Cox Internet Review 2022

We found that Cox Internet is a cost-effective alternative for medium- to high-speed internet users when compared to Spectrum and Xfinity.

Cox Internet

3 out of 5 stars

3

Data effective 01/18/22. Offers and availability vary by location and are discipline to change.

* for 12 months with ane-yr. term agreement

No term agreement. Same price for three yrs.

Cox is an excellent choice if you're looking to pay less than $120 per calendar month for 500 Mbps to 1000 Mbps of high speed internet, every bit these plans allow for working from home, video streaming, remote learning, and gaming.

That said, Cox Internet'south depression-speed options aren't equally competitive as other ISPs like Xfinity and Spectrum, which offer faster download speeds for a lower price.

Then is Cox internet worth the price? Let's dig into the details and find out.

Pros

  • Budget-friendly high-speed plans

  • Wide range of cyberspace speeds to choose from

  • No-contract options for all plans

Cons

  • Loftier-priced 25 and 50 Mbps plans

  • Non-and so-dandy client service

Compare Cox cyberspace prices in your area.

Cox cyberspace prices and plans

Cox's high-speed packages are well-priced, but the company's slower plans come up at a premium

Cox internet plans commencement at about $29.99 a calendar month and offer internet service speeds of about 25 Mbps. That broadband speed likely works for any solo internet user who emails, scrolls on social media, and doesn't mind occasionally streaming in SD.

For those who work from habitation or relish 4K Netflix streams and fervid Phone call of Duty matches during downtime, Cox's 150 Mbps plans (and up) are amend suited. They provide enough speed to support a household that streams, games, and works from home, and that volition cost you upwards of $sixty.

Cox likewise sometimes offers deals on top of its promotional prices, then be sure to check back for updates on its discount prices.

Under the term agreement, your monthly rates remain fixed for the get-go year. The company includes a 30-solar day money-back guarantee for beginning-time buyers.

Cox internet promotional prices

Data effective 01/eighteen/22. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.

* for 12 months with 1-yr. term agreement

No term agreement. Same price for 3 yrs.

We accept to mention that we've constitute k Mbps net plans that ring up at the same price as Cox's 500 Mbps plan. On the other mitt, the Cox Gigablast programme isn't the nearly expensive thousand Mbps program on the block.

Cox internet prices later 12 months

At the end of your ane-year term understanding, Cox Net'south package prices increment by about $xv to $26, with more expensive plans having the cheapest spike in fees.

For Starter 25 customers, expect to pay $44.99 subsequently your 1-year term agreement ends. If you purchase the Cox Gigablast program, yous'll likely pay $119.99 at the starting time of your 2nd-twelvemonth term should you lot choose to stay, merely cheque out the table below for pricing on everything in betwixt.

Cox internet prices after 12 months

Data effective three/15/22. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.
*for 12 months with 1-yr. term understanding

Where is Cox net available?

Cox provides cyberspace services to over sixty one thousand thousand households and businesses across 19 states in the US, including several large cities such as Cleveland, OH, Santa Barbara, CA, and the District of Columbia. The company administers broadband services to rural and urban areas on the West Coast, East Coast, North, and parts of the Midwest and South.

A map of the United States showing Cox internet availability in the West, Central US, Northeast, and South

How practice Cox internet prices compare to CenturyLink, Spectrum, and Xfinity?

CenturyLink plans are cheaper than Cox if yous state the top-end download speeds (100 Mbps). While CenturyLink's DSL cyberspace plans didn't stack up every bit well as Cox in our speed test analysis, its fiber internet program usually zooms forth just fine.

Spectrum Internet offers two competitive plans that beat like Cox plans, Spectrum Internet® and Spectrum Net® Ultra.

The Spectrum Cyberspace® package provides users with upward to 200 Mbps and unlimited data for $49.99 a month. And at download speeds of 250 Mbps, the Cox Preferred 250 plan provides 1.25 TB of monthly data at a $59.99 a month promotional price that increases to $83.99 afterward the ane-yr term agreement ends.

The Spectrum Cyberspace® Ultra plan supplies customers with up to 400 Mbps and unlimited data for $69.99 a month, while the Cox Internet Ultimate 500 plan offers 500 Mbps download speeds and 1.25 TB of information for $79.99 a month.

Xfinity covers much of the same service area as Cox, and its plans often come up in at similar speeds for a much lower promotional cost. Take its Connect More plan, which costs $39.99 a calendar month in the western U.Due south. and comes with 100 Mbps speeds. That'south much cheaper than Cox'due south 150 Mbps plan.

