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Is Cox Any Good in 2022? (Review + Best Cox Internet Deals)

Is Cox Internet still one of the top choices for home broadband in 2022? In this post we break down their latest offerings. If you want to sign up for Cox internet service today, click below. You will get today’s best deal on the Cox internet plan of your choice.

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If you’re looking for a new internet service provider, then you have come to the right place. Today we’re going to review Cox home internet service and answer this simple question: Is Cox Internet good?

We will take an in-depth look at the features that Cox Communications is offering, and we’ll give you the pros and cons of the service.

Let’s start with checking out Cox’s prices and packages.

The Cox Internet Review: Prices and Packages

Cox Communications is a telecommunications company that has been around for decades, offering reliable services in cable TV and the internet. Cox Communications serves more than six million customers nationwide, with more than 22,000 employees.

In addition to home use, Cox internet also provides internet services to underprivileged kids through its “Cable in the Classroom” program and its participation in EveryoneOn.org.

The Cox ISP provides a wide array of high-speed internet options. And it is available in 18 states across the country.

Cox Packages

Cox has several different internet plans that range in download speeds from 10 Mbps to 940 Mbps.

Cox Internet Starter 25: 25 Mbps for $29.99

Internet Essential 50: 50 Mbps for $39.99

Internet Preferred 250: 250 Mbps for $59.99

Internet Ultimate 500: 500 Mbps for $79.99

Cox Gigablast: 1 Gbps for $99.99

Cox Prepaid internet service: 50 Mbps for $50

If you’re trying to find a good deal on internet services and you don’t require blazing-fast download speeds, then Cox internet is a good option. You can get 25 Mbps for just $30 per month. For $10 more, you can get a download speed of 50 Mbps.

It’s true that 50 Mbps isn’t the fastest in the world, but if you’re only using Cox internet to check your email or Facebook, then 50 Mbps is more than enough. The price is pretty good too. There aren’t a lot of ISPs that offer low-cost plans like this.

As for Cox’s faster plans, their prices are kind of high compared to the competition.

Internet Essential Package

The Internet Essential Package will give you download speeds up to 50 Mbps. This package would be ideal for surfing the net, video streaming, and more.

Internet Preferred

The Internet Preferred Plan comes with download speeds of up to 100 Mbps. If you have five to seven internet connections in your home, then this plan would be excellent for you.

Internet Ultimate

This plan is the best in terms of speed. It gives you symmetrical download speeds and upload speeds of 500 Mbps. This is faster than many of the plans offered by the competition.

Cox Triple Play Bundles

To save you some money, Cox offers several triple-play bundles that include Cox internet, cable TV, and phone services.

Cox Internet Essential 50 + Contour TV Preferred + Voice Preferred

Cox’s Internet Essential 50 is the entry-level package. It offers download speeds of 50 Mbps, and it comes with one Contour box. This Starter Bundle also come with home phone service. The cost is $157.99.

Cox Internet Preferred 250 + Contour TV Preferred + Voice Preferred

The Internet Preferred plan is the next step up. It offers download speeds of 250 Mbps, and it comes with one Contour TV box. Like the Essential Bundle, this one also comes with an unlimited phone plan. The cost of this bundle is $177.99.

Cox Internet Ultimate 500 + Contour TV Preferred + Voice Preferred

Cox’s Internet Ultimate bundle gives you super-fast Cox internet, home phone services, and cable television. This bundle offers download and upload speeds of up to 500 Mbps. It also comes with unlimited calling. The cost of this package is $197.99.

Cox Internet Gigablast + Contour TV Preferred + Voice Preferred

This bundle offers the highest internet speeds. The download speed of this package is a blazing-fast 1000 Mbps. It also comes with unlimited calling and a Contour TV box. The cost of this bundle is $217.99.

