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Spectrum Vs Cox – Overview
Spectrum and Cox are among the largest internet service providers in the United States. In fact, most evaluation reports rank them next to each other.
So it’s only natural for people to want to know which is the better option for them.
It’s worth noting that both companies have thrived in the last decade, with Spectrum being the result of Charter’s merger with Bright House and Time Warner.
In light of these significant shifts in internet provision, the competition when choosing between these two long-standing rivals has evolved a bit.
For this reason, we’ve compiled a review comparing Spectrum and Cox to see how they stack up against each other in terms of accessibility, approval rating, charges, perks, prices, and speeds. Let’s see how both will fare in this ISP battle.
Spectrum Vs Cox: Accessibility
Spectrum Vs Cox – Accessibility
Spectrum’s internet services are available across 44 US states. However, Spectrum’s coverage is largely concentrated in states such as California, New York and Texas.
Spectrum has about 103 million subscribers in the US. This is why Spectrum is ranked as the 2nd largest ISP (internet service provider) in the United States. It’s worth noting that Spectrum’s fiber internet is only available to businesses.
On the other hand, Cox has a smaller coverage across the US offering internet services to 18 states only. Their largest concentration is in Arizona, California and Virginia.
Cox has a subscriber base of about 22 million, and this makes Cox the 3rd largest cable internet provider in the United States. Cox is also available to businesses in over 1100 zip codes.
Spectrum Vs Cox: Approval Rating
Spectrum Vs Cox – Approval Rating
ISPs are notorious for not having great customer approval ratings; neither Spectrum nor Cox are exceptions to this rule because they don’t have tons of glowing reviews.
Spectrum customers seem to be more satisfied with the services they’re getting compared to Cos customers.
Some of the common complaints among Spectrum customers are inconsistencies in speeds and support.
On the other hand, Cox is a victim of customers complaining about price hikes that tend to happen often. However, Cox is credited for its customer support, which is among the best, if not the best.
Overall, Spectrum wins this battle, but that doesn’t mean everything there is okay.
Spectrum Vs Cox: Charges
Spectrum Vs Cox – Charges
Equipment
Cox and Spectrum have the lowest equipment rental fees among major US ISPs. Spectrum charges $10/month for their modem, while Cox charges $13.99/month for theirs.
However, Cox allows customers to buy their own compatible modem at no extra fee.
Installation
Spectrum’s one-time installation fee is $50, making it one of the lowest installation fees on the market. On the other hand, Cox has a significantly higher installation fee coming in at $100.
However, Cox customers can opt for an installation kit to be delivered to their address or get one at a Cox reseller. This will help you avoid installation fees when they do it yourself.
Spectrum Vs Cox: Perks
Spectrum Vs Cox – Perks
Another thing to consider when choosing ISPs is the perks offered by each.
Spectrum doesn’t offer free goodies, but they will buy you out of an existing contract to the tune of $500 if you want to switch from your current ISP to Spectrum.
Cox, on the other hand, offers some perks, such as three million hotspots spread across the country to help you save on data by using WiFi.
What’s more, Cox has a prepaid internet service for low-income households known as Straight Up, which allows them to get internet for a pocket-friendly $10 per month.
Spectrum Vs Cox: Pricing and Speeds
Spectrum and Cox are hot in each other’s heels when it comes to download and upload speeds. Both have plans with low download speeds and high download speeds.
Businesses and homeowners can pick from a variety of speeds from both companies.
For instance, companies that need ultra-fast download and upload speeds should consider the gigabit (1Gbps) plans offered by both companies.
Cox has the top ultra-affordable plans but keeps in mind that most of these low prices are mainly promos for new subscribers.
Therefore, after being on the service for more than a year, the price you pay will be higher. See the table below to learn more.
Spectrum Vs Cox Comparison Table
| Spectrum Internet Plans and Pricing | Price | Max Download Speed | Max Upload Speed | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet | $50.00/Mo | 200 Mbps | 10 Mbps | Cable |
| Spectrum Internet Ultra | $70.00/Mo | 400 Mbps | 20 Mbps | Cable |
| Spectrum Interent Gig | $90.00/Mo | 940 Mbps | 35 Mbps | Cable |
| 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
All in all, the difference between Spectrum and Cox boils down to one question: do you want fast or cheap internet?
Spectrum doesn’t have great budget-friendly plans, but mid-tier plans, such as the Ultra, offer an impressive 400Mbps.
Cox, on the other hand, has a budget and gigabit plans that are workable if you want cheap and slow or super-fast and pricey plans.
See Also