The short version
Cox is becoming Spectrum. Charter completed its acquisition of Cox Communications on August 20, 2026, operates as Spectrum in all markets, planned to launch Spectrum’s full product suite and pricing in former Cox markets in mid-September 2026, and will rename the parent company Cox Communications within a year while still selling as Spectrum.
New customers in Cox markets now get Spectrum plans, from $30 per month for Internet 100, per HighSpeedInternet.com, while existing Cox customers keep their current services for now. Cox scored 72 in the 2026 ACSI study, before the deal closed. Prices verified October 30, 2026; providers change promotions frequently — confirm at checkout.
Plans and pricing (as of October 30, 2026)
Prices come from HSI’s Cox page (modified September 16, 2026), which lists Spectrum plans for new customers alongside some legacy Cox tiers.
- Entry tier: Spectrum Internet 100 (new customers in Cox markets) — 100 Mbps download, upload not stated, $30 per month for 12 months; post-promo price not stated, so we could not verify it.
- Middle tiers (Spectrum): Internet 500 for $40, Internet 1 Gig for $60 and Internet 2 Gig for $80.
- Top tier: Spectrum Internet 7 Gig (select markets) — 7,000 Mbps download, upload not stated, $140 per month. The legacy Cox “Go Beyond Fast” 2,000 Mbps plan is listed without a price.
- Legacy Cox tiers: HSI’s page also lists legacy tiers inconsistently (“Go Even Faster” 500 Mbps and “Fast” 300 Mbps, both $50 per month in its FAQ); treat these as reference points, since new customers get Spectrum plans.
HSI reports Cox raised prices by about $21 per month on average after the promo; whether that carries into Spectrum pricing here, we could not verify.
Fees and fine print
- Contract: No annual contract, per HSI.
- Early termination fee: Unknown; we could not verify one.
- Equipment: Legacy Cox charged $15 per month for a gateway, per HSI. Spectrum plans include a free modem but charge $10 per month for Wi-Fi on lower tiers.
- Installation: Free self-install or $100 professional install on legacy Cox, per HSI; Spectrum’s terms are in our Spectrum review.
- Data cap: None. HSI says Cox dropped data caps on all plans; the old 1.25 TB cap is no longer referenced.
- AutoPay and paperless: Not tied to these prices in the sources reviewed; we could not verify any such condition.
Speed and reliability
Cox runs hybrid fiber-coax cable with fiber in limited areas, like Spectrum. Cable uploads are typically a fraction of downloads, and the sources reviewed publish no upload figures for legacy Cox tiers or the Spectrum plans sold in Cox markets.
In the 2026 ACSI study, Cox scored 72, up from 68, the largest non-fiber gain in the study. In the J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Residential ISP Satisfaction Study, Cox scored 549 in the East. Both measure Cox before the transition.
Where it’s available
A CNET analysis syndicated on AOL lists Cox in 18 states with about 6% nationwide coverage. Headlines about the Charter close reference Cox markets in Arizona, San Diego County and other Southern California areas (headline-level only; not reviewed in full). Post-close, Charter counts 70 million-plus homes and businesses across 45 states.
Perks right now
Observed on HSI’s Cox page and Charter’s SEC filing on October 30, 2026:
- A free mobile line for one year for Cox internet customers not already on Cox Mobile, per Charter’s August 20, 2026 filing.
- A price lock of up to five years with an unlimited mobile line and select internet speeds.
- A $100 gift card for referring a friend.
- Up to a $200 gift card for veterans and community servants with GovX eligibility on certain plans.
- Spectrum Customer Service Commitments (24/7 U.S.-based support, credits for outages over two hours) extending to Cox customers within a year.
What to watch out for
- Roughly $21 per month average price hikes after the 12-month promo, per HSI.
- Legacy fees: $15 per month gateway, $100 professional install, and Wi-Fi extenders at $129.99 each.
- Price was Cox’s weakest satisfaction category at 3.4 out of 5, and HSI cites weaker speed-per-dollar value.
- The Spectrum transition creates uncertainty, and HSI’s page is internally inconsistent.
Who should choose Cox
- New customers in former Cox markets who want Spectrum’s $30 entry price and included modem.
- Existing Cox customers staying put; services are unchanged for now, and the free mobile line applies if you are not on Cox Mobile.
- Mobile bundlers who can use the up-to-five-year price lock.
- Not the pick for anyone avoiding a brand transition; see the live comparison table on this page.
Sources
- https://www.highspeedinternet.com/providers/cox/internet — Spectrum plans for new customers, legacy Cox tiers and fees, no data caps, post-promo increase (modified 2026-09-16; observed 2026-10-30)
- https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001091667/000114036126033909/ef20080687_ex99-1.htm — Charter closed Cox deal 2026-08-20; free mobile line; Spectrum products in Cox markets; parent rename; 45 states (observed 2026-10-30)
- https://theacsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/26may_Telecom-Cell-Smartwatch-Study.pdf — ACSI 2026: Cox 72, up from 68 (observed 2026-10-30)
- https://www.financialcontent.com/article/bizwire-2026-10-8-jd-power-internet-provider-satisfaction-now-goes-beyond-network-quality — J.D. Power 2026: Cox East 549 (observed 2026-10-30)
- https://www.aol.com/best-internet-providers-area-130000794.html — Footprint 18 states / 6% (observed 2026-10-30)
- https://www.10news.com/consumer/charter-completes-cox-deal-expands-spectrum-into-san-diego-county-and-other-southern-california-markets — Cox customers in Arizona and San Diego County moving to Spectrum (headline-level; observed 2026-10-30)