CenturyLink Internet vs Cox Internet

CenturyLink, founded in 1930 and historically based in Monroe, Louisiana, is one of the long-standing internet providers in the United States and now operates under its parent company, Lumen Technologies. They deliver both DSL and fiber internet service, allowing them to reach a wide range of communities, including urban, suburban, and many rural areas. In locations where fiber is available, customers can experience symmetrical speeds up to around 940 Mbps, along with unlimited data, included WiFi equipment, and contract-free plans. In non-fiber areas, Simply Unlimited Internet plans can reach up to about 100 Mbps and also include unlimited data on a month-to-month basis. CenturyLink’s pricing is generally positioned as straightforward, with many plans avoiding aggressive promotional rates that later increase sharply. DSL plans typically cost around $55 per month, while fiber plans often average about $75 per month in eligible ZIP codes, sometimes with equipment or installation benefits included. Customer experience is where feedback becomes much more mixed. Many customers report ongoing concerns with billing accuracy, delayed refunds, long wait times for support, technician no-shows, and difficulty resolving issues. Because of this, the overall experience often depends heavily on whether fiber is available in your area and how consistent local service performance is.

Cox is a long-established U.S. telecommunications provider, founded in 1962 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. They deliver a wide range of residential internet services, with plans that span from entry-level speeds to powerful 1 Gbps and 2 Gbps options for homes with heavier usage needs. Many of their internet packages include multi-year price-lock guarantees, no annual contracts, and the option to bundle internet with mobile service, creating added flexibility for different households. They also offer assistance programs for qualifying homes, helping make connectivity more accessible. While the company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating, customer feedback online is often mixed, with praise focused on performance when service is stable and criticism centered on billing, support responsiveness, and outages in some areas. With a strong network footprint, bundled service opportunities, and structured value features, this provider continues to be a major name in the broadband market, offering a competitive lineup that appeals to a wide range of users interested in speed, flexibility, and plan variety.