Cox Mobile vs AT&T: Plans Compared

AT&T is one of the “big three” major carriers (along with Verizon and T-Mobile) that operates its own national cell phone network and offers a range of plans. Cox Mobile, on the other hand, is a small carrier that sells a limited selection of wireless plans to Cox Internet subscribers, making use of Verizon’s national network. 

If you live in an area where both AT&T and Cox Mobile plans are available to you, you may be trying to decide which one to go with. In this article, we’ll break down their respective cell phone plan offerings so you can figure out which one is best for your particular needs. 

Cox Mobile vs AT&T: Similarities

• Both offer unlimited and capped plans. 
• Both offer multi-line discounts, bringing the monthly per-line cost down for additional lines.
• Both offer trade-in deals for current flagship phones, from Samsung devices to Apple iPhones.
• Neither include taxes and fees in their advertised prices. 

Cox Mobile vs AT&T: Differences

• Cox Mobile plans are limited to current Cox home internet subscribers, whereas AT&T wireless service is open to anyone.
• AT&T has a wide selection of unlimited data plans, while Cox Mobile only has one unlimited phone plan.
• AT&T’s unlimited plans come packaged with international perks like roaming in Mexico and Canada; Cox Mobile doesn’t include perks with its plans.
• AT&T’s unlimited plans come with mobile hotspot data allotments; Cox Mobile’s single unlimited offering doesn’t feature this. 
• AT&T’s plans tend to be fairly steep in price, while Cox Mobile’s are very affordable. 

Cox Mobile vs AT&T: Coverage

AT&T’s national 4G LTE and 5G networks spread to all corners of the country, so no matter where you are, you’re likely to enjoy fast, reliable coverage. Cox Mobile, meanwhile, provides its customers with similarly excellent service via Verizon’s national system of networks. 

The difference to point out here is that signing up with AT&T’s network means you’re getting coverage straight from the source, as opposed to secondhand via a small carrier, or MVNO; major carriers tend to prioritize their customers ahead of subcarrier customers, which can translate to better coverage. 

Since Cox Mobile subleases its network space from major carrier Verizon, there’s a chance you might receive slightly inferior coverage than you would if you signed up with Verizon itself, at least during times of network congestion. That said, these differences can be very minor, and in all likelihood you’ll have great coverage regardless of whether you go with AT&T or Cox Mobile. 

Cox Mobile vs AT&T: Unlimited Plans

AT&T sells four unlimited plans: AT&T Unlimited Premium PL ($85.99/month), AT&T Unlimited Extra EL ($75.99/month), AT&T Unlimited Starter SL ($65.99/month), and AT&T Value Plus VL ($50.99/month). All but Unlimited Starter SL include monthly mobile hotspot data allowances, not to mention unlimited talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada. Unlike T-Mobile, AT&T’s unlimited plans aren’t packaged with perks like streaming subscriptions, nor can you add them on for an extra charge like you can with Verizon’s myPlan. 

Cox Mobile sells one unlimited plan, the $45/month Gig Unlimited. While Gig Unlimited is attractively cheap, it’s fairly stripped down, and doesn’t include hotspot data or perks. It does guarantee you 20GB of premium (i.e., not deprioritized) data to use each month, so you can get the most out of the Verizon’s network’s fast speeds. 

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What Is an Unlimited Plan? An unlimited data plan is a phone plan that includes unlimited data, but not all the data in an unlimited plan is necessarily of the high-speed variety. Lower-priced unlimited plans tend to include unlimited deprioritized data (data that slows down when networks are busy). Some entry-level plans include some amount of high-speed data as well, but many do not. Mid-level unlimited plans typically include a mix of high-speed data, capped at a certain amount, and unlimited deprioritized data. The most pricy unlimited plans are where you'll find truly unlimited premium data.

Cox Mobile vs AT&T: Capped Plans

AT&T offers a single capped data option, the AT&T 4GB plan ($50/month). As its name suggests, this plan gives you 4GB of data to use per month, but it’s important to note that this is deprioritized data, so it's subject to slowdowns during times of network congestion. Also, the plan isn't eligible for any device promotions that AT&T happens to be running at a given time. 

Cox Mobile also sells one capped plan, tha accurately named Pay As You Gig. This plan allows you to pay per gig of data that you use each month, at $15 per gig. If you’re someone who primarily stays connected to WiFi while streaming and browsing on your phone, Cox Mobile’s Pay As You Gig may be exactly what you’re looking for. 

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What Is a Capped Plan? Also sometimes called “By the Gig” plans, capped plans offer customers a set amount of data per month instead of unlimited data. All the data on capped plans is deprioritized, which means you may experience data slowdowns when the network is congested. Capped data plans can be a cost-effective alternative to unlimited plans if you don’t mind deprioritized data and know how much data you use in a typical month. The key is not to exceed your cap, as doing so can result in significant fees.

What if I Don’t Have Cox in My Area?

As mentioned, Cox Mobile plans are limited to Cox Internet subscribers. However, Cox isn’t the only national broadband internet provider to offer mobile service. Xfinity, Spectrum, and Optimum all do a similar thing, via Xfinity Mobile, Spectrum Mobile, and Optimum Mobile, respectively. All three sell high-value, low-cost unlimited talk, text, and mobile data plans that you can bundle with your internet service. 

The Bottom Line

AT&T is one of the three biggest carriers in the country, operating its own national 4G and 5G networks. Cox Mobile, meanwhile, is a small carrier operating under the larger corporate entity of Cox Communications, subleasing network space from Verizon. In other words, these are two very different carriers—with very different cell phone plan offerings. 

AT&T is a safe bet if you want reliable coverage, a variety of plan options (including the ability to mix and match plans for multiple lines), and access to international perks. Cox Mobile, is a better bet if you’re looking to save on your next cell phone plan, and are willing to sacrifice some of these features. 

Ready to check out the best cell phone plan deals on the market? Check out Navi’s industry-leading free and unbiased Plan Finder tool. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cox Mobile better than AT&T Mobile?

If you’re looking for reliable coverage, flexible plans, and some international perks, AT&T is a great choice. But if saving money is your priority and you don’t mind skipping a few extras, Cox Mobile might be the better fit. It depends on what matters most to you.

Which is faster, AT&T Mobile or Cox Mobile?

AT&T offers more plan options, international perks, and hotspot data, while Cox Mobile is a cheaper, no-frills option available only to Cox Internet customers. If you want some premium features with flexibility, AT&T is the way to go, but Cox Mobile is great if you’re looking to save and already use Cox at home.

Who is Cox Mobile owned by?

Cox Communications is a part of Cox Enterprises. It’s a family-owned business that traces its roots back to 1898 when Governor James M. Cox founded it. Today, Cox has around 6.5 million residential and business customers across the U.S.