Best Cable Modems

The fastest cable modem available right now comes from Motorola and can get you up to 2.5Gbps, which is absolutely bonkers. Honestly, before even considering this modem, you should do a quick speed test to make sure you can get internet speeds even close to 2.5Gbps. If you’re paying for gigabit or higher internet speeds and you’re not currently getting that, this modem can be the missing piece to maximize your internet speeds.

Just know that this modem doesn’t come with built-in Wi-Fi—to connect to the internet, you’ll need to connect your device via Ethernet cable. With an Ethernet connection, you can get near 2.5Gbps. But you can easily connect any router with this modem to get a Wi-Fi signal set up. 

Here are the specs for the Motorola MB8611 DOCSIS 3.1 Multi-Gig Cable Modem:

Technically, the DOCSIS 3.1  technology that comes with this modem supports Ethernet bonding to potentially reach download speeds up to 6Gbps (that’s fast enough to download a two-hour HD movie in about four seconds). Eventually the best internet providers will offer 6Gbps internet speeds, and when they do, this modem has the technology to support it. In the meantime, this cable modem also supports DOCSIS 3.0 technology, which means that it can work with slower internet connections too. If you want to buy a modem for your 50Mbps internet now, and think you might upgrade to gigabit speed internet in the future, this Motorola DOCSIS 3.1 modem could be a great investment.

When it comes to compatibility, the Motorola DOCSIS 3.1 isn’t as universally supported as the NETGEAR CM600, but it does work with nearly every major cable company, including Xfinity and Sparklight. The notable exception is RCN. (RCN customers who want DOCSIS 3.1 technology can check out the NETGEAR CM1200.)

The NETGEAR AX1800 cable router checks off the essential boxes for a 2023 router: It uses Wi-Fi 6 technology, supports up to 20 connected devices at a time, and can handle data speeds up to 1,000Mbps. But perhaps what’s most impressive about this modem is that it’s compatible with basically any internet service. That compatibility future proofs (or at least, as close as you can get with internet routers) your internet setup in the sense that you could upgrade to fiber internet and keep your same router.

Here are the main specs you need to know about the NETGEAR AX1800 router:

On top of everything else, you get four Gigabit Ethernet ports, allowing you to directly connect your video games and streaming devices for maximum speeds. I’ve currently got my gaming PC hooked up to a NETGEAR router with an Ethernet connection and I’m getting much faster speeds than I would get with a Wi-Fi connection. It’s not as fast as connecting directly to a cable modem, but I’m still getting 500Mbps (I can’t complain!). 

All in all, this NETGEAR router is reasonably priced, offers all the modern technology you’d want in 2023 for the best internet speeds, and will be compatible with any internet source (including cable internet, of course).

We’ve talked about the best cable modem, and the best cable router, but now let’s talk about getting both things in one. This ARRIS SURFboard model combines your modem and router together, which means you can connect to the internet with an Ethernet cable or with Wi-Fi (normally you would need a separate router and modem). 

Being able to plug in a single device to get both internet connectivity and Wi-Fi networking is awesome. Having that single device work well and last for years is even better.

The ARRIS SURFboard G34 is known for its overall reliability, and it has a two-year warranty to back it up in case something does go wrong.

From a value standpoint, combining both your router and modem into one device saves you money. I’m no mathematician, but the cost of our best recommended router and modem is definitely more expensive than buying this all-in-one router/modem combo. If you know you want both a modem and a router, this is the way to go.

Wi-Fi 6 and DOCSIS 3.1 are the two most important ingredients in a router and modem, and we’ve got both included here. Both Wi-Fi 6 and DOCSIS 3.1 are the latest and greatest in modem/router technology, which means you should actually get the advertised data speeds from your internet provider (and if you don’t? You should switch).

This ARRIS model works with Comcast Xfinity, Cox, Spectrum, and other major cable internet providers.

The ARRIS SURFboard SB6190 makes a lot of sense for folks looking for a cheaper option to get the job done. The main reason why this modem costs way less than other modems is its lack of DOCSIS 3.1 technology–this bad boy uses DOCSIS 3.0 technology. Your max data speeds cap at 800Gbps, which, let’s be honest, is still freaking fast.

If you’re the type of person who still uses their iPhone 12 without complaints, then I’m willing to bet you’ll like this modem too. It’s not the cutting-edge of modem technology, but it still can get you fast download speeds.

Best-case scenario, you could get 800Gbps (if you have an internet plan that supports it), which means you could install a massive video game file like Starfield in just a few minutes. Very few ISPs actually give you gigabit internet speeds, so you’d likely not notice a huge difference between a brand new modem and this slightly older model.

Is it future-proof? No. But for the next couple of years, this modem will serve you just fine.

This ARRIS model works with Comcast Xfinity, Cox, Spectrum, and other major cable internet providers.

While we all love blaming bad gaming on an internet connection, you won’t have any excuses with a modem like this.

The NETGEAR Nighthawk CM1100-100NAS is a deluxe modem and Wi-Fi router combo that will give you the kind of powerful, seamless connection that you need for modern gaming.

Every gamer knows that you want to have a direct Ethernet connection to fuel your gaming, and you can get up to 2.5Gbps download speeds with this modem. You get two Ethernet ports–one for your gaming console of choice, and the other for a router to cast a Wi-Fi signal. Plug your PC, Xbox, or PlayStation into this modem and you’re basically guaranteed to get the fastest speeds possible from your cable internet provider.

This NETGEAR model works with Comcast Xfinity, Cox, Spectrum, and other major cable internet providers.

All we’re looking for is a cable modem/router that will help us get the download speeds we pay for. Thankfully, if you use any of the routers or modems recommended in this guide, you can rest assured that you won’t be the problem if you have a slow internet connection.

• Best value cable modem: The Motorola MB8611 cable modem gives you the latest DOCSIS 3.1 technology for a reasonable price and can potentially reach 2.5Gbps, which would be the fastest internet speeds I’ve ever seen.
• Best value cable router: The NETGEAR AX1800 is our top recommended router for cable internet customers. It comes with Wi-Fi 6 technology which allows you to connect more devices in a wider range, and get faster internet speeds.
• Best modem-and-router combo: The ARRIS SURFboard G34 combines both your modem and router into one product. You can set up your internet service, cast a wide Wi-Fi net with Wi-Fi 6 technology, and connect directly with an Ethernet cable for even faster speeds.
• Best budget cable modem: The ARRIS SURFboard SB6190 comes with slightly older modem technology, but you can still get download speeds up to 800Gbps, which is more than enough for most people.
• Best for gaming: The NETGEAR CM1100-100NAS Nighthawk was made with gamers in mind. Connect your PC, Xbox, or Playstation directly to this modem with an Ethernet cable and enjoy the best speeds your ISP can provide.

At Reviews.org, we follow a specific process to recommend the cable routers and modems. Below is a detailed breakdown of our process:

1. Thorough Research: We research all of the cable modems and routers in the market. On top of the research, we use other sources, including industry reports and customer reviews. We also try to get hands-on experience with every item we recommend, and in this case, our writer has been using NETGEAR routers and modems for years.
2. Value Analysis: We determine value by considering cost, Wi-Fi and modem technology, and data speeds.
3. Recommendation Compilation: Based on our comprehensive analysis, we compile a curated list of the best cable modems and routers.