Cox Communications
Cox Communications offers eight internet plans, so a plan is bound to be within your budget. Affordable high-speed internet, many hotspots and bundling options make Cox Communications a quality internet provider.
Our rating: 4.4 out of 5
Best for: Income-restricted internet plans, landline phone service
Internet plan cost: $30 to $149 per month
Cox Communications at a glance
Cox Communications was founded in 1964 and has grown into the largest private internet service provider in the United States, connecting nearly 7 million homes with broadband internet.
Fast facts
- Cox launched as a family-owned company in 1964, and it started offering internet services in 2004.
- Cox has low-cost internet plans with no contracts or cancellation fees.
- Cox provides internet service in only 19 states.
What we like
Cox receives high marks for affordable internet plans that deliver fast download speeds. If you aren’t satisfied with your speed and service after signing up with Cox, the company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Your internet plan comes with Hotspot coverage, and you can bundle it with home services like mobile phone, TV, home phone, home security and automation.
What we don’t like
Because of Cox’s hybrid-fiber coax network(which combines fiber-optic and cable internet), all plans have much slower upload speeds than download speeds. Data caps are in place for most plans, and overages are charged. Cox has limited availability across the country.
Cox Communications pros and cons
Cox internet reviews support its affordability with multiple high-speed plans. Customers get hotspot coverage that is included in their plan and is an added convenience if they’re on the go. With all of Cox’s services, it’s easy to bundle home services to simplify your home technologies and save money.
While Cox reviews are favorable in some areas, the fact that data caps exist for most of its plans can be off-putting. To eliminate a data cap, you must add an internet data plan and pay a higher monthly cost. Also, Cox is only available in 19 states.
Pros
- Affordable high-speed internet plans
- Options to bundle services
- Hotspot coverage
Cons
- Data caps
- Limited availability
- Some plans require contracts
How much does Cox Communications cost?
Cox offers eight internet plans. The lowest-cost plans are Connect2Compete and ConnectAssist, priced at $9.95 and $30 per month, respectively. However, you must qualify for these plans. Otherwise, you’ll need to select from the other plans, which range in price from $50 to $110 per month.
Cox sells a prepaid internet plan for customers interested in a set bill. The price is $50 monthly, and Cox locks in that rate for three years.
All Cox internet plans have a data cap of 1.25 TB per month, and there is a $10 overage fee per 50 GB of data. However, you can add unlimited or extra data for $110.00 per month.
Cox increases the plan prices on the Go Fast and Go Faster Plans after two years. One perk is that Cox includes Panoramic Wi-Fi equipment for the initial two-year period. It also has no contracts or cancellation fees.
The company will send you a kit with all the equipment to install Cox internet. You then need to download the Cox app, sign in and follow the instructions. You can get support from Cox or have it complete your installation for $100.
|
Price per month
|
Type of connection
|
Max speeds
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| ConnectAssist | $30 |
Hybrid-fiber coaxial |
100 Mbps downloads, 5 Mbps uploads |
| StraightUp Internet | $50 |
Wi-Fi |
100 Mbps downloads |
| Go Fast | $50 |
Hybrid-fiber coaxial |
100 Mbps downloads, 5 Mbps uploads |
| Go Faster | $70 |
Hybrid-fiber coaxial |
250 Mbps downloads, 10 Mbps uploads |
| Go Even Faster | $90 |
Hybrid-fiber coaxial |
500 Mbps downloads, 10 Mbps uploads |
| Go Super Fast | $110 |
Hybrid-fiber coaxial |
1 Gbps downloads, 35 Mbps uploads |
| Go Beyond Fast (depends on availability) | $149 |
Hybrid-fiber coaxial |
2 Gbps downloads |
Savings and discounts
If you don’t mind locking into a contract, you can save on the cost of the Go Super Fast plan. At the time of writing of this article, the monthly fee is $10 less than usual if you sign a 12-month contract. However, check with Cox to learn about ongoing deals and discounts.
You may also save money by bundling Cox internet with other services like mobile phone, television, home phone or home security, but a two-year contract may be required for increased savings.
What plans and services does Cox Communications offer?
Cox offers hybrid-fiber coaxial internet connections. The company uses fiber for a part of its service and then switches to cable to connect to the property. This contributes to fast download speeds but slower upload speeds.
All plans include wall-to-wall internet equipment consisting of a router and modem, which allows customers to experience the internet in all parts of their home. Contracts are not required on all plans. However, the Go Super Fast plan has a fixed rate for year one and then adjusts upward.
