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Quick Answer: Frontier Fiber or AT&T Fiber?
Frontier Fiber wins on price. It is $10-20 cheaper per month than AT&T Fiber at comparable speed tiers while offering the same symmetrical speeds, no data caps, and no contracts. AT&T Fiber has a slight edge in customer satisfaction and availability. If both are available at your address, Frontier Fiber delivers more speed per dollar.
Ready to switch? Call 1-844-785-9751 to check Frontier Fiber availability at your address and learn about current promotions.
Frontier Fiber vs AT&T Fiber: Side-by-Side Overview
Both Frontier Fiber and AT&T Fiber are pure fiber-optic internet services that deliver symmetrical upload and download speeds to your home. They are two of the largest fiber ISPs in the United States, and in many markets they compete head-to-head for the same customers. Here is a high-level comparison of the two services as of 2026:
| Feature | Frontier Fiber | AT&T Fiber |
|---|---|---|
| Network Technology | FTTH (Fiber to the Home) | FTTH (Fiber to the Home) |
| Speed Range | 500 Mbps – 5 Gbps | 300 Mbps – 5 Gbps |
| Starting Price | $49.99/mo | $55/mo |
| Symmetrical Upload | Yes (all plans) | Yes (all plans) |
| Data Caps | None | None |
| Contract Required | No | No |
| Equipment Fee | $10/mo (optional) | Included (AT&T Smart Home Manager) |
| Installation | Free | Free (with select plans) |
| Price Increases | No | No |
| Coverage | 25 states | 21 states |
| ACSI Score (2025-26) | 68/100 | 71/100 |
Pricing Comparison: Plan by Plan
When comparing plans at similar speed tiers, Frontier Fiber is consistently less expensive than AT&T Fiber. Here is how each provider's lineup compares:
Entry-Level Plans
| Plan | Speed | Price | Cost per Mbps |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 300 | 300 Mbps | $55/mo | $0.183 |
| Frontier Fiber 500 | 500 Mbps | $49.99/mo | $0.100 |
Winner: Frontier Fiber. You get 200 Mbps more speed for $5 less per month. The cost-per-Mbps difference is nearly 2x in Frontier's favor.
Mid-Range Plans (500 Mbps)
| Plan | Speed | Price | Cost per Mbps |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 500 | 500 Mbps | $65/mo | $0.130 |
| Frontier Fiber 500 | 500 Mbps | $49.99/mo | $0.100 |
Winner: Frontier Fiber. At the same speed tier, Frontier saves you $15/month — that is $180 per year.
Gigabit Plans
| Plan | Speed | Price | Cost per Mbps |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 1 GIG | 1,000 Mbps | $80/mo | $0.080 |
| Frontier Fiber 1 Gig | 1,000 Mbps | $69.99/mo | $0.070 |
Winner: Frontier Fiber. The $10/month savings at the popular gigabit tier adds up to $120 per year, with identical performance on paper.
Multi-Gigabit Plans
| Plan | Speed | Price |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber 2 GIG | 2,000 Mbps | $150/mo |
| Frontier Fiber 2 Gig | 2,000 Mbps | $99.99/mo |
| AT&T Fiber 5 GIG | 5,000 Mbps | $180/mo |
| Frontier Fiber 5 Gig | 5,000 Mbps | $149.99/mo |
Winner: Frontier Fiber, decisively. The gap widens at multi-gigabit tiers, with Frontier costing $50/month less for 2 Gig service and $30/month less for 5 Gig. Over a year, that is $360-600 in savings.
Annual Cost Comparison Summary
| Speed Tier | Frontier Annual Cost | AT&T Annual Cost | You Save with Frontier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 Mbps | $599.88 | $780 | $180.12 |
| 1 Gbps | $839.88 | $960 | $120.12 |
| 2 Gbps | $1,199.88 | $1,800 | $600.12 |
| 5 Gbps | $1,799.88 | $2,160 | $360.12 |
Speed and Performance Comparison
Both providers deliver symmetrical speeds on a true FTTH (Fiber to the Home) network. In terms of raw speed delivery, both perform exceptionally well, but there are subtle differences worth noting.
