Mediacom Internet Review: Plans, Pricing, Speed and Availability Compared

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Mediacom Xtream home internet rating

How we calculated our rating

Pros

• Provides services to over 1,500 communities in 22 states
• Great additional hardware available to rent at a fair price

Cons

• Significant price jump for the gigabit plan after a year
• Data caps are too tight with the cheapest plans, and there's no limit to the number of overage charges you can rack up
• Poor value relative to other cable internet providers

Mediacom Xtream internet review

While Mediacom's recent speed offerings and overall service have improved, you may find better service from other midsize providers like Optimum and WideOpenWest, if you have those options. Mediacom offers speeds of up to a gigabit for most households, but your monthly bill will double after the first year of promo pricing. If Mediacom is your only option over DSL or satellite offerings, here are some things to look out for before signing up.

Mediacom is the fifth-largest cable internet service provider in the US, available predominantly in the Midwest and Southwest across 22 states. Xtream, Mediacom's home internet service, competes with the likes of Astound, Cox, Spectrum and Xfinity for internet customers, boasting speeds up to 1 gigabit at competitive introductory prices. With plans that offer upload speeds up to 50Mbps, Xtream tops Spectrum's 35Mbps.

Mediacom continues to compete against larger internet service providers, announcing the launch of Mediacom Mobile in July 2024, a mobile virtual network that uses Verizon cell towers to offer phone service for an additional $15 to $40 per month in rural areas. In May, Mediacom announced higher speed tiers and higher data caps, aiming to deliver on a promise to provide consistent, quick speeds to its customers in rural areas. Additionally, Mediacom replaced its Connect2Complete Plus plan with Xtream Connect, an affordable broadband option for families participating in the National School Lunch Program or other federal programs.

While this is all evidence of growth, here's why we think Xtream isn't perfect. With the exception of Xtream Connect, all plans face steep price increases after the first year of service. Additionally, Mediacom consistently ranks poorly in customer service surveys. In the latest J.D. Power customer satisfaction index, Mediacom ranked at the bottom for the North Central region. And the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index data tells a similar story. That might be due to Mediacom's monthly data caps, which are a tight 400GB for the 250Mbps speed tier.

If you're considering this cable internet provider, here's everything you need to know.

Mediacom Xtream internet plans

Source: CNET analysis of provider data

Mediacom's Xtream internet offerings are simple and relatively straightforward, with mainly four plans from which to choose. Mediacom recently rolled out its 2,000Mbps tier, though it's available to only a select few. Most customers will have access only to Xtream's 1,000Mbps plan as the fastest speed. Unlimited data is available for only the 1,000Mbps tier, while lower tier plans have monthly data caps of 400GB to 2TB.

The price of most plans doubles after one year; although most cable providers have price increases after a promotional period, Mediacom has a pretty high one. The exception is the Xtream Connect plan, which has a standard rate of $15 per month (if you use your own modem) or $29 monthly if you decide to lease a modem with Mediacom.

The further price increase means the gigabit plan goes from a cost-per-Mbps of 6 cents during your first year to 13 cents after 12 months with a price jump of $65 in the second year of service. On top of that, Mediacom's Xtream internet plans come with additional monthly fees, but we'll discuss those more later.

The pricing is roughly on par with Mediacom's biggest rivals in the cable category. It varies by region, but Comcast Xfinity's gigabit plan goes from 7 cents per Mbps in year 1 to 10 cents after year 2. Meanwhile, gigabit service from Cox rings at around 12 cents per Mbps after the one-year promo rates expire. The other midsize cable providers of note, Optimum and WideOpenWest, offer gigabit plans at better prices than Mediacom, with Optimum and WOW's gigabit plan coming in at around $70 per month after the promo rate expires. That's 7 cents per Mbps and a superb value for a regular price for cable internet.

Mediacom's plans in the middle offer questionable value as well. Take the Internet 250 plan, which offers download speeds of up to 250Mbps and uploads up to 20Mbps for $20 per month during your first year and $50 per month after that. The pricing's not bad, but I must note that the 250Mbps plan comes with Mediacom's most restrictive data cap -- 400GB per month.

Admittedly, you can't really comparison-shop between cable providers; you're usually limited to what provider offers service in your area. Still, after looking at the numbers, it's clear that Mediacom's prices run on the higher side. If it were my provider, I'd be prepared to point out the gulfs in pricing with its competitors when I would inevitably call to try to negotiate a better deal.

Where can you get Mediacom Xtream internet?

Mediacom's internet coverage extends across 22 states.

FCC/Mapbox

As a mid-size provider with a sizable network, Mediacom's home internet service is available to 1,500 communities nationwide. Coverage includes 22 states, primarily in the Midwest and concentrated in Iowa and northern Indiana, but it also has availability in a smattering of regions in the Gulf Coast, the Eastern Seaboard, California and Arizona. 

Major metro areas in that coverage map include:

• Columbus, Georgia
• Davenport, Iowa
• Des Moines, Iowa
• Duluth, Minnesota
• Huntsville, Alabama
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Pensacola, Florida
• Springfield, Missouri

You'll also find Mediacom's Xtream internet services across a wide range of rural pockets near places like Apache Junction, Arizona; Clearlake, California; Decatur, Indiana; Elizabeth City, North Carolina; and Murray, Kentucky.

What kind of internet connection does Mediacom Xtream offer?

According to the founder, chairman and CEO of Mediacom, Rocco B. Commisso, the company's mission is to "Deliver faster internet speeds, build larger fiber networks and offer superior products and services at an affordable price."

