Want to Change Cable TV Providers? Here are Some Alternatives to Cox
The relationship between cable providers and their customers can be tumultuous. While a family may enjoy the entertainment that quality programming brings to their lives, dealing with a cable TV company can make even the most patient of consumers want to pull their hair out.
Unannounced billing increases, missed installation appointments, and less-than-helpful customer service are just a few scenarios that drive cable customers to new levels of frustration. The good news is changing providers may be easier than it seems.
If you’re currently a Cox TV customer looking for an alternative service provider, we’ve got you covered. We’ve laid out all the alternatives to Cox Cable below, including what perks and frustrations you can expect from each.
Alternative Cable TV Providers
Xfinity is one of the nation’s largest cable companies and is widely available. Xfinity is also one of the largest providers of home internet service, as well as the nation’s third-largest home telephone service provider, offering plenty of bundle options to fit your needs.
How is Xfinity different from Cox?
Xfinity offers a more advanced DVR system and significantly faster internet speeds than Cox (up to 2 Gbps in some areas). But Cox offers more channels, with 380+ compared to Xfinity’s 260+.
Xfinity Overview
Xfinity Availability
Cox and Xfinity share several coverage areas:
- Arizona
- Virginia
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Florida
- Louisiana
- Rhode Island
If you live in one of these states, Xfinity is likely an alternative option for you. Exact availability can vary, so enter your zip code to see if Xfinity is available in your area:
Spectrum is one of the nation’s largest cable providers and is also available in most areas. This alternative to Cox TV was created when Charter Communications merged with Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks.
How is Spectrum different from Cox?
Spectrum and Cox are fairly similar in that they’re both cable providers. Spectrum actually offers fewer channels than Cox, while prices are about the same. The main reason to switch here would be if you’ve had a poor experience or just need a change.
Spectrum Overview
Spectrum Availability
Spectrum and Cox primarily overlap in five states:
- Virginia
- Florida
- Ohio
- Nebraska
- California
These include a few major cities in these states as well, like Cleveland, San Diego, and Los Angeles.
Enter your zip code below for more details on availability:
Mediacom is a smaller cable TV and internet provider that serves primarily the southern and midwestern United States. Mediacom offers 170+ television channels and internet speeds as fast as 1 Gig in some areas.
How is Mediacom different from Cox?
Mediacom offers fewer channels than Cox but makes up for it with a better DVR. Mediacom uses the TiVo DVR system. Not only is TiVo a great DVR in its own right, it also works with nearly any cable provider.
Mediacom Overview
Mediacom Availability
If Mediacom sounds appealing, you’ll find overlap with Cox in several states:
- Arizona
- Florida
- California
- Virginia
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
Residents of Omaha, Nebraska, also have a great shot at getting Mediacom.
Find out if Mediacom is available in your area:
Astound Broadband Powered by RCN is a very small provider based primarily in the Washington, DC, area, with additional service in New York, Chicago, and Boston.
How is Astound Broadband different from Cox?
Astound Broadband Powered by RCN uses fiber optics in some of its coverage areas, so in those areas you may find that the signal is faster and more reliable than Cox’s. In areas where Astound Broadband uses cable, the two should be pretty similar in terms of reliability. Astound Broadband also scores higher in customer satisfaction than Cox does.
Astound Broadband Overview
Astound Broadband Availability
The best area to find Astound Broadband as a Cox alternative is Virginia. Enter your zip code below to see if Astound Broadband offers service where you live:
Alternative Fiber-Optic TV Providers
Frontier was originally created to serve rural communities. It’s a smaller company, but its fiber product (Frontier FiberOptic) is rapidly gaining market share.
How is Frontier different from Cox?
Frontier is a fiber-optic service, so customers benefit from faster internet speeds and a clear picture in areas where fiber is available.