Speed Test Results
| Metric | Frontier Fiber (1 Gig) | AT&T Fiber (1 GIG) |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Download Speed | 948 Mbps (95%) | 940 Mbps (94%) |
| Avg Upload Speed | 952 Mbps (95%) | 945 Mbps (95%) |
| Average Latency | 3 ms | 4 ms |
| Jitter | < 1 ms | < 1 ms |
| Peak Hour Degradation | 2-3% | 2-4% |
| Packet Loss | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Verdict: Performance is virtually identical. Both providers deliver 94-95% of advertised speeds with ultra-low latency. Frontier has a marginal edge in latency (3 ms vs 4 ms on average), but this difference is imperceptible in real-world usage. For detailed speed data, see our Frontier Fiber Speed Test Results article.
Coverage and Availability Comparison
One of the most important factors in choosing between these two providers is simply which one is available at your address. The coverage areas overlap in some states but are largely distinct.
Frontier Fiber Coverage
Available in parts of 25 states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Frontier is expanding its fiber network by approximately 1.3 million locations per year.
AT&T Fiber Coverage
Available in parts of 21 states, primarily concentrated in the Southeast, Southwest, and Midwest: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. AT&T has been expanding at a rate of approximately 1.5 million locations per year.
Where They Overlap
Both providers compete directly in parts of California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. If you live in one of these overlapping states, you may have both options available and can make your decision based on pricing and service quality.
To check whether Frontier Fiber is available at your specific address, call 1-844-785-9751 or visit our Frontier Fiber availability page.
Contracts, Cancellation, and Fine Print
Both providers have adopted contract-free models for their fiber services, but there are some differences in the details:
| Policy | Frontier Fiber | AT&T Fiber |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Contract | None | None |
| Early Termination Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Data Cap | None | None |
| Price Increases After Promo | No promo rates | No promo rates |
| Equipment Fee | $10/mo (optional, BYO allowed) | Included in plan price |
| Installation Fee | Free | Free (most plans) |
The most notable difference here is the equipment policy. AT&T includes their Wi-Fi gateway in the plan price but does not allow you to opt out and use your own router instead (though you can use your own router in bridge mode behind the AT&T gateway). Frontier charges $10/month for their eero Pro 6E but allows you to skip the rental entirely and use your own router, saving money over time.
Equipment and Wi-Fi Comparison
Frontier Fiber Equipment
Frontier provides the eero Pro 6E mesh router system, supporting Wi-Fi 6E tri-band connectivity. The rental costs $10/month, but you can use your own router to avoid this charge. Additional eero mesh units are available at $10/month each for extended whole-home coverage.
AT&T Fiber Equipment
AT&T provides the BGW320 Wi-Fi gateway, which is included with your plan at no additional charge. The BGW320 supports Wi-Fi 6 and includes built-in smart home management features. AT&T also offers All-Fi mesh extenders at $10/month per unit for larger homes. Note that you cannot fully bypass the AT&T gateway — even if you use your own router, the AT&T gateway remains in the chain.
Verdict: This category depends on your preferences. If you want to use your own networking equipment, Frontier is the better choice because they allow true bring-your-own-router without a gateway in the path. If you prefer having equipment included with no extra charge and do not mind a provider-managed gateway, AT&T is simpler.
Customer Service Comparison
Customer service is an area where AT&T Fiber holds a consistent, though modest, advantage over Frontier. Here is how the two compare across key metrics:
| Metric | Frontier Fiber | AT&T Fiber |
|---|---|---|
| ACSI Score (2025-2026) | 68/100 | 71/100 |
| J.D. Power Residential ISP | Above Average | Above Average |
| 24/7 Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Live Chat | Business hours | Extended hours |
| Mobile App | MyFrontier | myAT&T / Smart Home Manager |
| Retail Locations | Limited | Extensive (AT&T stores nationwide) |
AT&T benefits from a larger retail presence and a more established customer service infrastructure. However, Frontier has been steadily improving, with ACSI scores rising from 55 to 68 over the past five years. Both providers have room for improvement compared to Verizon Fios, which leads the industry at 73.
Gaming: Which Is Better?
For gamers, both Frontier Fiber and AT&T Fiber provide excellent performance. The differences are minimal, but here is how they compare on the metrics that matter most for gaming:
- Latency: Frontier averages 3 ms vs AT&T's 4 ms — both are excellent, and the 1 ms difference is imperceptible
- Jitter: Both providers deliver sub-1 ms jitter, ensuring stable connections during competitive play
- Packet loss: Both achieve 0.00% in testing
- Download speed for game updates: Comparable — both deliver 95%+ of advertised speeds
Verdict: Tie. Both are outstanding for gaming. Choose based on pricing and availability rather than gaming performance, as any difference between them is negligible. For more on fiber gaming, read our Frontier Fiber for Gaming guide.
