Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Astound vs Frontier Communications
Where Astound and Frontier Communications differ
| Compare |  Astound | Frontier Communications ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000 | 7,000Higher |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000 | 7,000Higher |
| Price from | $19.95Lower | $29.99 |
| Reference plan prices | 150 Mbps: $19.95/mo, 150 Mbps, no contract; 1 Gig WiFi: $40/mo, 1000 Mbps, no contract; 1.5 Gig WiFi: $60/mo, 1500 Mbps, no contract | Fiber 200: $29.99/mo, 200Mbps, no contract; Fiber 500: $44.99/mo, 500Mbps, no contract; Fiber 7 Gig: $124.99/mo, 7000Mbps, no contract |
| Setup fee | $0Lower | $100 |
| Exit fee terms | No cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime | Early termination fee may apply with certain promos; pro-rated install fee if disconnect within first year |
| Router | Whole Home WiFi powered by eero included with Gig plans; eero Max 7 with 5 Gig | Wi-Fi 7 router included; Whole Home Wi-Fi mesh on 1 Gig and faster |
| Address checker | https://www.astound.com/check-for-service/ | https://www.frontier.com |
| Mid-contract price rises | Price for Life rate locked while service kept; other promos valid 12 mos then regular rates | Not confirmed |
| Social tariff | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Premises covered | Not confirmed | 8,100,000 |
| FCC broadband label | https://www.astound.com/labels/ | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Markets (US).
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Key differences
- Astound scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.3.
- Top download speed (Mbps) is higher at Frontier Communications: 7,000 vs 5,000.
- Upload speed (Mbps) is higher at Frontier Communications: 7,000 vs 5,000.
- Price from is lower at Astound: $19.95 vs $29.99.
- Setup fee is lower at Astound: $0 vs $100.
- Technology: only Astound offers Cable.
Our verdict on each
Astound
Astound suits US households that want matching download and upload speeds, a low entry price and no contract to be tied into, and the same account can carry mobile lines. Entry pricing starts at $19.95 a month, Gig tiers arrive with Whole Home WiFi included, and the setup fee is $0.
Frontier Communications
Frontier Communications suits households in the US that want top tier fibre speed without a long contract, and it undercuts many rivals on entry price at $29.99. The catch is a setup fee of $100 plus a charge for leaving early on some promotional deals.
Score breakdown
| Area | Astound | Frontier Communications |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6HigherEntry price of $19.95 a month and a setup fee of $0 put cost near the top of the range. | 8.6Entry pricing starts at $29.99, though a setup fee of $100 lifts the cost of joining. |
| Offer | 9.3No cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime, and Whole Home WiFi arrives included with Gig plans. | 9.6HigherTop download of 7,000 Mbps with a matching 7,000 Mbps figure, and a current Wi-Fi router in the box as standard. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 10.0Founded in 1935 and headquartered in US, operating under Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. in a single market, US. |
Pick Astound if, pick Frontier Communications if
Pick Astound if cost, price from, and setup fee matter most.
Pick Frontier Communications if offer, top download speed (mbps), and upload speed (mbps) matter most.
How the counts compare
| Fact | Astound | Frontier Communications |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000 | 7,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000 | 7,000 |
| Price from | $19.95 | $29.99 |
| Setup fee | $0 | $100 |
How they place
| Ranking | Astound | Frontier Communications |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband providers | 2 of 124 | 32 of 124 |
| Full fibre providers | 2 of 107 | 21 of 107 |
| Broadband without a long contract | 2 of 46 | 12 of 46 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Astound | Frontier Communications |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Cable, FttpCovers more | Fttp |
| Contract length | 1 | 1 |
| Legal entity | Radiate HoldCo, LLC d/b/a Astound Broadband | Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1935 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Mobile plans
| Fact | Astound | Frontier Communications |
|---|---|---|
| Seller type | Reseller | Not confirmed |
| SIM-only | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Billing | Rolling | Not confirmed |
| Unlimited plan price | $30 | Not confirmed |
| 5G | Yes | Not confirmed |
| eSIM | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Wi-Fi calling | Yes | Not confirmed |
| EU roaming | Paid | Not confirmed |
| Data rollover | No | Not confirmed |
| Hotspot sharing | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Credit check required | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Multi-line discount | Yes | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Astound | Frontier Communications | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 5,000highest quarter | 7,000highest quarter | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 5,000highest quarter | 7,000highest quarter | 900 |
| Price from | $19.95lowest quarter | $29.99below the median | $29.99 |
| Setup fee | $0at the median | $100highest quarter | $0 |
| Premises covered | Not confirmed | 8,100,000above the median | 1,700,000 |
Median across 116 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Astound
Pros
- Download of 5,000 Mbps matches upload of 5,000 Mbps, so sending a large file is as quick as downloading one.
