Key Takeaways
- Both Race and Frontier offer 100% fiber (FTTH), symmetrical speeds, unlimited data, an included router, and no annual contracts in the communities where they compete.
- Race’s top speed is 10 Gbps. Frontier’s top speed is 7 Gbps.
- Race has no early termination fees. Frontier can charge up to $100 if you cancel during a promotional pricing period.
- Race’s Wi-Fi extender covers up to 4,500 sq ft for $5/mo. Frontier’s covers up to 4,000 sq ft for $10/mo.
- Race is California-based with local support teams. Frontier operates nationally across 25 states.
- Pricing varies by community for both providers — check your address for an exact rate.
If you’re shopping for fiber internet in the Antelope Valley, the Coachella Valley, or the eastern Sierra Nevada communities, there’s a good chance you’re weighing the same two names: Race Communications vs Frontier.
Both are legitimate fiber providers. Both have expanded their footprints across California. And in several communities, including Desert Hot Springs, Farmersville, Lancaster, Phelan, and Ridgecrest, they’re direct competitors for the same customers.
This post breaks down how they actually compare: technology, speeds, fees, support, and the features that tend to matter most once you’re a customer.
Disclaimer: This post is based on publicly available information and provider-disclosed terms at the time of writing. Pricing and plan availability vary by address and can change. We recommend verifying details directly with each provider before signing up.
Race Communications vs Frontier: How Do They Compare?
Race vs. Frontier isn’t a statewide comparison — it’s a hyperlocal one. The communities where customers commonly compare both providers include:
- Desert Hot Springs
- Farmersville
- Lancaster
- Phelan
- Ridgecrest
If you live in one of these areas, you likely have a real choice between the two. Outside these markets, availability may differ significantly.
At the technology level, both providers are closer than their marketing might suggest. Here’s where they stand on the things that matter most:
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Network technology | Fiber (FTTH) | Fiber (FTTH) |
| Symmetrical speeds | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Unlimited data | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Router included | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| No annual contract | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Early termination fee | ✓ None | ⚠ Up to $100 If you cancel during a promotional pricing period |
| Max advertised speed | 10 Gbps | 7 Gbps Select areas |
| Pricing | Varies by community Check your address for an exact rate | Varies by market May include promotional intro pricing |
| Wi-Fi extender | $5/mo Covers up to 4,500 sq ft | $10/mo Covers up to 4,000 sq ft |
| Local customer support | ✓ California-based | ⚠ Varies by region |
Pricing and availability vary by address and may change. Frontier’s early termination fee applies to customers on promotional pricing who cancel before the promotional period ends. Always verify current terms directly with each provider.
On paper, the core product is similar. The differences show up in the details, particularly around fees, extender pricing, and the support experience.
Race Communications vs Frontier: Plans & Pricing
Race offers plans up to 10 Gbps in select communities, making it one of the few residential providers in California offering that tier. Frontier’s top speed is 7 Gbps in select areas.
For most households, the practical difference between the two on everyday tasks (streaming, video calls, working from home) is minimal at mid-tier speeds. Where Race’s speed ceiling matters most is in households with many simultaneous users and devices, or for customers who specifically want future-proofed bandwidth.
Both providers offer symmetrical upload and download speeds, which is a meaningful advantage over cable internet for things like video calls, uploads, cloud backup, and remote work.
Pricing varies by community for both providers. Race uses market-based pricing, so your rate depends on where you live. Frontier frequently uses promotional introductory pricing, which can change after an initial period. The most accurate number is always the one tied to your specific address.
→ Check availability at race.com
Early Termination Fees: An Important Distinction
Race Communications has no early termination fees, period. If your needs change, you can cancel without a penalty.
Frontier markets itself as contract-free, but there’s a nuance worth understanding: if you sign up under a promotional price, canceling during that promotional period can result in a fee of up to $100. It’s not a traditional multi-year contract, but it’s not completely consequence-free either.
