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Mediacom home internet review

Mediacom has four internet plan options to choose from with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. Learn more about Mediacom internet plans, equipment and fees to find the right plan for your home.

  • Speeds up to 100 Mbps starting at:

    $19.99/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. Last updated 8/3/22.

    Call to order: (844) 451-2720

About Mediacom internet plans

By Joe Supan Last updated: October 5, 2022

Mediacom falls in the middle of the pack in most categories — better than most DSL plans, but not as good as fiber — but its price increases are higher than competitors. We scored Mediacom internet service on a scale of 1 to 5 across four major categories. To learn more, read our methodology. 

Mediacom logo

Mediacom internet rating

Allconnect Rating

3.44 / out of 5 stars

This score is based off of the 4 plans Mediacom has available

Rating breakdown

  • Affordability

    3.42 / 5

  • Performance

    3.63 / 5

  • Value

    3.26 / 5

  • Customer satisfaction

    3.50 / 5

How we calculated our rating

Mediacom is the fifth largest cable internet provider in the U.S., offering high-speed internet across 22 states, many in the Midwest and South. Its internet plans are average in just about every respect. Of the top 10 providers we scored, Mediacom’s 3.47 out of 5 was just below the average score of 3.50. That said, it is often the best option in areas that don’t have fiber internet. 

It has one of the cheapest internet plans in the country with its $19.99/mo. Internet 100 plan, and its 100 Mbps speeds are still plenty for houses that only use a few devices at a time. Mediacom also offers download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps — the same maximum speeds that fiber usually provides. 

That said, there are a few drawbacks to consider before signing up. Mediacom’s price increases go well beyond what most providers charge. On some plans, your bill will increase until your it has more than doubled in size from what you started with. 

Mediacom internet plans all have data caps, too, which is more common than the price hikes, but still not ideal. Most of them are in line with other providers, but the Internet 100 plan is particularly low — just 200GB each month. 

Finally, Mediacom has gotten low scores on every customer satisfaction study out there, with the bulk of complaints around performance issues and surprising price increases. That said, Mediacom is one of the few providers to actually over-deliver on speed, according to the FCC. On its 100 Mbps plan, for example, customers received 131 Mbps during peak hours.

How we scored internet providers

We evaluate broadband providers in four categories: affordability, performance, value and customer satisfaction. Each category contains multiple sub-factors, all of which are weighted differently to impact the provider’s overall score. For each sub-factor, we score all providers on a continuous scale of one to five, relative to the industry as a whole. Because the average download speed in America is currently 180 Mbps, for

We evaluate broadband providers in four categories: affordability, performance, value and customer satisfaction. Each category contains multiple sub-factors, all of which are weighted differently to impact the provider’s overall score.

For each sub-factor, we score all providers on a continuous scale of one to five, relative to the industry as a whole. Because the average download speed in America is currently 180 Mbps, for example, we assigned all plans with download speeds between 100 and 299 Mbps a score between three and four. Xfinity’s 200 Mbps plan received a 3.50 score for download speed, while Spectrum’s 400 Mbps plan got a 4.16.

We only considered standardized data points in our scoring system. More abstract data like consistency of service and brand reputation is still part of our analysis, but we opted to let our writers address them in the context of each review.

Learn more about our methodology

Mediacom internet plans, pricing and speeds

There are currently four Mediacom internet plans to choose from, but the speeds you have access to depend on your location.

*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. Last updated 8/2/22.

Mediacom internet plans are about average in most categories, with a couple of exceptions. For one, its Internet 100 package is one of the cheapest internet plans you’ll find anywhere, and you don’t have to deal with painfully slow speeds for that price, either — 100 Mbps of download speed should be plenty for most people.

But there is a catch. Like most internet providers, Mediacom raises its prices after the first year. But then it raises them again after the second year, and even after the third year on some plans. By the time you hit the fourth year, you’ll be paying double what you signed up for 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. Last updated 8/2/22.

These prices aren’t written in ink, either. They may vary by location, and according to Mediacom’s fine print, “After the first year, if our standard rate for your service increases or we institute a new fee for service subscribers generally, we can pass that increase or new fee along to you.”