Remote Work: Which Is Better?
Remote workers need reliable upload speeds, low latency for video calls, and consistent performance throughout the workday. Here is how the two providers compare for work-from-home scenarios:
- Upload speed: Both offer symmetrical uploads, which is ideal for Zoom, Teams, and cloud file syncing
- Daytime reliability: Both showed consistent speeds during business hours in our testing
- VPN performance: Both support VPN connections without throttling or interference
- Video call quality: Both provide more than enough bandwidth for HD and 4K video conferencing
Verdict: Tie on performance. Frontier Fiber wins on cost, which may be an important consideration for self-employed remote workers who pay their own internet bills. For a comprehensive analysis, see our Frontier Fiber for Remote Work guide.
Final Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
Choose Frontier Fiber If:
- You want the lowest monthly price for fiber internet
- You prefer to use your own router without a provider gateway
- You value multi-gigabit options at competitive prices
- Price consistency matters more to you than brand reputation
- Frontier is the only fiber provider available at your address
Choose AT&T Fiber If:
- Customer service and retail store access are important to you
- You want equipment included in your plan price
- You value AT&T's broader ecosystem (wireless bundling, HBO Max)
- You need a lower entry speed tier (300 Mbps)
- AT&T is the only fiber provider available at your address
Our recommendation: If both Frontier Fiber and AT&T Fiber are available at your address, Frontier Fiber offers the better value at every speed tier. You will save $120-600 per year depending on the plan you choose, while receiving comparable speed performance and the same contract-free, no-data-cap experience. The savings are especially dramatic at the 2 Gig tier, where Frontier costs $50 less per month.
Check Frontier Fiber Availability
Call now to find out if Frontier Fiber is available at your address and compare current promotions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Frontier Fiber faster than AT&T Fiber?
At the same speed tier, Frontier Fiber and AT&T Fiber deliver nearly identical real-world performance. Both achieve 94-95% of advertised speeds in testing. However, Frontier's entry-level plan starts at 500 Mbps compared to AT&T's 300 Mbps, so the cheapest Frontier plan is actually faster than the cheapest AT&T plan. Both providers offer plans up to 5 Gbps for their fastest tiers.
Is Frontier Fiber cheaper than AT&T Fiber?
Yes, Frontier Fiber is consistently cheaper than AT&T Fiber at comparable speed tiers. The savings range from $10 per month at the 1 Gig tier to $50 per month at the 2 Gig tier. Over the course of a year, switching from AT&T Fiber to Frontier Fiber can save you $120 to $600 depending on your plan, while receiving essentially the same speed and reliability.
Can I get both Frontier Fiber and AT&T Fiber at my address?
In some areas, yes. Frontier Fiber and AT&T Fiber have overlapping coverage in parts of 14 states including California, Florida, Texas, Ohio, and others. To check availability for both, call 1-844-785-9751 for Frontier or visit AT&T's website for AT&T Fiber. Having both available gives you the leverage to choose the better deal and even negotiate if one provider offers a lower price.
Does AT&T Fiber or Frontier Fiber have better customer service?
AT&T Fiber currently has a slight edge in customer satisfaction, scoring 71 versus Frontier's 68 on the American Customer Satisfaction Index. AT&T also benefits from a nationwide network of retail stores where you can get in-person help. However, Frontier's scores have been improving steadily year over year, and the gap has narrowed considerably since 2021. Both providers offer 24/7 phone support and mobile app account management.
Should I switch from AT&T Fiber to Frontier Fiber?
If both are available at your address and you are looking to reduce your monthly internet bill, switching to Frontier Fiber is worth considering. Since neither provider requires a contract, you can try Frontier Fiber risk-free. The installation is free, and you can cancel without penalty if you are not satisfied. Most customers who switch report comparable performance at a meaningfully lower price. Call 1-844-785-9751 to discuss switching options with a Frontier specialist.
This comparison was last updated on February 25, 2026. Pricing and plan details may change. Call 1-844-785-9751 for the most current Frontier Fiber information.