Mediacom Staff Review
Mediacom offers low monthly promo prices, but check for data caps and price hikes
Mediacom was founded in 1995 and is owned by billionaire Rocco Commisso. (Fun fact: Commisso also currently owns the New York Cosmos soccer team [1]!) Mediacom ranks as the ninth-largest internet provider in the nation [2]. Mediacom offers service in over 20 states and is the largest cable provider in Iowa and the second-largest in Illinois. As a cable internet provider, Mediacom will give you reliable internet at gigabit speed, often at super-low promotional discounts.Their internet service is called Xtream. Unfortunately, Mediacom will often hike your monthly rates sharply when your initial promotions run out. Even more importantly, their lower-end plans will give you monthly data caps, which will cause overage charges or throttling if you run over your limit. Mediacom’s data caps for its first-tier Xtream plan are much lower than data limits for most cable internet. That’s a big deal, as it can affect your price or internet performance.Pros
Unusually fast cable speeds up to even 2 Gigabits Offers very low promotional rates No required contracts
Cons
Fastest speeds not available in all service areas Prices rise sharply when promo rates expire Restrictive data caps for plans under 1 Gig
Pricing
Attractive promotional pricing marred by low data caps on some plans, price hikes on all plans
Mediacom is one of only a few cable companies in the U.S. that offers a promo price of $19.99/month for a year. While that price seems outstanding, there are some drawbacks. That first tier plan, known as Internet 250, has a downstream data cap of 400 GB per month. This is low compared to other cable internet data caps, which are more typically capped at 1 TB (1000 GB). Some cable companies don’t have caps at all, which makes Mediacom look worse in comparison. The data cap may affect your total price, because if you go over your monthly limit, you will pay $10 for every 50GB over your allowance. In addition, there is a major additional fee hiding behind every Mediacom plan: the extra modem fee of $14/month. So don’t forget that a company that offers you $19.99/month plus a $14 modem fee is no better deal than another company with a $34.00/month rate that includes all your equipment at no extra charge. The prices for Mediacom plans also experience sharp increases after the first year. For example, that first-tier plan jumps from $19.99 to $49.99. And on top of that, you still have to pay the modem fee, which would take you to about $65. Suddenly, your Internet 250 is no bargain! And the other plans experience similar price hikes that basically double your monthly payment after the first year. There is one bright spot in Mediacom’s pricing. The company does have a plan for low-income customers to try to ease the burden of a high monthly internet price. Called Xtream Connect, the discounted plan is only for those who qualify by receiving certain other federal benefits. For example, if you are in SNAP or Medicaid or SSI, you would qualify for this plan. Families who have a child in the National School Lunch Program will qualify for the lowest rate of all, at only $14.99/month with no extra modem fee or deposit required.Reliability and Performance
Gigabit speeds can even be symmetrical through HFC technology
Cable internet has come a long way from its humble beginnings in coaxial cable. Because most cable internet now runs on a fiber spine (HFC), you can get gigabit download speeds if you want them. And here’s something even more unusual. Xtream offers a 1 Gig symmetrical plan – in other words, you get 1000 Mbps download AND 1000 Mbps upload speed. Usually, you would need a 100% fiber plan for this. But Mediacom is on the leading edge of hybrid fiber coaxial development [3]. Because the company is beginning to implement the standard called DOCSIS 4.0, Mediacom is one of the first cable providers to bring you a gigabit symmetrical speed plan [4]. That is far beyond the upload speed of almost any other available cable plan. Cable usually tops out at an upload speed of 50 Mbps, which is much slower than fiber’s symmetrical speeds. In some places, Mediacom even offers a 2 Gig plan. The 2 Gig plan is not symmetrical, but its upload speed is still lightning-fast at 1 Gig.Equipment, Installation and Bonus Features
Extra modem fee packs a wallop on your monthly bill
As mentioned in our pricing section, the extra equipment fees for Mediacom can add up quickly. First, there’s the $14 modem fee. installation is $109.99, which also contrasts with the many ISPs that now offer free or discounted installation. Then there’s another $10.00 activation fee. If your router is on special as it is currently, you may get its use free for a year, but the standard rate is $10/month for the eero360Pro. With all these extra fees, you can see why the FCC just required internet service providers to give full advance disclosure of all the costs you will pay with an internet plan! [5] Mediacom also became one of the newest cable companies to offer its own bundled mobile service for your smartphone [6]. This service, called MVNO, means that you get carrier service from Verizon’s network, but Mediacom administers your plan.Customer Experience & Support
Scores are below average for customer satisfaction
Mediacom has many of the online customer support features of the top national providers. You can pay your bill online. You can chat with support from 9 am to 9 pm every day. Or you can call by phone. But despite the support, customers aren’t delighted, according to the 2023 JD Power Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study. Mediacom ranked at the bottom of the survey in the North Central area of the United States, which is the only region in which it was rated [7]. Given that the internet itself is fast and reliable, we would usually recommend Mediacom and its Xtream Internet. We just wish they would drop all the extra fees and simplify pricing. It’s a good product, but extra business fees that differ significantly from the advertised monthly plan price will always lead to less satisfied customers.FAQ's
100% fiber is not a focus for Mediacom’s Xtream service. Instead, they are leading the advancement of speed in hybrid cable internet technology (HFC) as they upgrade to DOCSIS 4.0
No, renting the modem from Mediacom will add another $14 to your monthly plan cost.
