Best Products > Networking 418 418 people found this article helpful The 9 Best Cable Modem/Router Combos of 2023 Our experts tested the top cable modem/router combos to overhaul your home Wi-Fi By Jesse Hollington Jesse Hollington Twitter Writer Jesse Hollington is a tech writer with 10+ years' experience. He has written for iLounge, Forbes, Yahoo, The Independent, and iDropNews, among others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on February 16, 2023 Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr Twitter University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Tweet Share Email Networking The Ultimate Router Buying Guide The best cable modem/router combos will do the same job at a fraction of the cost of two devices, and in a far more straightforward way, with fewer cables and power plugs. However, it's not quite that simple. Not all modems work with all providers, and you'll need to ensure the unit you buy is compatible with your cable company (such as Spectrum, Cox, or AT&T). Compatibility information can usually be found on your cable provider's website. If not, it's best to call and check before you buy. Here are the best cable/router combos to help you make the best choice possible. Are you looking for a basic cable modem and router? If you're a Comcast Xfinity, Cox, or Spectrum customer, buy the Motorola MG7700 Cable Modem and Router (unless you have a huge home or pay extra for a superfast connection). The Rundown Best Overall: Motorola MG7700 at Amazon Jump to Review Best Performance: Netgear Nighthawk C7000 at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget: Netgear C6220 at Amazon Jump to Review Best Value: Arris Surfboard SBG7600AC2 at Amazon Jump to Review Best Splurge: NETGEAR Nighthawk Cable Modem with Built-in WiFi 6 Router (CAX80) at Amazon Jump to Review Best Mesh: Netgear Orbi CBK752 at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Gigabit Internet: Arris Surfboard SBG8300 at Amazon Jump to Review Best Range: Netgear Nighthawk C7800 at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Xfinity Voice Services: Motorola MT7711 at Amazon Jump to Review in this article Expand Our Picks What to Look For FAQ Best Overall Motorola MG7700 Cable Modem and Router 4.8 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy What We Like Simple security management Easy setup Unobtrusive design What We Don't Like Combo unit limits placement locations Only approved for Comcast Xfinity, Cox, and Spectrum Motorola MG7700 Review If it's time to upgrade your modem and your router, the Motorola MG7700 is likely the right one for you if you're a customer of Comcast Xfinity, Cox, or Spectrum and don't pay extra for a superfast plan. Your cable company (or even your monthly bill) will be able to tell you what speed connection you have. Still, as a rough guide, if you're on a basic plan, it almost certainly won't be what's known as a 1-gigabit connection, and if it is, we've got picks for you below. One of the best features of the Motorola MG7700 we like most has nothing to do with its technical prowess: It's not terribly ugly. To get the best range from its wireless signal, you don't want to hide the modem/router behind furniture or in a closet. But this unit is just inoffensive enough that you can put it on a side table in the living room and not be embarrassed. Crucially for when things go wrong, the light indicators are also easy to see and understand—something you don't typically find in a modem from a cable company. The MG7700 has four ethernet ports for you to hook up some equipment via a physical cable for better speed and reliability, which is often a good idea for devices like a games console, Smart TV, or Apple TV. It can easily stream your movies and TV in 4K, also called Ultra HD. It's the standard for really, really sharp pictures. It's also more than capable of doing a great job with Zoom or FaceTime calls. One more caveat is that if your internet connection includes a voice package (confusingly called VOIP, you'll know if you have it as you will have a phone number as part of your internet package), you'll need to look at this model's older brother: the Motorola MT7711. Tested by Lifewire Once we got the Motorola MG7700 up and running, it delivered outstanding speeds, reliably maxing out our 100 Mbps Spectrum plan when we were hard-wired via the LAN ports. When we went wireless, performance varied greatly.We tested the Motorola MG7700 in our 4,500-square-foot home while connected to a couple of dozen devices (including tablets, gaming consoles, computers, and smartphones). The router offered a strong Wi-Fi signal on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands on both floors of our home. Everything from surfing the web to streaming video was solid within an approximate 2,000-square-foot radius. In the basement and more distant locations of the house, the signal was weak, but that's to be expected.Overall, if you live in a large apartment or a modestly-sized home, you won't be disappointed by the performance of the MG7700.