Google Fiber is the best choice for overall internet service, even though Cox's multi-gigabit cable packages are more widely available.
Cox vs. Google Fiber
8 min readRun through fiber-optic cables, Google Fiber offers reliable, lightning fast internet speeds as soon as you’re up and running, with and at a price that’s hard to beat. Customers we spoke with gave Google Fiber high marks across the board. Some perks of Google Fiber include:
- Fiber speeds up to 8,000Mbps
- No equipment fees
- Free installation
- Unlimited data
- Highly rated customer service
- Two-year price lock on all plans
Cox Internet offers reliable internet service that most customers rate positively. It features good download speeds and discounted mobile service when you bundle it with the internet. Cox Internet includes the following benefits:
- Cable speeds up to 2,000Mbps
- No equipment fees for the first 14 months
- Free self-installation
- Unlimited data option
- Mobile, TV, and home phone bundle options
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Honest reviews written by real people
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Google Fiber vs. Cox Internet: Plans, pricing, and deals
Google Fiber plans and prices
Provider | Plan | Price | Download speed | Details |
 Google Fiber | 1 Gig |
$70/mo.
| Up to 1000 Mbps Mbps | View Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Fiber | 2 Gig |
$100/mo.
| Up to 2000 Mbps Mbps | View Plans |
| Google Fiber | 5 Gig |
$125/mo.
| Up to 5000 Mbps Mbps | View Plans |
| Google Fiber | 8 Gig |
$150/mo.
| Up to 8000 Mbps Mbps | View Plans |
Cox Internet plans and prices
Provider | Plan | Price | Download speed | Details |
 Cox Internet | Fast |
$50/mo.
| Up to 300 Mbps Mbps | View Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox Internet | Go Even Faster |
$80/mo.
| Up to 500 Mbps Mbps | View Plans |
| Cox Internet | Go Super Fast |
$110/mo.
| Up to 1000 Mbps Mbps | View Plans |
| Cox Internet | Go Beyond Fast |
$150/mo.
| Up to 2000 Mbps Mbps | View Plans |
As soon as you’re connected with Google Fiber, you’re off to the races with an incredibly fast internet connection. Its base plan starts off at 1,000Mbps at $70 per month, which is competitive with some of the fastest plans from other providers. And it only goes up from there—as you go up in tiers, the speed increases significantly, all the way up to a maximum of 8,000Mbps for $150 per month, which is probably faster than most home internet users need, but it’s good to have the option. Plus, there are no charges for installation, overages, or cancellation fees.
Google Fiber is available in 27 cities nationwide, and lucky users in Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee, or Arizona have access to some newer plans with advanced equipment and customizable wiring.
Cox doesn’t deliver that level of speed right off the bat, but it’s still not a bad deal. Cox’s lowest tier plan starts at $55 per month for 300Mbps and maxes out at 2,000Mbps for $115 per month in its “Go Beyond Fast” plan. Each Cox plan has a monthly data cap of 1,280GB, which is over 1TB, so you probably don’t need to worry about going over.
For those who qualify, customers could also take advantage of Cox's low-income internet options, with one program starting as low as $9.95 per month.
“Cox hasn't failed to provide me what I pay for.” – Peter Drennan-Hart
Google Fiber vs. Cox Internet: Fees for modem and installation
Google Fiber doesn’t offer deals in addition to its services. Yet because Google Fiber offers some of the fastest connection speeds for the lowest prices, it’s already a great value. Meanwhile, Cox Internet offers promotions and discounts for customers interested in bundling their internet plan with mobile service.
Cox add-ons and perks
How to get it: Sign up for unlimited data for $49.99/mo.
Bundle Cox Mobile and Cox Internet to get unlimited data for free.
Available with every package, though some for only 24 months.
Google Fiber add-ons and perks
Included with the Home 3 Gig and higher plans
What makes this review legit?
Our fact-based research process centers on interviews with internet customers across the country, helping us understand how internet services hold up against diverse needs and challenges.
To put together this review, we looked at results from our speed test, pulled data from customer satisfaction surveys, and pored over the fine print to compare prices and speeds between the two providers. To flesh out our analysis, we also interviewed Google Fiber and Cox Internet customers to get their firsthand insights. We let their experiences guide our research and shape our conclusions. We also speak with ISP spokespeople and industry experts to get insights into connection types, speed capabilities, and other technical issues related to internet service.
The matchup: How we rate Google Fiber vs. Cox Internet
For all our internet reviews, we give a rating based on three main criteria—speed and reliability, dollar value, and customer experience—which we then average to make an overall score.
Here, we compare those ratings face to face. We then offer some analysis and context for important factors to keep in mind.
Want to know more? Read our full-length Google Fiber review and Cox Internet review.
Speed and reliability
Google Fiber
5.0/5.0
Cox
3.8/5.0
Google Fiber ranks at the top of our Fastest Internet Providers report, outpacing all other major internet providers in the country with connection speeds that can reach up to 8,000Mbps in its top-tier plan. To add to that, it also features symmetrical upload speeds, which enhance performance for video calls and live streams.
Even on its lowest-tier plan, Google Fiber surpasses its competitors. Its entry-level plan reaches download and upload speeds up to 1,000Mbps, which is near many providers’ fastest speeds. Cox Internet only reaches that speed in its Go Super Fast plan, which is its second-highest tier and, as such, second most expensive.
Google Fiber also rates higher in terms of reliability than Cox Internet—just take a look at Google Fiber's speed test results, which prove low latency and higher-than-average download speeds. Because of its fiber-optic cable connection, it’s mostly immune from electromagnetic interference, so it’s better equipped to provide consistent speeds throughout the day.