Cox Internet Overview

• Services: Cable and internet plan
• Price: Internet plans start at $30 per month
• Data cap: 1 TB data
• Download Speed: Up to 1000 Mbps
• Fees: Professional Installation fee of $75
• Contracts: 1 year

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Cox Internet Speeds

This is one area that Cox internet falls behind the competition. Both EarthLink and Xfinity offer higher speeds. Cox’s download speed is actually fairly disappointing.

The FCC measured the speeds of the major ISPs in the United States and found that Cox’s download speed didn’t quite match the speed that they advertise. On average, the actual speeds were around 75 percent of the advertised speeds.

These measurements indicate what 80 percent of users will experience during 80 percent of their time online. Some users may experience slower speeds.

In the FCC’s test, both Xfinity and Spectrum scored higher. But Cox internet wasn’t the worst either. For example, AT&T only delivers around 45 percent of its advertised speed.

Cox internet may not be the best when it comes to speed, but they are still much better than DSL internet.

What Speed Do I Need?

It can be very tricky to figure out just how much internet speed you need. You don’t want to end up with such slow speeds that it affects your online experience. But having said that, you also don’t want to shell out any more bucks than you need to.

To find out how much you need, you can use this tool to help you figure out what download and upload speeds are right for you.

Cox Data Caps

Cox internet does have data limits with their internet. Each month you will have a data usage limit of 1.25 TB. This limit is the same for all of Cox’s plans.

It’s not too hard to reach those limits. If you stream high definition videos for around 400 hours, you would easily blow through the data cap. That’s actually a lot of streaming hours, but if you’re on a Netflix binge-fest, the hours add up quickly. You could also reach the limit if you stream a lot of Hulu or video games.

The truth is, most Cox internet users will never reach the data limit. You have nothing to worry about if you just want to watch a few hours of videos a day or play around on social media.

Fiber or DSL or Cable: Which Is Better?

The most available internet service in the U.S. is DSL. DSL is considered the slowest. It’s slower than both cable internet and fiber. You will get reliable speeds with cable internet. However, you may experience some slow down issues because of bandwidth problems.

The fastest internet service is fiber. But the problem with it is that it’s not available in as many places as the other two.

Cox internet plans use a combination of cable internet and fiber. You shouldn’t have too many bandwidth issues with Cox internet, but you will still need a coaxial cable to connect to your modem.

Contracts, Fees, and Equipment

As we’ve discussed, Cox offers both contract and no-contract plans. Their contract plans are for a period of one year. The problem is, once that year is over, there is a good chance that your prices will go up.

But with that being said, a one year contract may be better than the two-year contracts offered by competitors.

Service Fees

Cox Communications charges several fees for various services. Many of them are optional, so be sure that you read your bill carefully.

One of the fees is the professional installation fee. Cox Communications will charge you $20 for shipment and self-installment.

The good news is there is no early termination fee with Cox plans.

Unfortunately, Cox charges the installation fee, whether you buy a modem with your Cox internet plan or not. This is a bummer, but it’s still better than the fees charged by Comcast and Spectrum.

Equipment

Cox’s equipment fees are basically the same as the fees charged by other ISPs.

If you don’t have a modem of your own, you can rent one from Cox for around $11 per month. You also have the option of buying Cox’s modem for $180. Unfortunately, Cox’s Panoramic WiFi modem can’t double as a router.

If you want to save money, then your best bet is to purchase a modem from someone other than Cox. If you already have your own modem, then you can use this tool to see if it’s compatible with Cox services.

How Is Cox’s Customer Service?

When it comes to customer service and American customer satisfaction, Cox is pretty average across the board. Their customer service scores average around 63. The national average is 64, so you can expect about the same level of frustration with Cox’s customer service as you would have with any other ISP.

The good news is that Cox’s scores improved in 2020. In 2019 they only scored a 58, so things are looking up.

Cox may not have the best customer service, but they are certainly better than Comcast and Spectrum.

Being frustrated with customer service and technical problems may just be a part of any ISP. But they’re not any worse with Cox.

