September 2021
Modems: Aggregated Ranking Report
This report contains an aggregate consensus of Modem rankings posted by key online experts, as of September 2021.
At a glance - September 2021 Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Modem |
Lifewire
|
Popular Mechanics
|
BestCovery
|
BestReviews
|
PC Guide
|
HighSpeedInternet
|
Wirecutter
|
Reviews.org
|
Tom's Guide
|
The Strategist
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | $30 |
Netgear CM500
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
2
|
5
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
2
|
6
|
|
2
|
- | $140 |
Motorola MB8600
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
1
|
4
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
|
3
|
- | $138 |
Arris SURFboard SB8200
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
|
4
|
- | $78 |
Motorola MB7621
|
2
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
|
5
|
- | $140 |
Netgear CM1000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
|
6
|
- | $75 |
Arris SURFboard SB6190
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
|
7
|
- | $80 |
Netgear CM600
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
-
|
|
8
|
- | $58 |
Motorola MB7420
|
9
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
|
9
|
- | $70 |
Arris SURFboard SB6183
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
|
10
|
- | $71 |
Netgear Nighthawk C7100V
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
We ranked Netgear CM500 #1 in September 2021 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.
BestReviews
Best Bang for the Buck
|
Pros
Affordable
Best for ISP Speeds up to 300mbps
Compatible with all major cable providers
Quick setup process
Small desktop footprint
|
Cons
Has only a single gigabit Ethernet port
|
PC Guide
|
Pros
Compatible with most ISPs
Recoup-able cost in a few months
|
Cons
Some quality-control issues
|
Tom's Guide
Best alternative cable modem
|
Pros
Solid performance
Good compatibility
Often cheaper than comparable modems
|
Cons
One-year warrant shorter than rivals
Indicator lights are hard to see
|
We ranked Motorola MB8600 #2 in September 2021 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Motorola MB8600 as #1.
BestReviews
|
Pros
Incredibly fast internet speeds up to 6Gbps
Works with all major cable internet providers
Integrated security
Easy to set up
Small desktop footprint
|
Cons
Has only one Ethernet port
|
HighSpeedInternet
Best overall
|
Pros
Four gigabit Ethernet ports
Excellent Broadcom chipset
|
Cons
Bulky design
Limited compatibility with providers
|
Reviews.org
Best high-speed cable modem
|
Pros
Ultra-fast speeds
2-year warranty
Decent compatibility
|
Cons
Pricier than slower models
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend Modems.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of Modems, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for September 2021 ranking
Lifewire
Popular Mechanics
BestCovery
BestReviews
PC Guide
HighSpeedInternet
Wirecutter
Reviews.org
Tom's Guide
The Strategist
We ranked Arris SURFboard SB8200 #3 in September 2021 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Arris SURFboard SB8200 as #1.
Lifewire
Best Compact
|
Pros
DOCSIS 3.1 Support
Compact design
Two Gigabit Ethernet ports with link aggregation
|
Cons
Pricey
Awkward coaxial connection placement
|
BestReviews
|
Pros
Support speeds up to 2Gbps
Features 2 gigabit Ethernet ports
Simple to set up
Optimized for especially fast online speeds
Well ventilated design
Compact
|
Cons
A fairly pricey modem
|
PC Guide
Editor's Choice
|
Pros
Offers fastest transfer rates
Gigabit Ethernet ports
|
Cons
Horrible customer support
|
HighSpeedInternet
Best value
|
Pros
No more Puma 6 chipset
Multiple color options
|
Cons
Fewer Ethernet ports
Limited compatibility with cable providers
|
We ranked Motorola MB7621 #4 in September 2021 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Motorola MB7621 as #1.
Lifewire
Best Budget
|
Pros
Affordable
Compact design
Easy setup
|
Cons
No voice capabilities
|
We ranked Netgear CM1000 #5 in September 2021 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Netgear CM1000 as #1.
BestReviews
Best of the Best
|
Pros
Quick and easy setup. Compatible with major cable providers. Works with all WiFi routers. Supports different internet plans to deliver fast and reliable internet speed.
|
Cons
Technical support is not always reliable.
|
PC Guide
Best for xfinity
|
Pros
More reliable than other options
Great GUI controls
|
Cons
Limited to Xfinity and Cox providers
|
We ranked Arris SURFboard SB6190 #6 in September 2021 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Arris SURFboard SB6190 as #1.
Lifewire
Best Overall
|
Pros
Impressive speeds
Great for HD movies and gaming
Convenient LED indicator lights
|
Cons
Coaxial connection placement isn't ideal
|
We ranked Netgear CM600 #7 in September 2021 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Netgear CM600 as #1.
Reviews.org
Best for most
|
Pros
Compatible with all major cable providers
Fast enough for most households
Relatively affordable
|
Cons
Not optimal for super-fast internet connections
|
Tom's Guide
Best cable modem for high-speed service
|
Pros
Reliable performance
Lower price than other high-speed modems
Compatible with many ISPs
|
Cons
One-year warranty
Tall footprint
|
We ranked Motorola MB7420 #8 in September 2021 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Motorola MB7420 as #1.
Lifewire
Best for Voice Services
|
Pros
Very affordable
Compact
|
Cons
Not especially future-proof
|
Tom's Guide
The best cable modem you can buy
|
Pros
Two-year warranty
Reliable performance
Compatible with most internet providers
|
Cons
Not as compact as some modems
|
We ranked Arris SURFboard SB6183 #9 in September 2021 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.
Tom's Guide
A top cable modem if you can find it
|
Pros
Dependable
Two-year warranty
Compatible with most internet providers
Visible status lights
|
Cons
Awkward placement of coaxial cable
|
We ranked Netgear Nighthawk C7100V #10 in September 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.
