5 Best Spectrum Internet Modems and Routers

Spectrum hooks you up to its Internet modem for free. But if you need a wireless router to support multiple devices in your home, you’ll need to pay $5 a month to rent one from Spectrum.

Or you can buy your own. And using your own router, modem, or modem-router combo might give you a better online experience thanks to cutting-edge tech and features, like our top pick, the ARRIS SURFboard SB8200 cable modem.

So what are the best Spectrum modems and routers? Let’s dig in and find out.

Spectrum customers have the option to purchase and use their own modem and router as long as it is a Spectrum authorized device. Customers also have the option to rent a pre-configured router directly from Spectrum for a $5 monthly fee.

Buying your own router—or modem-router combo—can save you some cash by avoiding the router rental fee. Also, your own equipment may come with newer technology or better features that help you optimize your online time.

In addition, by having your own router, you may be able to save even more money by opting for the $24.99 self-installation fee over the $59.99 professional installation fee (depending on whether you have the rest of the needed setup for internet self-installation). Of course, the downside is that you have to install the router yourself. That requires placing the router in an optimal location, hooking up some wires, and fiddling with some software.

And what should you look for when shopping for a Spectrum modem or router? Do you want a cable modem or wireless router? Here are a few features and specs you should consider.

• The modem is compatible with Spectrum
• The modem and/or router supports faster speeds than what your plan advertises
• Your modem uses DOCSIS 3.0 or 3.1 technology
• The router uses an 802.11ax, ac, or n Wi-Fi standard
• Optional: Router offers Quality of Service (QoS), Multi-User, Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO), beamforming, or other features

For more information, check out How to Choose a Router.

Quality of Service (QoS) lets your equipment prioritize an internet connection to some devices over others. This can be extremely helpful if you’re a gamer who needs a stable Xbox connection while you snipe at the enemy in a PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds match.

Multiple-User, Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output technology lets your router send data over an internet connection to several devices at the same time.

Before, your router would send data to one device at a time. Granted, it was still quick enough that you probably wouldn’t notice. But as we gather more and more online devices in our homes, MU-MIMO becomes more important.

Beamforming lets your router send a Wi-Fi signal directly to all your connected devices. This means your Wi-Fi connection is stronger and can travel farther. In the past, routers would shoot Wi-Fi signals in all directions, which was less efficient.

The ARRIS SURFboard SB8200 is the best cable modem for most Spectrum Internet® plans. One thing to note about the SB8200 is that since it uses DOCSIS 3.1 technology, you’ll need to make sure to let Spectrum know you need a DOCSIS 3.1 signal. Most cable internet providers usually use DOCSIS 3.0 signals, so that’s why you’ll need to tell Spectrum that your cable modem is DOCSIS 3.1.

Also, you’ll want to upgrade your coax cable to one that’s DOCSIS 3.1 compatible. Sure, it seems like a lot of steps to get your internet connection set up for this new tech. But the right cable modem is so worth it for gig speeds.

The NETGEARE CM500 cable modem is the best choice for those trying to save some money. The CM500 even comes with Quality of Service (QoS), a feature that lets you prioritize certain devices’ internet connections over others. So if you’ve got an important Zoom call coming up, you can prioritize your work laptop over the smart TV in the living room so your video and audio is more likely to come in crystal clear. (If not, check out our internet speed hacks.) If PC gaming is your thing, keep in mind that the CM500 has just one ethernet port.

Multiple bands prioritizes devices that need a strong connection on the first 5 GHz band, while the rest of your less-important devices share the remaining 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands.

The A20’s tri-band technology can prove incredibly useful for gamers, home offices, and YouTubers alike. This router has four Ethernet ports. Plus, it supports speeds up to 1,625 on the 5 GHz bands, meaning your Wi-Fi is maxed out and ready for the Spectrum Internet® GIG plan if you’ve got it.

Not to mention that device-heavy households will also benefit from the Archer A20’s beamforming, QoS, and MU-MIMO technology. All of these features let you optimize your cable internet connection so that all your devices get a strong signal—and important devices get that strong signal first.

We’ve heard nothing but great things about the Orbi mesh Wi-Fi system, and our time using it in a four-bedroom home proved that Orbi’s tech is beefy enough to boost a strong Wi-Fi signal across an entire home and up the stairs.

Besides, if you prefer a more reliable wired connection, the Orbi CBR750 comes with four LAN Ethernet ports. That puts the Google Nest Wi-Fi router to shame. For wireless router connections, the Orbi boasts three bands, similar to the Archer A20. But unlike the Archer A20, the Orbi CBR750 also has the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology, allowing this wifi router modem combo to support even faster wireless speeds.

The Game Radar map shows you which game servers offer the lowest ping so your skill shots will land 100% of the time. And the Game Boost technology prioritizes your video game data, so your League of Legends match won’t lag out while your partner streams The Queen’s Gambit in the other room.

And similar to the Archer A20 and NETGEAR Orbi CBR750, the ROG Rapture GT-AC5300 sports tri-band technology. So all your gaming devices can hog one of the 5 GHz bands, while all your other smart devices still get support on the remaining 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. And the ROG Rapture has eight Ethernet ports.

There are plenty more features that come with the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AC5300 that we think both gamers and other internet power users will enjoy, including OpenVPN, link aggregation, Wi-Fi RangeBoost, MU-MIMO, and AiMesh Wi-Fi. Yup, this router is kitted out in tech. And it will be compatible with any Spectrum cable internet plan.

• ARRIS SURFboard SB8200 cable modem: Best modem for most Spectrum plans. Max download speeds up to 2,000 Mbps, DOCSIS 3.1.
• NETGEAR CM500 modem: Best budget pick. Max download speeds up to 400 Mbps, DOCSIS 3.0.
• TP-Link Archer A20 router: Best high-end features. Max download speeds up to 1,625 Mbps.
• NETGEAR Orbi CBR750 modem-router combo: Best for large homes. Max download speeds up to 2,300 Mbps, DOCSIS 3.1.
• ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AC5300 router: Best router for gaming. Max download speeds up to 1,900 Mbps.

Need a Spectrum router or modem? You’ve got a lot of choices. You can swap Spectrum’s in-house modem for our top pick, the ARRIS SURFboard SB8200, or go for the cheap-but-efficient NETGEAR CM500.

For anyone who’d rather skip the Spectrum router rental fee, the TP-Link Archer A20 comes in at a reasonable price and is still loaded with features. If you’re okay to spend a little more, the NETGEAR Orbi CBR750 is a modem-router combo powerhouse that also blankets your home with mesh Wi-Fi technology. And for gamers, well, we think the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AC5300 has a feature or two that’ll get you hyped.

When choosing our recommended Spectrum-compatible modems and routers, we focused on the following features:

• Price
• Compatibility with Spectrum
• Supported wireless speeds
• Additional features like MU-MIMO and beamforming
• Customer ratings

First up, we made sure that all of our product recommendations are compatible with Spectrum. This was a larger concern for the modems, and so we cross-referenced each modem with Spectrum’s list of approved equipment.

We know not everyone has a boatload of money to spend on equipment, so we aimed to include modems and routers at various price points. But even our most budget-friendly pick, the NETGEAR CM500, offers great value in terms of features and performance.

Lastly, we took a look at features that can optimize everyday online experiences. We think mesh Wi-Fi, MU-MIMO, and beamforming are excellent features to consider for anyone who owns a lot of online devices (who doesn’t nowadays). And for those power users out there, we looked for gaming-specific tech and tri-band routers.