Cox doesn’t provide any discounts or unique plans for teachers. But in this guide, I’ll cover ways teachers could save money on various Cox plans.
I’m a deal hunter and want to help save you the most money possible with internet and TV services. I’ve compiled information from throughout the internet into this guide.
I’ll help teachers potentially save money on Cox plans by covering the following:
- If Cox offers teacher discounts
- Current promotions and deals
- How to save money on your bill
- Best plans for teachers
- Best TV and internet bundles
- Home Internet plans and prices
- Residential TV plans
Keep reading to learn more.
Does Cox Offer Discounts for Teachers?
Cox doesn’t offer teacher discounts. Teachers who qualify for certain government programs can get discounted internet services, though.
And teachers (along with other new and existing customers) can get the Peacock Premium subscription service free. I’ll cover these in the next section.
You can also check the current Cox deals to make sure nothing has changed since I wrote this article.
Other Cox Deals for New and Existing Customers
New and existing customers can get $40 off the Cox Gigablast internet plan if they sign up or upgrade before 9/26/2022.
The $79.99 price tag for this plan will last a year throughout your contract. Once this time passes, you’ll pay $119.99 a month for your plan.
Otherwise:
Cox doesn’t have any deals for veterans, students, or seniors. Nor do you get discounts for bundling your Cox services.
You can still save money with Cox, though.
The following sections will cover any plans or deals you can get with this service provider.
Cox Low Income Internet Plans
Cox offers 2 low-income internet plans that’ll provide 100 Mbps downstream and 3.0 Mbps upstream. They also have a 1.25 terabyte (TB) data cap. Both plans work great for 5 devices simultaneously doing stuff online.
You’ll get Cox’s unlimited data plan free for 12 months. You won’t have to worry about their data cap for a while.
According to Cox. So take that number lightly. The number of people who can use your internet depends on the tasks you’ll perform. I’ll emphasize this later in this piece.
The amount you’ll pay depends on the plan you qualify for. And these plans are:
| Tier | Download Speed | Upload Speed | Price |
| ConnectAssist | 100 Mbps | 3.0 Mbps | $30/mo. |
| Connect2Compete | 100 Mbps | 3.0 Mbps | $9.95/mo. |
Cox low-income internet plans.
Both programs require you to participate in at least 1 government aid program. For instance, if someone in your home has Medicaid, you can qualify if you have proof.
Like proof of assistance.
ConnectAssist has that sole requirement. But Connect2Compete requires you to have 1 K–12 student living in your home. The “student” plan also gives your home access to Cox’s Digital Academy.
It appears to educate the masses on what TikTok is, how to use Microsoft 365, and other online tutorials. I like that it shows internet safety tips. Something essential nowadays.
Anyway:
Both plans don’t require credit checks or installation fees. Then Cox gives you a free network gateway (modem/router). And you still have access to Cox’s millions of Wi-Fi hotspots.
If you qualify for either of these plans, you have the potential for free internet. Find out how in the following section.
Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) can reduce internet costs by $30 monthly—$75 for those living on qualifying tribal lands. You’ll need to participate in a government assistance program to qualify for this billing credit.
Here are the prices most people will see upon applying the ACP credit to their internet plans:
| Tier | Year 1 Price (Before ACP) | Year 1 Price (After ACP) | Year 2 Price (Before ACP) | Year 2 Price (After ACP) |
| Essential 100 | $49.99/mo. | $19.99/mo. | No contract | No contract |
| Preferred 250 | $59.99/mo. | $29.99/mo. | $83.99/mo. | $53.99/mo. |
| Ultimate 500 | $79.99/mo. | $49.99/mo. | $99.99/mo. | $69.99/mo. |
| Gigablast | $79.99/mo. | $49.99/mo. | $119.99/mo. | $89.99/mo. |
| StraightUp Prepaid | $50/mo. | $20/mo. | NA | NA |
| ConnectAssist | $30/mo. | Free | NA | Free |
| Connect2Compete | $9.95/mo. | Free | NA | Free |
Cox internet plan pricing when applying the Affordable Connectivity Program credit.
You should apply for the credit if you participate in a qualifying program. That’s 100 Mbps free internet.
To apply, you’ll need to use the website ID.me to verify your eligibility after getting your plan. And if you’re approved, Cox will apply the credit to your account.
What’s the catch?
