Cox vs. CenturyLink 2021 comparison
Compare Cox against CenturyLink internet and TV prices, speeds and bundles.



Is Cox or CenturyLink better for you?
At Allconnect, we work to present quality information with editorial integrity. While this page may contain offers from our partners, our opinions are our own. Here’s how we make money.
We’ve researched Cox and CenturyLink for you so you can easily compare and choose the best provider and services for your home. Depending on where you live, what internet speeds you want and what TV entertainment you prefer, you may find that either Cox or CenturyLink better fits your unique needs.
- Best for consistent internet pricing: CenturyLink’s Price for Life Internet (up to 100 Mbps) lets you keep your rate for as long as you keep your Price For Life Internet Plan*.
- Best for internet plan variety: Cox offers more standalone internet plans and speeds than CenturyLink with 10 Mbps, 30 Mbps, 150 Mbps, 500 Mbps and 1,000 Mbps plans available.
- Best for TV service: Cox will be your best option for TV since CenturyLink does not offer TV service to new customers.
- Best customer satisfaction: Cox internet scored slightly higher than CenturyLink over the past three years, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
*Speed may not be available in your area.
Cox vs. CenturyLink quick comparison
*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. As of 02/26/21.
On this page: Click the category below to learn more about what sets these two providers apart.
Cox vs. CenturyLink 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 to offer satellite TV bundles.
Cox gives customers more internet speed package options, but CenturyLink offers more TV package choices through DIRECTV. While Cox standalone TV services cost more than DIRECTV plans, Cox packages offer customers higher savings and lower overall prices when you bundle.
*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. As of 02/26/21.
What shoppers should consider in different regions
CenturyLink’s pricing is pretty consistent across the U.S., but the highest speed ranges may not be available depending on your address. Cox doesn’t have as much availability as CenturyLink, but where both providers are available, Cox will likely offer a better package deal.
Cox vs. CenturyLink internet overview
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, it’s possible that you will have a couple plan options to choose from (though they will all have the same starting price) with max speeds up to 100 Mbps. If CenturyLink Fiber is available, the only plan option is their gigabit service.
Provider | ![]() | ![]() |
Price range | $29.99/mo. – $99.99/mo.* | $49/mo. – $65/mo.* |
Speed range | 10 – 940 Mbps | 3 – 940 Mbps |
Data cap | 1TB/mo. | 1TB/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. As of 02/26/21.Rate requires paperless billing and excludes taxes. Additional fees apply. Get the fastest internet speed available at your home (max speed is up to 100 Mbps).
Cox internet plans
Plan | Starting monthly price* | Max speed |
Internet Starter 10 | $19.99 | 10 Mbps |
Internet Essential 30 | $39.99 | 30 Mbps |
Internet Preferred 150 | $59.99 | 150 Mbps |
Internet Ultimate | $79.99 | 500 Mbps |
Gigablast | $99.99 | 940 Mbps |
*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. As of 02/26/21.
CenturyLink internet plans
Plan | Starting monthly price* | Max speed |
Price For Life | $49.00 | 100 Mbps |
CenturyLink Fiber | $65.00 | 940 Mbps |
*Rate requires paperless billing. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges apply. Offer Details
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.
Equipment rental – Cox’s equipment rental fee is a little lower at $10.99/mo. compared to the $15/mo. you’ll pay with CenturyLink, but both providers give you the option to use your own compatible equipment. Find out which CenturyLink and Cox compatible modems you can use.
Data caps – Both providers have a data cap of 1TB/mo., but Cox charges an overage fee whereas CenturyLink does not. Exceeding your data limit with Cox will likely result in a $10 fee for every 50GB required to satisfy your overage, up to $50. Consistently exceeding your data limit with CenturyLink may result in a letter saying you’ve violated your terms of service (which could lead to service disruptions in extreme cases) but no fee.
Contract – CenturyLink does not require a contract with any internet service. Contract requirements with Cox can vary by plan and location, but most areas will be subject to a one-year contract for standalone internet service or a two-year contract for internet and TV bundles.
Cox vs. CenturyLink 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 also has a price for life guarantee on their cheapest plans up to 100 Mbps, which lets you keep your price of $49/mo. for as long as you have the plan. Cox does not offer a price for life guarantee, so the monthly price will likely increase after 12 mos.
*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. As of 06/17/20.
**Rate requires paperless billing and excludes taxes. Additional fees apply. Get the fastest internet speed available at your home (max speed is up to 100 Mbps).
Cox offers the cheaper plan, but CenturyLink may be the better value
If you’re looking for the absolute cheapest plan, consider the Cox Internet Starter which has a starting price of only $29.99/mo. This plan only comes with up to 10 Mbps, however, so if you want a little more speed, CenturyLink may be the better option, depending on what’s available in your area. CenturyLink Price for Life 100, for example, comes with up to 10 times the speed as Cox Internet Starter for only around $20/mo. more.
Cox vs. CenturyLink fastest internet plans
Cox and CenturyLink 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 Gigablast uses a cable network in most locations.
*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. As of 06/17/20.
**Speed may not be available in your area. Maximum download/upload speed of up to 940 Mbps via a wired connection.
Cox has more high-speed options, CenturyLink has lower-priced gigabit
In areas serviceable for CenturyLink Fiber, their gigabit service will be the only plan option. With a starting price of $65/mo. for gig speeds, this plan is a great deal, but if you want more high speed options, consider Cox. Cox internet speed tiers include a 150 Mbps and 500 Mbps plan (though their 500 Mbps is higher-priced than CenturyLink’s gigabit service).
Cox vs. CenturyLink 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.
Cox vs. CenturyLink/DIRECTV TV packages and costs