Cox internet medium-speed packages comparison

Data constructive 03/fifteen/22. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.

Wireless speeds may vary.

Data constructive 3/xv/22. Offers and availability vary past location and are subject to modify.

Cox Gigablast plan comparison

Cox's Gigablast plan offers the same internet speeds for $10 more than Spectrum'due south Internet Gig programme. At 1000 Mbps, you'll pay $114.99 for Spectrum's Net Gig plan after the Internet service provider'south promotional pricing ends. For Cox Gigablast, you lot'll pay $119.99 for upward to 1000 Mbps after the ane-year term agreement ends.

Both plans offering net upload speeds of 35 Mbps, and suit big households that piece of work or learn from home, stream in HD, and appoint in multi-player gaming.

Still, Spectrum's border is its no-contract plans which means you lot don't have to pay an early termination fee (ETF) if you lot cull to switch providers at any time during your subscription. Cox offers no-contract options for their plans, you lot'd but accept to pay an extra $10 a month. Cox users should expect to pay an ETF of upwardly to $120 if they switch ISPs afterward the thirty-day grace period ends. Just know that the installation fee for Spectrum's gig plan is $199.99—a good chunk of modify that'south far beyond what about other ISPs charge for setup.

Xfinity's Gigabit plan costs $79.99 a month in the western U.s.. Y'all'll get faster download speeds than Spectrum and Cox Internet's premium plans and pay up to $110.00 in the second year of your subscription as the Internet service provider's promotional prices increment by about $fifteen–$30 after the first year.

Xfinity also includes an ETF for users under contract who choose to abolish their subscription early. To summate this price, multiply the corporeality of months you have left in your agreement by $10. If you take a 12- to 24-month agreement, expect to pay anywhere between $110 and $230.

This gives Cox a competitive border over Xfinity, as its ETF goes up to $120 nether contract, and y'all have a 30-solar day grace period to cancel your subscription.

Cox net high-speed packages comparison

Data effective 01/18/22. Offers and availability vary by location and are field of study to change.

* for 12 months with 1-year. term agreement

^ Rate requires paperless billing. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges use. Speeds may not be bachelor in your area. Maximum download/upload speed of up to 940 Mbps via a wired connection. Paperless billing or prepay required. Boosted taxes, fees, and surcharges apply.

° Limited time offer; subject area to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to whatever services within the previous thirty days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Spectrum Net® Gig promotion price is $89.99/mo; standard rates utilize after twelvemonth. 1. Taxes, fees and surcharges extra and subject to change during and later on the promotional menses; installation/network activation, equipment and boosted services are extra.

** Speed based on wired connection. Available Net speeds may vary by accost. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit Spectrum.net/modem.

†† For the first 12 months with a 1-yr agreement. Includes $x/mo automatic payments and paperless billing disbelieve.

Cox 25 Mbps internet programme comparison

Xfinity'southward Connect plan comes with l Mbps download speeds and costs well-nigh the same price as Cox's Starter 25 plan, which includes 25 Mbps download speeds for a promotional toll of $29.99 and spikes up to $44.99 after the first 12 months.

CenturyLink'south Simply Unlimited Cyberspace program could autumn behind any other ISP's low speed plans, specially Cox. Information technology all depends on what speed you can get in your area, since CenturyLink's DSL net speeds range from 20–100 Mbps. You'll still pay $20 more per calendar month for CenturyLinks' program no matter what speed you get, while Cox Starter 25 plan provides 25 Mbps for $29.99 a calendar month (or $44.99 a month after your first year).

Spectrum's $49.99, 200 Mbps programme beats Cox and Xfinity's low-toll plans as you go more bandwidth and unlimited data at about the same toll, so we charge per unit Cox third afterward Spectrum and Xfinity.

Cox Internet low-speed packages comparing

Data effective 01/18/22. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.

* for 12 months with 1-twelvemonth. term agreement

†† For the first 12 months with a 1-year understanding. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount.

‡‡ Express time offering; subject field to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous xxx days and who have no outstanding obligation to Lease.

Wireless speeds may vary.

^^ Speed may not be available in your surface area. Paperless billing or prepay required. Boosted taxes, fees, and surcharges apply. Become the fastest internet speed available at your location (max speed is up to 100 Mbps).

Is Cox internet cheap?

