July 2026 update: Cox currently maintains official Homelife feature, support, alarm, camera, and touchscreen pages. That makes old blanket claims that Homelife is “dead” or fully shut down unsafe. Availability, equipment, support, pricing, and service terms can still vary by address and account, so current customers and shoppers should verify the exact offer directly with Cox.
Cox Homelife review: quick decision
| Situation | Best next step |
|---|---|
| Current system works and support is adequate | Document equipment, ownership, recurring cost, backup, and cancellation before changing anything |
| Moving or changing Cox service | Get written answers on transfer, equipment return, monitoring, internet dependency, and new-address availability |
| Hardware is unreliable or unsupported | Compare a Cox repair/replacement quote with takeover and new-system options |
| Shopping for a new system | Check address-level availability, then price the full three-year setup against dedicated alarm providers |
| Want no-contract DIY security | Compare owned equipment, free self-monitoring, optional paid response, and smart-home support |
What Cox currently shows
Cox’s official web presence includes Homelife support, feature information, alarm help, camera and doorbell help, licensing information, and touchscreen interface guidance. Those pages show that customers should use live Cox account and support information instead of relying on an old price table or shutdown rumor.
Before ordering, renewing, moving, or cancelling, ask Cox to confirm the exact address, equipment, plan, monitoring, internet requirement, term, ownership, installation, support, and cancellation details in writing.
Equipment inventory for current customers
Photograph the touchscreen or panel, keypad, communicator, sensors, cameras, doorbell, router or gateway, transformer, backup battery, thermostat, locks, and any bridges. Record model numbers, not just product names.
- Open and close every protected door and window while watching the system state.
- Test motion, glass-break, water, smoke, and carbon-monoxide devices through the approved procedure.
- Check the age and condition of panel, sensor, and camera batteries.
- Confirm which equipment is owned, financed, leased, or due for return.
- List every household user, code, app account, camera viewer, and automation.
- Export any event or video records the household is allowed and needs to retain.
Monitoring and response
Ask what happens after a door, motion, smoke, panic, or camera event. Verify the call order, verification steps, dispatch process, permit requirement, false-alarm handling, duress-code behavior, and what changes during an internet or power outage.
Run a scheduled system test with the monitoring center instead of assuming a green app status proves end-to-end response.
Cameras, doorbells, and recording
For every camera, check live view, night view, motion zones, recording triggers, retention, timestamps, audio, export, shared access, internet failure, and power failure. A camera can add context to an alarm, but it should not replace a door or window sensor as the main perimeter signal.
Keep views on your property and away from neighboring private areas. Remove former users and unused shared accounts.
Smart-home controls
Inventory connected locks, thermostats, lights, plugs, voice assistants, and routines. Confirm model-level support and which features require Cox, another maker’s app, a bridge, or a cloud service. Test direct control before relying on a multi-step routine.
Automatic unlock, disarm, garage-open, or camera-disable actions deserve extra caution. Require suitable authentication and keep a manual fallback.
Internet and power failure tests
| Failure | Verify |
|---|---|
| Internet disconnected | Local alarm, sensors, siren, keypad, lock control, recording, and any cellular path |
| Cox gateway reboot | How long the panel, cameras, and app take to recover |
| Power outage | Runtime for panel, router, cameras, siren, and communications |
| Phone unavailable | Another alert or response path still reaches the household |
| Old user removed | App, camera, code, lock, and automation access disappears |
Three-year cost worksheet
| Cost line | Questions |
|---|---|
| Equipment | What is owned, financed, leased, bundled, or returned? |
| Installation | Activation, technician, wiring, repair, shipping, and permit costs? |
| Recurring | Monitoring, video, app, internet, taxes, fees, and standard post-promo price? |
| Change | Moving, service downgrade, added sensors, camera storage, repair, and cancellation? |
| Exit | Remaining equipment balance, return shipping, data export, and confirmation? |
Use the standard recurring rate for 36 months. Keep internet, alarm service, video, and financed hardware separate so a bundle does not hide the real security cost.
Questions to ask before moving or cancelling
- Will the existing account and monitoring move to the new address?
- Which devices must stay, move, be replaced, or be returned?
- Does the new address qualify for the same service and features?
- What fees, new terms, installation, or equipment charges apply?
- When does the old response path stop and the new one begin?
- How are video, event history, codes, and household access handled?
- What written confirmation proves cancellation or transfer is complete?
Install and test a replacement before ending the old response path. Do not create an avoidable protection gap.
Can Cox Homelife equipment be reused?
