Are you contemplating cable-based internet providers to set up a fast, reliable WiFi connection at your home or office? Do you want to know how Cox performs regarding speed, consistency, uptime, etc.?
Whether you’re into gaming or professional work or your family members go on weekend binge-watching sessions, if you want to ensure you subscribe to the right ISP, this review of Cox internet shall be helpful to you.
Product Name: Cox Internet
Product Description: Cox is a popular cable internet operator that serves millions of residential and business users. It has plans ranging from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps. The ISP has got great coverage and promises little to no downtime.
Brand: Cox Communications
Offer price: 49.99
Currency: USD
Availability: InStock
Short Review
Cox is one of the most reputed ISPs. Although their plans are expensive, the performance is top-notch. In my tests, it delivered speeds higher than they claim. If you can spend a bit extra, it’s totally worth it.
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Plans
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Speeds
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Availability
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Up Time & Reliability
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Customer Support
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Cost to Value
Pros
- Ample internet plans
- Great speeds (even at peak hours)
- Available in most cities & states
- Decent customer support
- Consistent & Reliable performance
- Lets you use your own equipment
Cons
- No low internet plans
- Bit pricey
Note: All the tests were performed on third-party equipment. So, if you’re renting the Cox Panoramic gateway, check out my suggestions on:
How I tested Cox & its services?
I subscribed to their popular service plans and used each for a week or so. Furthermore, having traveled in a few states and cities, I already had an idea of their performance in speeds, data capping, cost, and customer service.
Stay until the end of the Cox review to find out all the information required to make an informed decision.
Contents
- Cox Internet Plans
- Cox Internet Availability
- Installation & Additional Fees
- Bundle Packages from Cox
- Customer Support & User Reviews
- Kayla F Collins
- Alan K Taylor
- Joel S Kim
- Kylie B Holmes
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Cox Internet Plans
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of Cox internet reviews, have a quick glance at the service packages on offer:
Plan | Download Speed | Upload Speed Speed | Cost | Data Cap |
---|---|---|---|---|
Internet Essential 100 | Up to 100 Mbps | Up to 5 Mbps | $49.99 | 1.25 TB |
Internet Preferred 250 | Up to 250 Mbps | Up to 10 Mbps | $59.99 | 1.25 TB |
Internet Ultimate 500 | Up to 500 Mbps | Up to 10 Mbps | $79.99 | 1.25 TB |
Gigablast | Up to 1 Gbps | Up to 35 Mbps | $99.99 | 1.25 TB |
Cox Internet Essential 100 Review
Who is it suitable for?
The starting speed tier of the internet from Cox is ideal for small families. If you have up to 5-10 devices in the household, this plan will work for you. Smaller home-office setups with a household of 3-4 people will put this plan to good use.
Speeds & Data Cap
With this plan, you’ll get up to 100 Mbps download speeds and up to 5 Mbps upload speeds on paper. When I was testing the internet speed of this Cox plan, my downloads were clocking above 120 Mbps, and uploads were well above 10 Mbps consistently.
Here’s a speed test result of the Cox Internet Essential 100 plan:
A data cap of 1.25 TB applies for this package, but I hardly recollect crossing the data limits or paying overage charges.
Performance
I had no problems streaming movies at the highest quality on my laptop, tablet, or even a smart TV. The speed plan handled multiple sessions of streaming without any buffer. Up to 8-10 devices access the network with music/video streaming, gaming, and browsing. It was pretty much hassle-free.
Cost-to-Ownership Value
The Essential internet plan will cost you $49.99, the costliest among the other cable/fiber-based service providers. Unless you are left with this Cox plan as the sole option in your neighborhood, it makes little sense to go for it.
- No contract
- No early termination fees
- Higher speeds than advertised
- Cox’s cheapest internet plan
- On an expensive side
Cox Internet Preferred 250 Review
Who is it suitable for?
If you are required to set up a remote work solution and a couple of smart TVs, this is the most ideal plan for you. You’ll have a hassle-free internet solution for a household with a medium-sized household or a small B&B with 10-15 devices.
Speeds & Data Cap
Cox promises download speeds of 250 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 10 Mbps. But in my testing, with the Preferred 250 plan, I could witness downloads of 220 Mbps, and it was graciously allowing upload speeds over 30 Mbps.
Here’s a speed test result of the Cox Internet Preferred 250 plan:
Even with this plan, breaking the 1.25TB data cap is pretty hard, unless you are hell-bent on doing that with multi-player gaming sessions daily or downloading/binging media around the clock.
