WOW! Internet Review 2020

WOW! Internet brings cable internet with up to one gig speeds to the South and Midwest. But will its prices, download speeds, and contracts make you say, “Wow!”?

We’ll dig into the details of WOW! Internet, including its prices, data caps, and no-contract options. And we promise that’s the last joke we’ll make about this internet service provider’s (ISP’s) name. So let’s dig in.

WOW! Internet prices and plans

WOW!’s prices offer a lot of value, and it has plans without contracts too.

Compared to other top ISPs, WOW! Internet prices are on the lower end of the spectrum. WOW! packs a lot of download speed into its internet plans without charging you an arm and a leg. That means you’ll get your money’s worth whether you grab the Internet 100 plan or go full blast with the Internet 1,000 plan.

Prices aside, we also like that WOW! Internet gives you four download speeds to choose from. The cheapest plan comes with 100 Mbps speeds, which are fast enough to keep a small- to mid-sized family chugging along online

And if you’ve got a large family or a power internet user gobbling up all your bandwidth, the 1,000 Mbps plan should do the trick.

WOW! Internet no-contract plans

WOW! also gives you the option to go without a contract. That’s a great perk for anyone who might be moving soon for reasons like work, the military, or school.

Of course, you’ll pay about $25 extra each month to turn down that two-year contract. Still, it’s nice to have that choice, right?

Is WOW! Internet cheap?

When you compare WOW! Internet’s promotional prices to how much other ISPs charge you for the same download speed, it looks like you’re getting a steal of a deal.

Even the Internet 1,000 plan price is one of the lower gigabit plan prices we’ve seen out there.

Is WOW! Internet in my area?

Here’s a full list of places where you’ll find WOW! Internet:

• Alabama: Auburn, Dothan, Huntsville, Montgomery, and Valley
• Florida: Panama City and Pinellas
• Georgia: Augusta, Columbus, and Fort Gordon
• Illinois: Chicago and Chicagoland
• Indiana: Evansville
• Michigan: Detroit and Mid-Michigan
• Ohio: Cleveland and Columbus
• South Carolina: Charleston
• Tennessee: Knoxville

WOW! Internet speed

WOW! promises fast download speeds and unlimited data.

WOW! Internet’s download speeds range from 100 to 1,000 Mbps. Those speeds are a good fit for almost everyone—especially when you consider that most internet plans with slower speeds don’t cost much less than WOW!’s 100 Mbps plan.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to say whether WOW! actually delivers those download speeds it promises. The latest Fixed Broadband Report from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) doesn’t include any data on WOW! Internet.¹

That’s not a lot to go on if you’re shopping for a reliably fast internet provider, we know. We can only hope that WOW! Internet will be included in the next FCC study, whenever that will be. And that, in the meantime, WOW! delivers those zippy download speeds it promises.

If you’re experiencing slow internet speeds or other trouble, WOW!’s customer service representatives can be reached by phone, email, or social media.

Data caps

A huge boon you can count on with WOW! is unlimited data.

Most ISPs cap your data at one terabyte (TB), but not WOW!. That’s perfect if you work from home and need to download large files (think PDFs and PowerPoint presentations) often. Unlimited data is also great for streaming in HD or 4K, patching the latest Call of Duty game, or downloading school work.

Contracts, equipment, and fees

WOW! lets you choose a two-year contract or no contract, and we like that it offers a mesh Wi-Fi system rental.

Like we always say, no contract is the best contract. WOW! took a step in that direction with its no-contract plans, and we’re proud of it. But we’d love to see WOW! do away with contracts altogether—and get rid of the higher price for its contract-free options.

If you do go for the lower price of WOW!’s contract plans, you’ll be roped in for two years. That can be a pretty long time, so the internet plans without a contract may be worth the higher price if you’re not sure you’ll be at the same address in a year’s time.

Equipment

Signing up for WOW! Internet means you’ll need to purchase or rent a modem. If you decide to rent, the rental fee is $10 per month. WOW! also gives you the option to rent an Eero mesh Wi-Fi system, which is a great idea if you live in a large house or a home with brick or cement walls. Or want to get Wi-Fi outside so you can scroll while lounging on your deck.

