If you only look at the big bold text on internet service offer pages of different ISPs, you may get the impression that Cox is one of the more expensive ones. But if you read the fine print and follow what’s going on in the industry, the story is different.

Here, we’re going to take a close look at Cox’s internet service and compare it to offers by other ISPs. We’ll also explain some of the most value-added Cox internet plans. 

Is Cox Internet worth it? Read along and decide for yourself.

The Real Cost of Internet Service

How ISPs Get You to Pay More

If you’ve been with any other internet service provider, you’re probably no stranger to price hikes. Many ISPs in the US use the same strategy to get you to pay more for internet service: offer the service at very low promotional rates and raise the bill once you’re used to the service. Here’s how they do it.

ISPs have promotional offers on internet service throughout the year. No matter when you visit their offer pages, it feels the current limited-time offer is the most exciting one ever and you must get it while you still have the opportunity. That is by design.

Offer pages generally only show you the promotional prices of internet service. They also often include other services at no additional cost that you’d otherwise have to pay. But what you may not realize is that the promotions are only for a limited time, typically 12 months. 

After the promotional period, you have to pay the standard price of the internet plan you chose. You also have to pay for any additional services that were included for free in the promotional offer. Some of these services, such as rental WiFi equipment, are not even required for internet service. You could’ve bought your own router and modem if they weren’t included in the offer instead of having to pay a rental fee every month.

If that’s not bad enough, the standard prices are deliberately hidden. They’re generally nowhere on the offer pages and you can’t look them up on Google. The only way to get an idea of how much you’ll pay for internet service after the promotional service is to dig through websites to find price cards and enter your location. Most people don’t think to do that, which explains the surprise when the bill suddenly goes up.

Taking it one step further, it’s often required to sign up with autopay and paperless billing to get the internet service at the promotional price. But once you’re paying automatically and don’t receive the bill in your mail, you may not realize it when the prices go up and you start paying more. 

You will receive an invoice every month via email. But you may not go through it, ignoring it among all the promotional emails from ISP—until one day when you realize how much you’ve been paying all this time.

Cox’s Transparent Standard Rates

For the perceptive consumer, Cox is countering the trend of price hikes and hidden fees with transparent everyday low prices. It offers all of its plans at the standard prices on its service pages. Even the plans that have promotions have their standard prices displayed right next to the promotion prices, so you have an idea of how much you’ll be paying in the future. 

Cox doesn’t add services that are free for a limited time and which you have to pay for in the future. The starter plan does include the Panoramic WiFi equipment, but the cost is included in the price.

Also with Cox, you don’t have to sign up with autopay and paperless billing to get the service at the shown prices. You have the option to do it for your own convenience, but Cox won’t try to persuade you. 

Last but not least, all the service and pricing details are there on the service page. Cox encourages you to go through everything until you’re satisfied. If you’re someone who likes making sensible choices, Cox is probably the most cost-effective option.

Fiber and DOCSIS: The Best of Both Worlds

Cable’s Competition with Fiber

Conventional coaxial cables were first deployed for TV services, which involve a lot more data downstream than upstream. Incidentally, internet users also typically consume more data downstream than upstream. ISPs have been using existing cable lines to provide internet service. However, upload speeds with cable internet typically max out at around 50 Mbps.

Fiber networks are built for the internet and have a much higher capacity. All-fiber internet service doesn’t differentiate between upstream and downstream speeds. So if you get a 1 Gbps plan, both your max upload and download speeds are 1 Gbps. 

The cable industry argues that consumers don’t really need high upload speeds. That’s true for the most part, but people who work from home and gamers who stream can appreciate symmetrical speeds. 

As of right now, cable internet is available to nearly twice as many Americans as fiber internet. Since investing in fiber networks requires substantial equipment, cable providers are working on new technologies to improve the existing cable networks

Cox Offers Both Fiber and Cable Internet

While most ISPs are either on the side of cable or fiber, Cox is embracing both technologies to provide customers with the best internet experience possible.

Cable providers including Cox are working on DOCSIS 4.0 which will allow for multi-gig symmetrical speeds. But Cox is also using fiber to provide higher upload speeds already in some areas. It’s building a fiber network to offer fiber-to-the-home internet service in parts of North Central Florida. The New Kent County and Cox are also investing in a fiber network to bring fiber-to-the-home internet to more than 11,000 customers.

Cox also uses fiber for middle-mile communications in all of its service areas. These hybrid fiber-coaxial networks allow it to offer more reliable internet with max speeds of 1 Gbps to all customers. With advancements in DOCSIS 4.0, Cox will offer multi-gig symmetrical speeds over cable in areas where it will not have brought fiber-to-the-home internet service.

The Freedom to Switch or Cancel with Cox

Can You Trust The Quality of Local Internet Service?

It’s not easy to rate an internet service as “good” or “bad”. Most service providers have better service in some areas than others depending on the local network load and whether they’ve done anything to increase the network capacity recently. So, at the end of the day, the only way to know if an ISP is going to work out for you is to try the service.

But, if you get a plan with a term contract, you’re stuck with it for at least a year. Even if the plan doesn’t have a term contract, you will have to pay at least one month’s fee and installation charges.

Cox’s 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Cox has upgraded all of its backbone networks with fiber-optic cable. It offers gigabit speeds everywhere, which implies its networks have a high capacity which all subscribers can benefit from. 

Cox is so confident in its service that it offers you a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you figure Cox isn’t for you, you can just cancel it. Cox also doesn’t require a term contract, so you can cancel, downgrade or upgrade the plan at any time.

Now let’s look at Cox’s current best internet offers.

The Best Cox Internet Plans

Cox Go Fast

Cox Go Fast features a 100 Mbps max download speed for a standard price of $49.99 a month. It includes Panoramic WiFi Gateway with Elites Gamer service for lower latency. This plan doesn’t have an annual contract. 

Cox Go Faster

This plan features a max download speed of 250 Mbps at a standard price of $69.99 a month. There’s no annual contract with this plan.

Cox Go Even Faster

Go Even Faster has a max download speed of 500 Mbps. It currently has a promotional offer that lowers the price from $89.99 a month to $59.99 a month for the first 12 months. This plan is free from contracts.

Cox Go Super Fast

Go Super Fast is the fastest widely available Cox internet plan, featuring a max download speed of 1 Gbps. You can get it at a promotional price of $99.99 per month with a 1-year term agreement or at $109 per month for 12 months with no term agreement. The 30-day money-back guarantee applies even if you get a term agreement.

Cox Go Beyond Fast 

Go Beyond Fast is a new internet plan from Cox that features a 2 Gbps max download speed for $149.99 a month. It’s only available in limited areas. Contact Cox customer service to learn more.

Conclusion

Cox’s standard internet rates may seem high at first, but Cox is more cost-effective when you take into account the hidden post-promotion rates of other ISPs. For consumers that value transparent pricing and long-term value, Cox Internet is worth it.