Some customers have complained about bad experiences with customer service, but the complaints are on par with those made of other ISPs. The vast majority of the time, Cox’s customer service representatives are helpful and polite. Their customer service department will answer your questions and help you solve problems.

Regardless of which ISP you go with, you must take notes when you talk to customer service. It’s a good idea to take down all of the critical information and confirmation numbers when you speak with them on the phone. If you do it this way, you will ensure that everything is done correctly.

Cox may not be extraordinary, but they are far better than DSL. Cox’s internet beats DSL in reliability, speed, and many other factors.

You may get faster speeds from Time Warner, but many times the only thing available beyond Cox is DSL. Cox wins that fight every time.

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States Where Cox Internet Is Available

Cox Internet plans and cable is currently available in 18 different states.

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Georgia
• Florida
• California
• Idaho
• Ohio
• Nevada
• Connecticut
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Massachusetts
• Kansas
• Nebraska
• North Carolina
• Virginia
• Oklahoma
• Rhode Island

So Is Cox Worth Your Time?

If your primary internet activity is just sending emails and posting on Facebook, then one of Cox’s low-end packages will suit you just fine. You’d be hard-pressed to find cheaper plans anywhere. But if you’re playing a lot of games or if you have several streamers in your family, then you may be able to find better deals with the competition.

• Plans and prices: Cox has made available some very affordable options, including their Essential 50. We found that their prices for the 500 Mbps and 1,000 Mbps packages were a bit on the high end. But overall, Cox’s prices were on par with their competition.
• Cox Internet speeds: Cox has several different speed choices. You should be able to choose one that suits your needs.
• Contracts, fees, and equipment: Cox’s plans come with a one year contract. This is pretty normal in the industry. You can save yourself some bucks by using your own modem.
• Customer service: It’s never tons of fun to deal with customer service, and Cox is not unusual in that regard. They score around average for customer service and tech help.

Overall we found that Cox is excellent if you’re looking for a simple, affordable plan. You will see faster speeds with Xfinity and Spectrum. But if Cox is the only thing available in your area, you should still be happy with it.

The Good

• Affordable prices on some plans
• Many bundling options
• Fast speed internet plans available
• Free McAfee security
• Plenty of Wi-Fi hot spots
• CoxConnect app
• Contract and no-contract plans available
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Affordable Prices

Cox internet plans are competitive in the industry. In many cases, their prices are even lower than the competition.

You have slower speed options available with Cox Communications if you don’t require as much power for your internet usage. The pricing that we have listed does not include taxes, modem fees, or the $10 per month fee for no-contract.

If you are a new customer, Cox Communications will give you a discounted price for the first year.

Cox’s prices are middle of the road, although some of the highest speed plans are a bit more expensive than competitors. But some competitors charge double for the highest speeds.

Bundling Options

Most ISPs will give you the option of bundling your internet, TV, and phone, and Homelife security. Cox Communications does too. Cox offers nine different ways to bundle your services. Prices for the bundles range from $65 to $180.

Cox also offers bundles that allow you to customize your services, including adding phone services and home security.

It’s worth noting that most of Cox’s bundles require a two-year contract.

Fast Speed

Internet speed is probably the most important factor to consider when you’re shopping for ISPs. Cox offers several different speeds that range from 10 Mbps to 940 Mbps.

Free McAfee

All Cox internet plans come with the Cox Security Suite Plus by McAfee. This software comes free with each package, and it will protect your devices from malware and viruses. You can install the security suite on up to five different devices.

Hot Spots

One of the great things about Cox Communications is that they offer tons of Wi-Fi hot spots. According to Cox, they provide over 500,000 hot spots across the country. This tool will help you find hot spots in your area.

One thing to note is that you will need to download the CoxConnect app in order to connect to the hot spots.

CoxConnect App

Also, coming free with all of the Cox internet plans is the CoxConnect app. You can use this app on your smartphone or tablet. It allows you to make payments, review your bill, and check on appointments.

