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Plans starting at: $40
Popular Package: 1 Gig Fiber Internet
Download speeds up to: 1 Gbps
Connection Types: Fiber & Cable
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Plans starting at: $30
Popular Package: Cox Internet Gigablast
Download speeds up to: 1 Gbps
Connection Types: Cable
Call today & find the best COX internet deals
1-833-864-0259Optimum Staff rating
Optimum features good speeds but poor customer satisfaction scores
Optimum is a major national cable internet provider. Most of Optimum’s 4.3 million subscribers receive cable internet service. But the ISP is also adding some all-fiber connections in select markets. Optimum is the internet brand name of Altice USA, which rolled the company formerly called Suddenlink into the Optimum brand in 2022 [1]. Altice/Optimum is the 6th-largest ISP in the nation [2]. Optimum seems to check off all the right boxes for many of its offerings. You will have no data caps and no required contracts with Optimum internet plans. You will also get free equipment rental included with your monthly plan price. And Optimum’s prices are good (at least while the promotions last). So why are Optimum’s national customer satisfaction scores so low? We’ll check into that as we give you an overview of what to expect from an Optimum internet connection.PROS
Gigabit download speeds No data caps or contracts 2-year price guarantee
Cons
Poor customer satisfaction scores Slower upload speeds for cable than all-fiber Price hikes after promo rates
Call today & find the best Optimum internet deals
1-833-337-0356COX Staff rating
Cox offers gigabit download speeds, but at higher prices than competitors
Cox offers fast, reliable cable internet service and in a few select areas, all-fiber internet. But mostly, when you order Cox service, you’re going to get very fast cable internet up to about 2 Gigs. In fact, 99% of Cox’s customer base gets gigabit download speeds [1]. The lowest-priced plan will remain constant in price after the promotional period and has no monthly contract. All other plans go up by steep price increases of $25-$50 after the promotional rate ends. Overall, you are likely to pay more with Cox than with its cable or fiber competitors. That said, Cox may still be your best option if you happen to live in an area with no stronger fiber or cable internet providers who will give you more speed for your dollar. Beyond its service offerings and pricing structure, Cox has also been at the center of several major industry developments. Recently, Cox has been in the news for jointly defending its proposed $34.5 billion merger with Charter before the FCC, arguing that the two companies do not compete directly and are struggling with declining subscriber numbers [2]. They contend that critics’ claims of the firms becoming dominant “gatekeepers” are outdated and that the merger is necessary to keep their services competitive in today’s broadband market.Additionally, the Supreme Court has recently signaled sympathy toward internet providers in a high-stakes copyright dispute with major record labels, raising concerns that a ruling for the music industry could force ISPs to police users or disconnect entire households, campuses, or towns [3]. The justices appeared wary of the sweeping consequences proposed by the labels, even as they pressed Cox Communications on the limits of its legal theory.
The developments ultimately highlight how Cox’s role in broadband extends beyond day-to-day internet service and into broader regulatory and industry-wide challenges.PROS
Wide availability of gigabit download speeds Data caps are high at 1.2 TB, decreasing likelihood of overages Reliability of cable connection
Cons
Big price hikes after promotional rates Data caps may result in overage charges Below-average customer satisfaction ratings
Cities with Cox availability
Call today & find the best COX internet deals
1-833-864-0259Optimum Pricing
Good initial prices followed by price hikes
Cable internet is the chief type of connection that Optimum provides its customers. Because of improvements to cable internet technology, you can get gigabit download speeds from many cable internet companies like Optimum. You just won’t get the same upload speeds from cable as you will from an all-fiber connection [3]. Whether you get the usual cable service or all-fiber, you will get good prices from Optimum, and those prices will be locked for 2 years. Here’s an example. You’ll pay $40/month for Optimum’s first tier plan, which is up to 300. That is a good price for these speeds. The catch is that after those two years, standard prices will take effect, which will spike your bill higher. That may be why Optimum is seeing year-over-year declines in its cable customers [4]. The price hikes may be pushing people to other options at the end of their two-year promotion.Call today & find the best Optimum internet deals
1-833-337-0356Cox Pricing
Be aware of price hikes and data overage for heavy-streaming households
