Hidden Cox Fees for Cable TV and Internet
Our experts spent dozens of hours pouring over term agreements and reading the fine print to bring all Cox fees to light.
Before you sign up for a Cox Communications high-speed internet or cable TV plan, keep an eye out for Cox fees. On top of your regular monthly payments, you may run into overage fees, late fees, and early termination fees. Plus, your Cox internet service cost will increase after twelve months—up to $40 per month.
Our experts have the low-down on how much these fees cost and how you can avoid them.
Cox plans and promotional prices: watch out for rate increases after 1 year
Cox TV price increase after 12 months: varies
When you sign up for your Cox TV plan, you’ll pay at the current rate for 12 months. There’s not a set jump, so if Cox doesn’t raise its prices after your first year, you’ll keep paying the same price.
But these prices are subject to change at any time, so we can’t guarantee your Cox TV plan will have the same price once your promotional period is over. For more details on Cox cable TV plans and prices, head to our review.
Check out Cox’s channel lineup to figure out which Cox TV plan is right for you.
Cox internet price increase after 12 months: up to $20/mo.
| Package | 12-mo. introductory price | Ongoing price | Download speed | Upload speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| StraightUp Internet | $50.00/mo.** | $50.00/mo. | 100 Mbps | 5 Mbps | |
| Go Faster | $69.99/mo.* | $89.99/mo. | 250 Mbps | Up to 10 Mbps | |
| Go Even Faster | $89.99/mo.† | $99.99/mo. | 500 Mbps | 10 Mbps | |
| Go Super Fast | $109.99/mo.‡ | $119.99/mo. | 1,000 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
Data effective as of post date. Offers, pricing, and availability may vary by area and are subject to change.
*No annual contract or cancellation fees.
†For 12 mos. No annual contract.
‡For 12 mos. w/ 1-yr. term agreement. Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
** Not available in all areas. No term agreement. Same price for 2 yrs. Pricing, packages, and policies are subject to change, including when adjusting or removing services or equipment.
Unless you have the Cox StraightUp Internet plan, your monthly bills will rise somewhere between $10 to $20 in your second year, depending on your Cox internet plan. In the past, we’ve seen the price increases go as high as $40.
The Go Faster plan has the biggest price hike. Consider upgrading to a faster plan after your first year to get more bang for your buck.
How much internet speed do I need? You should decide on your internet speeds based on how many people you have at home, how many devices you own, and what you use the internet for. Check out our guide to internet speeds for more details.
Hidden costs of Cox TV plans
Your Cox cable internet and TV will cost a bit more than the advertised price, thanks to some taxes and fees. These fees vary across the country, but Cox will note the ones for your service area on your bill.
Read on to find out all the costs to keep an eye out for if you purchase a Cox cable TV plan.
When I first began service with Cox Communications my biggest thing was my monthly bill didn't go up for like the first 2 years. Then a short time later it started to go up. Then dealing with Cox Communication's customer service was up and down every time. But customer service now has kept [their] end of the bargain and my bill is now as it should be.
Cox TV installation and activation: Varies by package and region
Cox Communications communicates about as clear as mud when it comes to installation fees. You may pay a different amount based on where you live and which package you sign up for, so pay attention to that during your checkout process.
However, when our Cox tester got her Cox subscription, her self-installation and TV Easy Connect Activation came free with the service.
But make sure you’re cautious about when you schedule a professional installation. Canceling that appointment could cost you $100. That’s a simply ridiculous amount of money to reschedule a technician who could arrive any time between 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| TV Easy Connect Activation | Free |
| Professional installation | $100.00 |
| Canceled appointment fee | $100.00 |
Data effective as of post date. Offers, pricing, and availability may vary by area and are subject to change.
Cox TV broadcast surcharge and regional sports surcharge: $22.00/mo. and up to $13.50/mo.
Although many of Cox’s hidden fees are based on extenuating circumstances (like if you forgot to pay your bill or your check didn’t go through), you’ll have to pay broadcasting fees and regional sports fees every month.
Since TV providers have to pay your local networks and regional sports networks to use their channels, they pass those costs on to you with these underhanded surcharges.
