Mediacom Xtream Home Internet review: Cost, coverage and customer experience guide

Mediacom Xtream at a glance

Mediacom started in 1995 and has grown to one of largest internet service providers in the country. It offers high-speed internet, television and phone services to more than 1 million residential and commercial customers across 22 states.

Fast facts

What we like

Mediacom ranks as the most affordable internet service provider on our list. Plan pricing for high-speed connections ranges from $29.99 to $69.99 per month for the first year of service with autopay and paperless billing. But Mediacom internet prices and plan availability vary based on location. Customers can bundle internet service with other services, such as television, home phone and home security (where available), to get a lower monthly price.

Mediacom provided 100% or greater than its advertised speed during peak usage to more than 80% of customers for 80% of the time. Take Mediacom’s Gig plan, for example, with an advertised download speed of 1 Gbps. During peak hours (when customer internet usage is at its highest), Mediacom usually delivers downloads at 1 Gbps or faster to most of its customers.

What we don’t like

If you use a lot of internet data, Mediacom may not be your best provider. Its least expensive plans have data caps, and if you exceed your monthly data limit, the company charges a $10 fee per 50 GB of extra data. According to reviews, Mediacom internet plan prices increase after the first and second years of service. Some customers have complained about slow technical support and unplanned outages.

Mediacom Xtream pros and cons

Mediacom offers plans starting at $19.99, which includes up to two Eero mesh Wi-Fi extenders and the option to add another for $5 per month. Modem rental costs $14 per month, but you can use your own modem if you have one.

Also, the company lets you bundle services, including TV, home phone and home security systems.

One downside to Mediacom is that it’s available in only 22 states. Another is that plan pricing may start out low, but internet reviews about Mediacom show price increases after one year of service and again after year two.

Pros

Cons

How much does Mediacom Xtream cost?

Mediacom sells download speeds ranging from 25 Gbps to 2,000 Gbps, but its base plans are the Internet 100 (Gbps), Internet 300 and Internet 1 Gig Unlimited. Prices range from $19.99 to $69.99 during the first year, depending on download speed and the amount of data you want with your plan.

Enrolling in AutoPay and paperless billing for one year can save you $10 per month in plan costs. After one year, plan prices increase.

Be aware that some plans have a data cap. Mediacom imposes a fee of $10 per 50 GB of data exceeding the monthly limit.

Internet 100

Internet 300

Internet Unlimited 1 Gig

* Prices include a $10 per month first-year discount with AutoPay.

Savings and discounts

Enrolling in AutoPay and paperless billing can save you $10 per month on Xtream internet service. Mediacom may offer an additional discount on its internet service. For example, at the time of this article, the company offers $100 off your bill over four months of service, beginning 30 days after installation.

Mediacom also offers a low-cost internet service, Connect to Compete. Plans start at $9.95 with download speeds up to 25 Mbps and upload speeds up to 3 Mbps for qualifying customers.

If you’re in the market for home phone, television or home security, Mediacom offers bundle options. The more services you add to your package, the more potential savings. The downside is that its digital home services and certain Mediacom internet plans aren’t available in every area it services.

What plans and services does Mediacom Xtream offer?

Mediacom offers fixed wireless, cable, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and 10G connections. The company is converting its FTTH to 10G connections to provide faster internet speeds.

The company’s fixed wireless plans have top download speeds of 100 Mbps and upload speeds of 20 Mbps. Cable internet plans go up to 1 Gbps for downloads and 50 Mbps for uploads, while FTTH or 10G plans max out at 2 Gbps for downloads and 1 Gbps for uploads.

To initiate service, you pay a $109.99 one-time installation fee, a $10 activation fee and $14 per month to rent a modem (plus monthly taxes and fees). Service activation includes up to two eero mesh Wi-Fi extenders, but you can rent additional extenders for $5 per month each.

Mediacom Xtream services

Mediacom Xtream add-ons and optional features

When you choose Mediacom internet service, you can bundle services by adding home phone, television and home security packages. You must enter your address to view the options.

Home security

Mediacom’s digital home includes home security ($35 per month) and home automation ($10 per month). The system is professionally monitored and includes a one-time installation fee of $109.99, plus taxes, fees and other charges.

Home phone

Adding home phone service adds $5 to the monthly cost of your internet plan. Phone service includes 30 minutes of international calling per month, with options to add minutes and additional countries for $9.99 up to $19.99.

Television

Adding a television package increases your monthly bill by $10. You can pick a local TV package with up to 50 local broadcast and music channels and one Xtream1 box to access all your channels. Mediacom has a local broadcast station surcharge ranging from $20.36 to $30.54.

Higher-tiered TV packages provide extra cable channels for sports and music, plus Xumo Stream box, Xpert Tech Advisor and extra eero devices. Antivirus protection, VPN and password subscriptions and Wi-Fi repair are convenient add-ons.

Mediacom Xtream customer service and experience

Mediacom offers excellent service to new customers seeking internet service. However, some Mediacom reviews suggest less satisfaction for technical problems, from connectivity issues to billing statements.

If you need technical assistance, here’s how you can contact Mediacom:

To read blog articles and frequently asked questions, visit the company’s Answer Center where you can search for topics and solutions. The site also contains links to how-to videos and forums.

Customer feedback

Other considerations about Mediacom Xtream

If you select Mediacom for your internet service, be aware of the following fees and charges:

How does Mediacom Xtream compare with competitors?

Mediacom Xtream reviews reveal customer complaints about the speed of technical support and cost increases. However, the company counters with fast upload and download speeds and affordable plans for light internet users.

Compared to competitors AT&T, T-Mobile and Comcast Xfinity, Mediacom lags behind because of its more limited availability, data caps and fewer bundling options. For example, AT&T offers fast download speeds with no data cap and optional cell phone service.

Mediacom Xtream vs. competitors

* Plan prices include discounts for AutoPay or AutoPay and one-year plans.

Methodology

We evaluated 22 internet service providers and rated them in the following categories:

We took an unbiased approach to data collection and analysis, rating each category based on customer reviews and calculating a total score for each company.

Companies that offered the fastest speeds, affordability, convenience and the most options scored highest in our ratings.

Bottom line

Mediacom is an affordable, fast internet service provider for those living in the Midwest and Southeast. It benefits individuals with light internet use. However, if your internet usage is on the medium to high side, you may end up paying more if you exceed the monthly data cap. In that case you’ll want to consider companies like AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon which have unlimited data.

Customers say pricing typically increases after year one and year two, which can negate potential savings from Mediacom. Still, if you are in a rural area, Mediacom may be a welcome option to satellite or DSL internet which both have high latency or response time between signals internet signals.

FAQs