Georgia-based telecom company Cox provides TV, internet, phone, and home security services, and it offers several excellent combinations of those four services in bundles. For home use, it’s all coaxial-cable-based. Cox’s still-growing fiber-optic internet network is currently limited to commercial businesses.
Internet is Cox’s strongest area of service: its higher cable tiers are fast but relatively inexpensive. It’s also the only Cox service that we’d recommend as a standalone product, since its TV, phone, and home security services are just average. At best, Cox’s bundles are convenient.
Jump to:
| Package |
| Best internet-only plan Internet Preferred 150 |
| Best internet/TV bundle Internet Ultimate 500 + Contour TV Preferred |
*For 12 mos. w/ 1-yr. term agreement.
If all you need is internet service, Cox’s Internet Preferred 150 plan has an attractive speed-to-price balance that would be plenty for most households. For heavier surfing/streaming needs, the Internet Ultimate 500 + Contour TV Preferred bundle features 500 Mbps of download speed and a decent TV channel lineup for under $170 a month.
*For 12 mos. w/ 1-yr. term agreement.
Data effective as of 03/29/2021.
Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Read our full review of Cox’s internet packages.
‡ 1 Year Term Agreement
Data effective as of 03/29/2021.
Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
| Included popular channels | Missing popular channels | |
| Local channels, C-SPAN, Music Choice channels | AMC, Bravo, Comedy Central, ESPN, FX, FOX Sports, IFC, Lifetime, MTV, Syfy, TNT, TBS | View plan |
| AMC, Bravo, Comedy Central, ESPN, FX, FOX Sports, IFC, Lifetime, MTV, Syfy, TNT, TBS | CBS Sports, CMT, FYI, FOX Business, NFL Network, NBA TV, Viceland | View plan |
‡ Data effective as of 03/29/2021.
Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Read our complete review of Cox TV service.
Data effective as of 3/29/2021.
Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
† for 12 mos. w/ 1-yr. term agreement.
†For 12 mos. w/ 1-yr. term agreement.
Data effective as of 3/29/2021.
Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Learn more about Cox’s internet, TV, and phone bundling combos.
Cox isn’t offering any “doorbuster” deals to speak of at the moment, but we think its 30-day trial period and lack of multiple-year contracts on some plans easily qualify as cool stuff.
The Cox Contour DVR/receiver is available in two simply named models: Record 2, which can record two channels at once and store up to 100 hours of HD content, and Record 6, which records six channels simultaneously and stores up to 250 HD hours.
Both include installed streaming apps, like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Pandora, YouTube, and Tubi.
You can choose to use your own modem/router, but Cox’s Panoramic Wi-Fi Gateway isn’t bad for company-supplied gear—even if it is available only as a rental (unlike gear from other internet service providers, you can’t buy it outright).
On the other hand, Cox will only sell—not rent—Panoramic Wi-Fi Pods. These devices create a Wi-Fi mesh across your home. Like Eero and other mesh networks, Panoramic Wi-Fi Pods plug into A/C wall sockets to equalize coverage over a larger household area, eliminating dead spots.
We’ve highlighted our favorite plans and packages, but one of the best things about Cox is its wide range of bundling options for internet, TV, phone, and home security. Internet is the only Cox service we’d recommend on its own, but the bundles offer convenient ways to build upon it.
Cox service is also probably available near you: Cox is the third-largest cable TV and internet provider in the US, covering Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Virginia.
Even if Cox is the only provider in your area, you should be able to secure a fast internet hookup or bundle that won’t cause you to rage against the tele-monopoly. There are worse companies to work with (we’ve reviewed ‘em, trust us).
Not sure if you can get Cox in your neighborhood? Enter your ZIP code below to find out.
Because of the rapid spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), Cox is offering a few discounts for seniors. Read more about them on our guide to low-income internet.
Once you determine the Cox residential internet plan that best suits your needs, you purchase a few different ways.
As you’re shopping for internet plans on the Cox site, a chat window will pop up offering different types of help. One of the options you can select is specifically for adding new services. If you’re making a change to a current service, you can type a specific request in the chat window to start your order.
If you would prefer to speak to a customer service sales representative, call 1-844-573-0474. If you prefer to place an order in person, find out if there’s a Cox store in your area and you can discuss options and start service at one of their locations.
Once you’ve defined your service needs—and what kind of budget you have to spend—you can try to negotiate a lower bill with a Cox customer service representative.
Whether you’re calling via phone to discuss your bill or popping into a Cox store, be prepared by having a copy of your bill handy.
If you’re going to quote offers from other competitors, it’s good to have those on hand, too. Inquire about current deals and promotions and how those may apply to your plan. Find out if your history of on-time payments can work in your favor.
