Cox Internet Review: Learn About Cox Internet Plans, Prices, Bundles, and More
We've tested and extensively researched Cox internet. Read on to see if Cox internet plans are worth it.
Is Cox internet worth it?
Cox internet is generally good for most folks, but it really depends on which competitors are also available in your area.
In a nutshell, Cox cable internet plans are 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 while most Cox internet plans are fairly affordable, their higher speed plans are not a great bang for your buck.
Cox internet’s strongest points are its reliability and good customer satisfaction marks. For those reasons, we say Cox is a solid home internet choice.
Cox frequently offers free promotions on features and equipment, low-income internet discounts, and mobile bundle discounts. Check out our Cox Deals and Promotions page for the latest deals.
Cox internet plans offer high speeds and reliable performance
| Package | Price | Download speeds up to | Upload speeds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| StraightUp Internet | $50.00/mo.** | 100 Mbps | 5 Mbps | |
| Go Fast (no contract) | $49.99/mo.* | 100 Mbps | 5 Mbps | |
| Go Faster | $69.99/mo.* | 250 Mbps | Up to 10 Mbps | |
| Go Even Faster | $89.99/mo.† | 500 Mbps | 10 Mbps | |
| Go Super Fast | $109.99/mo.‡ | 1,000 Mbps | 35 Mbps | |
| Go Beyond Fast | $149.99/mo.* | 2,000 Mbps | 100 Mbps |
**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.
*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.
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Cox’s starting package, Go Fast, is an ideal internet plan. It costs $49.99 a month (the average price for internet in the U.S.) and comes with 100 Mbps, which is our recommended internet speed for most users.
And Cox’s cable internet speeds stay competitive with fiber internet, thanks to its Go Super Fast plan. With this plan, you’ll get download speeds as fast as 1,000 Mbps. But cable internet can’t match fiber’s fast upload speeds, so your video calls might not be as smooth as they’d be on a fiber internet service. Go Beyond Fast also reaches fiber internet’s heights with 2 Gig speeds, but for a ridiculously high price tag.
If you’re running a home business or uploading your weekly fly-fishing podcast, maybe look around for a fiber internet provider. And fiber internet providers like Google Fiber and Verizon Fios offer gig speeds for less cash, for example, so shop around.
As a Cox subscriber with Go Super Fast internet, I can attest to its lightning speed, whether I'm doing essential work or playing games. It's perfect when everyone in the house wants to retreat to a different room to use a device for everything from watching movies to downloading movies to watch on the phone—the download speed has never slowed down no matter what kind of activity is taking place.
Cox internet and cable TV bundles are overpriced for what they offer
| Package | Price* | Download speeds up to | Channel count | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Go Faster + Contour TV Preferred | $185.99/mo.* | 250 Mbps | 140+ | |
| Go Even Faster + Contour TV Preferred | $205.99/mo.** | 500 Mbps | 140+ | |
| Go Super Fast + Contour TV Preferred | $224.99/mo.† | 1,000 Mbps | 140+ |
*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.
TBH, we don’t really recommend Cox TV and internet bundles because of the extremely high cost for most folks.
Unfortunately, aside from giving you one convenient bill and live TV, Cox internet and TV bundles don’t deliver much value. We recommend checking out the Cox internet packages and going with a standalone Cox internet plan. If you want TV, we recommend going with a more affordable live TV streaming option.
Still interested in Cox bundles? We analyze every Cox bundle (we only list the three best here) in our comprehensive review.
Cox internet and mobile bundles are great bangs for your buck
| Package | Price (1 line)* | Download speeds up to | Data allowance | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Go Faster + Pay as You Gig | $70.00/mo.* | 250 Mbps | 1 GB | |
| Go Even Faster + Gig Unlimited | $120.00/mo.** | 500 Mbps | 20 GB, then speeds reduce | |
| Go Super Fast + Gig Unlimited | $140.00/mo.† | 1,000 Mbps | 20 GB, then speeds reduce |
*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.
Cox internet customers are eligible to sign up for one of Cox’s two mobile plans. Pay as You Gig is a pay-as-you-go plan, and Gig Unlimited comes with unlimited data. Cox Mobile uses Verizon’s mobile network, which means you can expect reliable service from Cox Mobile at a fraction of the price of larger wireless providers. Plus, both plans come with unlimited talk and text.
To top things off, Cox offers a $14.99 monthly discount on its mobile plans when you bundle with Go Fast, Go Faster, Go Even Faster, or Go Super Fast plans. Don’t worry; we’ve already incorporated these discounts into the prices above.
Cox internet is reliable enough for the average home internet user
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| Average latency | 24.76 milliseconds |
| Internet reliability approval rating | 65% approval |
| Internet speed approval rating | 69% approval |
Reliability is one of Cox’s stronger suits, with solid marks scored in our annual Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey. Around 65% of the Cox customers we surveyed were satisfied with Cox’s reliability—this isn’t a bad number, considering that Cox is a cable internet provider. Cable internet is not as reliable as fiber internet, whose underground fiber networks are better protected from storms and inclement weather, both common causes of internet outages.
