March 2023
Modems: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of Modem rankings posted by key online experts, as of March 2023.
Summary
Between 1 Mar 2023 and 4 Mar 2023, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 62 Modem endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
27 Modems were endorsed in total, only 13 made it into this month's ranking (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included).
As of 4 Mar 2023, Arris SURFboard SB8200 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed modem with 7 expert endorsements. 1 expert out of 7 recommended it as the '#1 modem' this month. It is followed by Netgear CM500 and Motorola MB8600 , with 7 and 5 expert endorsements respectively.
Brand breakdown
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Netgear:
12 Modems
(#1 is Netgear Nighthawk C7000 )
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Arris:
8 Modems
(#1 is Arris SURFboard SBG6950AC2 )
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Motorola:
7 Modems
(#1 is Motorola MT7711 )
Price breakdown
At a glance - March 2023 Ranking
Rank | Change | Price | Modem |
Lifewire
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BestReviews
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Tom's Guide
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PC Guide
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The Strategist
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Wirecutter
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Networks Hardware
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HighSpeedInternet
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Popular Mechanics
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approvedmodems.org
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
+1 | $154 |
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5
|
4
|
-
|
1
|
9
|
-
|
5
|
2
|
-
|
3
|
2
|
+1 | $60 |
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-
|
-
|
3
|
5
|
6
|
2
|
3
|
-
|
2
|
8
|
3
|
-2 | $125 |
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-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
- | $90 |
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-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
1
|
4
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
5
|
+4 | $150 |
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4
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
6
|
- | $253 |
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2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
3
|
5
|
-
|
7
|
- | $145 |
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-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
8
|
-3 | $59 |
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7
|
5
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
9
|
-1 | $79 |
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-
|
-
|
5
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
10
|
- | $32 |
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1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
New * | $190 |
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3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
13
|
-1 | $128 |
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-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
14
|
-1 | $260 |
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6
|
-
|
-
|
-
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-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
Sorted by price:
Position in ranking | Price | Modem |
---|---|---|
#10 | $32 | Arris SURFboard SB6190 [buy] [more info] |
#8 | $59 | Motorola MB7420 [buy] [more info] |
#2 | $59.99 | Netgear CM500 [buy] [more info] |
#9 | $79.49 | Arris SURFboard SB6183 [buy] [more info] |
#4 | $89.99 | Motorola MB7621 [buy] [more info] |
#3 | $125 | Motorola MB8600 [buy] [more info] |
#13 | $127.97 | Motorola MG7540 [buy] [more info] |
#7 | $145 | Netgear CM1000 [buy] [more info] |
#5 | $150 | Arris Surfboard S33 [buy] [more info] |
#1 | $153.84 | Arris SURFboard SB8200 [buy] [more info] |
#11 | $189.99 | Motorola MB8611 [buy] [more info] |
#6 | $253 | Netgear Nighthawk CM2000 [buy] [more info] |
#14 | $259.99 | Netgear Nighthawk CM1150V [buy] [more info] |
We ranked Arris SURFboard SB8200 #1 in March 2023 because:
- 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Arris SURFboard SB8200 as #1.

Lifewire
Best Value
Pros
High speed support (known as DOCSIS 3.1 Support)
Compact design
Two Gigabit Ethernet ports with link aggregation
|
Cons
Pricey
Awkward coaxial connection placement
|
BestReviews
Customer Favorite
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
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HighSpeedInternet
Best value
Pros
No more Puma 6 chipset
Multiple color options
|
Cons
Fewer Ethernet ports
Limited compatibility with cable providers
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approvedmodems.org
Best Value for Money
Pros
Link aggregation support
32 x 8 channel bonding support
Backward compatibility
Two Ethernet ports
Excellent speeds & processing setup
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Cons
Needs a separate router to connect with multiple devices
|
We ranked Netgear CM500 #2 in March 2023 because:
- 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.

Tom's Guide
Best value 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
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PC Guide
Pros
Compatible with most ISPs
Recoup-able cost in a few months
|
Cons
Some quality-control issues
|
Popular Mechanics
Best budget
Pros
Affordable
Performs well on the vast majority of US ISP plans.
|
Cons
One-year warranty
Dim indicator lights
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approvedmodems.org
Best For 400 Mbps
Pros
Competitively priced
Great design
Easy setup
Comes with 8 NOR flash
|
Cons
No major cons
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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 March 2023 ranking










We ranked Motorola MB8600 #3 in March 2023 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Motorola MB8600 as #1.