- ConnectAssist: For qualified households and best for up to five devices and light internet use
- StraightUp Internet: Prepaid plan that’s great for month-to-month service and streaming on five to seven devices
- Go Fast: Good for browsing, streaming music and video and file downloads
- Go Faster: Supports web browsing, streaming videos and music, file downloads, video calls and gaming
- Go Even Faster: Works for 4K video, remote work, multi-player gaming, streaming, file sharing, video calls and social media
- Go Super Fast: Allows 8K video, remote work, streaming music and videos, uploading live streams, file sharing and multi-player gaming
- Go Beyond Fast: Best for heavy internet use, multi-player gaming, remote work, file sharing, 4k and 8k streams, uploading live streams, multiple devices and large file transfers
Cox Communications services
|
Type of connection
|
Max speeds
|
Equipment fee
|
Data Cap
|
Contract
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ConnectAssist | Hybrid-fiber coaxial |
100 Mbps downloads, 5 Mbps uploads |
None |
1.25 TB per month, $10 per 50 GB over |
No |
| StraightUp Internet | Wi-Fi |
100 Mbps |
None |
1.25 TB |
No |
| Go Fast | Hybrid-fiber coaxial |
100 Mbps downloads, 5 Mbps uploads |
None |
1.25 TB per month, $10 per 50 GB over |
No |
| Go Faster | Hybrid-fiber coaxial |
250 Mbps downloads, 10 Mbps uploads |
None |
1.25 TB per month, $10 per 50 GB over |
No |
| Go Even Faster | Hybrid-fiber coaxial |
500 Mbps downloads, 10 Mbps uploads |
None |
1.25 TB per month, $10 per 50 GB over |
No |
| Go Super Fast | Hybrid-fiber coaxial |
1 Gbps downloads, 35 Mbps uploads |
None |
1.25 TB per month, $10 per 50 GB over |
Yes, for discounted price |
| Go Beyond Fast | Hybrid-fiber coaxial |
2 Gbps downloads |
None |
1.25 TB per month, $10 per 50 GB over |
No |
Cox Communications add-ons and optional features
Common add-ons
Adding Cox Mobile after buying internet service can shave $15 off your bill. Home phone packages start at $20 more per month and TV packages start at $50. Select TV plans range from an additional 75 channels up to 250 channels, with prices ranging from $61 to $146.
Home security
If you’re interested in home security, smart-home features require internet and Panoramic Wi-Fi, but for $15 you can control and monitor home cameras using the Panoramic Wi-Fi app.
Technical support
Cox Complete Care is unlimited tech support that costs $10 per month. It is an add-on available along with other services, including unlimited data for $40 per month for the 250 Mbps plan or faster plans when bundled.
Cox customer service and experience
When you need technical support, you can contact Cox online, by phone or in person. I received excellent customer service when speaking with a representative about available internet plans in my area. The rep was knowledgeable and did some extra checking to inform me of internet connection options and a time frame to expect service.
If you would like to speak with someone in Account Services and Billing, call 1-800-234-3993 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The company is closed Saturdays and Sundays but you can contact technical support 24/7.
Help is also available by texting 54512 to get quick answers to your concerns.
Customer feedback
While Cox doesn’t have the highest customer service marks, when you poll customers, its internet reviews are on par with those of other internet service providers.
How does Cox compare with competitors?
Cox offers affordable plans in some locations that some competitors don’t service. However, its plans have data caps set at 1.25 TB. While that seems like sufficient data, overages can be costly.
Customers will likely prefer plans from Optimum or Windstream, which can offer high speeds and unlimited data. Cox’s availability and reliance on its cable network keep It from competing with AT&T and Verizon because customers looking for higher upload speeds can resort to fiber or 5G networks.
Cox Communications vs. competitors
|
Our score (out of 5 stars)
|
Availability
|
Plan price range
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Cox Communications | 4.4 |
19 states |
$30 - $149 |
| AT&T Internet | 5 |
21 states |
$55 - $250 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 4.8 |
50 states |
$40 - $60 |
| Optimum | 4.8 |
21 states |
$70 - $300 |
| Comcast Xfinity | 4.7 |
41 states |
$20 - $300 |
| Kinetic by Windstream | 4.7 |
18 states |
$40 - $325 |
| Verizon 5G | 4.6 |
47 states |
$35 - $80 |
| Mediacom | 4.5 |
22 states |
$20 - $70 |
Methodology
We evaluated 22 internet service providers and took an unbiased approach to the data collection and analysis. Each company received scores in the following categories:
- Company reputation
- Plan features
- Plan pricing
- Customer support
- Technology
- Availability
- Data privacy
- Editorial judgment
Based on customer reviews and calculating a total score for each company, providers that offered the fastest speeds, affordability, convenience and the most options scored highest in our ratings.
Bottom line
Cox internet plans are available for customers in areas without a large selection of providers and for those needing affordable internet options. If you’re interested in other home services, Cox has many options — from mobile phone to TV and home security.
A primarily Hybrid fiber-coaxial network allows Cox to serve its consumer base. Those looking for extremely fast upload and download speeds without data caps might do better with a fiber internet provider or 5G home internet.
