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

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.

* w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill per month for 24 mos. One-time charge on disconnect applies.

¶ 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.

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

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

|| w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 5000/5000. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.

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

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!

*w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms. Delivered via 5G cellular network; speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks, including data prioritization.

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.