Quick Verdict: Frontier Fiber vs Brightspeed
Frontier Fiber is the more established and proven fiber provider, with wider availability, higher customer satisfaction, and included equipment. Brightspeed is a newer company (spun off from Lumen/CenturyLink in 2022) that is investing aggressively in fiber upgrades across the Southeast and Midwest, and may offer competitive pricing in its expansion markets. If Frontier Fiber is available, it is the safer, more reliable choice. If Brightspeed fiber is your only fiber option, it delivers genuine fiber performance. Call Frontier at 1-855-981-6281 to check fiber availability.
Frontier Fiber vs Brightspeed: Complete 2026 Comparison
Brightspeed is one of the newest broadband providers in the United States, having acquired CenturyLink's copper and fiber assets across 20 states in October 2022. Backed by Apollo Global Management, Brightspeed has committed to upgrading millions of these legacy copper connections to fiber-optic. Frontier Fiber, by contrast, has been on its fiber transformation journey since before its 2021 bankruptcy emergence and has a more established fiber platform. This comparison helps consumers in the growing number of markets where both providers compete. Pricing is current as of early 2026 and subject to change. Call Frontier at 1-855-981-6281 for the most up-to-date availability and pricing information.
| Feature | Frontier Fiber | Brightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Plans/Tiers | 3 fiber tiers (500, 1 Gig, 2 Gig) | 2-3 fiber tiers (500, 1 Gig); DSL in many areas |
| Starting Price | $49.99/mo (500 Mbps) | $50-55/mo (500 Mbps fiber, where available) |
| Max Download Speed | 2,000 Mbps | 1,000 Mbps (fiber); 100 Mbps (DSL) |
| Upload Speeds | Symmetrical on all plans | Symmetrical on fiber; slow on DSL |
| Annual Contracts | None | None |
| Data Caps | None | None on fiber |
| Equipment Fee | Router included free | $10-13/mo router rental |
| Technology | Fiber-optic (GPON/XGS-PON) | Fiber-optic (new builds) + legacy DSL/copper |
| Customer Satisfaction | ACSI: 73/100 | Limited data (new company) |
When Frontier Fiber Wins
Frontier Fiber is the better choice in these common scenarios:
- You want a proven, established fiber service. Frontier has been delivering fiber internet for years and has worked through the growing pains of a major network transformation. Their fiber service processes, installation procedures, and customer support for fiber-specific issues are well-established. Brightspeed, having only acquired its network in late 2022, is still in the early stages of its fiber rollout and organizational maturation. For consumers who want a known quantity, Frontier's track record provides confidence.
- You want included equipment. Frontier includes a Wi-Fi 6 router on all fiber plans at no monthly charge. Brightspeed charges $10-13/month for their router rental, adding $120-156/year to your bill. This equipment cost erases any small pricing advantage Brightspeed might offer at the plan level and makes Frontier consistently cheaper on a total-cost basis.
- You want higher speed options. Frontier offers plans up to 2,000 Mbps, while Brightspeed's fiber plans currently top out at 1,000 Mbps in most markets. For power users who need multi-gig speeds, Frontier provides more headroom. As Brightspeed expands, higher tiers may become available, but as of early 2026, Frontier offers more speed options. Call 1-855-981-6281 to explore Frontier's speed tiers.
- You want higher customer satisfaction and reliability. Frontier's ACSI score of 73/100 reflects years of improvement. Brightspeed inherited CenturyLink's network and customer base, and while they are investing in improvements, they are starting from the lower satisfaction baseline that CenturyLink had in many of these markets. Early Brightspeed customer reviews are mixed, as the transition from CenturyLink ownership has created some service continuity challenges.
- You are comparing against Brightspeed DSL. If Brightspeed has not yet deployed fiber at your address, you may only have access to legacy DSL service (25-100 Mbps with slow uploads). Against Brightspeed DSL, Frontier Fiber is dramatically faster, more reliable, and a completely different class of internet service. The performance gap between fiber and DSL is enormous.
When Brightspeed Wins
Brightspeed is the better option in these situations:
- Brightspeed fiber is available but Frontier Fiber is not. Brightspeed serves parts of 20 states across the Southeast and Midwest, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and others where Frontier may not have fiber coverage. In these markets, Brightspeed fiber is your path to fiber-optic performance, and it delivers genuine fiber speeds that are vastly superior to any DSL or most cable alternatives available in the same area.
- Brightspeed has recently deployed brand-new fiber in your area. Brightspeed's fiber network is being built from scratch in many areas, meaning it uses the most modern equipment and network architecture available. Newly built fiber infrastructure can offer excellent performance with fewer legacy compatibility issues. If Brightspeed just brought fiber to your neighborhood, you may benefit from cutting-edge technology and promotional pricing for new subscribers.
- You are offered strong introductory pricing. Brightspeed periodically offers aggressive promotional rates in new fiber markets to attract subscribers. These introductory offers can make Brightspeed fiber significantly cheaper than Frontier for the initial promotional period. Just be sure to check the post-promotional pricing to understand your long-term costs.
- You value supporting a growing competitor. Brightspeed's investment in upgrading legacy copper infrastructure to fiber is bringing modern broadband to communities that were underserved for years under CenturyLink. By subscribing, you support continued investment in fiber expansion in your area, which benefits the entire community's broadband options long-term.