If flexibility and no-surprise billing are priorities, this is a meaningful difference.
Wi-Fi Extenders
For larger homes, Wi-Fi extender pricing is worth comparing directly:
- Race: $5/month, covers up to 4,500 sq ft
- Frontier: $10/month, covers up to 4,000 sq ft
Race’s extender covers more square footage at half the cost. For customers in larger homes or properties, this is a practical cost difference over time.
Race Communications vs Frontier: Customer Service & Support
This is where the two providers diverge most clearly, and where customer sentiment tends to be strongest.
Race Communications operates in California. Their support teams are local, and they offer dedicated lines for nearly every community they serve. Support is available Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to midnight PST.
Race. Don’t waste time with anyone else.
Race was top tier customer service and even expedited my installation. A+ customer service from the moment I called them to inquire.
Definitely do not go with Frontier or Spectrum. Race is the best. Always had issues with Spectrum and super expensive for the crap service you get.
Frontier operates across 25 states, which introduces the variability that comes with national-scale customer service. Reviews from Frontier customers commonly mention difficulty reaching support and inconsistent resolution experiences. Not universal, but a recurring theme.
Customers who’ve experienced both tend to describe Race’s support as more personal and responsive. Race’s community-first model is a genuine structural difference. Local teams serving local markets are accountable in ways that national call centers often aren’t.
Race CommandIQ vs. MyFrontier: App Comparison
Choosing the right ISP isn’t just about speed and pricing. It’s about the quality and features of their service apps. ISPs are shifting from mere service providers to subscribers’ partners in navigating the internet safely.
Race CommandIQ is designed for network management and smart home integration. Key features include:
- Network overview and connected device management
- Parental controls with content filtering and profile scheduling
- Speed tests and network traffic management
- Guest network setup
- Built-in security features
It’s particularly useful for households with a lot of devices, families managing screen time, or anyone who wants visibility into what’s happening on their network without logging into a router admin panel.
MyFrontier focuses primarily on account and service management:
- Billing and payment management
- Service appointment tracking
- Technician communication and real-time updates
- Support access with a callback feature
MyFrontier handles the account side of things well. What it doesn’t offer is the same level of in-home network control that CommandIQ provides. If managing your home network matters to you (not just paying your bill) Race’s app is the more capable tool.
Race Communications vs. Frontier: Final Verdict
For customers in Desert Hot Springs, Farmersville, Lancaster, Phelan, and Ridgecrest, both providers deliver real fiber to the home with symmetrical speeds and no annual contracts. That’s a baseline both can legitimately claim.
Where Race differentiates: a higher top-end speed tier, no early termination fees of any kind, lower extender pricing with broader coverage, California-based local support, and a more capable network management app.
Frontier is a credible option, and the right choice depends on what’s available at your specific address and what features matter most to your household. But for customers who prioritize local accountability, transparent fees, and long-term value, Race consistently has the stronger case.
The best next step is checking what’s actually available where you live.
Race Communications Fiber
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FAQs
Is Race Communications available everywhere?
Race serves select communities in California, including Desert Hot Springs, Farmersville, Lancaster, Phelan, and Ridgecrest, among others. The fastest way to confirm availability is to enter your address at race.com.
See the Race Communications Service Areas here.
What is Race Communications customer support like?
Race’s community-focused approach may offer more personalized service than Frontier’s larger operations.
We’re available 8 AM – 12 AM PST, Monday-Saturday.
Does Frontier have early termination fees?
Frontier does not have a traditional multi-year contract, but customers who sign up under a promotional price may be charged up to $100 if they cancel before the promotional period ends.
What is Race CommandIQ?
Race CommandIQ is Race Communications’ companion app for home network management. It includes parental controls, device management, speed testing, guest network setup, and built-in security features.
What is the fastest speed Race Communications offers?
Race Communications offers plans up to 10 Gbps in select communities. Frontier’s top advertised speed is 7 Gbps.