Cox offers a first-tier plan at $55/month for up to 300 Mbps download speeds. That's about $.18 per Mbps, which is on the higher end of the pricing scale. The good news is that Cox's first-tier price is the standard price, so it won’t go up automatically after a promotional period. Unfortunately, the higher speed plans do have steep price hikes after the first year’s promotional rate. And when those price increases kick in, you’ll be paying more per month, on average, than you would for the same speeds through Xfinity or Spectrum. In addition, there’s a monthly rental fee for the Cox modem/router of $13, though you are allowed to buy your own compatible router if you wish. Another big question about Cox pricing will be how much data you use. Cox does have a data cap. The cap is high at 1.25 TB [4], so many households will never exceed it. It's worth noting, though, that the share of U.S. broadband subscribers using at least 1 TB of data per month has risen to nearly 25% in Q4 2024 [5]... up from 14% in 2022 [6]. And if you do exceed your cap, you will face overage charges [7]. In other words, if you are a heavy data user, you may end up with a higher monthly bill. So be aware of these data caps as a factor in your pricing if you live in a household with multiple people who stream 4K or play real-time games online every day. If your internet activities don’t include lots of HD streaming, gaming, or large file uploads, or you only have one or two household members, you are unlikely to exceed your monthly data cap.Call today & find the best COX internet deals
1-833-864-0259Optimum Reliability and Performance
Cable and fiber both provide fast download speeds, but cable's upload speeds are slower
With hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) technology, Optimum gives its cable customers gigabit download speeds but much slower upload speeds. That’s typical for cable internet service. Optimum is comparable to other major cable internet providers such as Spectrum and Xfinity, offering upload speeds at a maximum of around 35-50 Mbps. Optimum differs from the cable internet competition because it is also launching into the all-fiber internet market. Optimum’s current fiber internet customer base is small but has doubled in the last couple of years from around 100,000 to over 200,000 subscribers [4]. By 2025, Optimum plans to create over 6.5 million fiber passings [5]. Fiber internet’s most striking advantage over cable internet is that fiber offers symmetrical upload and download speeds. This is a game-changer for online gaming, videoconferencing, and large homes with multiple devices. When Altice merged Suddenlink under the Optimum brand, the company had two distinct “footprints” left from where the old Optimum and Suddenlink coverage had existed. Suddenlink’s coverage area had been primarily in the South and West. Optimum was strong in the Northeast, and particularly in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Now, the fiber buildout is fastest in that tristate area [1]. Your chances of getting fiber internet from Optimum in the next year or two will be better if you live in the tri-state area.Call today & find the best Optimum internet deals
1-833-337-0356Cox Reliability and Performance
Years of solid operations equip Cox with reliable infrastructure
Cox has a thirty-year record of delivering internet access to customers. This means that when you order internet service, it will work as it should the vast majority of the time. Cox home internet serves metro areas in 18 states. Cox Communications remains a major U.S. broadband provider with around 6–6.5 million residential and commercial customers under its own brand. With its 2025 proposed merger with Charter Communications, the combined company would serve roughly 35.9 million broadband subscribers — making it, if approved, the largest cable/broadband operator in the United States [8]. Cox uses hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) technology, like its major competitors Xfinity and Spectrum. Ordinarily, your internet service will be carried by fiber-optic lines along the main arteries until it gets within about a mile of your house. Somewhere near that point, the network will switch to copper coaxial cable. This structure is called Fiber-to-the-Node (FTTN). It is faster than an all-copper network, but not as fast as all-fiber, which is also known as Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH). Cox does offer a small percentage of all-fiber connections and is building out more, but for the moment, you are most likely to get HFC, i.e., cable internet service [9]. Download speeds with Cox’s cable internet will go as high as 2,000 Mbps in some areas, and upload speeds will top out around 200 Mbps. Though this upload speed is far below the symmetrical high speeds of an all-fiber connection, Cox cable internet still provides plenty of speed for most households. Cox uses data caps of 1.25 TB/month on its plans. This allowance will provide plenty of data for most households. But if you have a large household and you all do unusually heavy streaming or gaming to go over 1 TB, you may incur up to a maximum of $100 in overage charges. You can get Cox plans with unlimited data, but only by paying more each month for an unlimited plan.Call today & find the best COX internet deals