• Wireless modem fee: $10/mo.
• Whole-home Wi-Fi (base and one beacon) fee: $9.99/mo.
• Whole-home Wi-Fi additional beacon fee: $5.99/mo.

To save money in the long run, we recommend buying your own modem (like this ARRIS SURFboard modem/router combo from Amazon).* A year’s worth of modem rental fees will cost you $120, which is more than the cost of this router (at least at the time of this writing).

Of course, your modem needs to be compatible, and WOW! advises you to use certain types of modems based on the internet speed you’re paying for. So it’s a good idea to check WOW!’s modem compatibility list before you get one shipped to your door.

Service fees

Heads up: WOW! Internet is no stranger to additional service fees. But that’s the story for every ISP.

However, we have seen WOW! offer free installation from time to time. If you’re shopping around and see this deal, it’ll save you $50. We say go for it: any savings are good savings.

• Installation fee: Normally $50, but if you order online, you may land a free installation deal.
• Early termination fee: $345 minus $15 for each month you keep your WOW! service.²

Customer service

WOW!’s customer service seems to be like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re gonna get.

Just like it’s not included in the latest FCC report, WOW! Internet is also not included in the latest customer satisfaction report from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).³

The ACSI does provide a score for “All Other” ISPs. In 2020, this score is 64 out of 100, which is slightly below the industry average of 65 out of 100. That’s still not a great score—it’s about a D if you think of a school grading scale. But that’s the story for pretty much every internet provider in the US.

Considering that internet providers end up at the bottom of the barrel for customer service ratings, we weren’t surprised to see a mixed bag of reviews for WOW! Internet.^3,4

Some folks had a rough time with the rental modem (another reason to buy your own?) and service outages. But other reviewers reported a fantastic experience with the performance and customer service.

If you’re looking for help troubleshooting problems with your WOW! Internet service, here’s how you can get a hold of them:

• Phone: 1-855-4-WOW-WAY (1-855-496-9929)
• Email
• Facebook: @WOWInternetTVPhone
• Twitter: @WOWCare and @WOW_WAY

If you do call WOW!, we’ve got a few tips to help you navigate its customer service department.

1. Use email or chat. Both online chat and email let you continue working, gaming, or just not walking around with a phone attached to your head. Plus, you’ll get everything in writing for future reference.
2. Write everything down. Speaking of getting things in writing, we always advise everyone to take notes or save a copy of emails and chat transcripts. Make sure you date your notes and add the representative’s name too. These details may come in handy if you run into an argument later.
3. Ask for a manager. Having a tough time being understood? Don’t be afraid to ask to speak to someone else or a manager. It’s not rude, it’s simply advocating for yourself.

Our picks: The best WOW! Internet plans

Best for families on a budget: Internet 100

Who it’s best for: Have a few internet-hungry kiddos plus a wallet that needs a break? The Internet 100 plan has enough download speed to keep everyone happy, and it’s speedy enough to give you a chance to sit down, relax, and binge some Netflix. (You deserve a break.)

Why we picked it: The price for this 100 Mbps plan is about as low as internet cost goes. And even with that low cost, the Internet 100 plan doesn’t skimp on internet speed. This is the perfect price and speed combo for a couple of roommates all the way up to a three- or four-person family.

Best for remote workers: Internet 500

Who it’s best for: If a trip to the office means shuffling over to your desk with your PJ bottoms still on, you’ll need a bit more download speed to keep up with your work hustle.

Why we picked it: The Internet 500 plan has enough speed to keep up with emailing, uploading, downloading, and just generally cranking out stellar work while you’re in your home office. And if your family or roommates decide to go on a Hulu marathon while you’re working, your internet shouldn’t slow down to the speed of a molasses-coated snail.

And if you do need that extra ounce of speed, the Internet 1,000 plan also comes at an excellent price.

Recap: Is WOW! Internet good?

WOW! Internet ups the ante with download speeds that go up to 1,000 Mbps and unlimited data. It also offers plans with no contract and the option to rent an Eero mesh Wi-Fi system—two perks that are hard to find with any other internet provider.

