CenturyLink vs. Cox 2025 comparison

Is CenturyLink or Cox better for you?

We’ve researched CenturyLink and Cox for you so you can easily compare and choose the best provider and services for your home. Overall, CenturyLink is the best value if you have fiber available and its gigabit plan is cheaper.

Quick comparison

• Cheapest internet: CenturyLink offers the cheapest internet plans available, with prices starting at $50.00 to $75.00/mo.* for up to 940 Mbps, depending on where you live
• Best Gig plan: CenturyLink offers a more affordable gigabit internet plan than Cox, with pricing starting at $75.00/mo.* for speeds up to 940 Mbps
• Best customer satisfaction: Cox internet scored slightly higher than CenturyLink over the past two years, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index, but CenturyLink fiber has rated higher than Cox over the same period

*Limited availability. Service and rate in select locations only. Paperless billing required. Taxes and fees apply. Rate excludes CTL Fee not to exceed $1.50/mo./line. Updated as of 04/24/25.

*Speed may not be available in your area. Paperless billing required. Taxes and fees apply. Rate excludes CTL Fee not to exceed $1.50/mo./line. Updated as of 04/24/25.
**Limited availability. Service and rate in select locations only. Paperless billing required. Taxes and fees apply. Rate excludes CTL Fee not to exceed $1.50/mo./line.

CenturyLink vs. Cox internet overview

Cox gives customers more plan options with up to four plans available in nearly all service areas. 

CenturyLink customers are limited by the available connection type in their area. If their DSL service is available, you can pick the Simply Unlimited plan with max speeds up to 100 Mbps. If CenturyLink Fiber is available, they offer 500 and 1,000 Mbps plans, as well as their gigabit plan.

Cox gives customers more plan options with up to five plans available in nearly all service areas. 

CenturyLink customers are limited by the available connection type in their area. If their DSL service is available, you can pick the Simply Unlimited plan with max speeds up to 100 Mbps. If CenturyLink Fiber is available, they offer 500 and 1,000 Mbps plans, as well as their gigabit plan.

• Allconnect Rating

  3.72 / 5

  • $50.00/mo. – $75.00/mo.* for up to 940 Mbps
  • Unlimited data

• Allconnect Rating

  3.74 / 5

  • $50.00/mo. – $150.00/mo.* for 300 – 2,000 Mbps
  • Data cap: 1.25 TB/mo.

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Limited availability. Service and rate in select locations only. Paperless billing required. Taxes and fees apply. Rate excludes CTL Fee not to exceed $1.50/mo./line. Updated as of 04/24/25.

CenturyLink internet plans

*Speed may not be available in your area. Paperless billing required. Taxes and fees apply. Rate excludes CTL Fee not to exceed $1.50/mo./line.
**Limited availability. Service and rate in select locations only. Paperless billing required. Taxes and fees apply. Rate excludes CTL Fee not to exceed $1.50/mo./line. Updated as of 04/24/25.

Offer details

Cox internet plans

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Pricing, packages, and policies are subject to change, including when adjusting or removing services or equipment. Prices do not include applicable taxes, surcharges, usage-based charges (such as data, toll usage, pay-per-use service), and other fees. After any promotional period, regular rates apply (see www.cox.com). Prorated charges may appear on your bill if you change services before the billing cycle is complete. Rates, and/or when applicable, term agreements, may differ from those presented here as a result of customer’s account features, such as existing discounts, bundles, term agreements, or service address. Other restrictions may apply. All services and plans subject to Cox Residential Customer Service Agreement (including mandatory arbitration provisions), Acceptable Use Policy (including Cox’s right to terminate service for abuse of network), and other policies at: cox.com/policies. Gig plans not available in all areas. Updated as of 04/24/25.

CenturyLink vs. Cox equipment, data caps and contract details

Speed and price are the two main considerations when comparing internet services, but you’ll also want to take into account other factors that can affect costs and service quality.

CenturyLink vs. Cox cheap internet plans

The cheapest internet plan in your area will likely be a Cox internet plan unless you are looking for gig speeds. If you want gigabit speeds, CenturyLink offers a better deal.

• CenturyLink cheapest internet plan

  • $50.00/mo.* for up to 500 Mbps**
  • $15.00/mo. router rental fee
  • $15.00 – $99.00 installation fee
  • No contracts

• Cox cheapest internet plan

  • $50.00/mo.* for up to 300 Mbps
  • $100.00 for professional installation
  • Two-year agreement on some plans

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Updated as of 04/24/25.
**Limited availability. Service and rate in select locations only. Paperless billing required. Taxes and fees apply. Rate excludes CTL Fee not to exceed $1.50/mo./line.

Low-income internet options

Both CenturyLink and Cox offer ways to connect low-income households to the internet. Cox offers its own plan, known as Connect2Compete, which provides 100 Mbps for just $9.95/mo.

CenturyLink vs. Cox fastest internet plans

CenturyLink and Cox both offer gig speed internet plans. CenturyLink 1 Gbps internet plans cost less than Cox 1 Gbps internet plans.

Though both providers offer gig connections, you’re likely to get better speed reliability and faster upload speeds over a fiber connection vs. cable. CenturyLink Gigabit uses a fiber connection, whereas Cox uses a cable network in most locations.

• CenturyLink Gigabit

  • Up to 940 Mbps** for $75.00/mo.*
  • Unlimited data
  • Fiber internet connection
  • No speed throttling

• Cox Go Beyond Fast 2 Gig

  • Up to 2,000 Mbps for $150.00/mo.*
  • Unlimited data
  • Cable-fiber hybrid connection
  • No speed throttling

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Updated as of 04/24/25.
**Limited availability. Service and rate in select locations only. Paperless billing required. Taxes and fees apply. Rate excludes CTL Fee not to exceed $1.50/mo./line.

CenturyLink vs. Cox bundle packages

Cox provides cable internet, TV and digital phone packages while CenturyLink offers high-speed DSL internet, home phone and fiber internet plans. If you want a CenturyLink TV package, CenturyLink partners with DIRECTV and DISH to offer satellite TV bundles.

Cox gives customers more internet speed package options, but CenturyLink offers more TV package choices and channels through DIRECTV and DISH.

• CenturyLink + DIRECTV bundles

  • Starting at $119.99/mo. – $141.99/mo.*
  • Speed range: up to 940 Mbps
  • Unlimited data 
  • DIRECTV channel range: 90 – 185+ 
  • No internet contract required, two-year contract required for TV
  • Add-ons: Home phone

  Bundled savings: $0/mo.*

• Cox bundles

  • Starting at $175.00/mo.*
  • Speed range: 300 – 2,000 Mbps
  • Unlimited data on most plans
  • Channel range: 140+ 
  • No contract required
  • Add-ons: Home phone and security

  Bundled savings: $0/mo.

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Updated as of 04/24/25.

CenturyLink vs. Cox TV

CenturyLink partners with DIRECTV to offer internet and TV bundles. DIRECTV is great for sports fans and gives customers more channel package choices compared to Cox’s main TV plan, Cox Contour TV.

CenturyLink/DIRECTV vs. Cox TV packages and costs

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Updated as of 04/24/25.

CenturyLink vs. Cox customer satisfaction

The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) scores internet providers based on feedback from actual customers on the topics of service quality, cost, call center experience and more. Here’s how CenturyLink and Cox ACSI scores compare over the past two years.

Which provider is better?

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