1-833-864-0259Optimum Equipment, Installation and Bonus Features
No equipment rental fees, free installation with Optimum plans
Optimum will provide your modem/router as part of your monthly plan fee, with no extra rental charge. If you have a compatible cable plan, you may even get a Wi-Fi 6 router, which will give you higher speeds for multiple devices than Wi-Fi 5. Fiber internet plans from Optimum will often include the Wi-Fi 6 gateway as well. If you would rather use your own modem and router, Optimum will allow it. Just be sure to check for compatibility with their specs. Standard installation is free with Optimum plans.Call today & find the best Optimum internet deals
1-833-337-0356Cox Equipment, Installation and Bonus Features
Cox offers optional self-installation, charges equipment rental fee
When you order Cox internet service, you will be able to select either professional installation or self-installation. Self-installation will save you about $100, as long as you’re willing to deal with instructions for connection and activation. If you want to use a Cox-supplied modem/router, you will get their Panoramic Wi-Fi gateway [10]. Higher-tier plans will receive a Wi-Fi 6 gateway, while the lower tier of plans will have a more typical Wi-Fi 5 compatible device. All customers will pay a $13/month rental fee for the equipment in addition to their monthly plan fee. However, Cox will forego the fee if you use your own compatible modem/router, which may make it cheaper in the long run for you to buy one rather than renting.Call today & find the best COX internet deals
1-833-864-0259Optimum Experience & Support
Optimum customer satisfaction: the big question mark
With so many seemingly good points to its service and pricing, why has Optimum’s customer satisfaction scored significantly below average according to J.D. Power? [6] A random sampling of online user reviews seems to indicate two major complaints. The first is outages and failure of technical response. The second is a more general dissatisfaction with the phone system, being transferred around to different departments, and getting contradictory responses from different phone reps when trying to solve billing issues. Because this is a fairly even distribution of complaints, it’s likely that Optimum is just not quick enough in responding to customer concerns, whether they be technical or billing-related. We can’t know the reason for this dysfunction. Often, these kinds of responsiveness issues happen when companies are understaffed or have high staff turnover in their customer service. But until Optimum gets better ratings, we have to give them only 3 stars for customer satisfaction.Call today & find the best Optimum internet deals
1-833-337-0356Cox Experience & Support
Cox customer service ranks below average on national surveys
Cox gets a resounding "meh" for customer service on recognized national surveys of customer satisfaction such as the J.D. Power survey [11]. Cox ranks below average in each region where it provides service. In 2025, Cox scored 68 out of 100 on the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), which places it just below the 70/100 average for non-fiber internet providers [12].
In an industry not known for good customer service, it's hard to split hairs about exactly what the rankings mean. Even some of the best ISPs occasionally get their share of negativity when you look up review compilation maps [13]. But despite TrustPilot's 1-star rating (based on over 1,400 reviews) [14], because J.D. Power and ACSI are widely regarded as among the more objective rating systems, we're going to give Cox 2 stars for customer service.
Call today & find the best COX internet deals
1-833-864-0259Optimum FAQ's
To order or learn more, call the number on this page or visit OptimumSavings.com.
No, Optimum does not impose data caps on any of its internet plans. You will have unlimited data on both cable internet and fiber internet plans from Optimum.
Optimum offers a free internet speed upgrade service to loyal customers, providing faster speeds and better value without changing the current price.
Optimum provides two options for renting a modem: one includes tech support and equipment replacement, while the other option is for purchasing a compatible modem.
To explore different speed options for your Optimum Internet service, you can enter your zip code here at CompareInternet.com to see what plans are available in your area.
Optimum offers savings on monthly bills through their Internet + Mobile Savings program, allowing customers to save up to $30/month by combining Optimum Internet and Optimum Mobile services.
Only Optimum Mobile and Optimum Internet customers are eligible for the Internet + Mobile Savings program offered by Optimum.
