Cox Mobile vs T-Mobile: Plans Compared

T-Mobile is a major carrier that offers a wide selection of plans aboard the company’s own national 4G and 5G networks. Cox Mobile is a small niche carrier that offers a limited number of plans to its Cox Internet customers, operating on Verizon’s network. In this article, we’ll compare the two providers to help you decide which makes the most sense to go with for your next cell phone plan. 

Cox Mobile vs T-Mobile: Similarities

• Both offer unlimited 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.

Cox Mobile vs T-Mobile: Differences

• Cox Mobile plans are limited to current Cox home internet subscribers, whereas T-Mobile is open to anyone.
• T-Mobile offers a selection of unlimited data plans, while Cox Mobile only has one.
• T-Mobile’s unlimited plans come bundled with perks like free Netflix, whereas Cox doesn’t offer any equivalent add-ons. 
• T-Mobile’s unlimited plans include travel perks like free in-flight WiFi, whereas Cox Mobile doesn’t include any. 
• T-Mobile’s unlimited plans come with mobile hotspot data allotments; Cox Mobile’s single unlimited offering doesn’t feature this. 
• T-Mobile’s plans tend to be fairly steep in price, while Cox Mobile’s are very affordable. 
• T-Mobile includes taxes and fees in its advertised prices, while Cox Mobile does not. 

Cox Mobile vs T-Mobile: Coverage

T-Mobile’s nationwide 4G LTE and 5G networks blanket the country, allowing customers to take advantage of the carrier’s fast and reliable cellular service. Cox Mobile, meanwhile, subleases network space from Verizon, providing its customers with similarly solid coverage. 

It’s important to note that while T-Mobile’s customers are able to enjoy fast coverage straight from the source, Cox Mobile’s reliance on subleased network space from Verizon can in some instances result in slightly inferior service. Major carriers tend to prioritize their customers ahead of those who use their networks via smaller carriers like Cox Mobile, at least in times of network congestion. 

These differences tend to be relatively minor, however. In all likelihood, you’ll be able to enjoy good coverage regardless of whether you’re with T-Mobile or Cox Mobile. 

Cox Mobile vs T-Mobile: Unlimited Plans

T-Mobile has done away with its capped plan offerings, opting to go all-in on unlimited. As a result, the carrier now sells five different unlimited data plans: Essentials Saver, Essentials, Go5G, Go5G Plus, and Go5G Next. 

Essentials and Essentials Saver both include unlimited 3G mobile hotspot data allowances, while Go5G, Go5G Plus, and Go5G Next feature varying amounts of decidedly faster 5G hotspot data. Additionally, the latter three of these unlimited plans come bundled with streaming perks like free Netflix and AppleTV subscriptions, and data in 210+ countries. 

Cox Mobile, by contrast, only sells one unlimited plan, the $45/month Gig Unlimited. Gig Unlimited, while cheap, is a more stripped-back offering, since it doesn’t include bundled hotspot data or additional perks. However, it does guarantee you 20GB of non-deprioritized data to use each month, allowing you to get the best out of Verizon’s powerful coverage speeds. 

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What Is an Unlimited Plan? As the name suggests, an unlimited data plan is a phone plan that includes unlimited data. However, the type of unlimited data included in these plans varies. Lower-priced unlimited plans tend to come with unlimited deprioritized data that is subject to slowdowns during busy times on a network. Some entry-level unlimited plans also offer some amount of premium data (aka high-speed data), but many do not. Mid-level unlimited plans typically include a mix of high-speed data, capped to a certain amount, plus unlimited deprioritized data. The highest-priced unlimited plans are where you'll find truly unlimited premium data.

Cox Mobile vs T-Mobile: Capped Plans

As mentioned, T-Mobile has axed its capped plan offerings in favor of unlimited data plans. Cox Mobile, on the other hand, offers capped data by way of its Pay As You Gig plan. 

As its name indicates, Pay As You Gig charges customers a flat rate per gig of data they plan to use each month. Each gig costs just $15/month, so it's ideal for customers who don’t consume a lot of data, primarily relying on WiFi for streaming and browsing. If that describes you, 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 commonly referred to as "By the Gig" plans, capped plans offer customers a set amount of data each month instead of unlimited data. Capped plan data is deprioritized, which means it's subject to slowdowns when the network is congested. Capped data plans can be a cost-effective alternative to unlimited plans, assuming you don’t mind deprioritized data and know how much data you use in a typical month. That's because exceeding your data cap 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

Comparing T-Mobile and Cox Mobile to each other is a bit of an apples-and-oranges situation, since the former is a major carrier that operates its own national network, while the latter is a smaller provider that subleases space from a bigger carrier (in this case, Verizon). That said, if you live in an area where both are available to you, it’s helpful to be aware of the differences. 

Put simply, T-Mobile is the way to go if you’re interested not only in reliable coverage, but add-ons like free Netflix and international usage privileges. Cox Mobile, on the other hand, is a good option if you’re already a Cox Internet customer and are willing to sacrifice some extras in favor of saving some money on your cell phone plan. 

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 T-Mobile?

T-Mobile offers plans with extras like free Netflix and reliable coverage on its own 4G and 5G networks. Cox Mobile is a cheaper option for Cox Internet customers without the same perks as T-Mobile. If you want more features and travel benefits, T-Mobile is the way to go, but Cox Mobile is a good choice if you’re already with Cox and want to save money.

Does T-Mobile use Verizon towers?

No, T-Mobile doesn’t use Verizon towers, but most Verizon phones can work on T-Mobile’s network. T-Mobile runs its own national 4G and 5G networks.

Does T-Mobile have the best network?

T-Mobile is known as one of the best networks in the U.S. thanks to its fast speeds, reliable coverage, and 5G performance. The company consistently earns awards for overall network quality.