Possibly, but only a model-level check can answer that. Compatibility depends on the panel, radio frequency, firmware, communicator, account release, equipment ownership, replacement provider, and feature requirements. A generic “Alarm.com” or “Z-Wave” label does not guarantee a takeover.
Get a written takeover proposal that lists the hardware to keep, modules to replace, programming, support, app, cellular path, monitoring, warranty, and total cost. Compare that with a clean new-system quote.
Where Abode fits
Abode is the stronger comparison when the household wants owned DIY equipment, a sensor-led alarm, broad smart-home support, free self-monitoring, and optional paid backup or response. Compare the Smart Security Kit, iota, Abode Cam 2, and current plans.
Do not assume old Cox sensors, cameras, or automations will transfer. Price Abode as a new system unless exact compatibility is confirmed.
Current sources and related guides
- Cox Homelife support
- Cox Homelife features
- Cox Homelife alarm help
- Cox camera and doorbell support
- Security contract cancellation guide
- Signs an alarm system is outdated
- Abode home security review
Frequently asked questions
Is Cox Homelife still supported?
Cox maintains official Homelife support and feature pages as of July 2026. Confirm availability, equipment, monitoring, and terms for the exact address and account.
Should an existing customer switch immediately?
Not solely because of an old shutdown claim. Inventory and test the current system, verify current Cox support and cost, then compare a repair, takeover, or new-system proposal.
Can another provider take over the equipment?
Maybe. The answer depends on model, radio, firmware, communicator, ownership, account release, and provider support. Get a written model-level assessment.
What should I do before cancelling?
Confirm equipment ownership and returns, export needed records, remove users, install and test the replacement, and keep written cancellation confirmation.
Growing up with Law and Order and CSI shows taught Isabelle Landau one thing: if people back then had high-quality home security systems, those series would have been way shorter. In our modern world, technology helps us keep burglars away easily, and this is what Izzy studies and writes about: alarm systems, home security, protection systems, and more.
malcolm says
Where do I start off , they got us for 1,300.00 for camera’s that never worked from day one. Technicians after technicians and still can’t fix what we paid for. I threw all the camera’s into the garbage where they belong. Please do your research before buying. Wish I could post some pictures of the horrible installation job they did for us. We now have to make a loan for a security system that works.
Malcolm says
A little about me first, I’m a 58 year old retired law enforcement Officer from the New Orleans La. area who is living in Up-Town. In the past 3 years or so my wife was robbed, our cars broken into and a New Orleans Policeman shot right in front of our home. Not to forget we now have a stalker who wants to kill both of us. So we decided to get 6 Cox Cable HomeLife security camera’s install 3 months ago (1,400.00 Paid) and that’s when the nightmare began.
Within these 3 months Cox Technicians have been over 6 times and that’s not counting the supervisor who has been over 3 times. All the technicians are very nice, but not one can get my cameras to work. They also attempted to install an extension device and shorted out the wall socket that caught on fire. The supervisor (Sam) stated he doesn’t know why my cameras are not working. I’m tired and just want all money back so I can get a security system that works before something happens at my home.
Updated on 08/28/2018: Cox Homelife has been a horror story. I suggest to anyone even thinking about getting this system to reconsider. It’s a horrible system.
We had it installed and the techs could not get it to work since day one. We had tech after tech and supervisors come over to try to fix the system to no avail. Then we were told that we needed to be patient because Cox has a new app coming out and we will be one of the first to be installed, then the system will work. A bunch of lies. The tech came out and installed the new app and still didn’t work. I heard him tell his supervisor on the phone that the SYSTEM WAS NOT FIXABLE.
We asked for our money back and was turned down. We paid for a bunch of equipment that never worked and Cox feels that is ok. So we have cameras that were installed on and in our home THAT DO NOT WORK. They say that they cannot make it work but still refuse to refund our money. Now they are saying that it is WIFI issue. Well, it is COX WIFI. Cox Homelife is made up of a bunch of thieves! I thought that this would be a reputable company to have a security system with. I was wrong. They do not know what they are doing and we have to pay for it. Piss poor company!! Stay away from them.
Vernann Waldrum says
COX home security… hrmm… where to begin? I guess I thought I would be doing myself by bundling the service but then I wanted to change internet to a faster local provider. That’s when it got sticky! To cancel that I would have had to pay to get out of all of my bundle pack (Internet + cable + security).
Not sure if this was just an issue with my local COX dealer and support or if this is nationwide. Basically I’m being ‘coaxed’ into keeping their internet just to keep my home security the same. The app is pretty buggy too.
I used to have APEX before they were Vivint. I would go back with them or ADT in a second over this complicated mess.