  • Compared to CenturyLink: Cox net plans are more expensive than CenturyLink, specially since CenturyLink promises unlimited data and no cost hikes on its services. CenturyLink's Simply Unlimited Internet plan does offering slower download speeds of xx–100 Mbps, just the ISP provides upload speeds of 30 Mbps, which makes working from dwelling a viable option for a plan that costs $l a month.
  • Compared to Spectrum: If you're looking for high-speed internet, Cox is the cheaper option equally the visitor's promotional price increases by about $fifteen to $26 after the offset-year term agreement ends. While Spectrum has similar plans that offer a $20 to $30 increase your second year, its premium packs are more often than not more expensive. And unless you're a major techie, Cox'due south cheaper 500 Mbps pack should encompass all your net needs.
  • Compared to Xfinity: Xfinity's Connect program is cheaper than Cox Internet's Starter 25 and Essential 50 plan every bit Xfinity offers similar and faster download speeds at a more affordable cost. Though Cox'south premium packages cap out at 1000 Mbps, yous'll pay less than $100 for its loftier-speed plans—and upwardly to $120 if you cull to cancel your subscription early.

Cox internet speed and data caps

Cox's slow internet speed doesn't quite compare to other cable internet providers in the US

From download speeds for your parents who beloved to go along tabs on the atmospheric condition, all the mode to your girl who has dreams of competitive esports, Cox'southward speeds accept you covered and offer a wide range of internet lifestyles.

Even so, we've institute two other cablevision internet providers with prices comparable to Cox Net's Starter 25 programme, which has a $15 increase subsequently your i-year term agreement ends.

Cox net download speeds and upload speeds

Data effective 01/18/22. Offers and availability vary by location and are discipline to alter.

* for 12 months with one-twelvemonth. term understanding

If you're looking for a long-term subscription that's toll effective, CenturyLink'due south Merely Unlimited packet beats Cox's Internet Starter 25—if you lot can get CenturyLink's top-end speeds of 100 Mbps. With 100 Mbps, you can run an online business from your domicile for nearly $50 a month.

As for Cox, you'll pay $44.99 in your second year for internet speeds that allow email, calorie-free surfing, and social media scrolling.

The Spectrum Internet program is a feasible alternative, but expect to pay most $25.00 more after the outset 12 months, as Spectrum offers a promotional price of $49.99 that increases to $74.99 in your second yr.

Xfinity's Connect programme offers faster download speeds than Cox cyberspace'south Starter 25 program, but we still recommend looking at CenturyLink or Spectrum for your at-dwelling house browsing needs as you'll pay $44.99 subsequently 12 months and $60.00 after 2 years at Xfinity for fifty Mbps.

For more detailed information on which ISP might best service your household, check out our reviews on CenturyLink, Spectrum and Xfinity to see how the providers compare.

Cox Starter 25 plan comparison

Information effective 01/18/22. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject field to modify.

* for 12 months with 1-yr. term agreement

†† For the first 12 months with a ane-year agreement. Includes $ten/mo automatic payments and paperless billing disbelieve.

‡‡ Express fourth dimension offer; subject field to change; valid to qualified residential customers who accept not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Lease.

Wireless speeds may vary.

^^ Speed may non be available in your surface area. Paperless billing or prepay required. Boosted taxes, fees, and surcharges employ. Get the fastest internet speed bachelor at your location (max speed is up to 100 Mbps).

Is Cox internet fast?

Nosotros learned in our latest report on the fastest ISPs in the US that you might notice Cox cyberspace speeds lacking. Information technology ranked 16th out of the 38 different net providers nosotros analyzed. That'southward well below other cable ISPs similar Xfinity, Frontier, and Spectrum.

  • Xfinity : seventh out of 38
  • Spectrum : 14th out of 38
  • Cox: 16th out of 38
  • CenturyLink : 28th out of 38

Looking at cable internet providers but, Cox ranked 8th out of 22. That makes cablevision alternatives like Xfinity and Spectrum a better selection for potentially faster, more reliable speeds.

Cox internet speeds compared to Xfinity, Spectrum, and CenturyLink

Provider

Overall rank*

Weighted score**

Download speed range

Comcast Xfinity

7th

46.vi

50–2,000 Mbps

Spectrum

14th

35.six

Upwardly to 200–Up to 1,000 Mbps

Cox Communications

16th

33.four

25–940 Mbps

CenturyLink

28th

20.two

Up to 100–940 Mbps

*Overall rank out of 38 internet providers.
**Weighted score out of 100.

Our weighted score isn't an bodily measurement of download speeds in Mbps, past the mode. Merely it is a philharmonic of the average download speeds, upload speeds, and latency that Cox internet customers saw when they took speed tests between Jan 1 and Dec 31, 2019.