- The setup fee is $0, and it ranks 1 of 86 on that measure, ahead of every other brand compared.
- Service runs on cable and fttp, so one provider can cover a cable street or a fibre to the home street.
Cons
- EU roaming is paid, so European travel is billed separately.
- Data rollover is no, so unused mobile allowance does not carry into the next cycle.
- A credit check is required on the mobile side, which adds a step before a line is active.
Frontier Communications
Pros
- Entry pricing of $29.99 sits in the lower part of our price table, and the reference plans come with no fixed term
- Top download of 7,000 Mbps and upload of 7,000 Mbps put it near the front of the speed table
- A current Wi-Fi router is included, and Whole Home Wi-Fi mesh comes on the gigabit tier and anything faster
Cons
- A setup fee of $100 lands near the expensive end of the setup fees we track
- Some promotional deals add a charge for leaving early, and disconnecting soon after joining means paying back part of the installation cost
- Service is confined to a single market, US, so it is not an option outside the US
Who each suits
Astound
Who it suits
- Households in US whose street already has cable or fibre to the home and who want equal download and upload speeds.
- Families adding mobile lines to the same account, where a multi line discount and rolling billing apply.
- Renters and short-stay households, since No cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want a fibre to the home provider and nothing else, because cable and fttp includes cable while Abissnet and Kinetic list fibre to the home alone.
- Homes a wired network does not reach, where EarthLink adds fttp, 5G and satellite options.
- Travellers who expect European roaming to come included, since EU roaming is paid.
Frontier Communications
Who it suits
- Households in the US inside Frontier's fibre footprint, willing to accept a setup fee of $100 for a lower monthly price
- Anyone who needs gigabit speeds for large uploads, remote work backups or shared media
- People who want to leave without a long lock-in, since the reference plans run on rolling monthly terms
Who should look elsewhere
- Households outside the US, since service is confined to a single market, US
- Shoppers who want a cable package rather than pure fibre, since Astound runs cable and fttp
- People hunting for the very lowest entry price, since cheaper options sit below $29.99
Country by country
| Country | Astound | Frontier Communications |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Astound
How much does Astound broadband cost a month?+
Plans start at $19.95 a month on the entry tier. The listed lineup then steps up through Gig and multi-Gig WiFi plans, and every plan shown is on no-contract terms, so the monthly figure is the whole commitment. Whole Home WiFi is included with Gig plans rather than sold as an extra.
Is there a setup or installation fee with Astound broadband?+
Setup costs $0 to add, and in this comparison the brand ranks 1 of 86 for setup fee, ahead of every other brand measured on that point. Equipment also counts: Whole Home WiFi is supplied with Gig plans, with the top tier hardware paired to the quickest speeds.
Frontier Communications
What is the entry price for Frontier fibre?+
Plans start at $29.99 a month, and the reference tiers step up in speed from there to a multi gigabit option at the top. Every one of them is sold on rolling terms, so the monthly figure is the number to compare against rival quotes. Speeds, not term length, are what separate the tiers here.
Do I have to sign a contract with Frontier?+
No. The reference plans, from the entry tier through to the multi gigabit tier, are all sold without a fixed term, and the listed contract length is a rolling monthly term. That leaves you free to cancel without counting out a period first, which suits anyone who expects to move or switch.
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