In a Nutshell
pros
- Very competitive prices
- Wall-to-wall WIFI + 3 million hotspots
- Elite Gamer mode for serious gamers
cons
- Pricing plans can be a bit confusing
- Not available in all states
Cox Internet at a Glance
Starting Price
Maximum Speed
Coverage Area
Data Caps
Customer Support
Cox at a Glance
Best for: Families, students, serious gamers
Starting Price: From $39.99 per month
Connection Type: Fiber
Download Speeds: Up to 1 Gbps
Coverage: 19 states
Money-Back Guarantee: 30 days
What Services and Features Does Cox Offer?
Cox is a relatively small ISP, but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in features. If speed is your thing, then the Gigablast plan will be your best friend. Cox’s fastest internet service, Gigablast gives you 1 Gig connection.
With Cox’s Panoramic WiFi Gateway, you can get wall-to-wall (whole-house) WiFi that will give you reliable speed across your entire home. The system is ideal for smart homes and smooth connections because it optimizes your server choice based on what you are doing at the time. The smart router/modem also lets you set rules, pause devices, and keep tabs on who’s using your WiFi and when (great for parents with teens).
What’s even cooler is that Panoramic WiFi gives you a second WiFi signal that friends and guests can access without having to share your password or your bandwidth. Panoramic comes with free advanced security software, a mobile app for WiFi management, and a cool gamer mode that nearly eliminates frustrating lag.
Speaking of the gamer mode, Cox has a feature that is exclusively for gamers. Elite Gamer lets you really get your game on with fewer ping spikes, smoother connections, and up to 32% less lag during your game time. It uses smart tech to help gamers get the edge. So, if milliseconds count to your team, this is a great feature for you. BTW, if you have your own modem, you can add Elite Gamer to your plan for just $6.99 a month. Best of all, Elite Gamer comes free with Panoramic Gateway.
Cox also has a unique program that provides eligible families with extremely affordable internet and WiFi. Called Connect2Compete, the program’s goal is to help underprivileged families provide a better education for their kids and family members by opening up the valuable educational resources that the internet can offer, including educational programs, homework programs, and online libraries.
Prices, Plans, and Value for Money
Cox has several internet-only plans as well as Elite Gamer plans (more on that in a minute). The prices are highly-competitive, starting at just $29.99 a month.
*prices are for a 12-month plan with EasyPay.
Cox plans are available with the Panoramic Gateway, an all-in-one device that acts as modem and router. This handy tool combines security, efficiency, and management all in one. It provides an Advanced Security suite, WiFi controller app, and server optimizer for better connections. The Panoramic Gateway costs $12 a month, and most Cox customers find it well worth the money.
The Gigablast fiber-optic plan is available from $99.99 a month, and it goes up to $179.99. Bundles are available that will combine your ultra-fast internet service with things like mobile phone features and 170+ TV channels, including Showtime, HBO Max, Starz, and more. Gigablast also comes with 3+ million WiFi hotspots and advanced online security that includes antivirus, antimalware, and other goodies from McAfee.
You can also get prepaid internet plans from Cox. The plan costs $50 a month, and you can purchase it from month to month, so there’s no commitment. Cox also tosses in a free WiFi modem, a nice added bonus. The prepaid plans are suitable for 3-5 simultaneous device connections and come with 100 Mbps speeds.
All Cox customers have access to over 3 million WiFi hotspots around the country. And there’s even a feature that lets you find the nearest hotspot wherever you are. Cox offers free installation, too, a $90 savings compared to competitors. There are also a few upgrades available:
- $29.99 per month for a 500GB plan
- $49.99 per month for unlimited data plan
Ease of Use, Hardware, and Setup
Cox is also flexible with its hardware options. Many companies force you to use their equipment, but not Cox. You can decide to use your own device or rent one from the service provider as you choose. If you go the DIY route, Cox has helpful videos to walk you through the process. Once installed, Cox internet has a dedicated mobile app that you can use to manage your entire internet service, including setting up user accounts, putting on controls and timers, changing WiFi passwords, and seeing who is using the internet and when.
Cox Security
Cox has some serious security features in place to keep its customers, their devices, and their data safe at all times. Security features definitely get us going, so excuse us if we’re a little excited about this uber cool suite of features, including:
- Antimalware, antivirus
- Digital data shredder
- Firewalls
- Secure online shopping
- Security scans
- Spam protection
- Spyware protection
- Vulnerability scanner
- WebAdvisor
And some other neat features for smartphones and tablets (like backup and restore, remote lock and wipe, and capture cam.)
Cox Performance
Cox has excellent performance results. In fact, some of the plans and locations proved to be faster than the plan’s advertised speeds. Cox is among the top ISPs for streaming, gaming, and general web browsing.
Cox Customer Service
Cox has 24/7 live chat to help customers troubleshoot, fix connection issues, and get other answers to questions or issues they’re having. Cox also has phone and email support, along with a tremendous help center with just about anything you might need. Best of all, Cox has how-to videos to help you through the more technical issues that might come up.
FAQs
Is it easy to self-install Cox Internet?
Yes! Cox internet is very simple and the company offers easy-to-follow guides to help you along.
Can I buy my own modem for Cox Internet?
Yes. If you decide not to go with the Cox modem, you’ll need a DOCSIS 3.0 8x4 or higher Cox-certified modem.
How much does Cox charge to install a cable outlet?
Outlets are generally activated during install, but a new coax outlet costs $75 to install.
Bottom Line
Cox is definitely making big waves in the ISP industry. The connections are fast, the plans are affordable, and the features just keep coming. With wall-to-wall WiFi, dedicated gamer mode, smart home functionality, and over 3 million hotspots readily available, other ISPs are going to have to work hard to keep up with Cox.