Performance
I could use my gaming console and smart TV to stream videos at Full HD quality.
There were multiple mobile gadgets and tablets engaged in surfing and music streaming at the same time. I only noticed some buffering during multiple High quality streaming with heavy gaming load.
Cost-to-Ownership Value
The $59.99 for the 250 Mbps is for sure expensive. This plan has a higher cost than other cable and fiber-based service providers. This plan will be your best fit if you choose between other ADSL, Broadband internet service providers.
- Stable download speeds
- Decent upload speeds
- Great uptime
- Pricey
- Binding Contract & termination fees
Cox Internet Ultimate 500 Review
Who is it suitable for?
If you want to power your smart home with a good internet plan, this is a speed tier you should go for. Medium to large households filled with heavy-duty gamers and binge-watchers can use the high speeds.
Speeds & Data Cap
Cox allows download speeds of up to 500 Mbps and upload speeds of 10 Mbps. In my testing, the actual speeds stood true to the speed tier. My download speeds clocked over 500 Mbps, and the upload speeds were consistently above 35 Mbps.
Here’s a speed test result of the Cox 500 Mbps plan:
The data cap of 1.25 TB applies to this speed tier as well. At the helm of super fast internet, I broke the limit a few times with regular hardcore multiplayer gaming sessions.
Performance
You’ll need a DOCSIS 3.1 modem and a good tri-band router like TP-Link Archer A20 to process the data-intense tasks. The speed tier can handle console gaming, 4K streaming, and many smart home gadgets. High-quality video calls and business conferences were seamless, even with simultaneous gaming and streaming activities.
Cost-to-Ownership Value
Cox’s ultimate internet plan costs $79.99, substantially higher than its other cable and fiber competitor. Go for this plan if the competitors are not offering a similar speed tier. This is one of the best cox internets plans to bundle TV and phone services.
- High-Speed downloads
- Consistent upload speeds
- Excellent uptime
- Higher cost to value compared to competitors
- Contract-bound
Cox Gigablast Review
Who is it suitable for?
This is an ideal plan for commercial/IT firms hosting 40-50 individuals and large apartments with up to 50 devices. If you have gamers, binge-watchers, kids, & teens in your home, you’ll be able to get the best out of this package.
Note: You’ll need a gigabit-capable modem to experience true 1-Gig throughput.
Speeds & Data Cap
Cox’s fastest internet speed plans stand well compared to other top ISPs like Comcast Xfinity and Charter Spectrum. With this service plan, the ISP promises download speeds of 1 Gbps and upload speeds of 35 Mbps. One reason I upgraded to this speed tier was the increasing list of smart home gadgets at my home.
When I was testing the gigabit internet speed of the Cox, the downloads were consistently above 930Mbps. The cox gigabit upload speeds were delivering the above-promised capped speeds of 35Mbps.
Here’s a speed test result of the Cox Gigablast plan:
It is with this speed tier, that I frequently breached the data cap of 1.25TB. But was successful in managing to keep the overage fees at $10.
Performance
Coupled with a powerful DOCSIS 3.1 modem and Wi-Fi 6 router, you’ll be able to get the most out of this internet plan. Full-fledged automated smart homes with security cameras, video doorbells, multiple smart TV, and gaming consoles will come close to testing the throughput capacity of this plan.
Cost-to-Ownership Value
Like other plans, Cox charges a premium of $99.99. From the second year, the cost raises to $119.99, which is still more expensive than its competitors. With this plan, you’ll get better value than the other plans offered by Cox internet.
