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T-Mobile Internet vs Cox: Full Comparison
If you live in the US, there’s a good chance you have cable, DSL, or fiber internet. According to a 2020 Statista Global Consumer Survey, about 63% of Americans fall into that group.
That percentage has grown since then, but things could shift in the coming years.
Mobile networks are getting faster and more stable thanks to technologies like 5G. This opens the door to reaching more users without ever laying a cable.
T-Mobile is one of the mobile carriers betting big on wireless home internet.
Instead of connecting to T-Mobile’s cellular network with your phone, you connect through a special T-Mobile gateway that converts cellular signals to WiFi.
Compared to cable internet services, T-Mobile’s home internet has clear pros and cons.
This review puts T-Mobile’s home internet up against an established cable internet giant, Cox, to see which one comes out on top. Let’s get into it.
T-Mobile Internet Vs. Cox: Accessibility
T Mobile Internet Vs Cox – Accessibility
In April 2021, T-Mobile launched its Home Internet service across over 600 metro areas in the US, covering more than 30 million homes.
That immediately made it one of the country’s largest ISPs by coverage area.
T-Mobile says that one-third of these homes are in remote areas, which often don’t have access to the 5G speeds T-Mobile is promising.
For the complete picture, our cox vs comcast guide fills in the gaps.
Still, these homes are getting unlimited internet access, a luxury they never had before.
Cox, on the other hand, has a more limited coverage area compared to T-Mobile because T-Mobile is riding on its existing cellular network infrastructure.
Cox cable internet is available in only 18 states and reaches just over 21 million people in those states.
Given all that, T-Mobile deserves credit for its coverage, especially since their Home Internet service has only been around for a few years.
That said, you should always check availability for either ISP at your specific address.
T-Mobile Internet Vs. Cox: Approval Rating
T Mobile Internet Vs Cox – Approval Rating
T-Mobile Internet has strong approval ratings. It doesn’t offer the same gigabit speeds as Cox, but its customer service team is excellent.
T-Mobile also has no hidden fees in its pricing, and the rates haven’t changed much since launch.
Cox has one of the worst price hikes after the first year of service. This is a sore spot for a lot of customers and has dragged down Cox’s satisfaction scores.
Cox’s customer support, though, is on par with T-Mobile. Customers don’t seem to have big complaints there.
Overall, T-Mobile wins the approval rating category thanks to better customer support, no hidden fees, and consistent speeds.
T Mobile Internet Vs. Cox: Charges
T Mobile Internet Vs Cox – Charges
Equipment
T-Mobile Home Internet doesn’t charge any equipment leasing fees. Once you sign up, you get a gateway, and the cost is baked into your monthly fee.
We break down cox vs Xfinity in a separate post that complements this one.
Cox charges an equipment leasing fee of $13.99/month. But if you buy your own Cox-compatible modem/router, Cox won’t charge you anything extra.
Installation
T-Mobile has no installation fees. Once you get the modem, just find a spot in your home, plug it in, download the app, and you’re good to go.
Cox charges a $100 installation fee. If you subscribe to any of Cox’s plans, you can opt for the self-installation kit, which comes with step-by-step instructions.
T-Mobile Internet Vs. Cox: Perks
T Mobile Internet Vs. Cox – Perks
T-Mobile Home Internet comes with several perks. For starters, T-Mobile has partnered with YouTube TV to give you a $10/month discount as long as you’re subscribed to their internet service.
YouTube TV gives you over 85 channels, including most entertainment, popular news, and sports channels.
T-Mobile also doesn’t charge for the gateway, so there are no surprise costs added to your monthly bill.
Cox has its own perks, including over 3 million free WiFi hotspots across the US to help you save on data.
Also, if you’re on a tight budget, Cox might be the better option because they offer a plan that costs only $10/per month for qualifying low-income households.
T-Mobile Internet Vs. Cox: Pricing and Speeds
How much does T-Mobile Internet cost? Just $50 with AutoPay and $60 without. There are no term contracts, and the plan comes with a Home WiFi Gateway.
With T-Mobile, expect speeds between 35-120Mbps. That’s not the fastest out there, but it’s perfectly usable for most households.
Cox offers plans between $30 and $100 with speeds ranging from 25Mbps to 1000Mbps.
That means Cox easily outpaces T-Mobile in both affordability at the low end and raw speed at the top. Let’s look at the table below for the full picture.
| T Mobile Internet Pricing and Plans | Price | Max Download Speed | Max Upload Speed | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T Mobile Internet (With AutoPay) | $50.00/Mo | 115 Mbps | 23 Mbps | Wireless |
| T Mobile Internet (Without AutoPay) | $60.00/Mo | 115 Mbps | 23 Mbps | Wireless |
| Cox Interent Plans and Pricing | Price | Max Download Speed | Max Upload Speed | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter 25 | $30.00/Mo | 25Mbps | 3Mbps | Cable |
| Essential 50 | $40.00/Mo | 50Mbps | 3Mbps | Cable |
| Preffered 250 | $60.00/Mo | 250Mbps | 3Mbps | Cable |
| Ultimate 500 | $80.00/Mo | 500Mbps | 10Mbps | Cable |
| Gigablast | $100.00/Mo | 1000Mbps | 35Mbps | Cable |
Final Thought
T-Mobile’s Home Internet is a big deal for people in areas that don’t have access to high-speed wired connections. But it’s tough to argue against a fixed internet provider like Cox when you compare speeds head to head.
So for raw speed and low-end affordability, Cox wins. But T-Mobile takes the crown on coverage and flexibility.
Use our ISP coverage checker to compare speeds, pricing, and connection types from every provider near you.
For Spectrum vs Cox, see our detailed comparison.
