Frontier vs. CenturyLink- Which is the best internet service provider for stable yet affordable connectivity

I do prefer a premium quality internet service provider that offers me a subscription at an affordable rate on flexible terms. Frontier and CenturyLink have both stood out for me over the years.

There is probably nothing more frustrating than slow internet connection. If you are a gamer or you simply like streaming your movies, you should settle for nothing but the best. From the loads of internet service providers in the market few have stood the test of time like Frontier and CenturyLink. They are both quality companies that deliver on stable internet connection throughout your home or office. They also come with phone and TV services depending on what you are out for. Once you pay your monthly subscription fee, you are in for a treat whichever of these you settle for.

When to use Frontier

If you are looking for a flexible internet service provider that is bound to meet your every need then Frontier is the telecommunication company for you. Over the years, it has set itself apart with great data plans that will not break your bank (going for as low as $24) yet are still stable and strong enough for heavy use. It offers these services across 29 states in the United States. Coupled with the fact that they offer TV, phone and internet services in one, they are well worth the buy.

When to use CenturyLink

Even before its fiber-optic introduction into the market, CenturyLink was already the go-to company for stable internet speeds as well as TV and phone services. With coverage of across 50 states, CenturyLink is alsojust about the most accessible network compared to all others in the market. It also offers ultra-fast speeds of up to 1000Mbps for your streaming and gaming.

Features	Frontier	CenturyLink (Winner)
Number of data plan packages	11
Price range	$27.99-$74.99	$49-$65
Download speeds	3Mbps-940Mbps	10Mbps-940Mbps
Contract
Connection type	Copper, DSL or Fiber	Wireless, Fiber, DSL, Copper or Fixed
Data cap	Unlimited	Unlimited on selected data plans

How we evaluate Frontier and CenturyLink

To help you pick the best internet service provider for you, we have come up with a few standards for easier rating. As each company has its own strengths and imperfections, it is important to establish a set criterion to show you how well they can deliver. Here is how to tell which one to opt for:

• Speeds- both download and upload speeds weigh in determining how smooth your connectivity experience will be
• Cost- we are always looking out for premium quality buys that are still great value for money. Who does not like a good deal?
• Data caps- this refers to the set limit on your data plan
• Customer service-if you are planning to stick with one company for the long haul, it is important to know how well you will be treated in case you have any issues with the services provided
• Number of data plans-a good service provider is one which has flexible plans to fit the needs of all kinds of people

Frontier vs. CenturyLink- A comparison overview

Frontier review

Frontier is a quality internet service provider that has quite a number of stellar features that make it well worth the buy. For instance, whether you go for Fios, bundles or high-speed DSL, you are not bound to any sort of contract that will have you parting with money simply because you do not want to continue with the plan.

Data plan	Internet download speeds	Connection Type	Data Cap	Price	Details
Vantage Internet	6Mbps	DSL	Unlimited	$27.99	View plan
Vantage Preferred Internet	25Mbps	DSL	Unlimited	$34.99	View plan
Simply 50/50 Vantage Fiber	50Mbps	Fiber	Unlimited	$29.99	View plan
Simply 50/50	50Mbps	Fiber	Unlimited	$29.99	View plan
Simply Fios 50/50 Vantage Fiber	50Mbps	Fiber	Unlimited	$29.99	View plan
Vantage Premium Internet	115Mbps	DSL	Unlimited	$44.99	View plan
Vantage Fiber Simply 200/200	200Mbps	Fiber	Unlimited	$39.99	View plan
Simply Fios 500/500	500Mbps	Fiber	Unlimited	$39.99	View plan
Vantage Fiber Simply 500/500	500Mbps	Fiber	Unlimited	$39.99	View plan
Simply Fios 1G/1G	1000Mbps	Fiber	Unlimited	$199.99	View plan
Simply 1G/1G	1000Mbps	Fiber	Unlimited	$199.99	View plan

These are the flexible data plans you get with Frontier. If you are on a tight budget, you can go for the Vantage Internet/Vantage Preferred Internet. While 6Mbps might not be fast enough for everyone, you can bump it up to the next package. The deal with Frontier is even better with the fact that Frontier’s plans do not come with data caps. You can freely binge-watch your favorite TV show all week without having to worry about going over a limit and paying over-use fees.

