The short answer: it depends. Cox internet plans come through the same coaxial cables as its TV service, which means it’s faster than telephone-line DSL internet but slower than fiber-optic internet.
Still, some of Cox’s internet plans come close to fiber speed, and most of them can easily handle household needs. And most Cox internet plans are fairly affordable. So, yes, for the most part, we’d say that Cox internet is good.
| Package |
| Best for small households Internet Preferred 150 |
| Best for large households Gigablast |
* For 12 mos. w/ 1-yr. term agrmt.
Internet Preferred 150 and Gigablast are the best of Cox’s packages. We’d recommend the first for one or two people with basic internet requirements, and the latter for larger families or roommate surfing and streaming situations. The rest of your household can pitch in the extra $40.
*For 12 mos. w/ 1-yr. term agrmt.
**Same price for 3 yrs.
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
That’s quite the range of cable-internet speeds: 25 Mbps is a decent speed for DSL internet, while 940 Mbps is almost as fast as fiber.
But one fiber feature that cable can’t yet match is up/down parity, meaning that cable’s download and upload speeds aren’t equal, where fiber’s are. If you’re running a home business or uploading your weekly fly-fishing podcast, maybe look around for a fiber internet provider.
The new Cox StraightUp Internet plan offers the straightforwardness we wish all internet plans would. You get the same price for three years, and you pay month-by-month, so you’re free to ditch Cox if the mood ever strikes you.
Normally, Cox charges $12.99 per month for its fancy Panoramic WiFi Gateway—but the StraightUp plan includes a less fancy, refurbished modem router instead.
We don’t love the 25 Mbps download speed on StraightUp Internet, since those speeds will probably cause trouble if you watch Netflix or hold online video calls. But those speeds are fast enough if you’re the only one at home and don’t stream TV regularly.
*For 12 mos. w/ 1-yr. term agrmt. Data effective as post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Cox Internet Gigablast + Contour TV Preferred offers cranked up download speeds and tons of channels for $189.99 a month. If you have a high-bandwidth household, it might be worth the splurge.
Unfortunately, aside from giving you one convenient bill and live TV, Cox internet and TV bundles don’t deliver much value. We recommend going with a standalone Cox internet plan.
For low-income families, Cox offers a special internet deal: Cox Connect2Compete. This deal costs only $9.95 per month, comes with download speeds up to 25 Mbps, and includes free home Wi-Fi.
To qualify for Cox Connect2Compete, you’ll need to be enrolled in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Public Housing (HUD).
If this Cox internet deal sounds like the right one for you, you can apply on Cox’s Connect2Compete webpage.
Usually, you have to choose a speedier (and more expensive) Cox home internet plan to get Cox Wi-Fi. (Cox has temporarily opened all of its Wi-Fi hotspots to the public because of COVID-19.) Cox’s Preferred 150, Ultimate, and Gigablast internet plans (and their respective bundles) include free access to 650,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across the US, from New York City to San Diego.
You can find Wi-Fi hotspots through the free Cox Contour mobile app for iOS and Android.
While we don’t think Cox’s internet plans in the 25–50 Mbps speed range are worth the money, we do like the 150+ Mbps packages quite a bit. They offer the fastest internet that cable can deliver, and the prices are reasonable for what you’re getting.
Like most cable internet providers, Cox imposes a data cap on service—but you’ll likely never hit it. Cox’s monthly 1 TB (terabyte) cap is comparable to streaming over 400 hours of HD movies and TV shows. If you can consume that in a month, you’ve earned an internet break.
No, Cox doesn’t currently throttle internet speed—at least during the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Setting aside these unprecedented circumstances, it’s hard to prove that any internet company throttles speeds, let alone Cox. We have our theories, though. . .
Cox internet service is compatible with a long list of modems from outside sources, as long as they’re DOCSIS 3.0 or 3.1. Plans below 150 Mbps will work with older DOCSIS 2.0 modems.
While there’s little noticeable difference between cable TV and satellite TV service, internet is another matter. Cable internet can deliver download speeds of up to 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps), but satellite internet maxes out at 100 Mbps (average speed: 25 Mbps). Satellite internet is also more expensive than cable internet and far less reliable—in other words, it’s not a great deal (unless it’s the only internet you can get, especially in remote areas with little infrastructure).
If you need technical support for your Cox internet service, call +1-800-234-3993 at any time, day or night. Check out our Cox customer service page for more ways to get in touch.
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