April 2024
Modems: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of modems rankings posted by key online experts, as of April 2024.
Summary
On 2 Apr 2024, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 60 modem endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
33 modems were endorsed in total, only 10 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 2 Apr 2024, Arris Surfboard S33 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed modem with 6 expert endorsements. 2 experts out of 6 recommended it as the '#1 modem' this month.
Brand breakdown
-
Netgear: 11 modems
(#1 is Netgear Nighthawk CM2000)
-
Arris: 8 modems
(#1 is Arris Surfboard S33)
-
Motorola: 6 modems
(#1 is Motorola MB8600)
Price breakdown
At a glance - April Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Modem |
Popular Mechanics
|
Wirecutter
|
Lifewire
|
approvedmodems.org
|
HighSpeedInternet
|
BestReviews
|
Networks Hardware
|
Tom's Guide
|
PC Guide
|
The Strategist
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
+1 | $195 |
Arris Surfboard S33
|
2
|
1
|
4
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
4
|
-
|
|
2
|
-1 | $250 |
Netgear Nighthawk CM2000
|
5
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
|
3
|
+1 | $140 |
Arris SURFboard SB8200
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
7
|
2
|
3
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
|
4
|
+1 | $157 |
Netgear CM1000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
1
|
|
5
|
+1 | $143 |
Motorola MB8600
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
6
|
-3 | $50 |
Netgear CM500
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
3
|
-
|
6
|
|
7
|
- | $257 |
Motorola MB8611
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
8
|
- | $73 |
Arris Surfboard SB6183
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
2
|
-
|
|
9
|
- | $40 |
Arris SURFboard SB6190
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
|
10
|
- | $79 |
Motorola MB7621
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
We ranked Arris Surfboard S33 #1 in April 2024 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best modems” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Arris Surfboard S33 as #1.
Popular Mechanics
Best for Esports
|
Compatible with 2.5 Gbps speeds
Compact
Sleek tower design
|
Low-tech design
Not supported by some ISPs
|
Lifewire
Best Design
|
Stylish design
2.5Gbps Ethernet Port
Extra Gigabit Ethernet Port
|
No voice capabilities
Use of second port isn't supported by all ISPs
|
approvedmodems.org
Best Runner-Up
|
Latest modem technologies
Great Speeds & Throughput
Two Ethernet ports
Compatible with most ISPs
Fast & reliable performance
Follows new design language
|
Single LED status light
|
Tom's Guide
Best cable modem for gigabit and multi-gig internet
|
Multi-gig speeds
Two-year warranty
Compatible with most internet providers
|
Requires at least gigabit internet
|
PC Guide
|
Support up to 2.5 Gbps
Widely compatible
Easy set up
|
Overkill if used with a slow internet plan
|
We ranked Netgear Nighthawk CM2000 #2 in April 2024 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best modems” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Netgear Nighthawk CM2000 as #1.
Popular Mechanics
Best Premium
|
Multigig downstream speeds
Singular ethernet connectivity
|
Two-year limited warranty
|
Lifewire
Best Performance
|
2.5Gbps Ethernet Port
Fast DOCSIS 3.1 Speeds
Sleek design
|
Pricey
No voice features
Requires compatible router for best speeds
|
HighSpeedInternet
Best for gaming
|
Fast 2.5 Gbps port
Compatibility with all major cable internet providers
|
Just one Ethernet port
|
PC Guide
Best Cable Modem
|
Offers fastest transfer rates
2.5G Ethernet port
DOCSIS 3.1
|
Only one Ethernet port
Overkill if not used with a high speed plan
|
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 April 2024 ranking
Popular Mechanics
Wirecutter
Lifewire
approvedmodems.org
HighSpeedInternet
BestReviews
Networks Hardware
Tom's Guide
PC Guide
The Strategist
We ranked Arris SURFboard SB8200 #3 in April 2024 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best modems” rankings.
Lifewire
Best Value
|
High speed support (known as DOCSIS 3.1 Support)
Compact design
Two Gigabit Ethernet ports with link aggregation
|
Pricey
Awkward coaxial connection placement
|
approvedmodems.org
Best Value for Money
|
DOCSIS 3.1 technology
32 x 8 channel bonding
Handles Gigabit speed
Works with multiple ISPs
Great value for money
|
Gets warm sometimes
|
HighSpeedInternet
Best value
|
No more Puma 6 chipset
Multiple color options
|
Fewer Ethernet ports
Limited compatibility with cable providers
|
BestReviews
Customer Favorite
|
Support speeds up to 2Gbps
Features 2 gigabit Ethernet ports
Simple to set up
Optimized for especially fast online speeds
Well ventilated design
Compact
|
A fairly pricey modem
|
We ranked Netgear CM1000 #4 in April 2024 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best modems” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Netgear CM1000 as #1.
approvedmodems.org
Best Gigabit Modem
|
DOCSIS 3.1 technology
Built-in QoS for priority
True gigabit speed
AQM (Active Queue Management)
Stable network performance
|
Not the best value for money
Single Ethernet port
|
BestReviews
Wide Compatible
|
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.
|
Technical support is not always reliable.
|
PC Guide
Best Mid-Range Cable Modem
|
32 x 8 channel bonding
Supports cable plans up to 1 Gbps
DOCSIS 3.1
|
Only one Ethernet port
Not multi-gig port
|
We ranked Motorola MB8600 #5 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best modems” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Motorola MB8600 as #1.
HighSpeedInternet
Best overall
|
Four gigabit Ethernet ports
Excellent Broadcom chipset
|
Bulky design
Limited compatibility with providers
|
We ranked Netgear CM500 #6 in April 2024 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best modems” rankings.
Tom's Guide
Best value cable modem
|
Solid performance
Good compatibility
Often cheaper than comparable modems
|
One-year warrant shorter than rivals
Indicator lights are hard to see
|
We ranked Motorola MB8611 #7 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best modems” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Motorola MB8611 as #1.
Lifewire
Best for Multi-Gigabit Internet
|
2.5Gbps Ethernet Port
Fast DOCSIS 3.1 Speeds
Low Latency
|
Pricey
No voice capabilities
Requires compatible router for best speeds
|
approvedmodems.org
Best Overall
|
Future-proof networking traits
Handles multi-gig speeds
Works with multiple providers
AQM support for low-latency
2 years of warranty
|
Single ethernet port
The lights are too bright
|
We ranked Arris Surfboard SB6183 #8 in April 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best modems” rankings.
Popular Mechanics
Best Budget
|
Small form factor
Reliable connection
|
Lacks power or reset button
LEDs are extraordinarily bright
|
Tom's Guide
A top cable modem if you can find it
|
Dependable
Two-year warranty
Compatible with most internet providers
Visible status lights
|
Awkward placement of coaxial cable
|
PC Guide
Best Budget Cable Modem
|
Affordable
Great for WiFi 5 routers
|
Does not come with the latest DOCSIS 3.1
|
We ranked Arris SURFboard SB6190 #9 in April 2024 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
|
Impressive speeds
Great for HD movies and gaming
Convenient LED indicator lights
|
Coaxial connection placement isn't ideal
|
We ranked Motorola MB7621 #10 in April 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best modems” rankings.
BestReviews
Best for Everyday Use
|
Buttons are large and easy to use. Rated for speeds up to 650 Mbps. Protected against lightning and power surges.
|
Unit is fairly bulky
|