Cox Business Internet Review 2023

The bottom line: Cox Business Internet is far from the cheapest in the book, but if you need fast cable that can support dozens of users without slowdowns, it’s perfectly serviceable and just as speedy as fiber.

Fiber might be the internet of the future, but it’s not quite here yet: according to Statista, just over 15% of the US population can reach the fiber-optic network.¹ If you belong to the remaining 85%, Cox gets you uber-fast cable speeds that keep your business up and running.

High-speed cable from Cox (full name: Cox Communications) bridges the gap between snail-paced DSL and lightning-fast fiber. Its fastest plan clocks in at 940 Mbps.

Apart from its speed, Cox’s main selling point is its above-average number of small-business plans. If you’re a freelancer who doesn’t need much more than email (but still wants the added security, support, and speed of business-grade internet), you can make do with the Cox Business 100 Mbps plan. And if you have dozens of employees who all need teleconferencing and streaming capabilities, you can get speeds up to 500 Mbps.

Cox’s high-speed internet plans are undeniably pricey—more on that in our contracts and pricing section below—but a few perks help compensate for cost.

Unlike most business internet service providers, Cox plans usually include a free static Internet Protocol (IP) address. Only businesses hosting their own servers really need a static IP address—but if you do need one, getting it for free is a neat perk. Most plans offer 25 GB for data storage, and you can set your plan to back up data automatically. That way, even if your laptop gets stolen or your hard drive crashes, you’ll still have a copy of your business plan and payroll spreadsheets.

We also like that Cox’s small-business internet includes Cox Security Suite—a data protection program complete with McAfee® Virus and Spyware Protection, McAfee Firewall Protection, and McAfee Browser Protection—with every internet plan purchase. Plans come with up to 25 Security Suite licenses so employees can protect data on every device, and business owners with more than 25 people or devices can purchase more licenses.

Finally, Cox customer service is easy to access and always available. When we tried out the online chat option that pops up on every page, we connected with an agent in seconds and were transferred immediately to the correct department without waiting—we’ve rarely encountered a customer service response this fast!

But if you’re comparing business internet providers, take note of a few drawbacks: Cox might be the fourth-largest internet service provider in the US, but it’s only available in 19 states, and even then only in urban centers like Las Vegas. This availability contrasts sharply with providers like CenturyLink, which serves nearly 40 states and reaches more rural cities and suburbs. And as we will discuss below, the pricing and contract options leave a lot to be desired.

Want to make sure the speed you’re getting isn’t too fast or too slow but just right? When choosing a plan, make sure to balance the number of users with their typical online activities. If you have only three employees but all three need to download large files, use bandwidth-heavy software, and teleconference, 25 Mbps isn’t enough bandwidth to handle the load. Instead, small businesses with heavier online needs should get a faster connection, less lag, and less frustration with 100 Mbps.

Confused by the overlap between what each speed plan handles? Cox’s multiple plans are its biggest selling point, but when you get right down to it . . . there honestly isn’t much difference between 200 and 300 Mbps.

If you can’t decide between two fairly similar plans, it’s smart to choose the faster plan as your budget allows. Most businesses won’t notice a huge difference between the 50 and 100 Mbps plans, but you’ll be grateful for the extra bandwidth as your business grows. On the other hand, if you don’t see much changing in your business between now and the end of your contract, feel free to stick to the slightly cheaper plan.

If you decide to sign up for Cox, pay attention to your contract terms. Cox automatically renews your contract for another year once it expires—and automatically ups your rate by 10% at the same time. Unless you provide written notice that you want to discontinue at least 30 days before your contract ends, you’ll be stuck paying much more than you initially bargained for. Those costs add up fast for a small business, so you’ll want to weigh contract restrictions carefully as you choose a provider.

If you don’t notice your contract has renewed but want to cancel after the fact, you’re out of luck and a huge chunk of cash. Cox requires you to pay the full remaining contract balance and an early termination fee. That’s way harsh.

Unfortunately, if you’re wondering how to avoid those annual price hikes, you’re out of luck. Businesses can opt for month-to-month plans instead of signing a contract, but if you go this route, you’ll pay at least $40 more per month. And monthly plans also renew automatically after 12 months with the 10% rate increase unless you write in to cancel.

These contract terms seem unnecessarily punishing given Cox’s already higher-than-average prices. Paying over $500 for 1,000 Mbps is hard to justify when a Verizon Fios Gigabit Connection with symmetrical upload and download speeds starts at $214.99. (Even Comcast Business Internet 1 Gig—seriously, Comcast—starts at $499.95.)

But since fiber isn’t particularly accessible in the US, paying more for similarly fast cable speeds could be an acceptable trade-off. And at the very least, if you’re paying hundreds of dollars for 1,000 Mbps speeds, you’ll get what you’re paying for. According to the FCC’s most recent data, Cox typically meets or exceeds its maximum speeds.² Plus, in spite of the higher cost, you should choose cable over DSL any day of the week for speed, reliability, and minimal slowdowns.

Cox Business Internet is far from the cheapest in the book, but Cox does offer 24/7 customer service as well as fairly fast cable speeds and an automatic data backup plan. 

If you need fast cable that can support dozens of users without slowdowns, it’s perfectly serviceable and just as speedy as fiber.

Not sure Cox is right for you? Take a look at our top five business internet providers.

We looked at Cox's pricing, overall value, small business expertise, and average internet speeds, among other factors.

Disclaimer

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.