You have to use their service. Customers who get free internet will need to read this fine print [1]:
“You will not receive your ACP discount for any month you do not use such Internet services.”
So if you’re not using their internet, they’ll de-enroll you from the Affordable Connectivity Program after 45 days of inactivity.
Free Peacock Premium Plan
Cox offers new and existing customers free access to a Peacock premium subscription. You can only get this free plan until January 15th, 2023.
They haven’t specified whether the promotion will extend. I’m assuming it won’t.
Here are examples of series and movies you can watch on the Peacock streaming platform:
- Love Island
- JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
- Any WWE programming
- That 70s Show
- Superstore
- Every Harry Potter movie
- Pawn Stars
The list goes on.
New and existing Cox customers can sign up for the free Peacock Premium plan by creating a Peacock account.
Select ‘Link Provider.’
Pick your provider and log in with your online Cox account.
What Are Ways To Lower My Cox Bill as a Teacher?
Ways you can save money on your Cox bill includes:
- Getting your own equipment
- Negotiating your current rates
- Canceling cable TV subscriptions
The following sections will cover how much you’ll save and other details to help you save money.
1: Buy Equipment Instead of Renting
Getting your own router, modem, or gateway can save you $13 monthly.
There are a couple of downsides to this. Cox offers a free hardware upgrade every few years, so you’re constantly updating your gateway. And third-party devices require higher up-front costs.
You’ll unlikely need anything more powerful than a Wi-Fi 6 router and a decent modem for at least 5 years. Because it’ll probably take a while for technology to demand more advanced network hardware.
You can use any router for Cox’s services. The router you choose WILL affect your internet speed. For instance, you may have lower speeds if you choose something with 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) over IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6).
Because Wi-Fi 5 can’t handle numerous connections like its upgraded counterpart.
But modems. You’ll need specific hardware.
Cox requires you to use a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) 3.0 or higher modem. For their Essential and Preferred plans. Whereas you’ll need DOCSIS 3.1 for their Ultimate and Gigablast plans.
DOCSIS controls the amount of bandwidth that can transfer through your devices. For higher-tier plans, you’ll need a higher DOCSIS class.
You’ll also need a Cox-approved modem. That requires research. We’ve done the work for you if you don’t want to waste an hour or 2 sifting through Amazon’s horrendous search filters.
When you’re ready to activate your number, the steps you’ll take depend on whether you’re a current Cox customer.
If so, you’ll need to contact their customer service. Tell them you want to activate a new modem. Finally, give them with your device’s Media Access Control (MAC) or CMAC serial number.
It’s a 12-digit string of numbers found on the bottom of your device.
New customers need to visit Cox.com/activate, follow the prompts, and eventually enter the CMAC or MAC number.
2: Negotiate Your Current Plan
Call Cox’s Retention department at 800-234-3993. You can only reach them Saturday, 9 am–6 pm, or Monday–Friday, 8 am–9 pm.
Your goal is to negotiate with them to see if they can lower your bill. So you’ll need to prepare yourself.
Research competitors in your area. You’ll do this so you can say, “I’m considering switching to “X” because they offer “insert perk here.”
During your call, you’ll want to mention that Cox’s plans sit outside your budget. And that you don’t qualify for their low-income plan.
Or, if you do qualify, you may want more than 100 Mbps internet speeds.
It’s a low chance they’ll offer a discount on their services. But it’s worth trying, anyway. If you don’t reap any fruits from this call, reach out again another day.
3: Replace Cable TV
You could save over $600 a year by switching away from Cox’s cable TV plans and opting for streaming services.
Peacock TV, for instance. It’s $4.99 a month. You save over $48 a month and don’t have to deal with reruns on TV.
There’s a limitless number of streaming services you can go with.
Cox offers Peacock Premium free for a while.
And you could get streaming services with services you may already use.
Walmart offers Paramount+ with their Walmart+ subscription [2]. Meanwhile, Amazon has Prime Video.
You’ll need devices to use these streaming service apps, though. Don’t fret. You could get a Roku Express TV stick for $24. Cox provides a 4K TV streaming box for $5 a month.
But if you’re after 4K, I recommend a one-time purchase.
My go-to for 4K streaming boxes is the NVIDIA SHIELD TV. It’s over $100 upfront. But it has Dolby Vision and Atmos, 4K upscaling, and works with Google Assistant.