Thanks, Cox. Those fees are the worst present we’ve ever received.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Broadcast surcharge | $22.00/mo. |
| Regional sports surcharge | Up to $13.50/mo. |
Data effective as of post date. Offers, pricing, and availability may vary by area and are subject to change.
Cox TV late payment fee: $8.35
If you miss your Cox TV monthly payment, Cox will charge you an additional $8.35. The price might vary depending on the laws about late payments where you live.
Other payment charges to look out for include the returned check fee, which can run up to $50 per bounced check. And you’ll want to make sure you keep your credit card info updated if you use AutoPay because a denied credit card could cost you $25.
If Cox has to send a collection agency after you (yikes), that’s another fee up to $25. And if your service gets disconnected due to falling behind on payments, you’ll pay $20 per service to reconnect TV or internet (so that’s $40 for TV and internet) and $25 to connect your home phone service.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Late payment fee | $8.35 |
| Returned check fee | Up to $50.00 |
| Credit card denied fee | Up to $25.00 |
| Collection fee | Up to $25.00 |
| Reconnection fee | $20.00 per service |
Data effective as of post date. Offers, pricing, and availability may vary by area and are subject to change.
Cox TV add-on packs: $10–$12/mo. each
Cox TV offers six different add-on packs to spiff up your channel line-up. Each costs either $10 or $12 per month, but if you get the Sports and Info Pack, Sports Pack 2, Movie Pack, or Variety Pack, you’ll get the Bonus Pack included at no extra cost.
If you want every channel pack, consider upgrading to Contour TV Ultimate, which includes all premium channels and every pack but the Latino Pack (an extra $10 monthly).
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sports and Info Pack | $10.00/mo. |
| Sports Pack 2 | $10.00/mo. |
| Movie Pack | $12.00/mo. |
| Variety Pack | $12.00/mo. |
| Bonus Pack | $10.00/mo. (included at no cost with purchase of any packs above) |
| Latino Pack | $10.00/mo. |
Data effective as of post date. Offers, pricing, and availability may vary by area and are subject to change.
Cox TV premium channels: $9–$16/mo. each
Getting the best TV out there will cost you a bit extra. Cox rounds up its Max (formerly HBO Max) price to $16.00 per month, as opposed to its online price of $15.99 per month.
However, Cox TV will give you your choice of Max, CINEMAX, SHOWTIME, or STARZ for your first 12 months with a new TV plan. Or you can snag all four of those for $20.00 per month with Contour TV Preferred.
And all the premium channels come included with Contour TV Ultimate, which seems to us a pretty good reason to upgrade.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Max™ | $16.00/mo. |
| CINEMAX® | $12.00/mo. |
| SHOWTIME® | $11.00/mo. |
| STARZ® | $9.00/mo. |
| MGM+™ | $12.00/mo. |
Data effective as of post date. Offers, pricing, and availability may vary by area and are subject to change.
Cox TV equipment: $6.00–$8.50/mo. each
With Cox TV equipment, your first Contour HD Box comes included, but you’ll pay $8.50 per month on every box after that.
And if you’ve got your own DVR, like a TiVo, you can get connected with a CableCARD for $6.00 per month. We think that’s a nasty high price for a tiny piece of hardware. But since CableCARDs have never really taken off, this isn’t a fee most folks will have to worry about.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Wireless 4K Contour Box | $8.50/mo. each |
| Contour Box | $8.50/mo. each (1st box included) |
| Basic Box | $6.00/mo. each |
| CableCARD | $6.00/mo. each |
Data effective as of post date. Offers, pricing, and availability may vary by area and are subject to change.
