For millions of people, the best way to get connected to high-speed internet is through a local cable provider. While the companies are happy to provide a router-modem combo unit, often called a gateway, for a monthly fee, you’re stuck using their hardware and software, which may not be a match for your needs. If you’re looking to get rid of modem rental fees and don’t want the hassle of setting up a separate modem and router, getting a combo is the way to go.

A cable modem uses a technology called DOCSIS to connect to the internet with newer revisions allowing for faster speeds. You don’t want anything older than DOCSIS 3.0 with 3.1 required for many ISPs' faster plans. When it comes to Wi-Fi, modern Wi-Fi 6 tech will help you make the most of your internet speeds around the house, though if your internet speeds are under 300Mbps, you’ll probably have no issues with solid Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) speeds.

  • Arris Surfboard G34 DOCSIS 3.1 AX3000 Wi-Fi 6
    Arris Surfboard G34
    Staff Pick

    The Surfboard G34 from Arris is good for connections up to 1Gbps with support for Xfinity, Cox, Spectrum, and more. The AX3000 dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router has enough capacity at 2.4GHz and 5GHz for a medium to large family with coverage of up to 2,500 square feet. With four Ethernet ports on the back, you can also connect wired devices.

    $310 at Amazon $299 at Best Buy $290 at B&H
  • Motorola MG7700 DOCIS 3.0 modem router AC1900 24x8
    Motorola MG7700
    Best Value

    The Motorola MG7700 is a DOCSIS 3.0 router, but it has extra channels enabling internet speeds up to 800Mbps on Xfinity and 500Mbps on Cox and Spectrum. The dual-band AC1900 connection should be able to keep up with these internet speeds in a house without much congestion but could struggle to deliver full speed in an apartment. Even so, you get four gigabit Ethernet ports for your most essential connections.

    $175 at Best Buy
  • Netgear Orbi CBK752 tri-band Wi-Fi 6 mesh with modem
    Netgear Orbi CBK752
    Best Mesh Solution

    The Orbi CBK752 is a mesh kit with a fast DOCSIS 3.1 modem built into the main router. With a tri-band AX4200 connection, this mesh kit allows you to make the most of your gigabit cable internet connection. You set it up with Orbi’s simple app on your phone and can even use software features like Smart Parental Controls and Netgear Armor with a subscription.

    $650 at Amazon $650 at Best Buy $650 at B&H
  • Netgear Nighthawk CAX80 AX6000 DOCSIS 3.1 modem/router
    Netgear Nighthawk CAX80
    Ready for multi-gig speeds

    The Nighthawk CAX80 is Netgear’s top-of-the-line modem with a fast AX6000 connection and 2.5Gbps Ethernet. It’s ready for the fastest cable internet connection you can buy and covers an estimated 2,500 square feet. It’s also easy to set up using the robust Nighthawk app with features like Netgear Armor and Smart Parental Controls available.

    $492 at Amazon $500 at Best Buy $500 at B&H
  • Motorola MG7550 16x4 cable modem with router AC1900
    Motorola MG7550
    Cheap and fast

    If you don’t need a ton of speed and just want to get online without wasting money on rentals, the MG7550 could be for you. It’s a step back from the rest with DOCSIS 3.0 and Wi-Fi 5, but it’s fine for internet speeds up to 300Mbps and the AC1900 Wi-Fi connection should have no trouble keeping up on multiple devices.

    $110 at Amazon $140 at Newegg $150 at Walmart
  • Motorola MT8733 DOCSIS 3.1 modem router AX6000
    Motorola MT8733
    Ready for your ISP's fastest speeds

    With DOCSIS 3.1 and a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port on the back, this modem is ready for the fastest connection an ISP can throw at it. The AX6000 Wi-Fi has plenty of capacity for both 2.4GHz devices, like smart home tech, and 5GHz devices for a large family. It’s even certified for Low Latency DOCSIS with compatible providers. It also supports phone service.

    $410 at Amazon $380 at Best Buy
  • Arris Surfboard G36 DOCSIS 3.1 multi-gig router
    Arris Surfboard G36
    Ready for 2Gbps
    $334 $340 Save $6

    The Arris Surfboard G36 has a lot in common with the G34 under the hood, but it comes with an extra 2.5Gbps Ethernet port and support for faster internet speeds. Its quick dual-band AX3000 Wi-Fi connection can easily support dozens of devices. It's also one of a handful of modems to support the latest multi-gig internet speeds from Cox and Xfinity.

    $340 at Amazon $334 at Newegg $329 at Best Buy
  • Arris SURFboard SBG8300 DOCSIS 3.1 AC2350 Wi-FI 5
    Arris Surfboard SBG8300
    Gigabit value

    The Surfboard SBG8300 is a cheaper DOCSIS 3.1 modem with 32 downstream and 8 upstream channels and should be suitable for a gigabit connection for most ISPs. Its AC2350 Wi-FI connection features a 4x4 MIMO connection at 5GHz with a 3x3 2.4GHz connection. You should have no trouble streaming multiple 4K videos at once as long as your internet package can keep up.

    $250 at Amazon $249 at Best Buy

Upgrade your internet speed and Wi-Fi with a new router-modem combo

If you’re looking to save money on your home internet service, eliminating modem rental fees can be a good starting point. While some providers in more competitive environments have eliminated rental fees, they’re still a reality for quite a few people. You can also check around to see if you have other internet options such as fiber, which can provide a faster internet experience, or even 5G with a carrier like T-Mobile or Verizon, which has similar speeds to cable with no modem fees or data caps. You could even pair one of those providers' modems with one of the best Wi-Fi routers.

If you’re sticking with cable, the Arris Surfboard G34 is a good starting point. It supports internet speeds up to 1Gbps, which is plenty for most people, and has enough Wi-Fi capacity for most families. The Motorola MG7700 is an excellent value pick with its DOCSIS 3.0 tech supporting up to 800Mbps, so even if you don't need quite that much speed, you have some room to upgrade. The Netgear Orbi CBK752 is a solid mesh system offering tons of coverage with two nodes in the box. Like all the best mesh routers, you can expand your coverage with more nodes if you feel the need later on.

The right modem for you mostly comes down to how much speed you need. Cable internet providers have been working fast to upgrade their networks to offer speeds in excess of 1Gbps, but for many, a tenth of that will do. Still, if you're ready for multi-gig speeds, you need to make sure your ISP supports those speeds on that router. For example, the Arris Surfboard G36 supports 2Gbps speeds on both Cox and Xfinity. The Netgear Nighthawk CAX80, on the other hand, supports multi-gig speeds at Xfinity, but not at Cox, so be sure to check with your ISP.

If you've got a big family with a lot of devices, the extra speed can be worth every penny, especially when paired with a router that can handle multiple connections at once with QoS software. And if you have one of the big cable providers, give your ISP a call to make sure the modem you're thinking about buying is supported by their system.