Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Frontier Communications vs Optimum
What sets them apart
| Compare | Frontier Communications ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Optimum ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 7,000 | 8,000Higher |
| Price from | $29.99Lower | $30 |
| Reference plan prices | 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 | 300 Mbps Internet: $30/mo, 300 Mbps, no contract; 500 Mbps Internet: $40/mo, 500 Mbps, no contract; 8 Gig Fiber Internet: $90/mo, 8000 Mbps, no contract |
| Setup fee | $100Lower | $150 |
| Exit fee terms | Early termination fee may apply with certain promos; pro-rated install fee if disconnect within first year | No contracts - cancel without early termination fees |
| Router | Wi-Fi 7 router included; Whole Home Wi-Fi mesh on 1 Gig and faster | Rent up to $14/mo unless you opt out |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 7,000 | Not confirmed |
| Mid-contract price rises | Not confirmed | Price increases after promo period ends |
| Premises covered | 8,100,000 | Not confirmed |
| Address checker | https://www.frontier.com | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Markets (US).
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Key differences
- Top download speed (Mbps) is higher at Optimum: 8,000 vs 7,000.
- Price from is lower at Frontier Communications: $29.99 vs $30.
- Setup fee is lower at Frontier Communications: $100 vs $150.
- Founded is lower at Frontier Communications: 1935 vs 1996.
- Technology: only Optimum offers Cable.
Our verdict on each
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.
Optimum
Optimum suits US households that want a fast line with no contract attached, and its top plan reaches 8,000 Mbps. What you weigh is the joining cost: a setup fee of $150 and a router that is rented unless you opt out.
Score breakdown
| Area | Frontier Communications | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.6Entry pricing starts at $29.99, though a setup fee of $100 lifts the cost of joining. | 8.6Entry price of $30 looks fair, but Price increases after promo period ends and a $150 setup fee weigh on the total. |
| Offer | 9.6Top download of 7,000 Mbps with a matching 7,000 Mbps figure, and a current Wi-Fi router in the box as standard. | 9.8HigherSpeeds of 8,000 Mbps on terms of 1 month, with both cable and fibre available. |
| Trust | 10.0HigherFounded in 1935 and headquartered in US, operating under Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. in a single market, US. | 9.8A US operator trading since 1996 under Optimum Communications, Inc., with US as its market. |
Which one suits you
Pick Frontier Communications if price from and setup fee matter most.
Pick Optimum if top download speed (mbps) matter most.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Frontier Communications | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband providers | 32 of 124 | 36 of 124 |
| Full fibre providers | 21 of 107 | 23 of 107 |
| Broadband without a long contract | 12 of 46 | 15 of 46 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Frontier Communications | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Fttp | Cable, FttpCovers more |
| Contract length | 1 | 1 |
| Legal entity | Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. | Optimum Communications, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1935Lower | 1996 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Frontier Communications | Optimum | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 7,000highest quarter | 8,000highest quarter | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 7,000highest quarter | Not confirmed | 900 |
| Price from | $29.99below the median | $30above the median | $29.99 |
| Setup fee | $100highest quarter | $150highest quarter | $0 |
| Premises covered | 8,100,000above the median | Not confirmed | 1,700,000 |
Median across 116 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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
Optimum
Pros
- No contract: No contracts - cancel without early termination fees, so moving or switching does not cost an early termination charge.
- Top-end speed: 8,000 Mbps, well above Astound at 5,000 Mbps.
- Choice of line type: cable and fttp, so cable and fibre both come from one provider.
Cons
- Setup fee of $150 ranks 86 out of 86 on the site's setup fee table, the expensive end of that list.
- Rent up to $14/mo unless you opt out adds a monthly equipment cost unless you opt out and bring your own kit.
- Renewal risk: Price increases after promo period ends, so the figure you pay after the promo period can sit above the $30 entry price.
Who each suits
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
Optimum
Who it suits
- Households that want a very fast line but no long commitment, and would otherwise settle for Astound at 5,000 Mbps.
- People likely to move or switch provider often, since No contracts - cancel without early termination fees keeps leaving cheap.
- US households that want one provider for both cable and fibre lines: cable and fttp.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers outside US, who can compare EarthLink instead for fttp, 5G and satellite and a wider choice of ways to connect.
- Fibre-only buyers, who may prefer Abissnet running fttp across its footprint.
- Shoppers who want no joining bill, since the $150 setup fee ranks 86 out of 86 and Astound's terms are worth checking first.
Country by country
| Country | Frontier Communications | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
Optimum
What does Optimum cost to get started?+
The entry price is $30 a month, the cheapest plan on the list. Installation is a separate setup fee of $150. Budget for both in the first month, because the setup cost does not appear in the monthly price and it sits at the expensive end of the site's setup fee table.
Do I have to sign a contract with Optimum?+
Contract terms apply: No contracts - cancel without early termination fees. Plan terms are listed as 1 month, so the commitment is measured in months rather than years. That makes Optimum a straightforward option if you expect to move home, since leaving does not trigger an early termination charge.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
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- Frontier Communications vs hollandsnieuwe
- Frontier Communications vs Time dotCom
- Frontier Communications vs GOMO by Singtel
- Frontier Communications vs toob
- Frontier Communications vs Abissnet
- Frontier Communications vs Hyperoptic B2C
- Frontier Communications vs Kinetic
- Frontier Communications vs YouFibre
- Frontier Communications vs Astound
- Frontier Communications vs PremiumSIM
- Frontier Communications vs sim.de
- Frontier Communications vs Eni Plenitude
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