While these increases aren’t ideal, Mediacom still might be the best provider available in your area. Here’s our take on each of their plans:

Internet 100 – Cheapest plan

Starting at just $19.99/mo., this isn’t just the cheapest Mediacom plan — it’s one of the cheapest internet plans in the country. While 60 Mbps download speeds can support streaming, they’re more ideal for households with one person using the internet at a time, especially considering the low 200GB/mo. data cap.

200 Mbps is enough speed for most internet use, including streaming in HD or 4K, but you may want faster speeds if you’ll be doing it over a Wi-Fi connection on multiple devices. That said, this plan is the worst value of any Mediacom plan, and most people will be better off making do with Access Internet 100 or upgrading to Internet 400.

Perfect for houses with different entertainment preferences, 400 Mbps is a sharable speed for streaming or gaming on multiple devices at once. And with 2,000GB of data available each month, you shouldn’t have to worry about minding your cap.

Speeds of 1,000 Mbps are all but guaranteed to satisfy even the most hardcore internet users. It is expensive compared to other gig plans, though. After a year, the price goes up to $99.99/mo. After two years, it’s $129.99/mo. — nearly double the $80/mo. that AT&T and Verizon charge for the same speeds.

Connect2Compete plan for low-income families

Mediacom participates in EveryoneOn, a national non-profit program that helps low-income families connect to the internet. If your child qualifies for free or reduced school lunches through the National School Lunch Program, you’re eligible for these plans.

Mediacom offers two plans as a part of the program: 25 Mbps for $14.95/mo. and 100 Mbps for $30.00/mo. There are no deposits required, no contracts and no installation or equipment fees. If you qualify for this, you’re also eligible for the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides $30/mo. towards home internet. That means if you enroll in both programs, you can essentially get a 100 Mbps internet plan for free.

Mediacom logo

Shop Mediacom plans

Mediacom offers fast internet and reliable voice and TV plans.

Call to order: (844) 451-2720

Equipment, installation, contracts and data caps

Taxes and fees are a part of every internet service, but the good news for Mediacom customers is that the added fees aren’t anything too extreme. Mediacom’s fees tend to be more favorable than many other large providers, but it has lower data caps than most.

Equipment fees

Mediacom’s equipment fees are about the average price you’ll pay with most providers. Here’s how it breaks down: 

  • Modem rental fee: $13/mo. You can use your own Mediacom-compatible modem to avoid this fee.
  • Wi-Fi router: One Wi-Fi router is included for free.
  • Xtream Wi-Fi 360Pro (optional): $10/mo. 
  • Additional eero Pro 6 devices (optional): $6 each, up to four devices.

Most internet service providers have equipment fees that hover around the $10 mark, so Mediacom is offering industry-average pricing for their modem rental.

Also known as a mesh network, Xtream Wi-Fi 360Pro is an optional, enhanced Wi-Fi service designed to extend coverage to places where a single router won’t always reach, such as far corners of the house or separate floors. Xtream Wi-Fi 360Pro includes a security device and two smaller eero Pro 6 routers.

Adding Xtream to your plan will cost an extra $10/mo., plus $6 for any additional extenders that you may need, but it’s nice to have the option to expand your Wi-Fi reach if necessary.

Installation fees

Mediacom typically charges a $109.99 installation fee, but it’s currently waiving it for online customers. That said, you’ll still have to pay a one-time activation fee of $10. 

Contracts

Many Mediacom plans do not require a contract, but if you do have one it’d be in your best financial interest to avoid canceling service before the contract expires. Otherwise, you could be stuck paying up to $240 for two- and three-year agreements and up to $120 for one-year agreements. 

Data caps

All of Mediacom’s plans have data caps, which is relatively unusual for cable internet. And while providers like Cox and CenturyLink start their data caps above 1,000GB, Mediacom’s Internet 100 plan only gives you 200GB a month — a number that many people are actually likely to reach. The average monthly internet usage for a U.S. household was over 400GB in 2021. 