Best Cox Internet Plans for Teachers
Cox doesn’t offer specific internet plans for teachers. But I’ve gathered the following plans I think would work best for educators:
- 500 Mbps
- 100 Mbps
- 250 Mbps + unlimited data
I’ll cover each plan’s details and who should get it throughout the following sections.
1: Ultimate Internet: Best for Larger Families
Ultimate Internet gives you 500/10 Mbps internet speeds for $79.99 a month. This price increases to $99.99 a month after a 1-year contract.
According to Cox, 9 devices can simultaneously perform online tasks. The actual number of devices these speeds support depends on your household’s online task requirements.
But it’s likely way higher.
Watching Netflix in standard definition (720p) requires 3.0 Mbps download speeds. So you could have 166 devices simultaneously streaming.
If most consumer-grade routers could support such several devices.
2: Connect2Compete: Best for a 3-Person Household
Connect2Compete gives homes 100/3.0 Mbps internet speeds for $9.95 a month. But you must qualify for this plan. This plan supports at least 3 devices simultaneously using the internet.
The 3.0 Mbps upload speeds pose an issue, though. You’re not going to have any home security cameras on this plan, because those require 5 Mbps upstream.
But you can run 1-on-1 and group Zoom calls in 720p. The former demands 1.2 Mbps. Meanwhile, the latter needs 2.6 Mbps.
If you want to go with 1080p, that requires 3.6 Mbps download and upload speeds. So this plan wouldn’t work in that case.
While someone’s on Zoom, anyone else around your home will have difficulty uploading files. For instance, if someone’s in a 720p SD group call, that’ll leave you with .04 Mbps of bandwidth available.
If you get this plan, avoid performing certain tasks online while someone’s on Zoom in an online class or with a client. Review the network speed demands of everything your household does.
Avoid performing tasks that require uploading information.
Anyway:
Requirements include participating in at least 1 government assistant program (like SNAP) and having a K–12 student living in your home.
Qualifying for Cox Lifeline internet also gives you access to the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The federal government offers low-income households a $30–$75 credit for internet plans.
That’s free internet.
You also get a free network gateway, millions of Wi-Fi hotspots, and don’t need to pay a security deposit.
But you have to deal with Cox’s data cap. The next plan covers a means to get around it.
3: Preferred + Unlimited Internet: Best for Homes With Security Devices
$109.99 a month gives you 250/10 Mbps internet speeds and removes Cox’s data cap. Upon completing your contract’s first year, you’ll pay $149.99 a month.
Why does this plan work best for security devices?
8 cloud-based security would use 1.2 terabytes (TB) of data a month [3]. So if you have many areas that require monitoring, you won’t have extra data for other activities like 4K streaming.
Cox has an obnoxious pricing scheme for their unlimited data add-on ($50 a month). But saves you money on data overage fees.
Because they’ll charge you a max of $100 on these monthly fees.
Cox TV and Internet Bundles for Teachers
Cox Communications doesn’t offer discounts when bundling any of their services. But grouping your services into one plan can simplify your billing.
If you know what you’re doing.
The following section will cover the following best bundles for teachers:
- 250 Mbps internet and the streaming box
- 250 Mbps internet and home security
- 100 Mbps internet and 140+ channels
The following sections will cover details to help you determine whether it’s worth bundling.
1: Preferred Internet + Streaming Only: Best Overall
This bundle provides 250/10 Mbps internet speeds and Cox’s Contour TV Streaming box.
The upload speeds won’t handle many uploading-related tasks. Have an hour-long 4K at 30FPS (20.5 GB) video file you need to send a client [4]? It’s going to take you almost 5 hours to upload that.
But the download speeds should meet most of your home’s needs. You could have at least 50 devices simultaneously watching HD (1080p) content on streaming platforms.
Speaking of:
You get a 4K streaming box with this plan. It comes with a myriad of apps like:
| Hulu | NPROne | Netflix | Amazon Prime Video |
| Xumo | Pluto TV | Tubi | ESPN3 |
| discovery+ | DAZN | Vevo | Sling TV |
Apps included in the Contour TV streaming box.
Some apps don’t require a subscription (like YouTube Kids). But obviously platforms like Netflix and HBO Max demand separate subscriptions.
2: Preferred internet + Homelife: Best for Home Security
Get 250 Mbps internet speeds and self-monitoring home security for $87.99 monthly. You’ll want this bundle if you have a home with at least 11 devices and need to monitor one area.