— Don Reisinger, Product Tester Best Performance Netgear Nighthawk C7000 DOCSIS 3.0 AC1900 Wi-Fi Cable Modem Router 4.5 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy What We Like Slim design Built-in DLNA media server to share pictures, music, and video Easy to set up What We Don't Like Lacks some advanced networking features like MU-MIMO and QoS A bit pricey Only approved for Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum, and Cox Netgear Nighthawk C7000 Review If you consider yourself a power user and you're an Xfinity, Spectrum, or Cox user, the Netgear Nighthawk C7000 might check all the boxes. Let's see. Capable of a pretty fast connection? Check! Four ports for lots of additional devices? Check! A good range for big homes (2,500 square feet): Check! Not ugly: Check (mostly)! These capabilities are reflected in the higher price tag, and it could be overkill for the average user's internet needs. It really comes down to whether you're a gamer or stream to different TVs in the house at the same time. Another bonus is that if you're an Xfinity phone service customer, you can plug your landline handset right in. If you have a home big enough where a room isn't used all that often (or rooms, for that matter), and you have a super-high-speed gigabit connection (your cable company can tell you this), this could be the combo modem router for you. Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Security: WPA2 | Standard/Speed: DOCSIS 3.0 / AC1900 | Bands: Dual-band | MU-MIMO: No | Beamforming: Yes | Wired Ports: 4 Tested by Lifewire For such a high-end modem, the Netgear Nighthawk C7000 is surprisingly thin and light. Compared to the Xfinity modem that we have lying around, it's a huge improvement. While the C7000 doesn't have the richest software, it's enough to manage your network effectively with little to no fuss. The device doesn't have the richest array of ports we've ever seen, but it should be fine for most people—we were able to connect a few different game consoles and a desktop.After you log in and get the setup out of the way, you'll be greeted by six tiles on the home page. Netgear makes this easy to navigate and understand—even less tech-literate users should be able to handle everything from setup to security without getting too lost.We were pleasantly surprised by how well the C7000 performed, considering it's an all-in-one. We tested this modem in a 2,500-square-foot home, and we got reliable performance in every corner, only running into slowdowns on the farthest side of the house. Even then, network performance went down from about 230 Mbps to 130 Mbps. That isn't super fast, but it's still serviceable. The wired performance, on the other hand, wasn't quite as good. — Bill Thomas, Product Tester Lifewire / Claire Cohen Best Budget Netgear C6220 AC1200 Wi-Fi Cable Modem Router Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Staples What We Like Extremely affordable Built-in DLNA media server to share pictures, music and video Easy to set up, even for an inexperienced person What We Don't Like Limited Ethernet ports Not suitable for larger homes Only approved for Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum, and Cox The plus of the Netgear C6220 AC1200: it's affordable! The negative (other than the name, come on companies, pull yourselves together): modest performance. And it's somewhat ugly (tastes vary, but we bet you agree with us). For this model, you'll want to make sure you don't have a faster connection than this modem can handle. Who is this model aimed at? Folks who rent their modems from their cable companies, don't have super-big homes, don't have a really high-speed connection (no more than a 200 Mbps connection, which your cable company will be able to tell you if you have), and don't have a lot of additional devices to hook up. There are only two Ethernet ports, which let you plug in devices with a cable, which is faster and more reliable—but you have to trail a cable between them. Overall, despite its modest performance, it can handle Zoom calls and 4K streaming (that is, pin-sharp TV shows and movies) with ease. Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Security: WPA2 | Standard/Speed: DOCSIS 3.0 / AC1200 | Bands: Dual-band | MU-MIMO: No | Beamforming: No | Wired Ports: 2 The 9 Best Routers Under $50 of 2023 Best Value Arris Surfboard SBG7600AC2 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem & Wi-Fi Router Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy What We Like Good Wi-Fi coverage Simple to set up Great app support What We Don't Like Limited advanced features Only approved for Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum, and Cox The SBG7600AC2 is a very good modem/router with a terrible name. What you should know: It'll handle a really fast connection (1.4 gigabit, which is almost certainly faster than you have), has four fast Ethernet ports for plugging in TVs and games consoles via a cable, and it's a bit nerdy looking. Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Security: McAfee Home Security, WPA2 | Standard/Speed: Up to 1.4 Gbps | Bands: Dual-band | MU-MIMO: No | Beamforming: No | Wired Ports: 4 Best Splurge NETGEAR Nighthawk Cable Modem with Built-in WiFi 6 Router (CAX80) Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Lenovo What We Like Supports the latest high speed Wi-Fi 6 standard Works with high speed cable connections (DOCSIS 3.1) 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port for plugging in devices with a cable What We Don't Like Expensive Not compatible with cable bundled voice services Only approved for Spectrum, Cox, and Comcast Xfinity Let's cut to the chase: The Nighthawk CAX80 has a lot of features with a lot of letters that really do (not literally) spell out "future proof." But it is expensive. If you have a very fast internet connection and think you'll be able to upgrade to an even faster connection sooner than later, we say, grab the CAX80. This is also a great gaming router as the onboard Ethernet, which lets you hook up your Xbox or Playstation via a cable rather than Wi-Fi, is much faster than the Ethernet you're probably used to. You have to check off a lot of boxes to get the most from this modem/router, but if that's you, you just met your future connection to the internet. Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Security: Netgear Armor, WPA2, VPN | Standard/Speed: DOCSIS 3.1 / AX6000 | Bands: Dual-band | MU-MIMO: Yes | Beamforming: Yes | Wired Ports: 5 The 6 Best Gaming Consoles of 2023 Best Mesh Netgear Orbi Whole Home Wi-Fi 6 System with DOCSIS 3.1 Cable Modem (CBK752) Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy What We Like Supports high speed connections ( DOCSIS 3.1 standard) Supports Wi-Fi 6, the latest version of the technology Extensive coverage What We Don't Like Expensive Subscription required for advanced security features Only approved for Spectrum, Cox, and Comcast Xfinity The Orbi CBK752 is different from the other products on this page because it is a different product. Sure, it's the same modem/router combo, but rather than being one unit, it's two to ensure your home is covered with a strong Wi-Fi signal—and if you have a really large home, you can add more to get virtually unlimited coverage. Instead of having strong and weak sections of your home, the Orbi units talk to one another to make sure the signal is strong everywhere. Or that's the idea, anyway. Thanks to friendly software, the configuration is quite easy. The main unit has four Ethernet ports, and each satellite has two as well. The Ethernet ports on the satellites aren't wired in the same way as the base unit (since the base unit is physically connected to your ISP's line), and the satellites allow devices without Wi-Fi to connect to the internet. That's really quite cool. Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Security: WPA3 | Standard/Speed: DOCSIS 3.1 / AX4200 | Bands: Tri-band | MU-MIMO: Yes | Beamforming: Yes | Wired Ports: 4 (Base) / 2 (Satellite) The 9 Best Mesh Wi-Fi Network Systems of 2023 Best for Gigabit Internet Arris Surfboard SBG8300 DOCSIS 3.1 Gigabit Cable Modem & Wi-Fi Router Amazon View On Amazon View On Best Buy View On Lenovo What We Like Supports the higher speed DOCSIS 3.1 standard Easy app-based setup Solid Wi-Fi performance What We Don't Like Lacks advanced wireless features No USB ports Only approved for Cox, Spectrum, and Comcast Xfinity On this list, we have two Arris modem/routers. We hesitate to bring up any of the complex technical differences between them, but one Arris product is for slower connections, and one (this one, the SBG8300) is for faster connections. You’ll know if you have a faster connection because you pay more each month, and you likely had to ask to upgrade to the faster connection. So, yes, the faster Arris model costs more, but you are already paying for the connection, so you need the faster modem/router to take advantage of what you are already paying for. Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Security: WPA2 | Standard/Speed: DOCSIS 3.0 / AC2350 | Bands: Dual-band | MU-MIMO: No | Beamforming: No | Wired Ports: 4 Best Range Netgear Nighthawk C7800 DOCSIS 3.1 AC3200 Wi-Fi Cable Modem Router Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy What We Like Supports the higher speed DOCSIS 3.1 standard Expansive range Two USB 3.0 ports What We Don't Like Pricey Limited security and parental controls Only approved for Spectrum, Cox, and Comcast Xfinity Not only will Netgear's Nighthawk C7800 let you take advantage of the fastest cable internet plans available both today and in the future, but it also offers solid coverage for a large and busy home. It's a really good product, but it also looks rather unique. It's not something we'd like to have in our living room. We're aware we're going to sound a bit snobby, but if we were going to go with one of the two Netgear products on this page, we'd save up for the CAX80 only because it looks so much nicer. That being said, if we found this one on sale, it's hard to beat. It's fast, has plenty of ports, and its four antennas can help cover a pretty large house. Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Security: WPA2 | Standard/Speed: DOCSIS 3.1 / AC3200 | Bands: Dual-band | MU-MIMO: Yes | Beamforming: Yes | Wired Ports: 4 The 9 Best Long-Range Routers of 2023 Best for Xfinity Voice Services Motorola MT7711 Cable Modem/Router with Voice Gateway Amazon View On Amazon View On Best Buy View On B&H Photo Video What We Like Built-in support for Xfinity Voice Solid Wi-Fi performance Two voice ports What We Don't Like Only works with Xfinity by Comcast This is a very specialized product. It works only with the ISP Xfinity, and you need it only if you also have Xfinity's voice service. If you meet both of these requirements, this is a perfectly fine product. As it's designed with Comcast's internet service in mind, it's also effortless to get it up and running with all of your Xfinity services by following a simple Quick Start procedure to automatically register it with your ISP. It's not ugly, has all the ports you might need, and comes with backup battery capability, so if the power goes out, your phone is still working. Keep in mind, it's not capable of the fastest internet connection out there, but otherwise, it might be exactly what you need. Wireless Spec: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Security: WPA2 | Standard/Speed: DOCSIS 3.0 / AC1900 | Bands: Dual-band | MU-MIMO: No | Beamforming: Yes | Wired Ports: Ethernet: 4 / Telephone: 2 Final Verdict Motorola's MG7700 (view at Amazon) checks all the right boxes when it comes to delivering the performance and features most users need in a cable modem/router. If you're looking for even broader coverage, then Netgear's Orbi CBK752 (view at Amazon) combines a top-rated Wi-Fi 6 mesh system with a fast (and future-ready) cable modem to let you take full advantage of the fastest internet plans in even the largest of homes. What to Look for in a Modem/Router Combo Bandwidth