COBRA quote is huge, any alternatives? (Nashville)

I was offered COBRA and the monthly cost is more than I expected as a mechanic. I would rather hear the honest version than the polite one. I saw that marketplace plans might cost less. Did anyone switch mid-year?

Keep everything in writing and save the confirmation numbers. It saved me later.

I priced both side by side: total yearly cost, doctors in network and the deductible. Marketplace was cheaper for us, but only because our doctors were covered.