However, Cox still fares well in terms of reliability against other internet providers. It also offers the best bet for 5G home internet plans, but because it runs on the same network as cellular plans, it can be vulnerable to the same interruptions as your mobile service would be.
Dollar value
Google Fiber
4.8/5.0
Cox
3.3/5.0
Because Google Fiber’s lowest-tier plan carries a higher cost than most of its competitors, it might initially seem like a pricier option, especially when other providers offer attractive promotional rates for new customers. But the speed it offers at even its lowest price far surpasses that of most other providers, making it an exceptional deal in the long run—especially after its competitors’ promotional rates expire. Plus Google Fiber doesn’t charge extra for equipment or installation, making it an even stronger value.
By comparison, Cox isn’t the best deal. Its second-lowest tier is about $30 cheaper than Google Fiber’s, but at one-quarter the speed, and while there are no charges for installation, there is an equipment rental fee, as well as overage charges. Unlimited data costs an extra $49.99 per month, which is a pretty steep jump in price, though the value of each plan gets a little better with each jump in speed. Cox does, however, offer bundle options and some extra perks, including a discounted mobile plan when you sign up for internet service. Plus, when you bundle a Cox Mobile and internet plan, you get the unlimited data feature for free. For more ways to cut costs, read up on eight tips to lower your Cox internet bill.
Customer experience
Google Fiber
4.8/5.0
Cox
4.0/5.0
Subscribers can expect a positive customer service experience with Google, which received the highest marks for overall satisfaction out of the 25 providers surveyed in HighSpeedInternet.com’s 2023 customer satisfaction survey. And in Reviews.org’s own testing of the service, it took only two minutes to be connected to a real person.
On the other hand, Cox Internet has some room for improvement in its own customer service experience. In a 2023 report from the American Customer Satisfaction Index, Cox scored two points below the average score compared to other service providers. Customers have reported trouble reaching a human representative on the phone, and its chatbot, named Oliver, doesn’t provide much useful information.
Overall quality: Which internet provider should you pick?
Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change. Data verified as of the article's publication date.
Google Fiber
4.9/5.0
Cox
3.7/5.0
Google Fiber is as good as home internet gets. It provides reliable connectivity at a price that’s easy on the pocketbook—and speeds that well exceed most other internet providers on the market. That alone makes it a great all-around value, but the absence of hidden fees or additional costs reinforces it as one of the best bets for home internet service.
If Google Fiber isn’t available in your area, however, Cox Internet still offers fast speeds and relatively reliable service. It still has room for improvement when it comes to customer service, but the ability to bundle services gives the option of a better value. It also provides the fastest and most reliable 5G connection nationwide.
Google Fiber vs. Cox Internet: What do customers think?
While internet providers don’t typically receive universal acclaim, Google Fiber customers share mostly positive feedback about their experiences. Chance Carter, a Google Fiber customer in Provo, Utah, tells Reviews.org that it’s been the most reliable provider he’s used.
“I’ve never had a problem with it. In fact, it’s the first internet provider I haven’t had an issue with,” Carter says. “Google Fiber was basically the same price as Xfinity. But I was getting faster speeds across the board with Google.”
R.J. Bass, an IT specialist in Kansas City, said that Google Fiber has been a “requirement” for him every time he’s moved to a new city. “This year marks the tenth year I have been a Google Fiber customer—across four different homes, in three distinct areas of Kansas City,” he says.
Bass adds that Google Fiber has been indispensable for streaming and gaming, because of its ability to handle activities that require a higher bandwidth.
“I used to be a semi-popular Twitch streamer, and the upload speeds I got from Time Warner were not good enough for me to stream to Twitch while my sons were hosting game servers,” he adds. “With Google, we got more than enough bandwidth to do anything we needed online.”
“I’ve never had a problem with it. In fact, it’s the first internet provider I haven’t had an issue with” —Chance Carter
Customers who signed up for Cox Internet report somewhat more mixed reviews about their experiences, though they’re generally positive. Isaac Chandler, an esports lounge manager who lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, said that he thinks the price of Cox Internet is a bit inflated for what he gets, which sometimes includes outages and slower speeds. But for the most part, he’s satisfied with the service.
"It's pretty easy to set up and doesn’t require any weird cabling,” Chandler says. He adds that Cox’s customer service reps have also been pretty helpful: “They solve my problems pretty quickly.”
Other customers are more critical of the service, like customer Paul, a systems administrator in Tulsa, who reports that his network went down as a result of a haboob, an extreme dust storm that can sweep through Oklahoma in the summer months. He said that when technicians repaired the infrastructure, they left cabling behind and did a messy job.
"We still have obvious Cox lines down in our neighborhood,” says Paul. “They didn't actually replace the cable so much as [string] new cable, and they left the old cable lines just dangling off poles onto the ground where they dropped."
"It's pretty easy to set up and doesn’t require any weird cabling” - Isaac Chandler.
Want Google Fiber or Cox Internet? Find it in your area
As of right now, Google Fiber is available in 35 cities, including Seattle, Miami, and San Francisco. Meanwhile, Cox Internet covers 18 states across the country, available in parts of the South, Midwest, and East and West Coasts. Search with your zip code below to see if either provider is available in your area.
Look up Cox and Google Fiber internet service in your area.
FAQ about Cox vs. Google Fiber
Is it worth switching to Google Fiber?
Yes. Google Fiber not only is considered the best overall fiber internet, it's also consider the best overall internet in general. If it's available in your zip code, we think the switch is worth it.
Is Google Fiber better than cable internet?
Yes. Fiber internet offers symmetrical speeds and an ultra reliable connection (say bye bye to outages!). Our experts recommend fiber over cable whenever it's an option. And Google Fiber is as good as fiber gets.
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