Metronet and Mediacom are renowned broadband internet service providers (ISPs) in the USA. While Metronet is a full fiber internet service, Mediacom is a cable internet provider with one fiber internet plan.
Metronet is cheaper than Mediacom internet plans and offers unlimited data without contracts. Mediacom applies data caps on some of its plans with an overage fee of $10 for each 50 GB of additional data.
Mediacom is the fifth-largest cable internet provider in the USA with a 22-state coverage area, while Metronet has limited coverage in 17 states. Both ISPs’ coverages overlap in many states. So, if you want to choose between the two providers this blog is for you.
Metronet
A father-son duo established Metronet in 2005 in Greencastle, Indiana. Today, it is managed by several private investors who work together to offer multi-gigabit internet services to homes and businesses in over 300 communities.
Metronet started its 100% fiber internet service with just one fiber-optic line and delivered symmetrical speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps. Now, it is offering up to 5,000 Mbps of mirrored speeds. The plans start at $29.95/mo (for 100 Mbps speeds) and offer unlimited monthly data without contracts. However, extra charges like the installation fee can increase your first bill.
Metronet is mainly available in the Midwest, covering more than two million homes and businesses in 17 states.
Pros
- Muti-gig symmetrical speeds
- Reasonably-priced fiber internet
- No data caps
- Free router
- $100 gift card with 1 Gig internet
Cons
- Limited availability
- Extra $9.95 monthly service fee
- High-priced TV packages
Mediacom
Xtream powered by Mediacom, also known as Mediacom Communications Corporation, has been operating since 1995 and provides services to over 1.3 million subscribers in the United States.
It is one of the leading cable operators in the country, providing home phone, high-speed internet, and cable TV services to more than 1,500 communities. It covers 22 states, mostly in the Midwest and Southeast.
Mediacom offers a variety of download speeds through its Xtreme brand, from 250 Mbps to 2,000 Mbps. However, it applies data caps on slow-speed plans. Customers can pick a plan that suits their needs from a wide range of options. The promo prices (valid for up to a year) are affordable.
Pros
- Wider coverage
- Hundreds of out-of-home Xtreme Wi-Fi hotspots
- Bundling options
- 2 Gig fiber internet option
Cons
- Slower upload speeds
- Data caps
- Price hikes after a year
Internet Service Comparison – Metronet vs Mediacom
| Features | Mediacom | Metronet |
|---|---|---|
| Type of Internet | Cable and Fiber | Fiber |
| Price Range | $49.99 – $179.99/mo.* | $29.95 to $109.95/mo.** |
| Speed Range | 250 – 2,000 Mbps | 100 to 5,000 Mbps |
| Availability | 22 states | 17 states |
| Contracts | No | No |
| Data Caps | Yes | No |
| Installation Fee | $109.99 | $75.00 (one-time) |
| Equipment Fee | $14.00/mo. | Included |
| Bundles | Available | Available |
| Perks | Free Hotspots | $100 Gift Card |
| Customer Rating | 61/100 points | 77/100 points |
**Promo prices are valid for 12 months.
Plans & Pricing Details – Metronet vs Mediacom Internet
There are evident differences between Mediacom and Metronet internet plans and prices. Metronet offers all plans through fiber connections without any contracts or data caps. The 100% fiber-rich plans start from $29.95/month, and customers can get equal upload and download speeds of up to 5,000 Mbps (although the availability is limited).
Whereas, Mediacom uses a coaxial cable connection to deliver download speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps. However, its 2 Gig is fully fiber. The cable internet plans start at $19.99/month for 250 Mbps, and speeds as high as 2,000 Mbps are available. Mediacom is a non-contractual ISP, but it applies data caps on various plans.
Metronet Internet Plans
| Plans | Starting Price | Max Speed | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 Mb | $29.95/mo.* | 100 Mbps | Fiber |
| 500 Mb | $39.95/mo.* | 500 Mbps | Fiber |
| 1 Gig | $49.95/mo.* | 1,000 Mbps | Fiber |
| 2 Gig | $89.95/mo.* | 2,000 Mbps | Fiber |
| 5 Gig | $109.95/mo** | 5,000 Mbps | Fiber |
**5 Gigabit internet is limited to selected markets.
Mediacom Internet Plans
| Plans | Starting Price | Max Speed | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet 250 | $19.99/mo. | 250 Mbps | Cable |
| Internet 500 | $44.99/mo. | 500 Mbps | Cable |
| Internet Unlimited 1 Gig | $64.99/mo. | 1,000 Mbps | Cable |
| Internet 2 Gig | Call for price | 2,000 Mbps | Fiber |
Additional Costs – Metronet vs Mediacom Internet
| Additional Cost | Mediacom | Metronet |
|---|---|---|
| Installation Fee | $109.99 | $75.00 |
| Equipment Fee | $14.00/mo. | $0.00/mo.** |
| Early Termination Fee | None | N/A |
| Late Payment Fee | $10.00/mo. | $25.00/mo. |
**Additional WiFi360pro extender $6.00 each. The modem may be used for other internet and phone services. Only one data/phone modem rental is required if the customer has internet and phone services.
Data Caps & Overage Fees
Some users misuse the unlimited data offered by internet service providers, hogging other users’ bandwidths. To avoid this scenario, some ISPs, like Mediacom, apply data caps on their plans.