Call today & find the best Optimum internet deals
1-833-337-0356Cox FAQ's
Cox provides a convenient self-installation option called Easy Connect. With Easy Connect, you can use a self-installation kit to set up your new internet or phone modem or TV receiver. The process is simple and involves following a few easy steps outlined in the self-installation guides provided by Cox.
Panoramic Wi-Fi from Cox is an innovative high-speed internet experience designed to meet your needs. It offers fast and reliable speeds throughout your home, along with support tools to manage your home network effectively. With Panoramic Wi-Fi, you can enjoy wall-to-wall Wi-Fi coverage and faster speeds for all your internet activities.
Cox Hotspots are a network of Wi-Fi hotspots available nationwide. They are accessible to Cox Internet Preferred and higher plans. When you're near a hotspot, you can connect to them by searching for available networks using your smart devices. By using Cox Hotspots with your Cox login credentials, you can save on cellular data usage while enjoying internet connectivity on the go.
Yes, Cox allows you to change your home internet speed whenever your needs change. If you require faster or slower internet speeds, you have the flexibility to adjust your plan accordingly. Cox offers a range of internet plans to cater to different speed requirements. You can explore the available options and select the plan that best suits your needs. You can test your internet speed here.
All of Cox’s internet plans come with 1.2 GB of data per month. Cox offers two additional data plans beyond the monthly plan that is included in your service. These additional data plans provide you with more internet data to meet your usage needs if you are a heavy data user.
Yes, you can set up a new Cox email address. Cox provides email services to its customers, allowing them to create personalized email accounts.
Call today & find the best COX internet deals
1-833-864-0259Optimum Sources
[1] Wikipedia.com. "Suddenlink Communications."
[2] Dgtlinfra.com. "Top 125 Internet Providers in the U.S."
[3] Optimum.com. "Internet Packages Speed Details."
[4] AlticeUSA.com. "Altice USA Reports First Quarter 2023 Results."
[5] AlticeUSA.com. "Altice USA Announces Acceleration of Fiber Deployment Strategy."
[6] J.D. Power. "2023 U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study."
Call today & find the best Optimum internet deals
1-833-337-0356Cox Sources
[1] Cox. "Cox Communications Fact Sheet."
[2] BroadbandBreakfast. "Charter, Cox Defend Merger to FCC." [3] CNN. "Supreme Court leans toward internet service providers in copyright battle with nation’s music industry" [4] Cox. "Free unlimited data, ready when you are." [5] CSI Magazine. "Average monthly broadband consumption nears 700 GB."[6] Benton Institute. "Broadband Usage Still Robust First Quarter 2022."
[7] Cox. "Learn About Cox Internet Data Usage."
[8] International Center for Law & Economics. "The Competitive Effects of the Proposed Charter/Cox Transaction."[9] Cox. "Cox Begins to Offer 2 Gig Symmetrical Speeds."
[10] Cox. "Panoramic Wifi for wall-to-wall coverage."[11] J.D. Power. "2023 U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study."
[12] ACSI. "Access competitive benchmarking for the largest ISPs."[13] Fairshake.com. "The Most Hated Internet Service Providers in Every U.S. State."
[14] TrustPilot. "Cox Internet Reviews."Call today & find the best COX internet deals
1-833-864-0259Optimum Internet Plans
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1-833-337-0356Cox Internet Plans
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1-833-864-0259Optimum Customers Review
Pricing
3.0
Reliability & Performance
4.0
Equipment, Installation & Features
4.0
Customer Experience & Support
3.0
Overall Rating
3.5
Cassandra K
from Sloatsburg, NY on December 2025
I hate that being a customer of theirs since the '90s means absolutely nothing to the company. Only new customers get good deals and then if you don't read the fine print couple months after you get your service All of a sudden the jack up $10 on your bill but the fact that they don't have any kind of thank you for being loyal and staying with our company you deserve a break too why did new people signing up and I have to pay for equipment but I do why do I have to and update my equipment also wtf why can't I get a break What was their answer every company does this okay cool well I'm not going to be part of this ridiculous dumpster fire circus which is basically every corporation it seems like there is no benefit for being a loyal customer to anyone and I hate the fees and all the forcing sales when they're trying to call because you have a problem what's happened to customer service common sense I don't know not happy Good luck
Brett Mcivor
on October 2025
Slow always buffering
Went up to $77
Jeff Rawls
from Bellaire, TX on October 2025
Optimum is the worse I've ever dealt with, they increase your pricing and refuse to cancel service until you pay the amount that you never agreed on to begin with. Getting their equipment back to them and counting on them to stop billing will not happen. Stay away from this Company!