It's surprising for an internet provider known for its cable internet offerings to mention fiber in a mission statement. Mediacom's internet infrastructure consists almost entirely of cable connections, offering about 2.126% of unit coverage, per the latest data from the Federal Communications Commission. Its fiber network covers just 0.005% of unit coverage.

Enlarge Image

According to the Federal Communications Commission, Mediacom's internet infrastructure consists almost entirely of cable hookups.

FCC

"Across all areas, network engineers and their tech teams have been adding nodes, building out more fiber and expanding capacity," a Mediacom spokesperson explained when CNET asked about the company's plans for fiber. That's more about bolstering the existing cable connections than establishing new, dedicated fiber connections. Still, Mediacom adds that genuine fiber-to-the-home hookups are in the works "for some projects that build to new communities."

Mediacom's fiber expansion over the years has brought faster speeds to select markets. Just recently, the company announced that Nebo, Kentucky, residents will have access to symmetrical speeds of up to 10,000Mbps or 10Gbps. Back in September, the company also announced that it had expanded its fiber network to over 250 homes in Grand Ridge, Illinois. Moreover, residents in LaSalle County can access download speeds of up to 2 gigabits per second for a promotional price of $85 (which jumps to $160 after one year).

At any rate, as a cable internet provider, Mediacom impresses customers by offering gigabit download speeds as high as 1,000Mbps (1Gbps), much faster than you can expect from DSL providers, satellite or fixed wireless internet. Unlike fiber, your upload speeds will be much, much slower with a cable connection, which will be noticeable when you're trying to upload large files to the web or join a high-res video call. Mediacom is one pace ahead of competing cable providers by offering upload speeds of 50Mbps and 100Mbps for its 1-gig and 2-gig plans; Spectrum and Xfinity have some catching up to do in that regard.

Does Mediacom have data caps, contracts or hidden fees?

Mediacom's broadband labels for each internet plan.

Mediacom

Mediacom's service includes data caps, but no contracts are required. If you look closer, there are a few other details you should be aware of before signing up. Let's examine further.

What to know about Mediacom data caps?

Unfortunately, Mediacom enforces data caps for most of its Xtream internet plans. The monthly data allotment varies from plan to plan, but if you exceed it in a given month, you'll start incurring penalties.

Customers of the gigabit plan get unlimited data, but users of the Internet 500 plan have to contend with a 2,000GB (2TB) cap. That's still quite generous and should be enough data for the average household, as data usage averages 590GB for the average household, according to OpenVault.

Less reasonable is the entry-level 250Mbps plan, which comes with a data cap of just 400GB. While this might seem more promising than the 350GB that Mediacom used to have, 400GB still falls short of what the average home uses in a month these days. It is also more restrictive than what you'll get with any other cable plan that we've written about to date.

As for penalties, Mediacom will charge you $10 for every 50GB block of data used over the cap -- and unlike most providers that enforce data caps, I see nothing in the fine print that limits the total amount in penalties you can rack up in a given month.

Breaking down Mediacom’s installation fee and optional equipment costs

Let's get into the fine print with an Xtream internet plan. It's a big plus that Mediacom doesn't tie you down to a contract with any of its plans, so you don't have to worry about early termination fees. There is an installation fee of $75 plus a $20 activation charge when you start service. Mediacom often waives the installation fee during promotional periods, but don't be surprised if you find you'll have to pay $95 up-front when you start service.

Xtream home internet also requires a compatible DOCSIS 3.1 modem. Mediacom will happily lease you a modem/router gateway for $14 per month, but you can skip that fee if you already have one of your own.

Mediacom also supplies a Wi-Fi extender (specifically, the WiFi360 Pro) with two Eero Wi-Fi units for one year and a Xumo Stream Box for free to all internet customers, which can give you access to streaming apps like Netflix, Disney Plus, and Max if you don't already have a means of accessing them.

If you live in a large home and need additional Eero extenders, you can add them for an additional $5 per month. Read CNET's top picks on the best Wi-Fi extenders.

Customers are also subject to late fees of $10, though that fee differs for customers from California ($6.25), Apache Junction, Arizona ($4.15), and Nogales, Arizona ($6.50).

Mediacom's customer satisfaction leaves a lot to be desired

Mediacom's Xtream ranked at the bottom of J.D. Power's 2024 ISP customer satisfaction survey for the North Central region.

J.D. Power

Organizations that track customer satisfaction metrics tend to agree that Mediacom is below average in the internet provider category. That's certainly the case with J.D. Power, which tracks customer satisfaction across four regions in the US. According to the latest J.D. Power Survey, Mediacom scored 465 points (out of 1,000) in the North Central division. That earned it a last-place finish, 56 points below the region average of 521.

Meanwhile, the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index data tells a similar story. Mediacom scored 61 points out of 100, a four-point drop from 2023. With its current score, Mediacom falls behind the average of an industry that struggles with low numbers as a whole.

What's the bottom line on Mediacom?

Mediacom's Xtream home internet is a valid option for a fast connection at home, but the plans don't offer value that's as good as what you'll get from fiber or other cable providers across the country, and you'll have to put up with a data cap and steep price increases for most plans. You can trim down your monthly bill by using your own equipment, and Mediacom tends to waive its installation fee, but otherwise, there's not much to get excited about here.

Still, Mediacom offers gigabit speeds in many markets that don't have an abundance of other options -- and its cable plans are worth it over the likes of DSL, satellite or fixed wireless. You have to take the good with the bad with any ISP, and Mediacom is no different. It's just a shame that the plans don't come at a better value.

Mediacom Xtream internet FAQs