- UN-throttled high-speed internet
- Cox Gigablast upload speed is highest among other plans
- Better cost to the data value
- Only for heavy-duty users and large homes
Cox Internet Availability
The Cox Internet is available in the following states of the US:
Arkansas | Idaho | Nevada |
Arizona | Kansas | Ohio |
California | Louisiana | Oklahoma |
Connecticut | Massachusetts | Rhode Island |
Florida | Missouri | Virginia |
Georgia | North Carolina | |
Iowa | Nebraska |
The Cox Internet is available in the following cities in the US:
Availability | Availability | Availability | Availability | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adamsville | Coventry | Harrison | Mulberry | San Juan Capistrano |
Addis | Coweta | Harrisville | Muldrow | San Marcos |
Alachua | Cranston | Hartford | Mulvane | San Pedro |
Albion | Crescent | Harvey | Mustang | San Ysidro |
Alexandria | Crestview | Haven | Narragansett | Sand Springs |
Aliso Viejo | Crowley | Hayes | National City | Santa Ana |
Alma | Cumberland | Haysville | New Iberia | Santa Barbara |
Alpine | Cunningham | Henderson | New Kent | Santa Rosa Beach |
Ama | Dana Point | Hereford | New Orleans | Santa Ysabel |
Andale | Darrow | Herington | New River | Santee |
Andover | Dearing | Herndon | New Sarpy | Sapulpa |
Annandale | Decatur | Hesston | Newalla | Saunderstown |
Apache Junction | Del Mar | Higley | Newberry | Scott |
Arabi | Delcambre | Hiwasse | Newington | Scottsdale |
Arcadia | Denham Springs | Hoisington | Newport | Seaford |
Archer | Derby | Holland | Newport Beach | Sedgwick |
Arkansas City | Des Allemands | Hope | Newport Coast | Shacklefords |
Arkoma | Descanso | Hope Valley | Newport News | Shalimar |
Arlington | Destin | Hopkinton | Newton | Shannock |
Arma | Destrehan | Hoyt | Niceville | Sierra Vista |
Arnaudville | Dodge City | Huachua City | Nickerson | Siloam Springs |
Ashaway | Donaldsonville | Humboldt | Nicoma Park | Silver Lake |
Auburn | Douglas | Huntington | Norco | Silver Springs |
Augusta | Dry Branch | Hurlburt Field | Norfolk | Silverado |
Avondale | Dunn Loring | Hutchinson | Norge | Slatersville |
Baker | Duson | Imperial Beach | Norman | Slaughter |
Baldwin | Dutton | Independence | North | Slocum |
Barataria | Dyer | Inman | North Granby | Smithfield |
Barhamsville | East Glastonbury | Iola | North Kingstown | Solana Beach |
Barling | East Granby | Irvine | North Las Vegas | Somers |
Barrington | East Greenwich | Jackson | North Newton | Somersville |
Baton Rouge | East Hartford | Jamestown | North Olmsted | Sorrento |
Bella Vista | East Hartland | Jamul | North Providence | South Glastonbury |
Belle Chasse | East Providence | Jeanerette | North Royalton | South Hutchinson |
Bellevue | East Windsor | Jenks | North Scituate | South Windsor |
Bennington | Edmond | Johnson | North Smithfield | Southington |
Benson | Eglin AFB | Johnston | Oakhurst | Spencer |
Bent Mountain | El Cajon | Jones | Oakland | Sperry |
Benton | El Dorado | Julian | Oakton | Spring Valley |
Bentonville | El Mirage | Junction City | Ocala | Springdale |
Berea | El Reno | Kansas City | Oceanside | Springfield |
Bergman | Elkhorn | Kaplan | Offutt A F B | Stafford |
Berryton | Elkins | Kathleen | Ogden | Stafford Springs |
Berryville | Ellington | Kechi | Oglethorpe | Sterling |
Bethany | Elm Springs | Kenner | Oklahoma City | Suffield |
Bixby | Encinitas | Kenyon | Olmsted Falls | Summerland |
Bolton | Enfield | Ketchum | Omaha | Sun City |
Bonaire | Erath | Kiefer | Orange | Sun City West |
Bonita | Erie | Kingman | Ottawa | Sun Valley |
Bonsall | Erwinville | Kingston | Owasso | Sunset |
Boones Mill | Escondido | Kinsley | Palomar Mountain | Sunshine |
Boulder City | Eureka Springs | Knotts Island | Palos Verdes Peninsula | Surprise |
Boutte | Everton | La Jolla | Papillion | Tahlequah |
Boys Town | Exeter | La Mesa | Paradis | Tecate |
Bradford | Fairfax | La Place | Paradise Valley | Tecumseh |
Braithwaite | Fairfax Station | La Vista | Pascoag | Tempe |
Breaux Bridge | Fallbrook | Lackey | Patagonia | Tiverton |
Brecksville | Falls Church | Ladera Ranch | Patterson | Toano |
Bristol | Farmington | Lafayette | Pauma Valley | Tolleson |
Broad Brook | Fayetteville | Lafitte | Pawtucket | Tombstone |
