The Best Cable Modems of 2024

The Motorola MB8600 is a fantastic high-speed modem that should take care of your needs for years to come thanks to its proven design, 32x8 channel selection, and support for Comcast, Cox, and most major cable providers. It is one of the best-selling modems online, recommended by scores of reviewers, and has support for speeds well beyond what most people have from their current cable company.

As with most of the modems we recommend, there’s no router included, so you’ll need to have one of those as well—though for these high-speed plans, we recommend doing that anyway so you can actually benefit from those increased speeds.

The one thing we’d say is this is more of a higher-end modem designed to really take advantage of high-speed (Gig-speed and up) plans. If you aren’t planning on paying up for a plan like that, then one of the cheaper modems in our list is probably a better fit.

The Arris Surfboard SB8200 is another Docsis 3.1 modem that supports so-called “Gig-speed” plans and up, with a similar 32x8 channel selection handling multiple devices efficiently. This modem also features two Gigabit Ethernet ports for a direct-wired connection, though if you’re using a router with this, you shouldn’t need both.

As with most of the modems we recommend, there’s no router built-in here. It’s more expensive than the basic modems out there, but you’re paying for speed more than anything. If you aren’t paying for the kind of Gigabit speeds that will take advantage of that, we recommend a Docsis 3.0 modem for now.

If you do want a modem and router combination in one, then the Motorola MG7700 is the best choice that we’ve found. It has a good combination of speed, range, durability, and a simple setup. Reviewers love that it’s easy to set up and it replaces both the modem and the router for your internet plan, so it’s fewer devices that you might have to pay to rent.

Here’s where the speed issues come up, though. This is a Docsis 3.0 modem, so you will only get support for internet plans up to around 200, 300, or 400 Mbps (it depends on your provider). The router itself can support those speeds when wired or within a short range, but the built-in router here is a middle-of-the-road option meant for small homes.

If you have a larger home or want a plan with faster speeds, we recommend grabbing one of the faster Docsis 3.1 modems we picked and using a separate mesh router that will offer better coverage throughout your home, letting you access more of that high-speed connection around your house.

The Netgear CM500 isn’t the fanciest cable modem, but if you’re looking to cut costs, it’s an excellent low-cost modem that provides Docsis 3.0 speeds and works with Xfinity, Cox, Spectrum, and more plans at speeds from 200 Mbps to 300 Mbps—depending on your provider and plan.

Frequently on sale, this modem can usually be had for less than $50, so it will pay for itself in less than a year compared to monthly modem rental fees. It’s lacking some of the fancier features found on other modems and it doesn’t include a router, but unless you have a plan with fast internet speed, this will maximize your connection at a great price.

The Motorola MB7621 is a bit more expensive than some of the other Docsis 3.0 modems we’ve looked at, but it earns high marks for its ease of setup, reliability, and its offer of a full, 24-channel downstream and 8-channel upstream. It is certified for Comcast and other major cable providers at up to 650Mbps, though you’ll need a router that supports that kind of speed if you want to access it wirelessly.

The MB7621 has excellent reviews online, though be aware that it often gets its reviews mixed in with the fancier (and more expensive) MB8600, which is a full Docsis 3.1 modem. If you don’t need full gigabit-level speed, this is the better choice, as you’ll save a bundle and it is still a very fast, very capable modem.

The Arris Surfboard SB6183 is a solid all-around modem if you only need speeds up to around 300 Mbps. It is relatively affordable, reliable, and supports 16 downstream and 4 upstream channels. It’s not the fastest modem, but it is a consistent performer that has won a lot of plaudits from professional and customer reviewers alike.

If you need a low-cost modem that supports high speeds (though not anything crazy), this is a great option.