Refer to the previous bundle to learn more about the Preferred internet plan.
The Homelife security plan only comes with one camera. But that’s all you can use with this plan.
Because most HD security cameras require at least 5.0 Mbps upload speeds. And with the 10 Mbps, you’ll only have 5.0 Mbps of bandwidth left.
And you get motion alerts. So you can know whether someone’s breaking into your home. But you’ll have to call the police yourself. You’ll need to pay $40 a month for professional monitoring.
I mentioned watching one area of your home. Choose wisely. You may want to watch your front door.
Technically, this plan supports up to 4 cameras. But you need to get those separately. And good luck on uploading files after connecting those several cameras.
3: Essential Internet + TV Preferred
You can get 100/5.0 Mbps internet speeds and 140+ channels for $147.99 a month. This plan doesn’t increase in price after your contract.
You’ll only want this plan if your channel can’t live without certain channels. That you can’t already get with a streaming service.
I recommend getting home internet plus streaming only otherwise. Because the $147.99 monthly fee doesn’t include the broadcast TV fee. It also doesn’t involve having technicians visit your home to fix television services.
Or just go with internet-only plans and buy a Roku Express. You’ll save the most money.
Cox Home Internet Plans & Pricing
Here are the plans for Cox’s cable residential internet:
| Tier | Download Speed | Upload Speed | Price (Year 1) | Price (Year 2) |
| Essential 100 | 100 Mbps | 5.0 Mbps | $49.99/mo. | No contract |
| Preferred 250 | 250 Mbps | 10 Mbps | $59.99/mo. | $83.99/mo. |
| Ultimate 500 | 500 Mbps | 10 Mbps | $79.99/mo. | $99.99/mo. |
| Gigablast | 1.0 Gbps | 35 Mbps | $79.99/mo. | $119.99/mo. |
| StraightUp Prepaid | 100 Mbps | 5.0 Mbps | $50/mo. | NA |
Cox home television plans and prices.
Here’s what to expect when using Cox’s internet plans:
- Has a 1.25 terabyte (TB) data cap
- Available in 19 states
- McAfee-powered Security Suite: anti virus, device location, and other features
- Over 4 million Wi-Fi hotspots
You can either rent their Panoramic router modem for $13 a month or buy third-party hardware. Renting a modem isn’t a rip-off with Cox like with other providers.
Teachers could use one of Cox’s millions of Wi-Fi hotspots to conserve data on cellular bills. Using one of these access points makes it so people can stream online videos without contributing to data allowances.
Every 3 years they’ll give you a free network gateway upgrade. It’s a good way to keep your home up-to-date with wireless technology.
Meanwhile, buying your own modem and router could take a couple of years to pay off. The amount of value you get depends on the amount of research you put into finding your network device.
You could find an affordable router that offers IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) and can support higher max Wi-Fi speeds. And you could find a decent modem.
Cox Television Plans, Pricing, & Features
Here are all of Cox’s residential TV plans:
| Plan | Channels | Price | Price Per Channel |
| Contour TV Starter | 75+ | $53/mo. | $0.71 |
| Contour TV Preferred | 140+ | $98/mo. | $0.70 |
| Contour TV Preferred Plus | 170+ | $118/mo. | $0.69 |
| Contour TV Ultimate | 250+ | $138/mo. | $0.55 |
| Contour Streaming | NA | $5/mo. | NA |
Cox home TV plans and pricing.
You can get these “perks” with Cox’s cable television plans:
- 1 free Contour TV box
- 1 Starter DVR service: you get it free for 1 year
- You can get it in 19 states
- Contour TV app
- Purchasable add-ons: premium channels, additional TV boxes, and DVR service
You can use the Contour TV app to watch channels at home or on the go. So as a teacher you could watch something during your lunch break or before class if you have extra time.
But you can only watch it on 3 devices at once while away from home. Or 5 while at home. And you can’t watch them on smart TV devices (like Roku).
You can only watch them on cell phones, laptops, or tablets.
These plans don’t offer unique features. If you want television, I recommend Verizon Fios TV if it’s available in your area.
Otherwise, you’re best off using streaming services. Or Hulu + Live TV.
Conclusion
Cox doesn’t give you much leeway to lower your bills. You’ll have to downsize, negotiate, or not rent their gateway.
Don’t like Cox’s stinginess? Consider using a different provider. Check out other guides we’ve written for their competitors.