Broadview Heights | Fiskeville | Laguna Beach | Pea Ridge | Tontitown |
Broken Arrow | Florence | Laguna Hills | Peabody | Topeka |
Broussard | Foothill Ranch | Laguna Niguel | Peace Dale | Towanda |
Brusly | Forestdale | Laguna Woods | Pearce | Trabuco Canyon |
Buckeye | Fort Belvoir | Lake Forest | Pensacola | Tucson |
Buhler | Fort Dodge | Lakeside | Peoria | Tulsa |
Burke | Fort Eustis | Lakewood | Perry | Tustin |
Burrton | Fort Huachuca | Lanexa | Phoenix | Tyro |
Byron | Fort Monroe | Larned | Piedmont | Vail |
Cameron | Fort Smith | Las Vegas | Pine Valley | Valley |
Camp Pendleton | Fort Valley | Laurel Hill | Pirtleville | Valley Center |
Campo | Fort Walton Beach | Lavaca | Pittsburg | Valley Springs |
Caney | Foster | Laveen | Plantsville | Van Buren |
Cantonment | Fountain Hills | Lecompton | Plaquemine | Vienna |
Capistrano Beach | Franklin | Lemon Grove | Pocola | Vinton |
Cardiff By the Sea | Fredericksburg | Lightfoot | Poquoson | Violet |
Carefree | Freeport | Lincoln | Port Allen | Virginia Beach |
Carencro | Frontenac | Lindsborg | Portsmouth | Vista |
Carlsbad | Gainesville | Litchfield Park | Poway | Waddell |
Carolina | Garden City | Little Compton | Prairie Grove | Wakefield |
Carpinteria | Garden Plain | Lizella | Prairieville | Walker |
Carter Lake | Garfield | Loreauville | Pratt | Wallingford |
Carville | Garnett | Lorton | Pride | Wamego |
Casa Grande | Gas | Lowell | Prospect | Warner Robins |
Cashion | Geismar | Luke AFB | Providence | Warren |
Catoosa | Gentry | Luling | Providence Forge | Warwick |
Cave Creek | Gila Bend | Lutcher | Pryor | Waterloo |
Cave Springs | Gilbert | Lyons | Queen Creek | Watts |
Cedarville | Glastonbury | Macon | Quinton | Weir |
Centerton | Glendale | Maize | Ramona | West Fork |
Centerville | Glenpool | Manchester | Rancho Palos Verdes | West Granby |
Central Falls | Gloucester | Manhattan | Rancho Santa Fe | West Greenwich |
Centreville | Gloucester Point | Mansfield | Rancho Santa Margarita | West Kingston |
Chalmette | Goddard | Manville | Rayne | West Point |
Chandler | Goleta | Maple Hill | Reston | West Suffield |
Chantilly | Gonzales | Mapleville | Rio Verde | West Warwick |
Charenton | Goodyear | Marble Falls | Riverside | Westerly |
Charleston | Goshen | Maringouin | Roanoke | Westwego |
Charlestown | Gramercy | Marion | Rockville | Wethersfield |
Cheney | Granby | Marrero | Rocky Hill | Wheatland |
Chepachet | Grantville | Mary Esther | Rocky River | White Castle |
Cherryvale | Gravette | Mattaponi | Rogers | Wichita |
Chesapeake | Great Bend | Maurice | Roland | Wickenburg |
Cheshire | Great Falls | MC Lean | Rose Hill | Wicomico |
Chester | Green Forest | McConnell AFB | Rosedale | Willcox |
Chetopa | Green Valley | McPherson | Rudy | Williamsburg |
Choctaw | Greene | Medicine Lodge | Rumford | Willington |
Chula Vista | Greenland | Meraux | S Coffeyville | Windsor Locks |
Church Point | Greenville | Meriden | Sahuarita | Winfield |
Claremore | Greenwell Springs | Mesa | Saint Amant | Winslow |
Clayville | Greenwood | Metairie | Saint Bernard | Wood River Junction |
Cleveland | Gretna | Middletown | Saint David | Woonsocket |
Clifton | Grosse Tete | Midland | Saint Gabriel | Wyoming |
Clinton | Gulf Breeze | Milford | Saint George | Yates Center |
Coffeyville | Guthrie | Milldale | Saint James | Yorktown |
Colcord | Hackett | Milton | Saint Joseph | Youngsville |
Collinsville | Hahnville | Miramar Beach | Saint Martinville | Youngtown |
Colwich | Hailey | Mission Viejo | Saint Rose | Yukon |
Coolidge | Halstead | Moffett | Salem | Zachary |
Copper Hill | Hamden | Mounds | Salina | |
Corona del Mar | Hampton | Mount Hope | Saluda | |
Coronado | Harper | Mount Vernon | San Clemente |
Installation & Additional Fees
Cost | Description |
---|---|
$100.00 | Professional Installation from the ISP |
$13.00 | Equipment Rental (Panoramic WiFi) |
1.5% (of balance) | Late Payment fees |
$10 | Overage fees (For every extra 50GB) |
Early termination fee | $120/Year |
Apart from pricey Cox internet packages, the ISP has the costliest professional installation fee. This is why I suggest you self-install Cox internet and save $100. Trust me, it’s easy!