BestReviews
Most Consistent
Pros
Tops speed up to 1 Gbps. Works with all major cable providers and is simple tos et up. Works with all WiFi routers and contains an ethernet port. Great investment for Comcast and COX subscribers.
|
Cons
Problems are rare, but Motorola's support processes are lackluster.
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HighSpeedInternet
Best overall
Pros
Four gigabit Ethernet ports
Excellent Broadcom chipset
|
Cons
Bulky design
Limited compatibility with providers
|
Popular Mechanics
Best Docsis 3.1
Pros
DOCSIS 3.1
Robust 32x8 stream channels
Two-year warranty
|
Cons
Power users might find firmware lacking
|
approvedmodems.org
Best For Gaming
Pros
Future-proof with DOCSIS 3.1
Works for plans up to 2000 Mbps
Approved by many ISPs
AQM for low latency browsing
2-year warranty
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Cons
Fewer ports
Lights are too bright
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We ranked Motorola MB7621 #4 in March 2023 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Motorola MB7621 as #1.

Popular Mechanics
Best Overall
Pros
Speedy 24x8 channel connectivity
Easy setup
Two-year warranty
|
Cons
Power users might find firmware lacking
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We ranked Arris Surfboard S33 #5 in March 2023 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Arris Surfboard S33 as #1.

Lifewire
Best Design
Pros
Stylish design
2.5Gbps Ethernet Port
Extra Gigabit Ethernet Port
|
Cons
No voice capabilities
Use of second port isn't supported by all ISPs
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Tom's Guide
Best cable modem for gigabit and multi-gig internet
Pros
Multi-gig speeds
Two-year warranty
Compatible with most internet providers
|
Cons
Requires at least gigabit internet
|
approvedmodems.org
Best DOCSIS 3.1 Modem
Pros
Supports latest technologies
High throughput capacity
Fast & reliable performance
Excellent design
Easy to set up
Compatible with most ISPs
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Cons
Expensive
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We ranked Netgear Nighthawk CM2000 #6 in March 2023 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.

Lifewire
Best Performance
Pros
2.5Gbps Ethernet Port
Fast DOCSIS 3.1 Speeds
Sleek design
|
Cons
Pricey
No voice features
Requires compatible router for best speeds
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HighSpeedInternet
Best for gaming
Pros
Fast 2.5 Gbps port
Compatibility with all major cable internet providers
|
Cons
Just one Ethernet port
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Popular Mechanics
Best Premium
Pros
Multigig downstream speeds
Singular ethernet connectivity
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Cons
Two-year limited warranty
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We ranked Netgear CM1000 #7 in March 2023 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Netgear CM1000 as #1.

PC Guide
Best for xfinity
Pros
More reliable than other options
Great GUI controls
|
Cons
Limited to Xfinity and Cox providers
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approvedmodems.org
Best Gigabit Modem
Pros
DOCSIS 3.1 technology
Comes with built-in QoS
Supports 1 Gbps plans of most ISPs
AQM support
Reasonable price
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Cons
Only one LAN port
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We ranked Motorola MB7420 #8 in March 2023 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.

Lifewire
Best for Basic Internet Plans
Pros
Very affordable
Compact
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Cons
Not especially future-proof
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BestReviews
Most Versatile
Pros
The DOCSIS 3.0 modem is a vast upgrade from most antiquated modems that need an update. Works with Xfinity, Spectrum, Comcast, and other leading services.
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Cons
Slower top speeds than most other competitors; gamers and 4K streamers should look elsewhere.
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Tom's Guide
The best cable modem for most people
Pros
Two-year warranty
Reliable performance
Compatible with most internet providers
|
Cons
Not as compact as some modems
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approvedmodems.org
Best For 250 Mbps
Pros
Easy to set up
Compatible with most dual-band routers
Multi-ISP compatibility
Uses reliable DOCSIS 3.0
Compatible with most ISPs
|
Cons
Only one LAN port
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We ranked Arris SURFboard SB6183 #9 in March 2023 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
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Cons
Awkward placement of coaxial cable
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Popular Mechanics
Top-rated
Pros
Small form factor
Reliable connection
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Cons
Lacks power or reset button
LEDs are extraordinarily bright
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We ranked Arris SURFboard SB6190 #10 in March 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert 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
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We ranked Motorola MB8611 #11 in March 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.

Lifewire
Best for Multi-Gigabit Internet
Pros
2.5Gbps Ethernet Port
Fast DOCSIS 3.1 Speeds
Low Latency
|
Cons
Pricey
No voice capabilities
Requires compatible router for best speeds
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We ranked Netgear Nighthawk CM1150V #13 in March 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Modems” rankings.

Lifewire
Best for Voice Services
Pros
High speed support
Up to 2Gbps Download Speeds
Supports Xfinity Voice service
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Cons
Expensive
Lacks a built-in router
Not compatible with other cable voice services
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approvedmodems.org
Best Cable Modem with Voice
Pros
Has multiple ports
Multiple calling features
Faster connectivity
Backward compatibility
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Cons
Lacks voice support for other ISPs
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