Cox's slow Internet Starter 25 and Internet Essential 50 plans may have dropped its score. But yet, information technology'due south likely you won't get the speeds you pay for with Cox. So, information technology'south faster plans are likely non worth the above-boilerplate price y'all'll pay.

Cox is expanding its fiber infrastructure, which means faster speeds for all

Bullhorn

In a recent meeting with Cox, a representative mentioned the ISP is working on building out its cobweb infrastructure. This means the fiber office of its network should get closer to customers' homes, making speeds faster and more than reliable.

Cox data caps

Cox updated its data cap policy in 2020, so every customer gets 1.25 TB of data per billing bicycle. That'due south upwardly from just one TB of information. We can't argue with costless bonus data.

  • Cox data cap: 1.25 TB of data per billing cycle

It'southward probable you lot won't get over your Cox data cap. One terabyte of information equals nigh 400 hours of HD video streaming. To put that in perspective, watching all 9 seasons of The Office (because you lot can) would have y'all about 76 hours.

Then unless you're preparation for a streaming marathon, Cox's i.25 TB of data is probably more than plenty to keep y'all going.

But nosotros all know in that location are times when you're non putting that couch to work, and that data cap becomes worrisome. Maybe yous're working from home and need that information to send a critical written report to your boss before a deadline.

Thankfully, you do accept options. You lot tin keep an centre on your usage with the Cox Connect app. Cox also allows all but its Connect2Compete plans to purchase an additional 50 GB of data for $ten, simply your information won't roll over if yous don't utilize it.

Cox contracts, equipment, and fees

Users can opt out of Cox internet contracts and pay $10 more for each plan

Cox internet offers contract-free options for all its plans, but you should await to pay $10 more than per calendar month than you lot would under the company's 1-yr term agreement. Yous'll pay $15 to $26 more later on your first year, regardless of whether you subscribe to the 1-year term agreement or not.

We vote to include that one-year term agreement in your package programme to salvage that extra $120 over a year, as the company regularly offers a $x monthly discount on all its plans under the showtime-yr contract (unless you really can't bother with signing up for a subscription).

But if you do opt for the contract, information technology'southward of import to remember Cox includes up to a $120 early on termination fee (ETF) should you make up one's mind to switch ISPs after your 30-solar day grace period ends.

Equipment

Cox lets you lot rent its Panoramic Wi-Fi Gateway modem for $13 a calendar month, although yous may be able to notice promotions that permit y'all rent it for gratis over a sure period of time.

  • Panoramic Wi-Fi Gateway modem/router rental fee: $13.00/month
  • Elite Gamer software: Included with Panoramic Wi-Fi Gateway, $4.99/month extra for additional connections

The gateway doubles every bit a router, and so you lot tin avoid that actress cost if y'all prefer.

Merely if you'd like to dodge that modem rental fee, you should check the list of Cox compatible modems before you buy. And if you need a recommendation, we give a big thumbs upward to the ARRIS Surfboard SB8200.* The ARRIS Surfboard is compatible with every Cox plan, even its ultra-fast Gigabit package.

Cox Aristocracy Gamer

Cox now offers an Elite Gamer feature, which is essentially software that yous download to your computer to find the fastest route for your data to speed back and along between your computer and game servers.

We've heard it called Waze for gamers, and that makes sense. A Cox representative nosotros spoke to said it should reduce game lag by bypassing unnecessary points in your data's journeying.

Less lag is a big deal for gamers, but we're not sure if it's worth the additional cost of Elite Gamer. Instead, nosotros recommend setting up Quality of Service (QoS) and prioritization features on your router then your computer or specific games have priority when it comes to doling out bandwidth.

Service fees

Cox charges $100 for professional installation and up to $120 in early termination fees. But yous also get 30 days to try out your Cox net without risking a large-and-in-charge early termination fee. And if you opt to self-install your net, your Cox Like shooting fish in a barrel Connect kit costs cypher.

  • Professional installation: $100
  • Easy Connect cocky-installation kit: Gratis
  • Early termination fees: Up to $120

We're ecstatic about Cox's costless cocky-installation kit. Ordinarily, ISPs accuse you for aircraft and treatment. But not Cox.

Cox client service

Contact Cox client service at 1-504-304-8444

Cox cyberspace ACSI 2020–2021 customer service rating

Rating

Score

ACSI 2020–2021

63 out of 100

It's no surprise that most ISPs don't become great reviews for customer service. The internet industry as a whole has a bad rep for not taking care of their customers.

Sadly, Cox is no dissimilar. Though it did improve its customer service over the past year.

