Mediacom Internet Review
Mediacom is a midsized internet service provider (ISP) with a relatively small service area. The company offers its Xtream internet service in several regions scattered throughout the US. Xtream by Mediacom is primarily available in select areas of the midwest and Gulf Coast and also has some coverage in California and Arizona.
If you can get Mediacom’s internet service, you get gigabit download speeds at competitive prices. Still, there are some key points to consider before deciding whether Mediacom is right for you.
- Who is Mediacom internet for?
- Key considerations
- What others say about Mediacom internet
- How does Mediacom internet compare to other providers?
Who is Mediacom internet for?
Mediacom internet has plans ranging from 100 to 1000Mbps in download speeds, with introductory prices ranging from $19.99 to $69.99/month. This means Mediacom has offerings for a wide range of potential customers.
For those who use just one or two devices primarily for web browsing, the 100Mbps plan should be sufficient. For households with many internet-connected devices that have heavier data needs, such as frequent 4K video streaming, the 1000Mbps plan offers sufficient speed and bandwidth to handle the workload. However, because Mediacom internet is delivered via cable connections instead of fiber, upload speeds are limited to a fraction of the download speeds.
On the gigabit plan, customers can expect to see upload speeds top out at 50Mbps. This could be limiting for those who frequently engage in online activities that involve a lot of data uploads, such as video conferencing and online gaming.
Key considerations
Price and speed matter, but there are other things to consider before choosing your next ISP.
Does Mediacom internet charge equipment fees?
Yes, there is a $13 modem rental fee charged each month. You also can rent a wireless router for $10/month. However, you can avoid these fees by providing your own equipment.
Is there a data cap on Mediacom internet service?
Yes. Mediacom has a variable data cap depending on the plan. This cap ranges from 200GB per month on the lowest tier plan up to 6000GB per month for the top-tiered internet plan.
Does Mediacom charge data overages?
Mediacom bills you for overages on data, with a $10 fee applying to each whole or partial 50GB block of data. So, if you exceed your monthly data allotment, you are charged a $10 fee that covers you for up to 50GB. If that extra 50GB is exceeded, you’ll be charged another $10 for 50GB more, and so on.
Does Mediacom have contracts?
Yes, Mediacom offers 12, 24, and 36-month contracts, depending on current promotions and deals.
Are there price increases on Mediacom internet after a year?
Like many ISPs, Mediacom’s prices increase after 12-months. The amount of the increase is dependent on the plan, but in general, prices tend to increase by 50-75% after the first year. The price then increases by another $10-20 after 24 months. The gigabit plan undergoes one additional $20 increase after 36 months, bringing the total for the top plan to around $130/month in year four.
What others say about Mediacom internet
The reviews on Mediacom tend to speak highly of the download speeds and generous data caps on the top-tiered plans.
Mediacom “offers gigabit speeds in many markets that don’t have an abundance of other options,” according to a CNET review . The review also notes Mediacom’s generous data cap for its gigabit plan: “you get a whopping 6000GB (6TB) of data each month, which is just an enormous amount of data.”
Another review from ZDNET praised the value of Mediacom’s pricing: “We found that Mediacom generally offered affordable high speeds.” The same review continued on to note the high data allowance, as “6000GB is plenty for most people.”
The speed of Mediacom’s service has earned recognition from U.S. News & World Report, ranking the ISP as one of the fastest internet service providers in the nation.
How does Mediacom internet compare to other providers?
When it comes to download speeds, Mediacom keeps pace with other high-speed internet providers, such as Verizon and Xfinity, who also offer gigabit plans.
One difference is the upload speeds, where Mediacom offers just 50Mbps on its gigabit plan. By comparison, fiber internet services—such as AT&T and Verizon Fios—can attain upload speeds of up to 1000Mbps. For most users, 50Mbps is plenty for upload speed, but it may not be enough for those that do a lot of online gaming or video conferencing simultaneously across multiple devices.
Another thing to remember is that Mediacom does have a data cap, unlike ISPs with unlimited data such as Verizon Fios, Centurylink, and Spectrum. However, Mediacom’s gigabit plan does have a much higher 6TB data cap than some other ISPs, including Xfinity (1.2TB) and Cox (1.25TB).
*Pricing varies by location and availability. Speeds may vary. All prices subject to change; for current pricing and availability visit our internet service page. Prices as of 5/5/22.
Disclosure | Updater articles are based on our own data and research, independent from partner relationships. We are not compensated by partners for information and opinions presented here. Our Editorial Terms of Service can be found here.
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