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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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1-833-337-0356
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 4.4 million subscribers receive cable internet service [7]. But the ISP is also adding some all-fiber connections in select markets--most prominently in the Northeast [8]. Optimum is the internet brand name of Altice USA, which rebranded 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 5-year price lock on select plans
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
9 Mile Point
Abbeville
Abbyville
Achilles
Adamsville
Addis
Agawam
Aguila
Alachua
Albion
Alden
Alexandria
Aliso Viejo
Alma
Alpena
Alpine
Alta Vista
Alum Ridge
Ama
Amado
Ames
Anaheim
Andale
Andover
Annandale
Anthem
Anthony
Apache Junction
Arabi
Arcadia
Archer
Arcola
Argonia
Arizona City
Ark
Arkansas City
Arkoma
Arlington
Arma
Arnaudville
Ashaway
Ashburn
Assaria
Atlanta
Attleboro
Auburn
Augusta
Avant
Avery Island
Avoca
Avondale
Baileys Crossroads
Bains
Baker
Baldwin
Bapchule
Barataria
Barhamsville
Barling
Barnes
Barnesville
Barnsdall
Barrington
Bartlesville
Batchelor
Bates
Baton Rouge
Bavaria
Bay Village
Bayou Goula
Bearden
Beaumont
Beaver
Beggs
Bel Aire
Bella Vista
Bellamy
Belle Chasse
Belle Plaine
Belle Rose
Belleview
Bellevue
Bellingham
Bellview
Belmont
Belvidere
Bena
Bennington
Bensch Ranch
Benson
Bent Mountain
Bentley
Benton
Bentonville
Berea
Bergman
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 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, on select plans, those prices will be locked for 5 years (as of January 2026) [9]. 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 the promotional period ends, standard prices will apply, which will increase your bill. 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 promotional period.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. As of November 2025, Optimum has over 3 million fiber passings and continues to expand [10]. Fiber internet’s most striking advantage over cable internet is its symmetrical upload and download speeds. This is a game-changer for online gaming, videoconferencing, and large homes with multiple devices. When Altice merged Suddenlink into the Optimum brand, the company had two distinct “footprints” from where the former 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 is 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 you with a WiFi 6E gateway as a part of your monthly plan fee, with no extra rental charge [9]. 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 most 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 sampling of online user reviews suggests 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 to different departments and receiving contradictory responses from different phone reps when trying to resolve billing issues. Because this is a fairly even distribution of complaints, it’s likely that Optimum is not responding quickly enough to customer concerns, whether they are 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 improves its ratings, we have to give it 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. "2025 U.S. Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study."
[7] Investors.optimum.com. "Company Information" [8] Broadbandmap.fcc.gov. "Provider Details" [9] Optimum.com. "CF" [10] Lightreading.com. "Altice USA Sheds More Broadband Subs Sets Name Change"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 Customers Review
Pricing
3.0
Reliability & Performance
4.0
Equipment, Installation & Features
4.0
Customer Experience & Support
3.0
Overall Rating
3.5
Rodger Morales
from Lake Havasu City, AZ on March 2026
Optimum is the worst company, period to use. When you decide to cancel this company's service, they will bust your butt to make it extremely difficult to do so. Once you believe you have the service canceled, during a conversation with a foreign person who hardly speaks English, they continue to attempt to steal money right out of your CREDIT CARD ACCOUNT. Today, I find they have charged my credit card $80.00, this month (March 24th, 2026) and I totally/completely cancelled their service on February 6th 2026. Very shortly, after my canceling their service, they attempted to charge me for the 'modem', which I 100% PURCHED at the on-set of their service! They couldn't make that 'stick' so they went on to trying to charge me the monthly service of $80.00, which the had just raised from $50.00! I'm not at the same address, and not even in the same State, at this time! A friend of mine, Heaven forbid, set-up for their service at my old address. At that time neither myself nor she had any Idea of how crooked this out-fit was! They offered her a very good rate to begin with, but I hope it works for her, when she decides to get 'out'! Their 'foreigner' rep. assured me all was finished between Optimum and me as of that Feb. 6th 2026 date. I 'pushed' him to say that statement three times, while on the phone and thought we were finished! If you want to spend hours on the phone with who knows how many customer service representatives who CAN'T speak English, go with Optimum. I you read another review, above, you'll find this guy was/is still fighting with them a year after he canceled their service. I and I'm positive every other customer of Optimum will warn you, DO NOT BECOME INVOLVED WITH THIS INTERNET/PHONE SERVICE! I guarantee you every word of this review is TRUE! PAY HEED!!! DO YOURSELF AND THOSE YOU KNOW A FAVOR, STAY AWAY FROM THIS BUNCH OF CROOKS!!!!!!!!!
Anita Caulder
from Hendersonville, NC on March 2026
We are stuck and have not other choice basically. The ATT service in our area is not reliable per neighbor's advice and other options are not available. So I feel as if Optimum is taking advantage of our situation. They continue to " allure" us with this fibernet with the promotion attached, but have yet that provided. Need them,, but wished for better pricing due to the situation.
Cierra Walker
from Georgetown, TX on January 2026
Internet runs great. The charges per month is high and I believe should not be over 130 for just having internet. Customer service is terrible. I had an issue because I was charged twice. Without asking me they applied a credit to my account. I request a refund and was told it could take up to 7 business days. It's been 7 business days and still have not gotten my money back. I reached back out and was now told 10-14 days. It didn't take days to take the money out of my account so it should not be taking this long to put my funds back. I am frustrated and this is trull unsettling. Will not continue with this internet service when i move.
Daniel W
from Quaker City, OH on January 2026
Senior citizen discounts all of a sudden don't apply, was $30 mo. A year ago, now $55 month, no extra streaming either. Goes out every heavy rain storm, snow, or windy day.
Keri L
from Aubrey, TX on January 2026
Forget saying that Optimum is the worst internet company to use. Optimum is the worst company, period to use. If you want a company to refuse to cancel service and steal money right out of your account, and then send you over to collections, go with Optimum. If you want to spend hours on the phone with who knows how many customer service representatives who can’t speak English, go with Optimum. If you want to finally get your case escalated to executive customer relations a year after you canceled service, and have executive customer relations give you the middle finger, go with Optimum. Or, you could save yourself all the time, trouble, and aneurysms and just not use Optimum.
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
Michael B
from Trabuco Canyon, CA on March 2026
Too expensive and way too many problems
Stefanie Papasoglu
from Omaha, NE on March 2026
Pay $100 for gig speed internet, actual speeds rarely go above 300mbps.
Kimberly W
from Las Vegas, NV on March 2026
They suck overcharged paying for service you don’t have and email is all missed up I can get a new car chipper on a payment plan better than what they have to offer
Tina Conway
from Oklahoma City, OK on February 2026
I have cox because they have a monopoly in my trailer park. I hate them, they are over priced and know I have no other choice if I want 2 gig internet.
on January 2026
What’s to say it’s Cox Cable
Call today & find the best COX internet deals
1-833-864-0259