The two dominant players in the cable-based internet segment, Xfinity and Spectrum, charge less. Monthly rentals on modem-router combo offer value if you cannot afford to invest in a powerful modem and router at the outset for your high-speed plan. If you are on the lower-speed tier, you are better off getting your own devices.
While Spectrum doesn’t charge rentals for the modem, Xfinity charges $14. The other internet service providers charge between $5-$10. The early termination fee can also come to bite back if you end up changing service providers.
Cox charges late payment fees after 23 grace days, the standard among internet service providers. Spectrum offers up to 30 days of the grace period. The late payments with Cox are a percent of the bill, which ends up being lesser than the standard fixed-rate charged by other ISPs.
Bundle Packages from Cox
Cox offers internet, TV, and voice bundles, one of its strong suits. Even as a bundle, they are pricier compared to their competitors. Going for a Cox bundle makes much more sense as a customer than a stand-alone internet package.
You’ll have full-fledged customer support with the Internet, TV, Voice, and Homelife. You can connect up to 4 cameras with recording facilities with home life.
Customer Support & User Reviews
The reviews for Cox cable services are a mixed bag. While it has seen an increase in Customer satisfaction surveys, it remains lower than the average for ISPs. Of all the cable-based service providers, only Xfinity had a better rating, which faced a drop in satisfaction compared to the previous year.
During the last year, Cox faced multiple instances of unplanned outages with longer resolution times, one of the major reasons for lower customer satisfaction in the southern region of the US.
Cox’s strongest customer service rating came from the eastern states of the USA, where the customer service and downtime were comparatively better.
Here’s what existing users have to say about Cox internet services:
I had a second cable box installed in my garage. The cox representative arrived on time, was extremely knowledgeable, and provided an enjoyable deposition. He was very efficient and completed the work quickly while never sacrificing quality. I would definitely recommend Cox Communications to my family and friends!
Kayla F Collins
As shared on ApprovedModemsMy friend suggested switching to Cox for a few months. I was not ready at first, but then I was so grateful! It has good downloads and uploads, and the support staff knows their jobs. Now I recommend it to all of my friends.
Alan K Taylor
As shared on ApprovedModemsI was a Cox customer for 8 years in Kansas before we recently moved to Utah. They were pricey yet very reliable and fast. Customer service was always great! I wish Cox would come to Utah. It is the most reliable connection and also very good value for money.
Joel S Kim
As shared on ApprovedModemsI just got off the phone with one of their customer support regarding downtime. I was frustrated and abrupt when I called in. Her polite, calm response put me at ease, and she quickly made my connection. Excellent work!
Kylie B Holmes
As shared on ApprovedModemsFrequently Asked Questions
Mostly yes. Cox has high speeds data plans on offer on par with most cable-based ISP. You’ll hardly lose any capacity because of throttling, which some service providers can be guilty of.
Customer service is a mixed bag with COX. You’re prone to find satisfied customers in a few states and a few disgruntled in other states. But in regions with ISPs competing for market shares, COX has a better reputation than most service providers.
No, Cox is not better than Spectrum. While Cox might give more plans to choose from, Spectrum Internet has the advantage of better coverage, no data caps, free modem rentals, and no binding contract. This makes Spectrum a far better option than the internet from Cox.
While Comcast Xfinity and Cox have data caps, contract-based, Xfinity offers more value to buck in terms of higher speeds and flexible pricing. Comcast Xfinity’s professional installation fee is also lower than COX’s. Xfinity’s presence in over 41 states outweighs COX’s presence in 19 states.
Conclusion
Cox is one of the most expensive internet providers. They offer reliable internet, where the limit of fiber and other big market players’ foot presence is minimal. And that’s when it makes sense to opt for them.
Their video of demand and TV services have been one of their strengths with the customer satisfaction index, seeing constant improvement over the years. It’d be diligent to go for their bundle services, where you’ll avoid the hassle of managing the services separately.
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