Cox TV DVR service: $10–$30/mo. each
DVR service costs extra, on top of your TV equipment charges. You can choose from one of Cox’s four DVR service plans:
- Starter DVR service (free for 12 mos., $5.00/mo. after): Record 1 show at a time with 50 hours storage
- Essential DVR service ($10.00/mo. for 12 mos., $13.50/mo. after): Record 2 shows simultaneously with 250 hours storage
- Preferred DVR service ($20.00/mo.): Record 6 shows simultaneously with 250 hours storage
- Ultimate DVR service ($30.00/mo.): Record 24 shows simultaneously with 1,000 hours storage
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Starter DVR Service | Free for 12 months ($5.00/mo. after) |
| Essential DVR Service | $10.00/mo. for 12 months ($13.50/mo. after) |
| Preferred DVR Service | $20.00/mo. |
| Ultimate DVR Service | $30.00/mo. |
Data effective as of post date. Offers, pricing, and availability may vary by area and are subject to change.
Hidden costs of Cox internet plans
Many of the Cox internet fees are similar to what you’ll find with the Cox TV fees, so review those above if you need more information on stuff like late payment fees.
Since we won’t discuss each of the internet fees in detail, check the chart directly below for the full list of all possible Cox internet hidden costs.
Cox internet is very reliable but expensive given the service others offer.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Data overage | $10.00 for 50 GB (max $100.00/mo.) |
| Internet Easy Connect Activation | Free |
| Professional installation | $100.00 |
| Canceled appointment fee | $100.00 |
| Late payment fee | $8.35 |
| Returned check fee | Up to $50.00 |
| Credit card denied fee | Up to $25.00 |
| Collection fee | Up to $25.00 |
| Reconnection fee | $20.00 per service |
| Panoramic Wifi Gateway | $14.00/mo. |
| Cox Complete Care | $10.00/mo. |
| No annual contract fee | $10.00/mo. |
| Wireless 4K Contour Stream Player | $5.00/mo. |
Data effective as of post date. Offers, pricing, and availability may vary by area and are subject to change.
Cox internet equipment: $14/mo.
You can save money each month by buying a Cox-compatible modem, but renting Cox’s Panoramic Wifi Gateway instead will cost you $14 per month.
With or without a Cox gateway, you can pay another $10 per month and get Cox Complete Care (24/7 advanced tech support) for two years.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Panoramic Wifi Gateway | $14.00/mo. |
| Cox Complete Care | $10.00/mo. |
Data effective as of post date. Offers, pricing, and availability may vary by area and are subject to change.
Cox internet with no annual contract fee: $10/mo.
For more month-to-month flexibility, you can opt out of your one-year term agreement with Cox internet. This freedom comes with the price of another $10 per month, which is about how much early termination of your year-long contract would cost you. So we say go with it only if you want Cox internet for less than half a year.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| No annual contract fee | $10.00/mo. |
Data effective as of post date. Offers, pricing, and availability may vary by area and are subject to change.
Cox Wireless 4K Contour Stream Player: $5/mo.
There are many top-notch streaming devices out there, but Cox brings its own version to the table for $5 per month. But here’s the funny thing—you can buy a Roku Express for $29.99 or less. Please do us all a favor and skip Cox’s stream player add-on.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Wireless 4K Contour Stream Player | $5.00/mo. |
Data effective as of post date. Offers, pricing, and availability may vary by area and are subject to change.
Pro tip: Cox’s hidden fees looking a bit much? Yeah, we think so, too. Luckily, there are plenty of other TV and internet plans out there—check out the top internet and TV plans for Verizon Fios, Xfinity, and Spectrum to see how your service compares.
Cox hidden costs FAQ
How much does Cox internet cost after 12 months?
After 12 months, your Cox internet plan will increase between $10.00 and $20.00 per month, based on the plan you’ve chosen. Get the details here.
Does Cox charge an activation fee?
For both Cox TV and internet services, you have the option to do self-installation (called Easy Connect), which will activate your service for free. You also have the choice to pay $100 for a professional installation.
For Cox internet, a Cox-provided modem’s activation fee is currently $25.00.
Does Cox charge for streaming?
Along with your Cox cable TV plan ($61.00–$152.00/mo.), you can stream live TV and on-demand shows and movies at no extra charge. Just download the Cox Contour app (available on Android and iOS) to get started.
Why you should trust us
Our experts poured over Cox term agreements, plus cable TV and internet rate cards, to provide you with information on fees that aren’t immediately noticeable when you are searching for a TV or internet plan. For more information on our methodology, check out our How We Rank page.