Frontier Overview
Frontier Availability
Frontier shares coverage areas with Cox in several states around the country:
- Connecticut
- California
- Rhode Island
- Florida
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Nevada
To see whether Frontier is available in your city, enter your zip code below:
(Updated April 5, 2020 to reflect that AT&T U-verse has been replaced by AT&T TV.)
AT&T TV is a fiber TV service from AT&T (replacing AT&T U-verse TV). There’s great bundling potential with this provider since AT&T offers high-speed fiber internet and phone service.
How is AT&T TV different from Cox?
AT&T TV offers up to 125+ channels in six packages priced $49.99 to $130 per month. Cox has up 140+ channels, but only two packages: TV Starter gives you 75+ channels for $25 a month, while Contour TV gives you 140+ for $69.99 a month. By contrast, AT&T’s ENTERTAINMENT ($39.99 a month) gives you 65+ channels and ULTIMATE ($69.99 a month) has 125+.
AT&T’s package selection offers more flexibility, and its fiber speeds are much faster and more reliable than Cox’s cable connections. But Cox providers simplicity with only two packages, as well as more value.
AT&T TV Overview
AT&T TV Availability
AT&T TV and Cox overlap in several states:
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- California
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Idaho
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Rhode Island
- Virginia
Some major cities with both AT&T and Cox coverage are Wichita, New Orleans, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
Enter your zip code below to see if AT&T TV is available in your area.
Alternative Satellite TV Providers
DISH is a large satellite TV provider, making it an ideal choice for consumers in rural locations. Due to the way satellite transmissions are received, however, satellite TV can be prone to blackouts and poor picture quality during inclement weather.
How is DISH different from Cox?
The biggest difference between DISH and Cox is availability. Since it’s a satellite service, DISH is available almost anywhere in the country. DISH also doesn’t offer its own internet service—instead, it partners with local providers, including Frontier, to give customers bundling options. This might be an issue for some.
Check out our complete comparison of Cox vs. DISH for more details.
DISH Overview
DISH Availability
Since it’s based on satellite technology, DISH is available almost anywhere in the US. In fact, we’d be surprised if you didn’t have DISH service available where you live.
DIRECTV is another major satellite TV provider. DIRECTV is owned by AT&T, so customers can take advantage of AT&T’s fast internet speeds in Double Play and Triple Play bundles.
How is DIRECTV different from Cox?
Since DIRECTV is a satellite service, it’s available nationwide. That means you can keep the same service when moving without needing to worry about hunting for a new provider and learning how to use a new DVR. DIRECTV also offers a powerful DVR and exclusive sports packages.
DIRECTV Overview
DIRECTV Availability
DIRECTV is available nationwide. As long as you have a clear view of the sky, you should be able to pick up a DIRECTV signal.
Find a DIRECTV plan or bundle that works for you:
Alternative Internet-Only Providers
CenturyLink is a major national Internet Service Provider. CenturyLink also offers phone service and bundles with DIRECTV for television.
How is CenturyLink different from Cox?
CenturyLink is an alternative to Cox internet service. Since CenturyLink no longer offers its own TV service, it offers bundles with DIRECTV—see our section on DIRECTV above for info on how that TV service compares to Cox.
CenturyLink Overview
CenturyLink Availability
CenturyLink internet service overlaps with Cox in a number of states:
- Florida
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Nevada
- Arizona
If you live in Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Omaha in particular, CenturyLink is likely a major provider for you.
With so many alternatives to Cox Cable—all with varying pros and cons—it’s important to think about what you want out of your television provider. Do you want a lot of channels? The ability to record multiple shows at once? Strong customer support? Or a price that doesn’t break the bank?
Knowing exactly what you want and what’s available will give you the power to break free from your frustrations and choose a provider capable of delivering the features that are most important to you.
Enter your zip code to see which cable providers are available in your area, and make the switch today.
*Pricing and speeds are current as of writing. Pricing and speeds are subject to change. Not all offers available in all areas.
Dave is a freelance writer with a passion for tech and how it improves our lives. His work has been published on a variety of sites around the web.
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