When you use it with your Cox internet plan, you can change your network name and password, and you can monitor how much data you’re using. In addition to all of that, the app can also keep track of your phone calls and voicemail, show you TV listings, and connect to Wi-Fi hot spots.

Contract and No-Contract Options

We also like that Cox offers both contract and no-contract plans. It’s really nice to have both options, but you will have to pay more for a no-contract plan. If you go with the option without a contract no-contract option, you will pay around $10 to $15 more per month.

If you know that you are going to be staying at your address long term, then it’s best to go with a contract. The contracts with Cox are one year. But if you’re not sure about your living arrangement, then you’ll likely be better off with a no-contract plan.

With the no-contract plans, there are no cancellation fees if you want to terminate early. The downside is it will cost a few extra bucks every month. But even with the additional cost, we believe that it is a plus to have the options.

Money-Back Guarantee

Another thing that we liked about Cox is that they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee for their services. If you’re not pleased in the first 30 days Cox will refund:

• Any equipment charges if you rented or purchased from Cox
• Service fees for the first month
• Standard installation charge

If you take advantage of the 30-day guarantee, then you won’t have to pay an early termination fee, even if you’re under contract.

The Not So Good

• No-contract fee
• Data limits
• Speeds aren’t always reliable
• More expensive than competitors
• There are quite a few extra charges

The No-Contract Fee

As we discussed a minute ago, Cox offers no-contract internet plans. If you don’t want to lock yourself into a contract, this is an excellent option. The bummer is it will cost you $10 to $15 more per month.

Data Limits

Another potential downside to most internet providers, including Cox, is that they have data usage limits. Each month you are limited to 1 TB. Cox has this limit regardless of which internet plan you choose.

Most single people will never reach the limit. But it’s still worth knowing that it’s there. If you have many devices and multiple users, it won’t be too difficult to reach the data cap.

If you surpass your data limit, Cox will charge you an extra $10 per up to 50 GB of additional data used.

Additional Data Plans can be added for an additional monthly charge. Unlimited data plans are becoming increasingly popular, and several ISPs don’t put caps on usage at all. This puts Cox at a bit of a disadvantage.

Reliable Speeds

The FCC found that around 75 percent of Cox customers consistently got the Wi-Fi speeds that were advertised and that they paid for. The remaining 25 percent of people got the short end of the stick. They received internet services that were up to 20 percent slower.

When the FCC compared Cox to other major cable internet providers, they found that Cox was average to one of the least reliable. However, they discovered that DSL and satellite reliability was much worse than Cox. Service Providers like CenturyLink DSL are providing a shockingly low 12 percent of the speeds that they advertise.

Charter, Comcast, and Mediacom all offer more reliable speeds than Cox. But if you have a choice between Cox cable internet and a DSL provider, Cox Communications is the clear winner.

Extra Charges

On the plus side, Cox is pretty transparent about their fees. They itemize each one clearly on their invoices. But there are a lot of them.

An example of this is that you pay a monthly rental fee for the modem. But then there’s also an optional Cox Complete Care service that will cost you another $10 er month. And on top of that, there’s a one-time fee called the Self Install that will cost you another $20. You can see how these fees could quickly add up.

The Bottom Line – Do We Recommend Cox Internet?

Overall we give Cox internet a score of 3.5 out of 5. Cox’s services are middle of the road. They’re not stellar, but they’re also not too bad. They provide plenty of speed options and internet plans. And they are reasonably priced compared to other ISPs in the industry.

Our top pick for the best plan for solo internet surfers is the Essential 50 plan. If you have small internet needs, then the 50 Mbps will work just fine for you, and you really can’t beat the price.

Our favorite plan for families is the Preferred 250. This internet plan is ideal if you need a residential Cox internet plan for your small business or family. With this plan, all at the same time, you can stream videos, surf the net, and even do some online gaming without any problems. The bottom line is that Cox internet is worth your time.

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