Yes, Xtream Connect is a discounted service for qualifying low-income households. To qualify, you must be receiving other federal low-income benefits such as SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI. The National School Lunch program will qualify your household for the largest discount.
No, there are no required contracts for Mediacom.
Yes, Mediacom has some unusual data caps on its two internet plans below 1 Gigabit. Be aware that the Internet250 plan has a 400 GB data cap, which is low enough that you may run over it in a month. The internet 500 plan has a 2000 GB data allowance, which is high enough for most households not to exceed it.
Xtream service is available in over 20 states, and Mediacom is one of the largest providers in Iowa and Illinois.
Sources
[1] Wikipedia.com. "Mediacom." [2] Dgtlinfra.com. "Top Internet Providers in the U.S." [3] LightReading.com. "Mediacom Kicks Off Its 10G Push." [4] Fierce-Network.com. "Mediacom Gets the DOCSIS 4.0 Party Started in Iowa." [5] FCC.gov. "Consumer Broadband Labels Now Required." [6] MobileWorldLive.com. "Mediacom becomes latest U.S. cable player to Launch MVNO." [7] JDPower.com. "2023 U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study."
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Top reviews
Lori Phillips
from Sarcoxie, on November 2024
It's good
Tequila
from Milton, FL on September 2023
This is the only internet company that service my area.
Roberta B
from Milton, FL on July 2023
No other options in my area
Eleanor Mason
from Herrin, IL on May 2023
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Samuel Lee
from Unknown, SD on July 2022
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from Marion, IA on July 2022
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Michael Wright
from Milton, FL on June 2022
Brian Perez
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George Smith
from Millsboro, DE on May 2022
Aubrey Jenkins
from Andalusia, AL on April 2022
Richard Turner
from Albertville, MN on April 2022
Madison Hughes
from Springfield, MO on March 2022
Zoey Green
from Unknown, IA on January 2022
Samantha Lewis
from Davenport, IA on January 2022
Paisley Mitchell
from Unknown, IA on January 2022
Evelyn Carter
from Brookings, SD on January 2022
Ella Garcia
from Red Oak, IA on January 2022
Aurora Lee
from Unknown, IA on December 2021
Kenneth Perez
from Unknown, IA on November 2021
Elizabeth Cooper
from Apache Junction, AZ on November 2021
Hazel Lawson
from Prior Lake, MN on October 2021
Riley Gray
from Prairie du Chien, WI on August 2021
Sophia Baker
from Minneapolis, MN on August 2021
Chloe Gibson
from Unknown, TN on August 2021
Nora Johnson
from Lewes, DE on April 2021
Victoria Hayes
from Deatsville, AL on April 2021
Mia Bennett
from White, SD on April 2021
Penelope Hill
from Waukon, IA on February 2021
Amelia Brooks
from Bremen, IN on January 2021
Christopher Baker
from Atlanta, GA on November 2020
Larry Robinson
from Lacon, IL on October 2020
Lily Edwards
from Unknown, NC on August 2020
Addison Miller
from Waterloo, IA on August 2020
Abigail Clark
from Springfield, MO on August 2020
Grace Davis
from Cloquet, MN on July 2020
Matthew Harris
from Milwaukee, WI on July 2020
Dalaina Sandland
from Le Sueur, MN on July 2020
Internet is okay, nothing spectacular.
Stella King
from Unknown, IA on June 2020
Patrick Baker
from Montgomery, MN on June 2020
Trenton Mooney
from Marshalltown, IA on May 2020
Signal goes in and out even when connected wired
Rory Whitaker
from Atlanta, GA on May 2020
Cool
Norah Pineda
from Clinton, IL on May 2020
Prices are fairly high for the service, but overall we are pleased with the speed of our connection and how well it works. We rarely get disruptions.
Alexander Lin
from West Des Moines, IA on May 2020
its ok dont ose very often
Brooks Galvan
from Brookings, SD on May 2020
Very good provider
Brianna Rogers
from Barton, WI on May 2020
Have had no problems. Occasional down time Is short and resolved quickly usually at night. Notifications of internet usage is greatly appreciated.
Armando Solomon
from Chicago, IL on May 2020
So yeah I had to do that to yeah you got so weird I don't know I don't know about 260 game I love to play and I'll let you play any games together yet.
Valerie Hodges
from Newark, NJ on May 2020
Bohnbhrhehe tjienejriwhrbr ejribehwhrjen urhehwyajdbrh wieiwgywhebrjfie the idjrjeneudbd tijegegsbsntnthehrr futjnrhehrnthr
Kameron Tanner
from Nappanee, IN on May 2020
Fantastic service but you pay a small fortune for it. Fast and reliable but the cost of it is not worth it. I am looking for a new provider as we speak.
Nathan Brandt
from Minneapolis, MN on May 2020
about average, nothing to be excited about. business as usual. price could be lower. but speed and reliabilty is ok. not much else to say.
Wyatt Butler
from Baltimore, MD on May 2020
The call in wait time was horrendous for me. I am not sure if there was only one person working or not but it was very stressful to see.
Corbin Suarez
from Navarre, FL on May 2020
High price for ok service. Customer service is a joke with the only competition using satellite networks that fade in and out during inclement weather.
Aria Jackson
from Chicago, IL on March 2020
Joseph Turner
from Newton, IA on January 2020
Daniel Harris
from Dubuque, IA on November 2019
Hannah Martinez
from Excelsior Springs, MO on August 2019
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