Helen Harvey
from Ruston, LA on October 2025
I am very unhappy with this company lately the service is terrible
Catherine Pape
from Watertown, CT on August 2025
Last dec.switched to fiber and was told there was no price increase.
Went from under 200 to 282.
Also they keep charging me for three tvs and I only have 2.
Will not give me credit or change my bill.
Call today & find the best Optimum internet deals
1-833-337-0356Cox Customers Review
Pricing
3.0
Reliability & Performance
4.0
Equipment, Installation & Features
4.0
Customer Experience & Support
2.0
Overall Rating
3.5
James Heaton
from Crestview, FL on September 2025
Cox is to expensive
Jason Merrifield
from Tucson, AZ on September 2025
Just read the other reviews. This is crap. IF there was ANY other real choice I would dump Cox in a second. I am paying for a GIG connections and am getting 30 mgb. I spent an hour arguing with chat to get a phone number so I could talk to a person. Then when I asked for compensation they transferred me to a dead line. Yep this is worth the 110 a month. There is no proactive maintenance on their infrastructure. The online tech said the in home amp needed to be disconnected........I dont have an in home amp. So now here I get to sit for the rest of Saturday and hope a Tech can help and if not today I have to be home tomorrow so they can maybe show up. Find a different service provider.
H Meyers
from Omaha, NE on September 2025
I've had Cox since 1987. Years ago, it was moderately priced and customer service was excellent. It has progressively got worse and worse to the point that it has taken 3 months and endless hours to fix my current problem. The phone customer service staff don't know what they are doing - and won's ask for help. Cox doesn't check on their end to make sure they've done what they need to. For example, I recently had to upgrade equipment twice (their error) and they managed to disconnect my landline for almost three weeks because they didn't flip a switch. Then, a two-hour (and twice disconnected on their end) argument about obtaining credit for the time I didn't have phone service. This particular problem has happened at least three times in the past. The pricing is a shell game, as every time I call I get different explanations - and some differ. Be sure if you talk to them to threaten to leave and behold! you can get the new subscriber deals, and some others they seem to pull out of a hat. Service in my neighborhood (Benson) is unreliable, to the point that we neighbors call each other to see if *we* can identify the issue. Cox's first response is always that it is our personal equipment - and nothing on their end. It is ALWAYS on their end. Techs and customer service seldom completely know what they are doing. Now they are obviously contracting overseas so the people on the phone, while speaking English, have such heavy accents that neither of us can understand each other. Which adds to the confusion. If you are in Omaha and your area has access to fiber - go for it. In older parts of Omaha, like mine, where Cox was the only game in town for decades, their equipment and the cable is old and not upgraded unless it fails completely. It is above ground and subject to weather (rain, snow, cold, wind, fallen trees). We pay the same as West Omaha for questionable service. Do not rely on Cox for landline service. I finally had to get a cell phone so I can call Cox at least once a month when service is interrupted or fails. Their prices keep going up as they add services with fancy names but no real advantage to the customer, especially as they can't provide steady service. Most of us are okay with the speeds we have if only we could count on it! To add to the insult, they have now trained staff in some happy clappy reassuring customer service language to praise the customer for things like "being so smart to figure that out" and "you are being so patient." We are not dogs; we know they are desperately trying to salvage their ratings. It is insulting and patronizing. They give a one-minute thank you at the end of the call - wasting even more time after two hours mostly on hold with them. Really - just fix the service. Fast. Or cut the prices and be honest.
dennis cuccarese
from El Cajon, CA on September 2025
cost is too high
Maria Brown
from Las Vegas, NV on August 2025
The service was spotty at times. No internet service for hours sometimes.
Call today & find the best COX internet deals
1-833-864-0259