AT&T Internet vs. Cox Internet

AT&T and Cox are prominent and well-known internet providers in the U.S. While Cox offers more bundles with TV, phone, and smart home capabilities, AT&T combines its top-tier wireless service with the country’s most extensive fiber internet network.

AT&T Fiber has some of the lowest prices on the market for fiber internet. It provides several plans to choose from, each offering unlimited data and symmetrical upload and download speeds. Recently, Cox has expanded its fiber footprint as well.

Beyond fiber, Cox offers a cable internet connection, while AT&T has an internet protocol broadband (IPBB) connection — a fiber-and-copper-wire hybrid that isn’t as fast as fiber but is faster than cable and standard DSL — as well as fixed wireless and 5G home internet options.

Both AT&T and Cox provide access to free public Wi-Fi nationwide, but Cox has the upper hand. It provides access to millions of nationwide hotspots, while AT&T has only 30,000 locations.

To find the best deal on internet service, it’s important to look for current promotions. Most of Cox’s perks are available when you bundle. Many of its plans currently offer cable and no-term options. AT&T always has a great online-only deal going on, which varies depending on the time of year.

Cox Offers More Bundling Options Than AT&T

When you’re shopping for a bundle, you have to consider what your household needs most. If you just need internet and phone, AT&T is probably the better bet. If you need a full home services package, with TV, internet, phone, and smart home capabilities, Cox is the better option for your household.

AT&T Pulls Ahead by Offering Fewer Fees

While Cox used to offer contracts in the past for most plans, it now has month-to-month plan options. AT&T similarly allows you to sign up without having to sign an agreement for any of its plans. That said, you’ll get the best deal with Cox when you bundle with Cox Mobile, whereas AT&T offers straightforward stand-alone plans for stellar prices. Moreover, AT&T doesn’t have price hikes after a set period, whereas your bill will likely increase with Cox after 12 or 24 months (like most cable providers).

Cox and AT&T Have Similar Installation Fees

Professional installation with AT&T is $99, but the fee is typically waived during promotional periods. Cox charges an installation fee of $100. Both services offer the ability to self-install your internet for free. That said, if you get AT&T Fiber, you may need a special installation for your fiber port.

Cox Is More Punitive When It Comes to Data Caps

No AT&T Fiber or AT&T Internet Air plans have data caps, but AT&T’s IPBB and fixed wireless plans have data caps of 1.5 TB and 350 GB, respectively. In comparison, Cox has a data cap on all of its cable internet plans of 1.25 TB, with an overage fee of $10 for each extra 50 GB of data. You can remove the cap for $30 per month, but all these additional charges can add up.

AT&T the Top Performer for Customer Service

While both AT&T and Cox have pretty good customer service, AT&T has garnered numerous top spots and awards in the area from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) and J.D. Power year over year. That’s not to say Cox isn’t well received, but AT&T is typically known as one of the best customer service performers across the industry. No provider is perfect, though, and AT&T and Cox customers have grievances about network outages, daily congestion, and other issues. The key to getting the best from either provider is choosing a plan with enough — or, better yet, more than enough — speed.