Two of the Xtreme internet plans, Internet 250 and Internet 500, include monthly data limits. With the Internet 250 plan, you can use up to 400 GB of data each month, and subscribers of the Internet 500 plan get 2,000 GB of monthly data. After exceeding this data limit, customers are charged $10 for every 50 GB of additional data used within the month. Internet 1 Gig and 2 Gig plans come with unlimited data.
However, Metronet does not apply any data caps. It offers unlimited internet usage on all plans, making 4K streaming, online gaming, and file sharing a breeze. Hence, Metronet wins over Mediacom in terms of data limitations.
Installation Options – Mediacom vs Metronet Internet
Mediacom and Metronet charge an installation fee for sending their technicians to customers’ homes. Metronet initially provides free installation to new customers. However, their standard fee for professional installation is $75.
Mediacom offers two options for internet setup – professional installation and self-installation. It provides a free self-installation kit to those interested in setting up the internet themselves. However, the one-time professional installation fee is $109.99.
So, if we compare the installation costs of both providers, Mediacom has a higher installation fee than Metronet.
Perks – Mediacom vs Metronet Internet
Mediacom and Metronet offer customer-friendly benefits to their users, ensuring their digital safety.
Mediacom offers a Total Defence Internet Security Suite to its high-speed internet users. It protects up to 5 devices via anti-phishing, anti-spam, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software against online risks. Moreover, Mediacom offers hundreds of Xtream Hotspots to Xtream internet subscribers so they stay connected even if they are away from home.
On the other hand, Metronet offers various discounts to its customers. It provides a monthly discount of $5–$15 for students based on their internet plans. Also, customers of the Fiber 1 Gig plan get a $100 gift card (offer valid until September 30, 2024).
Metronet customers also get a free Eero Wi-Fi router with additional security and safety features for Eero devices, including parental controls, ad filtering, internet backup, and more.
TV & Internet Bundles – Mediacom vs Metronet
Mediacom bundles its internet with TV services. You can not purchase TV packages without Mediacom home internet. It offers three TV bundles – Local TV (50+ channels), Essential TV (125+ channels), and lastly Variety TV (170+ TV channels). You can bundle your internet with any TV package of your choice.
In comparison, Metronet bundles include discounts on internet and phone packages. However, Metronet does not offer any discounted packages with Internet and TV. It encourages its users to add streaming services, like YouTube TV, Direct TV, and Hulu, to the internet plan.
Better Option for Gaming – Metronet or Mediacom?
There is no better option than fiber internet for online gaming. Multiple factors affect the gameplay, including variations in the delays in sending or receiving data packets (jitter), the rate at which data delay occurs (latency), and asymmetric speeds.
Although Mediacom is a cable internet, its average latency is lower than Metronet’s, which is considered good for gaming. However, Metronet is a full-fiber internet and provides blazing-fast symmetrical speeds with minimal jitter.
Between Mediacom and Metronet, we will recommend Metronet’s fiber internet connection for online gaming.
| Internet Provider | Average Latency |
|---|---|
| Mediacom | 20.00 ms |
| Metronet | 26.57 ms |
Wider Coverage Area – Metronet or Mediacom?
Mediacom’s availability is wider than Metronet’s coverage. Its large coaxial cable network covers 22 states, reaching more than 1,500 communities. However, this vastness means that speeds become slower and fluctuate in the last mile distribution.
Metronet’s availability is limited due to its fiber connection. Fiber internet connections have comparatively low coverage all over the U.S. Hence, Metronet is available in more than 300 communities across 17 states. However, Ohio is the only state with 100% Metronet fiber coverage.
The table below lists states where both Metronet and Mediacom offer their internet services.
| Florida | Illinois |
| Indiana | Iowa |
| Kentucky | Michigan |
| Minnesota | Missouri |
| North Carolina | Ohio |
| Virginia | Wisconsin |
Better Customer Service – Metronet or Mediacom?
In the race for better customer services between Metronet and Mediacom, Metronet wins the competition. Two industry surveyors – the American Customer Service Index (ACSI) and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) have rated the customer services of both providers.
ACSI has not rated Metronet because it is a regional internet service provider with a smaller market share. However, you can find Metronet’s rating in the row of “other ISPs”. Whereas, ACSI has rated Mediacom in the non-fiber category with a score of 61/100. This does not even meet industry standards.
Metronet did not make it into the top US surveys, but Better Business Bureau has rated the company. Based on their grading criteria, it has given it an A+ grade, or 97 out of 100 points.
Better Business Bureau has rated Metronet and Mediacom as A+ and B grades, respectively. Better Business Bureau’s letter-graded ratings are based on a 100-point scoring scale.
| Mediacom | Metronet |
|---|---|
| ASCI (100-points scale) | |
| Non-Fiber Category | Fiber Category |
| 61/100 | 77 (Other ISPs) |
| Better Business Bureau – (100-points scale) | |
| B (84/100) | A+ (97/100) |
Metronet vs Mediacom Internet – Winner: Metronet
Based on the detailed comparison of Metronet and Mediacom, we believe Metronet to be the better internet provider. Metronet offers internet plans through 100% fiber connections with symmetrical speeds reaching up to 5 Gigs. Its customer service is also better than Mediacom’s. The only drawback is its limited coverage.
On the other hand, Mediacom is a cable internet provider. It offers one fiber plan (Internet 2 Gig), but its availability is limited. Moreover, its customer service is poor, and the regular prices of internet plans are high.
Mediacom also imposes data caps on Internet 250 and Internet 500 and charges overage fees for exceeding the data limit, while Metronet provides unlimited data on all its plans. Hence, Metronet is the right choice if you want cost-effective, high-speed internet for homes or offices.
