I’ve been using Cox Internet for three years now. I’ve had a few problems with it, but overall it has served me much better than my previous internet providers. Cox is the fastest ISP in my state (Arizona), the speeds stay reliable throughout the day, and the service is priced well for what it delivers.
I see there are quite a few people in Arizona and other Cox service areas who are unsure about switching to Cox. I decided to share what it’s been like being a Cox Internet user. I’ve also used Xfinity and Spectrum in the past, and I’ll explain where Cox surpasses these ISPs and where it lacks.
Let me begin with the main reasons I prefer Cox to Xfinity and Spectrum.
Reason 1: Low Standard Rates
Xfinity and Spectrum offer plans at promotional rates—and the cost goes up once the promotion ends. Post-promotion standard rates are not clearly shown on the offer pages, so they don’t have to be competitive to the market. This makes Xfinity and Spectrum costlier in the long run.
One of the best things about Cox Internet is that it markets its plans at standard everyday rates. These rates can increase too, but not nearly as steeply as Xfinity and Spectrum. With Cox, you can even make your plan cheaper in the future if you’re smart about it. Cox’s current internet offers will expire on December 21, 2023. The new offers will probably have lower rates for the same speeds. You can update your package from the “My Account” page on the Cox website to immediately switch to the cheaper plan. This won’t work with Xfinity or Spectrum as their new offers are not available for existing customers.
Cox Internet also has some other ways to save money. You don’t have to sign a contract to use Cox Internet, so you can stop using it anytime you want without paying extra money. You can also try Cox Internet for 30 days and get your money back if you don’t like it.
Reason 2: Fastest Internet Service in My Area
Xfinity used to be the fastest ISP here in Arizona, but Cox has taken over with a median download speed of 261 Mbps in Q2 2023 against a state average of 180 Mbps on Speedtest Market Analysis. Median speeds aside, it’s also the fastest ISP in terms of maximum speeds available. The 1 gig plan is available to 99% of Cox customers while its 2 gig plan is coming to more areas.
Cox Internet has different speeds for different plans, but all of them are fast enough for most people. For instance, the slowest plan has a max speed of 100 Mbps for downloading and 5 Mbps for uploading, which is pretty good for basic tasks. With this plan, you can download a 1 GB file in about 80 seconds or stream HD video without buffering. With the 1 Gbps plan, you can download a 1 GB file in about 8 seconds or stream an 8K video with no problems.
Reason 3: Reliable Speeds at Peak Times
Cox is among the most reliable ISPs in the US with a Consistency Score of 91.3% (on Ookla Speedtest Market Analysis). Spectrum and Xfinity are slightly more reliable with Consistency Scores of 91.8 and 91.5 respectively, but Cox has been more reliable in my experience.
Cox uses fiber optic cables in its backbone networks to deliver internet service. Fiber optic cables are thin strands of glass that carry light signals instead of electrical signals. This form of data transmission is less susceptible to being affected by weather, interference, or distance. Cox is making its network more fiber-dense to deliver more reliable high-speed connections across its service areas.
Reason 4: Good Customer Service
I’m a reasonable consumer. I understand customer support can be expensive for ISPs. But what really bugs me is when customer service reps pretend to help you when they have no clue what they’re doing.
Cox has multiple types of customer service to meet different types of customer needs. Firstly, there’s the basic Cox customer service that helps new customers subscribe to a plan and existing customers with account or service-related problems. You can also talk to a customer service rep from Cox en Español.
Cox also has tech support that helps customers with problems related to Cox’s internet service and equipment. For customers that need further assistance, Cox Complete Care service provides tech support for smartphones, laptops, tablets, smart home devices, and other devices connected to the WiFi. Experts can help you with virus removal, software installation, OS updates troubleshooting, and other issues not directly related to Cox services. Cox Complete Care is available in English and Spanish.
Cox customer service people are quite adept in their domains and they can answer any questions you have about your internet service or your account. They can also refer you to the appropriate experts for problems they’re not authorized to give advice for. The process is smooth and they always solve my problems without wasting time.
Reason 5: Regular Free Upgrades
Another thing that makes Cox Internet awesome is that it gives you free upgrades sometimes. For example, Cox just recently upgraded its 150 Mbps package to 250 Mbps and its 250 Mbps to 500 Mbps. I was on the 250 Mbps plan at the time of this upgrade, and now I’m getting speeds close to 500 Mbps at the same monthly price.
If you lease a Cox Panoramic Getaway, you can get an upgraded device every three years at no additional cost. I know, they’re just upgrading their own devices, which is not a big deal. But other ISPs charge extra for upgrades or reserve this option for their costlier home WiFi plans.
Cox vs. Xfinity
Now, as promised, here are some of the differences and similarities between Cox and Xfinity:
Differences
- Xfinity’s starter internet plans have lower promotional rates, but Cox has lower standard rates, which makes it more affordable in the long run.
- Cox Internet does not require a contract for any of its plans. Some promotions may require a contract, but you can also opt for the standard offer. Xfinity Internet often requires a one-year or two-year contract depending on the plan, your location, and current promotions.
- Xfinity Internet has a data cap of 1.2 TB in some areas, whereas it’s unlimited in others. Cox Internet has a data cap of 1.25 TB, but heavy internet users can upgrade to an unlimited option.
- Cox allows you to switch to newer, cheaper plans any time you want at no cost. Xfinity’s new offers are not available to existing customers.
- Xfinity primarily provides cable internet, whereas Cox provides fiber internet in some areas and hybrid fiber-coaxial internet in others.
Similarities
- Cox offers Panoramic WiFi Gateway, which is a device that combines a modem and a router to provide seamless WiFi coverage throughout the home. Xfinity offers xFi Gateway, which is a similar device with similar features.
- Both Cox Internet and Xfinity Internet offer a range of internet plans with different speeds and prices. Speeds range from up to 100 Mbps to up to 2 Gbps, depending on the availability and promotion in each area.
- Both Cox and Xfinity offer mesh WiFi pods that work with the Gateway to increase WiFi signal strength and eliminate blind spots.
- Both Cox and Xfinity are among the fastest and most reliable ISPs according to the US Ookla Speedtest Market Analysis.
Cox vs. Spectrum
And now, here are some of the differences and similarities between Cox and Spectrum.
Differences
- Spectrum’s starter internet plans have lower promotional rates, but Cox has lower standard rates.
- Cox Internet has a 1.25 TB monthly data cap for all of its plans. Spectrum has no data limit for any of its plans.
- Spectrum’s offers are only for people who have not been a Spectrum customer for the previous 30 days. Cox allows you to switch to any standard plan at any time.
Similarities
- Cox Internet offers Panoramic WiFi Gateway, which is a device that combines a modem and a router to provide seamless WiFi coverage throughout the home. Spectrum’s Advanced Gateway is a similar device with mostly similar features except for Elite Gamer.
- Both Cox and Spectrum offer mesh WiFi pods that work with the Gateway to increase WiFi signal strength and eliminate blind spots.
- Both Cox Internet and Spectrum Internet do not require a contract for any of their plans, which means that customers can cancel or change their service anytime they want without paying extra fees.
- Both Cox and Spectrum are among the fastest and most reliable ISPs in the US according to Ookla Speedtest Market Analysis.
Conclusion
While Xfinity and Spectrum aren’t bad ISPs, I’ve found Cox Internet to be more satisfactory overall. Cox has low standard rates, its speeds stay reliable at peak times, and its policies are more consumer-friendly than any other ISP in my experience. Instead of going for the short-term benefits of Xfinity and Spectrum, I’d recommend learning from my mistakes and choosing Cox once and for all.