FiberOptic: Which one should you choose, Xfinity vs Frontier

Fri, Jan 6, 2023 3:54 AM Internet Bundles cheap internet deals cheap internet offers

Get Xfinity Internet for wide availability and tons of on-demand content

Xfinity Internet has a good channel lineup, a large on-demand catalog, and a significantly higher consumer satisfaction rating than Frontier. Xfinity is also more readily available, and its broadband speeds, which max out at 400 Mbps, are nothing to scoff at. All of this is counterbalanced by relatively expensive packages, but we believe Xfinity is the best option for most people.

Get Frontier for better channel selection and lower prices.

Frontier Internet is a perfect choice for those on a limited budget, as the bundled rates are difficult to beat. You will get almost as many channels as Xfinity for half the price in some situations. There is also a larger channel variety, so if Xfinity does not have any of your favorite strange international movie channels, you'll almost certainly find it here. Lower customer service ratings and slower internet speeds are the trade-offs.

Pros and Cons of Both Provider

Xfinity Internet

Overall Customer Rating
(3.33 /5)

Advantages

No contract
Huge on-demand selection
Fast internet

Disadvantages

Poor customer service rankings
Low DVR storage
More expensive than the competition

Frontier Internet

Overall Customer Rating
(2.98 /5)

Advantages

Fast fiber network
No-contract options
Affordable bundles

Disadvantages

Limited availability
Poor customer service ratings
Reliability issues

Installation

Xfinity

The Xfinity setup phase is fairly standard—there is a setup charge of $60, which isn't excessive. If you'd like to do it yourself and save money, there's also a self-install kit available. For specialist installs, the company promises a two-hour timeframe for appointments, which is barely higher than most TV providers' standard "sometime between morning and night."

Frontier

Frontier in terms of installation didn't do good, which is possibly due to the fees. Frontier's setup fees start at $75, and the top-of-the-line Quantum TV service costs $89.99 plus a whopping $70 activation fee. Oh, no. The good news is that if you package your services with Frontier, the installation fee is deferred, so that's an option worth considering.

CHANNELS

Xfinity

Xfinity "just" has 260 channels, which is slightly fewer than the rest of the market, including Frontier. However, numbers aren't all, as Xfinity demonstrates by ranking higher in fulfillment while having fewer channels to choose from. You can also select from an incredible library of on-demand material, with over 70,000 movies available, according to the company.

Frontier

With far more than 400 channels from which to choose top-tier bundles, Frontier FiberOptic offers a much wider channel range. Frontier also offers on-demand programming, but it is limited compared to Xfinity, and both networks offer premium channels such as HBO® if you want them. Frontier's other TV options, Vantage and DISH, don't have the same range as Frontier FiberOptic TV, but DISH has a higher customer satisfaction rating than Frontier FiberOptic TV.

RELIABILITY

Xfinity

One of Xfinity's strong selling points is signal strength. The cable network is reliable and capable of handling vast volumes of data at the same time. As a product, Xfinity is among the area's top-rated providers. In particular, you can rest assured that your service will be available when you need it.

Frontier

Because of the infrastructure involved, fiber networks could theoretically be more efficient than cable or satellite networks. Unfortunately, with Frontier FiberOptic TV, we don't see that happening. Frontier has been troubled by reliability problems since purchasing the service from Verizon, which has harmed its credibility. We'll chalk it up to hiccups, and hope that the company will smooth out the kinks and get back on track soon.

MONTHLY BILL

Xfinity

With a wide variety of packages to fit every budget, Xfinity ranks in the middle of the pack when it comes to billing satisfaction. Packages with only the internet start at $19.99, while TV-only plans start at $44.99. Although Xfinity does not need a contract, you can usually sign one for two years to save money on your monthly bill. While the packages are more expensive than Frontier's, Xfinity offers faster internet, so we'll overlook that. For $109.99 a month, we recommend the X1 Preferred Double Play, which includes 220+ channels and 100 Mbps internet.

