How Much Does Cox Charge for WiFi?

Posted on: 08 Jul 2024

Among the largest telecommunication firms providing cable TV, broadband internet, digital home phone, and home security in eighteen states throughout the nation is Cox Communications. Regarding internet services, people frequently find it difficult to decide on a plan or bundle and understand what all the offerings include as well as what WiFi costs. We will especially go over in this post all the packages Cox has to offer in terms of their Internet services and extra equipment expenses to assist consumers grasp how much WiFi from Cox will cost.

Cox Internet packages: Cox Internet is offered in various packages which are Cox Internet Starter, Cox Internet Essential, Cox Internet Premier, and Cox Internet Giant with different prices.

Cox has many different tiers of internet service at varying speeds and costs. We were surprised that their internet packages do not come with WiFi or a WiFi router, they have WiFi but you have to either pay for a router or bring your own. Here is an overview of their current packages and standard pricing:

Starter (10 Mbps download): $29.99/month, with an option to subscribe for 1-year contract.
Essential (30 Mbps): $39.99/month but this comes with a one-year contract
Preferred (100 Mbps): It can be ordered monthly for $59.99 per month with a one-year subscription.
Premier (300 Mbps): It also weighs 60 lbs and costs $79.99/month with a 2-year agreement.
Gigablast (940 Mbps): There is also the option of paying $99.99 a month with a 2-year contract.

The above prices have excluded taxes, fees, and equipment charges, so your monthly statement will be more than the listed prices. All of the Cox internet plans offer an unlimited amount of data and Cox WiFi which is free and open to all customers and gives them access to 4 million WiFi hotspots across the country.

WiFi Router Rental Fees

All wireless connections require a wireless router from Cox or your purchase for the Wi-Fi to be installed at your home. Here's what Cox charges for router rental:

WiFi Router Rental: With the current price of $10/month I suppose
WiFi Router Purchase: Starting from $99 to $199 for a single payment required from the client.

They have what are known as bundled routers where you can get one for both internet and TV or internet-only routers. You also have a choice of purchasing your compatible router, instead of paying a monthly rental fee. However, if you ever require any setup or support from Cox in the future, you have to agree to rent their equipment.

Unlimited Data, Other Charges

Every internet package that Cox has uploaded has been with free data usage, there are no restrictions or extra charges for going over the amount. However, they do tack on several extra fees onto your bill each month:

Broadcast TV Fee: From $ 00.00 to $ 12.00
Regional Sports Fee: The fare costs up to $8.00
Internet Infrastructure Fee: It charges $0.01 per gigabyte used by the user.
Modem rental (if you don't buy your modem): It also states that access to the sites and the services that will be offered through the sites will cost $10 per month.
Service Protection Plan (optional): $10-$15/month

Their internet service costs may be relatively affordable compared to their competitors, however, you will be charged an additional fee of $30 or more every month once all the other costs are added.

Key Things to Know About Cox WiFi Pricing:

Internet price does not include connection to the World Wide Web or a router.
It costs $10 per month to rent both a router and Wi-Fi from Cox.
Of course, can buy your compatible router and thereby save the rental fee.
Taxes, broadcast fees, and other charges not included above will be charged additionally.
It is worth stating that each of the Internet plans features unlimited Internet usage.

The promotion is aimed at attracting new customers by offering them a lower price for the first purchase.

New customers can get some great deals and saver prices for the first year subscription if they agree to avail the 1-year or 2-year contract with Cox. These promotions can drop your monthly rates significantly for the first year:

What would be more appealing to the new customers is the Starter Internet plan which costs $19.99 per month.
Internet Minimum for $29.99 per month
The Preferred Internet offers you this package at $39.99 every month.

The promotions are adjusted to the type of service and will only make sense if you have planned to keep the service for the long term. Oh, yes, Cox will stick it to you for $240 if you attempt to end service before the contract is fulfilled.

When we compare the Cox WiFi Pricing with what other providers are offering, it will be easier to understand the value of the service they are offering to the people.

Here is how Cox's regular WiFi pricing compares to other major internet providers available in their service regions:

Xfinity WiFi: A $14/month router rental fee that is present with Cox.
AT&T WiFi: They have a $10/month equipment fee just like Cox.
CenturyLink WiFi: Fees $15/month router lease more expensive than Cox

Picking internet packages, Cox provides you with higher speeds than the competition on each tier. Regarding the price, there are significant differences where equipment is required, or taxes and other fees are charged, but at the end of the day, the prices do not differ very much between the providers. Verizon Fios has typically been found to be more expensive in this category, specifically for gigabit fiber connections.

Is It Wiser to Lease or Purchase a WiFi Router from Cox?

Is it more advantageous in terms of added cost to rent a Cox router for $10 monthly or to purchase your router for $100-$200? Here are the pros and cons of each option:

Renting Pros:

No upfront cost
Cox handles the installation, technical customer support, and replacement.
Current Cox firmware and WiFi standards

Renting Cons:

Rental fees are costly and an average of $120 per year can make a large sum in a short period.
If you cancel the service, must bring back the router.

Buying Pros:

Or miss out on a $10 monthly rental fee
The router is paid off within 1-2 years of purchase.
Free accessories are included for cancellations even if you own the product

Buying Cons:

$100+ upfront cost
Lone ranger when it comes to technical issues
May require a reflash of the router’s firmware

The reality is for the majority of users who want to have a reliable and fast internet connection at home buying your compatible WiFi router to use with Cox internet is cheaper than renting in the long run. All in all, all that is required is to research the various routers available in the market to ensure one selects the right one that will suit your home’s WiFi requirements.

The Bottom Line

Rates offered by Cox are quite affordable and the internet speed is stable and fast, although to have all your devices connected through WiFi you have to pay extra. It is also important to note that between the monthly router rental, taxes, fees, and optional extras; your real Cox WiFi bill can easily be 20-30% more than the overall internet package prices. Explaining all charges before joining enables one to effectively plan for Cox home internet service without being surprised by post-signature billing.

Ready to upgrade your internet experience? Call us now at +1 844-349-7575 to explore the best Cox Internet plans for your needs!