To take full advantage of the bandwidth your ISP provides, you'll need a modem/router combo that at the very least matches, and ideally exceeds, the top speed promised by your provider. The maximum bandwidth is indicated in gigabits per second (Gbps) and is usually prominently displayed in a modem/router's title or description. Bands Routers are increasingly offering multiple data bands (think of traffic lanes) in an effort to reduce bottlenecking and increase efficiency in directing network traffic. Dual-band devices typically supply 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, with the 5 GHz band providing more peak bandwidth. Tri-band routers provide an additional 5 GHz band to sort devices into, further reducing congestion when multiple devices are attached to a network at once. Range If you live in an apartment or modest home, nearly any modem/router combo will provide ample coverage for your entire living space. For larger homes, however, pay close attention to the range indicated by the model you're considering. You may also want to consider a modem/router with something called beamforming technology, which shapes the signal from the router into a tighter beam to direct it towards specific devices, delivering a stronger and faster signal. Alternatively, you may be better off with a separate cable modem and a mesh network. Ethernet Ports Make sure your router has enough Ethernet ports for the devices you'll want to plug in. If you have an internet plan that offers speeds above 100 Mbps, you'll want to get one with Gigabit Ethernet ports to take maximum advantage of your plan. Wi-Fi Standards Unless you have a fairly basic internet plan, you'll want support for relatively modern Wi-Fi standards. On the Wi-Fi side, a cable modem/router combo works the same as any other wireless router, meaning you'll choose from the same Wi-Fi standards and frequencies, such as 802.11n and 802.11ac, which have recently been redesignated as Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 5, respectively to make life easier. You may also have heard of the newer Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax standard, which is starting to appear. It's not a bad idea to invest in technology for the future, but it will be a while before you're likely to really need Wi-Fi 6 in your home or even be able to take advantage of it entirely. FAQ What is a cable modem/router combo? A cable modem/router combo is a single device that combines the capabilities of a cable modem with the features of a Wi-Fi router. You plug it directly into your coaxial cable just like you would a cable modem, and then connect your computers, smartphones, tablets, and other devices directly using either wired Gigabit Ethernet connections or via Wi-Fi. Is it better to get a modem/router combo or separate devices? Buying a cable modem/router combo can save you quite a bit of money since these all-in-one units are usually far more affordable than buying a cable modem and a router separately. And if you're renting your cable modem, you can save even more by returning that to your ISP, reducing your monthly bill. That said, while modern cable modem/routers are very capable if you have more advanced needs, there are many more options and advanced features to be found among the best wireless routers. What is DOCSIS? DOCSIS, which stands for Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications, is the standard cable companies use to give your home internet access. It's been around for over 20 years, so there are lots of different versions of it. Unless you have a really high-speed internet connection, it's not usually something to worry about. Does DOCSIS 3.1 increase speed? The speed of your cable modem is determined by the DOCSIS standard it supports and the number of channels that it offers, although your ISP also has to support these standards on the other end. Buying a DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem won't give you any better performance if your cable provider only supports DOCSIS 3.0, although it could still be a good investment for the future.Further, even though 32-channel DOCSIS 3.0 modems offer theoretical speeds of up to 1 Gbps, most cable providers top out at 600 Mbps over DOCSIS 3.0, so if your ISP is offering multi-gigabit plans, you'll almost certainly need a DOCSIS 3.1 modem to take advantage of those speeds. Does my cable modem/router need to be approved by my ISP? In most cases, yes. Since your cable modem has to be registered with your ISP to work properly, it's important to buy one that's guaranteed to be compatible. While some ISPs may let you register any cable modem, most will refuse to set one up that isn't on its approved list.Fortunately, most major cable providers in the U.S. have already "pre-approved" the cable modems from all the big manufacturers. You'll normally find this information on the packaging or on the manufacturer's website. However, if you're still not sure, you can always ask your cable provider if the modem/router you're considering will work with their network. What does 'Approved for plans up to' mean? When a cable provider tests a modem and certifies it as compatible with their network, they also specify the maximum speed that they're willing to guarantee on their network. This number is usually lower than the maximum possible speed of a cable modem, and it's not always the same for each ISP. Think of it like the difference between how fast your car can actually go and the varying speed limits on your local highways. You might get better performance than the ISP's maximum rating, but don't count on it. The 7 Best Cable Modems of 2023 Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit