.att.com to see if you qualify. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101.

†Above pricing is after $10/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount with a debit card or bank account; if using a credit card, then price is $5/mo more. Pricing includes Equipment Fee. Up to $99 install fee may apply, plus tax where applicable.

‡ AutoPay and paperless billing required. Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. . Service subj. to Internet Terms of Service at att.com/internet-terms. Offers may be modified, or discontinued, at any time without notice. Other conditions may apply to all offers. Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101.

AT&T stopped offering DSL internet to new customers, so it’s now primarily a fiber and fixed wireless provider. It clashes with Frontier’s fiber only in a few places—meaning you’ll probably never see them both. If you do, both have plans ranging from 500Mbps to 5,000Mbps if speed is what you need. AT&T is the only one of the two with a 300Mbps plan.

AT&T and Frontier command a larger portion of the nation with fixed wireless and DSL, respectively. Again, you may not see these two overlap, but if they’re both listed in your area, AT&T is the better choice. You get speeds of up to 225Mbps with its fixed wireless service, although AT&T has it locked down with a data cap.

* w/ Auto Pay and Paperless Bill per month. One-time charges apply.

¶ w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 200/200 Mbps. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.

✝ w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 500/500 Mbps. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply. In select areas where available.

‡ w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 1000/1000 Mbps. Location dependent. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply. In select areas where available.

§ w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 2000/2000 Mbps. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply. In select areas where available.

# w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 5000/5000. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply. In select areas where available.

**w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 7000/7000. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.

Frontier is mostly a DSL internet provider with some fiber. It has noticeably cheaper fiber prices than AT&T, especially when we compare the multi-gig plans. Plus, it doesn’t raise your rates—just like AT&T—so it’s a far better megabit-per-dollar value.

Frontier’s fiber is limited in availability, however, so you may see its DSL internet instead. The plan costs more than Frontier’s 500Mbps fiber, but AT&T’s fixed wireless ain’t exactly cheap for the speeds you get, either. If you want more megabits for your buck, you may want to check for cable internet in your area instead.