- Cox Contour TV starts at $64.99/mo.*
- 140-250+ channels
- $75 setup and installation, $20 for self-installation
- HD receiver included, $8.50/mo.* per additional receiver
- Record two shows at once with basic DVR, up to six shows at once with whole-home DVR

- Packages starting at $64.99/mo.*
- 160-250+ channels
- Free professional installation available
- DVR device included, $7/mo.* for each additional receiver
- Record up to five shows at once
*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. As of 06/17/20.
DIRECTV has more entertainment possibilities, Cox has better bundle savings
Those looking for just TV service will likely find DIRECTV a better option than Cox. While the price is a bit higher, DIRECTV offers more package options and better equipment. If you’d like to bundle TV and internet together, however, keep in mind that Cox bundles come with built-in savings, whereas there are no discounts for bundling CenturyLink internet and DIRECTV.
Cox vs. CenturyLink 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 Cox and CenturyLink ACSI scores compare over the past three years.
ACSI internet service providers ranking
Provider | 2020 score | 2019 score | 2018 score | Avg. past three years |
![]() | 61 | 59 | 58 | 59.3 |
![]() | 63 | 60 | 59 | 60.7 |
Cox vs. CenturyLink FAQs
Which is faster, Cox or CenturyLink internet?
Both Cox and CenturyLink offer gigabit internet service in select areas. Other than their fastest available plans, Cox is likely to offer more plans with speeds above 100 Mbps than CenturyLink.
Speed may not be available in your area. Maximum download/upload speed of up to 940 Mbps via a wired connection.
Does Cox have fiber optic internet?
Yes, but only in select areas. While Cox does use a fiber optic network to deliver Gigablast internet in some areas, most locations will only be serviceable for Cox cable internet service.
How much data do I get with Cox internet?
Cox gives internet customers 1 TB data allowance per month with most internet plans. Going over your data allowance may result in slower internet speeds and added fees.
Is CenturyLink internet good in my area?
The speeds and connection quality you get with CenturyLink depends on which network you have access to. CenturyLink’s DSL network can deliver speeds up to 100 Mbps, but could be much lower, as low as 15 Mbps. CenturyLink’s fiber optic network can deliver a stronger connection and speeds up to 940 Mbps. Call to see which CenturyLink services are available in your area.
Speed may not be available in your area. Maximum download/upload speed of up to 940 Mbps via a wired connection.
The name CenturyLink and the pathways logo are trademarks of CenturyLink.
We value your feedback
Was this page helpful?
We value your feedback
We’re glad! Tell us what helped most on this page.
We value your feedback
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your insight helps, and we’ll do our best to improve your experience.
Written by:
Taylor GadsdenWriter, Broadband & Wireless Content
Taylor is a veteran member of the Allconnect content team and has spearheaded a number of projects, including a data piece on the top fiber cities in the U.S. and a troubleshooting guide on how to connect your p… Read more
Edited by:
Robin LaytonEditor, Broadband & Wireless Content
Related pages
What to read next
Read moreLatest
Sunday, February 28, 2021
How to speed up your internet: 9 tips to get the most out of your connectionJoe Supan — 5 min read
Saturday, February 27, 2021
Frequently asked questions on internet speeds — What speed do you need?Joe Supan — 9 min read
Friday, February 26, 2021
FCC approves $50/mo. high-speed internet subsidy for low-income householdsAri Howard — 2 min read
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for internet news and promos
By subscribing, you agree to receive Allconnect newsletter and promotional emails. Your privacy is important to us.