We’d prefer that WOW!’s no-contract plans not cost more per month, and we’d like to get a better idea of how its download speeds and customer service performs. But, overall, we like what we see with WOW!, and we hope it’s able to expand its service area in the future.

WOW! Internet prices and plans recap

• Internet 100: $34.99/mo. with 2-year contract,* 100 Mbps download speeds
• Internet 200: $44.99/mo. with 2-year contract,* 200 Mbps download speeds
• Internet 500: $54.99/mo. with 2-year contract,* 500 Mbps download speeds
• Internet 1,000: $74.99/mo. with 2-year contract,* 1,000 Mbps download speeds
• Internet 100 (no contract): $59.99/mo., 100 Mbps download speeds
• Internet 200 (no contract): $69.99/mo., 200 Mbps download speeds
• Internet 500 (no contract): $79.99/mo., 500 Mbps download speeds
• Internet 1,000 (no contract): $99.99/mo., 1,000 Mbps download speeds

What can you do with WOW! Internet?

WOW! Internet’s wide range of download speeds makes it a good fit for pretty much any household that hops online for entertainment. And by offering streaming TV services along with its internet, WOW! is there for you even if you’ve cut the cable TV cord.

But if you’re still all about lengthy channel lists and old-school cable TV offerings, you’ve still got something to look forward to with WOW!’s bundles.

Recommended WOW! TV bundle

To get that traditional cable TV setup, you’ll need to bundle your WOW! Internet service with one of its TV packages. The Medium Cable + 200 Mbps bundle gives you more than 100 channels to scroll through plus download speeds that’ll support a medium-sized family’s streaming and gaming habits.

Recommended streaming service

For anyone who’s already cut the cord or is thinking about cutting ties with old-school TV packages, WOW! lets you choose one of its four streaming TV partners to pair with your internet service. Right now, those streaming partners include YouTube TV, FuboTV, Sling TV, and Philo, all of which come with some unique perks that might get you excited.

But if you ask our Reviews.org TV expert, Chantel Buchi, she recommends YouTube TV as the best overall streaming service—and the best streaming service for sports coverage.

And you’ll be happy to know that even though YouTube TV doesn’t have HBO, you can grab that and other premium channels directly from WOW!.

FAQ

Q: How fast is my WOW! Internet?

Curious how to test your WOW! Internet speed? It’s pretty easy.

Pay a visit to our online speed test—that’ll tell you exactly how fast your download and upload speeds are.

If your results on the speed test are lower than the speed you’re paying for, check out some of our easy tips for speeding up your internet.

Q: Why is WOW! Internet down?

Is WOW! down in your area, or is it just you? There’s nothing like a “No internet connection” notification to make us a bit paranoid that we’re the only ones out there with connection issues.

Luckily, you can check the status of WOW! on DownDetector.com. If there’s no WOW! Internet outage reported in your area, you should give WOW! customer service a call to let them know there’s an issue and get them working on a fix right away.

Q: Who owns WOW! Internet?

WOW! Internet is currently not owned by any other ISP or telecommunications company. However, WOW! did purchase Broadstripe LLC in 2011, Knology in 2012, and NuLink in 2016.^{4, 5, 6}

And by the way, you may also see it called WideOpenWest, Inc.—yup, that’s where the “WOW!” comes from.

Sources

1. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), “Measuring Fixed Broadband – Eighth Report”
2. WOW! Internet, “Minimum Term Plan Additional Terms and Conditions”
3. American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), “ACSI Telecommunications Report 2019–2020”
4. DSL Reports, “WOW! Internet and Cable”
5. Consumer Affairs, “WOW! Internet Cable and Phone”
6. WOW! Internet, “Wave Broadband and WOW! Internet, Cable, and Phone to Acquire Broadstripe”
7. PR Newswire, “WOW! Completes Knology Acquisition”
8. PR Newswire, “WOW! Closes Acquisition of NuLink to Provide High-Speed Internet, Cable TV and Phone Service to Metro Atlanta”

*Reviews.org uses Amazon affiliate links.