Plan-by-Plan Matchup
Entry Level: Frontier 500 vs Brightspeed 500
Frontier at $49.99/month for 500/500 Mbps with included router versus Brightspeed at approximately $50-55/month for 500/500 Mbps plus $10-13/month equipment rental. The speed tier is identical, but Frontier's total monthly cost is $10-18 lower when equipment is included. Both offer symmetrical uploads and no data caps. Frontier wins this tier on total cost and established service quality.
Gigabit: Frontier 1 Gig vs Brightspeed 1 Gig
Frontier at approximately $74.99/month for 1,000/1,000 Mbps versus Brightspeed at approximately $65-75/month for 1,000/1,000 Mbps plus equipment rental. Base pricing is comparable, but Frontier's included equipment provides a $10-13/month advantage. Performance at the gigabit tier should be equivalent since both use similar GPON fiber technology.
Top Tier: Frontier 2 Gig (Brightspeed has no equivalent)
Frontier offers a 2,000/2,000 Mbps plan at approximately $149.99/month. As of early 2026, Brightspeed does not widely offer a comparable multi-gig tier. For users who need speeds above 1 Gbps, Frontier is the only option between these two providers. Brightspeed may expand its speed offerings as its fiber infrastructure matures.
Key Differences That Matter Most
Company Maturity and Track Record
Frontier has been operating as an independent company for decades and has several years of experience delivering fiber internet. Brightspeed is a startup (by telecom standards) that acquired an existing network and is in the process of transforming it. This maturity gap shows in customer support consistency, billing system reliability, and installation process smoothness. Brightspeed is improving rapidly, but Frontier has a head start on the customer experience curve.
Network Transformation Status
Frontier is further along in its fiber transformation, having already converted millions of customers from copper to fiber. Brightspeed inherited a network that is predominantly copper/DSL and is in the early-to-mid stages of fiber upgrades. This means many Brightspeed customers are still on DSL service awaiting fiber deployment. When evaluating Brightspeed, it is critical to confirm whether fiber is actually available at your specific address rather than just in your general area.
Investment and Expansion Outlook
Both companies have committed significant capital to fiber expansion. Frontier has pledged to reach 10 million fiber locations. Brightspeed, backed by Apollo's capital resources, has committed to building fiber past approximately 3 million homes. Both expansion plans suggest that coverage will improve significantly over the next several years, potentially bringing fiber competition to areas that currently have only one provider.
Coverage Comparison
Brightspeed serves customers across 20 states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and parts of several other states, though fiber availability is limited to select areas within those states. Frontier Fiber serves parts of 25 states with stronger fiber penetration. The providers overlap in parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and other Midwestern and Northeastern markets. Call Frontier at 1-855-981-6281 to check fiber availability at your specific address.
Check Frontier Fiber AvailabilityThe Bottom Line
Frontier Fiber is the more established, proven choice with included equipment, higher speed options, and better customer satisfaction. Brightspeed is an ambitious newcomer that delivers solid fiber performance where available and represents an important investment in bringing modern broadband to underserved communities. If both offer fiber at your address, Frontier is the recommended choice based on current value and reliability. If Brightspeed fiber is your only fiber option, it is a strong provider that will only improve as their network and organization mature.
Check Frontier Fiber AvailabilityFrequently Asked Questions
What is Brightspeed?
Brightspeed is an internet service provider formed in 2022 when Apollo Global Management acquired CenturyLink's (Lumen Technologies') copper and fiber network assets across 20 states. Brightspeed operates independently and is focused on upgrading this inherited infrastructure from DSL to fiber-optic.
Does Brightspeed offer fiber or DSL?
Both. Brightspeed is actively deploying new fiber in select markets across its 20-state footprint, but many addresses still only have access to legacy DSL service. Always verify which technology is available at your specific address, as fiber and DSL deliver very different performance levels.
Is Frontier Fiber faster than Brightspeed?
Frontier offers higher maximum speeds (2 Gbps vs Brightspeed's current 1 Gbps maximum). At comparable tiers (500 Mbps and 1 Gig), both deliver similar performance using similar fiber technology. Against Brightspeed DSL, Frontier Fiber is dramatically faster in every way.
Does Brightspeed have data caps?
Brightspeed fiber plans have no data caps. Frontier Fiber also has no data caps. Both providers offer truly unlimited data on their fiber services, which is standard for fiber-optic providers.
Which is cheaper: Frontier Fiber or Brightspeed?
At the plan level, pricing is very similar. However, Frontier includes a router at no cost while Brightspeed charges $10-13/month for equipment rental. When total monthly cost is considered (plan + equipment), Frontier is typically $10-18/month cheaper for equivalent speed tiers.
Is Brightspeed reliable?
Brightspeed's fiber service is built on modern infrastructure and delivers reliable performance comparable to other fiber providers. However, as a new company still building out its network and processes, some customers have reported growing pains with customer service and billing during the transition from CenturyLink. These issues are expected to improve as the company matures.
Explore Frontier's fiber lineup at our Frontier Fiber provider hub or review Frontier Fiber plan pricing and details.
Disclosure: Some of the links and phone numbers on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you click or call. This does not influence our editorial assessments or recommendations. Comparisons are based on publicly available plan data, independent surveys, and our editorial team's research. Pricing is current as of early 2026 and subject to change. Always verify pricing, speeds, and availability directly with the provider.