Brian says
I have Cox but I am dissatisfied with the level of customer service I receive. It’s lackluster to say the least and whenever I call to inquire about a promotion or a question about my contract I usually wait through long wait periods and a less than enthused rep. Hope they can turn it around soon or I’m gone once my contract’s over.
Malcolm says
: Cox Homelife has been a horror story. I suggest to anyone even thinking about getting this system to reconsider. It’s a horrible system.
We had it installed and the techs could not get it to work since day one. We had tech after tech and supervisors come over to try to fix the system to no avail. Then we were told that we needed to be patient because Cox has a new app coming out and we will be one of the first to be installed, then the system will work. A bunch of lies. The tech came out and installed the new app and still didn’t work. I heard him tell his supervisor on the phone that the SYSTEM WAS NOT FIXABLE.
We asked for our money back and was turned down. We paid for a bunch of equipment that never worked and Cox feels that is ok. So we have cameras that were installed on and in our home THAT DO NOT WORK. They say that they cannot make it work but still refuse to refund our money. Now they are saying that it is WIFI issue. Well, it is COX WIFI. Cox Homelife is made up of a bunch of thieves! I thought that this would be a reputable company to have a security system with. I was wrong. They do not know what they are doing and we have to pay for it. Piss poor company!! Stay away from them.
Malcolm faber says
We spent $1,300 for 6 camera’s that never worked . Over 13 technicians and dozens of phone calls and still can’t fix our camera’s. The installation was the worse i have ever seen and we have pictures to prove it .They first tell us that we needed cox wifi and then we needed to wait for their new D.V.R. guess what it still doesn’t work ! I put all the Camera’s in the garbage where they belong. They will not refund our money. How does Cox get away with stealing peoples money. Cox homelufe is a scam !
Damien Chiesa says
I had Cox Security for almost a year. It did what I expected it to which wasn’t very much. My big issue is I had canceled it and my TV service on 7-7-17 due to some big personal issues between myself and Cox. They were fine with disconnecting it and I even turned in all my equipment on 7-8-17. The issue is that on 7-9-17, I had come home after running some errands to find my cox box at the side of my house damaged, some of my cable lines damaged, and the stucco on my house damaged. After talking to my neighbors since I couldn’t use my cameras from cox that I had paid for to see who had done it, I had found out that it was someone driving a truck with a cox logo and wearing a cox uniform. When I called to find out if someone was suppose to be out, the rep told me that there was no one out there from cox and refused to note my account that someone had been our nor allow any sort of follow up with the issue. How can you trust a security company that will damage your house when they know you don’t have a security system?
Jessie says
Cox is no good in this area and I unfortantly had to switch. I would look into your area’s specific reviews. I had no idea they had so much down time with internet and security around here but it is likely due to my area being down more, not to up hill. The company is great if you are not in a hit or miss area like I am.
Earl says
I have had Cox as a cable provider and internet service for 6 years now. Nothing to complain about. There are some issues with down time every few months but I can manage. Someone mentioned me getting a discount if I added on the security package. I am considering it. I am glad I found this review though. Very helpful and honest.
Gerald M. says
I ended up doing what you are considering and I regret it. Not because the cable is bad but the internet is shotty. So when the internet goes down, I am stuck without a security system or one that bugs out. It happened to me when I was away for the weekend and all’s I did was worry the entire time. Really reconsider it.
Mike Walton says
Cox is in our area and i have debated on getting them since I can get the security, internet, and cable all in one. A few of the reviews I read on it said that the internet was not reliable so I am not too sure about them now. Also, I am not a fan of “returning” things after I have used them. Specially not a tablet. Things happen and I know someone who through out their old cable box and got charged nearly $600 for the thing. No way they cost that much!
Marky P. says
They cost that much because someone can easily code into it and get free cable. That is why they want the boxes back. I am not sure why they don’t just tell us these things but it has happened a lot. Heck, my brother’s friend was using an old cable box for nearly 2 years without paying a cent! He found it at a garage sale. Someone thought it was a VCR. He bought it for $5. lol
Alarm Reviews says
Thanks Marky for info; just FYI we are trying to keep this article about Cox home security and not the other aspects of their company. Still good info for others 😉
George says
No crash and smash protection? Now that just doesn’t seem right to me. I also don’t want to switch my internet provider. To much of a hassle before it gets started. I bet them temp everyone with their free HD camera and starter equipment.
Prince says
Actually there are additional charges and the cost of installation seems to be high but I think it really worth it. The monitoring service is really good. However they need to improve on their customer service.