We checked the American Customer Satisfaction Alphabetize's (ACSI's) latest report, which collects input from thousands of customers, and found Cox bounced up from a score of 61 to 63 out of 100.1

For tips on how to all-time bargain with lousy client service, check out our guide to calling your ISP'south customer service, which has helpful data on how to find what you need earlier getting on the phone. You tin also read about how best to engage with customer service specialists. The contact information for some of the almost common ISP's is included, and Cox is fourth on the listing.

Another style to contact Cox client service is by heading to the Cox Communications customer service portal, which includes live conversation, telephone, or in-shop service options to answer whatever questions about your plan. You can reach back up 24 hours a twenty-four hour period, vii days a calendar week at one-504-304-8444.

Yous can contact Cox customer service here:

  • Telephone: 1-504-304-8444 or text 54512
  • Online conversation
  • Twitter: @CoxHelp
  • Facebook: @CoxCommunications

Recap: Is Cox internet expert?

Cox is a good alternative if yous're looking to pay less than $120 per month (after the promotion ends) for 500 Mbps to thou Mbps of higher speed internet, as these plans allow for working from home, video streaming, remote learning, and gaming.

However, its lower speeds are less competitive with other ISPs that offering faster download speeds at a lower price. Have Xfinity's Connect program, which provides 50 Mbps for $19.99 a month, while Cox's Starter 25 program costs $29.99 for 25 Mbps. Even after the promotional pricing ends, yous'll still pay less at Xfinity for double the upload speed.

Otherwise, this Internet service provider looks like the others: it comes with the usual basket of service and equipment fees, and its customer service isn't cracking.

  • Prices and plans: Pricing on high-speed plans is bang-up but you could become better deals for low speed plans at Xfinity or Spectrum.
  • Speed: If yous're looking for high-speed internet, Cox works. For low-speed internet endeavor Xfinity or Spectrum—they offer faster speeds for many of the same prices as Cox.
  • Data caps: At i.25 TB, Cox data caps are comparable to Xfinity. But CenturyLink and Spectrum offer unlimited data.
  • Contracts, equipment, and fees: Cox promotional prices increment by about $15 to $26 after your 1-twelvemonth term agreement ends. We suggest looking at ISPs with like pricing and faster download speeds earlier settling on Cox.
  • Customer service: At 63 out of 100, we're hoping Cox client service volition continue to amend.

Cox internet plans recap

  • Internet Starter 25 : $29.99/mo.*, 25 Mbps download speeds, 1.25 TB data cap
  • Internet Essential fifty : $39.99/mo.*, 50 Mbps download speeds, one.25 TB information cap
  • Internet Preferred 250 : $59.99/mo.*, 250 Mbps download speeds, 1.25 TB data cap
  • Cyberspace Ultimate : $79.99/mo.*, 500 Mbps download speeds, 1.25 TB information cap
  • Gigablast : $99.99/mo.*, 1000 Mbps download speeds, 1.25 TB data cap

Information effective 3/15/22. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to alter.
*for 12 months with a 1-twelvemonth. term agreement

FAQ

Q: Tin can I buy my own modem for Cox?

It's possible to purchase your own modem for Cox. Nevertheless, it needs to be compatible with the Cox cyberspace service, which the company can ostend before y'all buy. Be certain to keep the contact information for your modem provider. All troubleshooting for device-related bug is washed through the third-party provider, not Cox.

Q: How much is Cox internet by itself?

Cox internet plans range from $29.99 a month to $99.99 a month, and users who purchase Cox's ane-year term agreement with their bundle accept a $10 monthly discount, regardless of their plan. Under the term agreement, your monthly cost will increment by $15 to $26 at the end of your kickoff year.

If yous choose to purchase Cox cyberspace contract-free, each program will cost about $10 more, and you lot won't get the $x first-year monthly discount. After your first yr, look to pay almost $15 to $26 more per calendar month, with the exact price depending on the program you purchased.

Q: What can I bundle with Cox internet?

Y'all can parcel TV and telephone services with Cox internet. It'll probably save you lot some money, and then it's worth looking into.

Cox's own streaming service, Profile TV, offers live channels, on-need channels, and optional add-ons for premium channels.

Sources

*Reviews.org uses Amazon chapter links.

Additional contributors: Jerusha Kamoji

Catherine McNally

Written by

Catherine McNally

Catherine has a degree in journalism and an MBA, and has spent the last 10+ years writing everything from Okinawa travel guides to stories on Medium. She's been online since AOL CDs were a thing and is an unapologetic PC gamer. She believes the cyberspace is a necessity, non a luxury, and writes reviews and guides to help everyone stay connected. You can too find her on Twitter: @CMReviewsIt.

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