Ok, Cox is relatively reliable, but is it fast? Our survey reports that nearly 70% of customers think so. Fiber internet once again trumps cable in all areas of speed with its equal download and upload speeds, but we can’t write Cox out just yet. Cox’s top-tier plan, Go Beyond Fast, hits 2,000 Mbps download speeds—a number higher than many fiber plans. Go Beyond Fast is pricy and a bit overkill for the average consumer, but it’s available for the speed demons out there.
We also take latency into account in figuring our reliability ratings. According to our friends at HighSpeedInternet.com, Cox internet users had an average latency of around 25 milliseconds—latency refers to how long it takes for data to physically reach your computer. The lower the latency number, the better. 25 milliseconds is a great speed, plenty fast for streaming, downloading, gaming, or Zoom calls.
Cox internet equipment and features include some great perks
Bundles and TV service aside, a couple of things that Cox gets right are its internet equipment and features. Smaller internet service providers can’t provide you the tech that Cox does, but it’ll cost you a little extra.
Read on to see what goodies Cox internet has to offer.
Cox Panoramic WiFi
Cox rents the Panoramic WiFi Gateway for $12 a month. A combination cable modem and 2-port gigabit wired router, the Panoramic WiFi provides fast and reliable speeds across your home. Plus, you can download the Cox app to manage your Wi-Fi from your home or mobile device.
You don’t have to rent this modem/router combo if you don’t want to though—you can buy a Cox-compatible modem and router instead. Buying your own devices will cost you more upfront, but you might save some cash dollars in the long run.
Cox Hotspots
All Cox internet plans come with a membership to Cox Hotspots, a network of 3 million Wi-Fi hotspots accessible from any mobile device. These Wi-Fi hotspots are free for Cox customers, but if you’re not one, you can also pay a fee to connect to a hotspot for a limited time. For more information on how to locate and connect to Cox Wi-Fi, check out our Cox Hotspots guide.
Cox Contour Stream Player
Cox also has a TV streaming device called the Cox Contour Stream Player that you can get with its internet plans. The streaming device costs $5 per month and comes preloaded with popular streaming apps like Netflix and Peacock.
Regardless of how it stacks up against other streaming devices, going with the Cox Contour Stream Player and Panoramic WiFi is still a whole helluva lot cheaper than bundling internet and TV through Cox.
What do real Cox Communications customers think of Cox internet?
As part of CableTV.com’s annual Internet Customer Satisfaction Survey, we polled thousands of real-life internet customers, asking how they felt about their internet providers.
Cox’s overall satisfaction ranking is middle-of-the-road at 64%. Cable internet providers consistently fell behind fiber providers like Google Fiber, Verizon, and AT&T in our survey, and Cox is no exception. Cox also came up short behind fellow cable ISP Spectrum in all but two areas of satisfaction.
Cox’s customer service ranking is also 64%, showing mixed feelings about the ability to get help from Cox customer support when needed. One plus of Cox Communications is that they have brick-and-mortar stores you can visit, along with 24/7 service by phone or via chat.
Overall Cox internet seems to work pretty well other than there are some infrequent outages which seems to be fairly normal for all internet providers. I think there has only been one multiday outage which was eventually fixed by Cox with some new equipment.
Cox internet FAQ
Is Cox internet unlimited?
Like most cable internet providers, Cox imposes a data cap on service—but you’ll likely never hit it. Cox’s monthly 1.25 TB (terabyte) cap is comparable to streaming over 500 hours of HD movies and TV shows. If you can consume that in a month, you’ve earned an internet break.
If you need to keep track of your data usage, Cox has options. There’s a Data Usage Meter available on the Cox website and the Cox app. Opt-in alerts can let you know if you’re running low on data.
Can I just get Wi-Fi from Cox?
Cox offers standalone internet plans for those who have—or want—to cut the cable cord but still stream TV and movie programs. It’s one way to avoid getting locked into a bundle that will be more expensive.
Do I have to use the modem supplied by Cox?
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 250 Mbps will work with older DOCSIS 2.0 modems.
How do I reach Cox internet support?
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.
We also have a handy Cox Troubleshooting Guide that can help lead you to a solution.
How much data can I use with Cox internet?
All of the Cox internet plans include 1.25 TB (1,280 GB) of data per month. Cox offers the option to add more. For $29.99 a month, you can add 500 GB to your base data for another 100 hours of HD streaming.
How much is Cox internet with unlimited data?
Unlimited data will cost you an additional $49.99 a month on top of your Cox internet package. You can work and play online to your heart’s content with the unlimited plan. Say goodbye (and good riddance) to worrying about any overage charges.
Check the Cox deals and promotions to see if there are ways to save a few bucks.
What is the fastest internet speed that Cox offers?
Go Beyond Fast is Cox’s fastest internet speed at 2,000 Mbps, perfect for people working from home or who live with multiple users who stream, play video games, or video call daily.
This option has the speed to power several devices at once, and lets you stream 4K movies while downloading several more or play an online game while chatting via video.
How do I order Cox 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.
Why you should trust us
To determine the capabilities of Cox internet plans, we tested different internet plans on devices including TVs, iPhones, Androids, and tablets. In some homes, we tested on multiple products simultaneously to ensure download speeds when numerous users are enjoying the service all at once. We also explored Cox’s internet plans and packages to give you the most up-to-date information about pricing and features. We used data from our annual customer service satisfaction survey to present star ratings to help decision-making. You can learn more about our process on our How We Rank page.