Another perk with Frontier is that you can get detailed instructions for self-installation at home. If you require professional installation, you will need to part with up $75 because it is a detailed process that can take up to eight hours.

Pros

• Plans do not have caps
• Introductory rate goes for a 2-year period
• Does not bind you to a contract agreement
• Comes with a mobile app

Cons

• Some users have complained about the customer service

CenturyLink review

CenturyLink is a well-known internet service provider for a number of reasons. First, its introductory rate policy is nothing short of impressive. Unlike other companies, you do not get bumped up from the introductory rate after a short period of time with CenturyLink. You get stuck with the initial price as long as you are with the company. As if this is not enough, CenturyLink has both contract and non-contract terms. While you do need to buy or rent the equipment fees as well as pay a monthly subscription fee, you do not get tied to a fixed contract.

Data plan	Internet download speeds	Price	Connection Type	Data cap	Details
Price for Life 15Mbps	15Mbps	$49	DSL	1.2TB	View plan
Price for Life 20Mbps	20Mbps	$49	DSL	1.2TB	View plan
Price for Life 40Mbps	40Mbps	$49	DSL	1.2TB	View plan
Price for Life 80Mbps	80Mbps	$49	DSL	1.2TB	View plan
Price for Life 100Mbps	100Mbps	$49	DSL	1.2TB	View plan
Century Link Fiber	940Mbps	$65	Fiber	1.2TB	View plan

CenturyLink has these data plans that can be a great fit for a wide range of people from gamers to streamers. Do keep in mind that these plans come with data caps. For almost all of the plans with CenturyLink, you get a 1 Terabyte (TB) data cap. While it can be quite annoying having a limit to your internet, 1TB is quite a lot to get through. If you do finish it, you get charged $10 for every additional 50GB. While this can be a tad inconveniencing it should not be a deal breaker. Note that if you are a business owner or you have the 1 Gig Plan/Prism TV you get unlimited data.

Another downer with CenturyLink is that it does require professional installation. The process is rather detailed and can cost more than $200 depending on the type of service you want as well as your location.

Pros

• Offers gig-fiber options for up to 940Mbps transfers
• Does not tie you to a contract

Cons

• Has data caps on all its plans

How does Frontier and CenturyLink compare?

Cost

With both Frontier and CenturyLink, you pretty much get what you have paid for. Ultra-fast speeds will need to you part with an amount. However, Frontier is easily the better option when it comes to costs. It has a budget-priced plans costing around $30 a month but will still deliver on decent speeds.

Number of data plans

Right off the bat, you can tell that Frontier comes with more data plans so you are in for more variety. CenturyLink has a rather limiting selection of 6 packages ranging from DSL 15Mbps to 940Mbps fiber network.

Data caps

These companies set themselves apart on this basis. Frontier easily triumphs because all its data plans come with the unlimited feature while CenturyLink has a data cap of 1.2BTB on most of its packages. If you are a high consumer, you are better off with Frontier because you will need to pay an additional fee for every time you are beyond the data limit on CenturyLink.

Type of connection

These two internet service providers deliver on reliable and stable internet albeit in different ways. CenturyLink has more connection types including wireless, fiber optic, DSL and copper. If you are nit-picky about your internet, you are in for a better deal with CenturyLink because of the wide array of options you get.

Conclusion

CenturyLink is a reliable internet service provider that can offer more than 900Mbps on its fiber connection. However, Frontier is the better option because it comes with more data plans all at rather affordable prices.

FAQ’s

How do you have them installed?

With Frontier, you can check online if you qualify for self-installation. If you do not, a professional will need to do it. For CenturyLink, it requires professional installation which can be quite costly on top of other fees.

Which of these has faster speeds? Is it Frontier or CenturyLink?

Both Frontier and CenturyLink have newly introduced packages that can hit up to 1000Mbps. Remember that this varies according to the internet type and plan you have as well as your location.