If you go over your data cap, you’ll be charged $10 for every additional 50GB you use, which is about the same as other providers with data caps. For example, if you used 51GB over your cap, you would be charged $20 that month.

What’s the final price for Mediacom internet?

Expect to pay about $17/mo. more than what’s advertised for Mediacom’s internet plans. Unless you have your own Mediacom-compatible modem, equipment fees cost an extra $12/mo. with every plan. Taxes typically add around $5/mo., too, but you’ll have to pay that with any internet plan. Additionally, after Mediacom’s promotional rates expire, your bill will increase by $10 or $30/mo. in the second year, and possibly more after that. So if you sign up for the Internet 400 plan, you’ll pay around $67/mo. in year one, $97/mo. in year two, $107/mo. in year three and  $117/mo. after that.

Mediacom logo

Allconnect Rating

3.44 / 5

Mediacom internet compared to other providers

Wondering how Mediacom stacks up to other providers that might be available in your area? Take a look at how Mediacom compares to other internet service providers below:

*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 8/2/22.

Most providers that have service in the same areas as Mediacom are split into two types of service: DSL and fiber optic. If you can get fiber internet at your address, you probably should. 

This type of connection supports much faster speeds than any other type currently available — usually around 1,000 Mbps. While Mediacom’s most expensive plan also reaches these speeds, the price increases after the first year make it a lot more expensive than fiber optic providers. 

But if your only other option is DSL internet, Mediacom will almost always be a better choice. It uses cable internet to deliver its connection, which has much faster speeds on average than DSL, but not quite as high as fiber. 

That said, some of Mediacom’s plans are on the expensive side. We’d still recommend Mediacom’s Internet 100 over any DSL plan, but if you only need to use the internet for basic activities like checking email and browsing the internet, you might be better off with a cheaper DSL option. 

How to bundle Mediacom internet with TV

Bundling isn’t a huge priority for Mediacom, but you can find some decent packages with TV and internet. That said, Mediacom doesn’t sell TV packages on their own, so the bundles aren’t truly discounted like with other providers. 

You can add three different cable TV lineups to Mediacom internet plans:

  • Local TV: 50+ local channels like ABC, CBS and PBS only. 
  • Essential TV: 125+ channels, including locals plus cable channels like AMC, CNN, Disney and TNT.
  • Variety TV: 170+ channels. Everything in Essential TV, plus regional sports networks and cable channels like BET, Bravo, Freeform, Paramount Network, TLC and VH1.
Learn more about Mediacom’s TV packages

Mediacom internet customer satisfaction

Mediacom has one of the lowest customer satisfaction ratings of any internet provider we’ve reviewed. The American Customer Satisfaction Index gave Mediacom internet a score of 60/100 in 2022, the same score as last year but still trailing many other cable internet providers. Only Optimum scored lower than Mediacom for customer satisfaction in 2022.

Consumer Reports scores tell a similar story. Mediacom earned a 55/100 overall — ahead of only Optimum, Frontier and Suddenlink —  with the lowest possible scores for value and customer service. It was also second-to-last in J.D. Power’s rankings in the West region, and middle of the pack in the South.

We called Mediacom to ask a few basic questions about service, and the representative we spoke with was kind and helpful. That said, complaints are all across the board with Mediacom, from performance issues to unexpected price increases. 

Mediacom internet FAQs

Does Mediacom have Wi-Fi hotspots?

Yes. Mediacom now has hundreds of public Wi-Fi connections available to internet customers. Mediacom Xtream Wi-Fi hotspots can be found in select markets in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri.

Mediacom internet service is a cable connection.

Yes. Mediacom offers multiple internet-only plans so you can enjoy home Wi-Fi without cable TV service.

Yes. You have the option to use a self-installation kit to connect to your new internet service.

*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. Speeds may vary. As of 8/2/21.

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Joe Supan

Written by:

Joe Supan

Senior Writer, Broadband Content

Joe Supan is the senior writer for Allconnect and MyMove. He has helped build the proprietary metrics used on Allconnect’s review pages, utilizing thousands of data points to help readers navigate these comple… Read more

Robin Layton

Edited by:

Robin Layton

Editor, Broadband Content

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