Frontier

Frontier offers some excellent value, with internet-only plans beginning at $49.99, but they aren't as fast as Xfinity's budget plans. Frontier FiberOptic 50 Mbps Internet + Frontier FiberOptic TV Prime HD is our favorite Frontier FiberOptic package, with 50 Mbps internet and 315+ channels for just $134.98 a month—not a bad deal at all.

SUPPORT

Xfinity

Comcast, which runs the Xfinity service, has a shaky track record when it comes to customer service. It has also been dubbed America's most despised corporation. In reality, Xfinity performs well in comparison to the rest of the TV industry, ranking in the middle of the pack in our survey and outperforming several rivals in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) annual surveys, including AT&T and Mediacom. We'd say Comcast's customer service is around average for the sector, which isn't saying anything but demonstrates that it isn't as poor as its reputation suggests.

Frontier

Frontier's service got some poor press during the FiOS transition in many areas, and the consequences seem to be still remaining. In our polls, the business ranks lower than Xfinity and just one spot higher on the ACSI metrics. We found the websites to be rather lacking in information in terms of tech support, particularly when compared to the competition.

EQUIPMENT

Xfinity X1

Simultaneous Recordings: 6
Storage: 100 hours of HD
Price: $9.95 per month
Approximate Dimensions: 18.5″ x 13.5″ x 2.5″
# of TVs per DVR: 3
Additional Features: Voice control, integrated Netflix app, trending shows, smart suggestions

Frontier FiberOptic Multi-Room DVR

Simultaneous Recordings: 12
Storage: 75 hours of HD
Price: $15 per month
Approximate Dimensions: 12.6″ x 9.1″ x 2.6″
# of TVs per DVR: 3 (more with mini clients)
Additional Features: Interactive media guide; play, pause, rewind live TV on any connected television

Also, Read: Frontier Internet Price, Plans and More, 2021 Review

INTERNET SERVICE

Xfinity Internet

Xfinity Internet is both fast and cost-effective. The service is very efficient, with speeds ranging from 10 Mbps to a blistering 400 Mbps. Unfortunately, Xfinity internet has a 1 TB data limit, with a $10 overage fee for every 50 GB used after that. Although we aren't big fans of data caps, 1 TB is a decent size, and we doubt most people would actually use it, but if you're a heavy streamer, it's possible. And things have improved—the previous limit was just 250 GB.

In terms of broadband costs, the 10 Mbps package costs just $19.99 a month, which is a fantastic deal. For $59.99, you can get 200 Mbps internet, and packages with TV, phone, or both are available in a number of price ranges. You could also save money by bringing your own modem instead of renting one from Comcast.

Frontier FiberOptic Internet

Frontier FiberOptic internet provides similar upload and download speeds, which is something you can only get through fiber because of the expanded bandwidth. The faster upload speeds are great for backing up and sharing files, such as images, which can take a long time to load on conventional cable internet (and forget about DSL). Frontier's maximum broadband speeds, unfortunately, do not match those of Xfinity's top-tier plans.

Users can get 50 Mbps for just $49.99, which is a fantastic price. Packages for broadband and voice start at $74.99 per month and go up to $199.98 per month, depending on the Frontier FiberOptic TV service you want and how fast you need your internet. And, if you're interested in DISH TV, Frontier's available packages make it a great choice for internet service.

ADDITIONAL INFO

XFINITY

Comcast's Xfinity package includes cable TV, internet, and phone. It is the second-largest provider of television services in the United States, behind only AT&T, with over 22 million subscribers.

FRONTIER

Frontier Communications is a telecommunications company headquartered in the United States that offers television, internet, and phone service in the world. Frontier, which started out serving rural areas, has been growing into broader markets and cities in recent years, including a major fiber line acquisition from Verizon in California, Texas, and Florida. It is the United States' fourth-largest DSL service provider.