5 Best Spectrum Internet Modems and Routers

By picking up your own modem and router for your Spectrum internet service, you can save money on monthly equipment fees. You can even save on installation fees because you might be able to opt for the cheaper “self-installation” option if you have your own devices.

But there are a few important things to consider before you invest in a cable modem and Wi-Fi router. Let’s take a quick moment to go over some essential features (go ahead and skip to the best modems and routers if you’re already an expert).

• DOCSIS: This term stands for Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications, which is the technology that your modem uses to transfer data from cables that were originally designed to deliver cable TV. The gold standard is DOCSIS 3.1, but cable internet customers with plans below 1,000 Mbps should be fine with DOCSIS 3.0.
• Channel bonding: You’ll see this as a number, like 32x8. This is about how many download and upload channels your modem uses. Higher numbers mean more channels and faster speeds.
• Wi-Fi communication standard: You may have seen a set of numbers and letters on your Wi-Fi router, like 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n and 802.11ac. These are different wireless protocols that dictate what devices it can connect to and how fast that connection is. The latest standard is IEEE 802.11be, also called Wi-Fi 7. But most devices still use 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) or older technology.
• Wi-Fi Bands: If you’ve seen a Wi-Fi network that says “5G” on it, that probably means it’s a 5GHz Wi-Fi band, which can offer faster speeds but has less range. Wi-Fi routers with multiple bands give you the flexibility of connecting to a faster, smaller-range network or a slower, longer-range one.
• Wi-Fi extenders and mesh systems: If you have a big property, then you probably want to pick up a mesh Wi-Fi router or some kind of Wi-Fi extender. Mesh systems link together several “nodes” to give a larger, faster, and more reliable network.
• Wi-Fi security: Every Wi-Fi router comes with a security standard that keeps out unwanted devices. There are several security standards, like WPA, WEP, and WPA2. The most recent and secure standard is WPA3.

That’s enough geeking out. Let’s get into the best Spectrum modems and routers!

The best modem for most Spectrum users is the MB8600. This reasonably priced modem comes from well-trusted Motorola, has thousands of positive customer reviews, and can handle whatever you throw at it, whether it's 4K video streaming, hours of Warzone, or just a large household full of people scrolling on their phones.

The MB 8600 uses the latest DOCSIS 3.1 technology and can easily handle speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. It does not include a Wi-Fi router, but it is compatible with pretty much every router on the market.

While many Spectrum customers may not need this much speed right now, it’s helpful to buy a modem that’s future-proof. You never know when you might upgrade your internet. While you could opt for the slower MB7621 modem, it’s only about $15 cheaper, while only supporting speeds up to 650Mbps.

The MB 8600 features active queue management, which can lower the latency of your internet connection. This is important for remote workers who video conference often and for gamers who want to avoid lag like the plague.

Another nice thing about the Motorola MB8600 is that it’s not just compatible with Spectrum. It’s compatible with most of the best cable internet providers, including Comcast Xfinity, Cox, or CableOne. Plus, it comes with a robust 2-year warranty, just in case something does go wrong.

If you’ve already got a decent modem (from Spectrum or somewhere else), then the best Wi-Fi router for you is probably the TP-Link AX3000. This router is equipped with the latest Wi-Fi technology, has great range, and gives you dual-band connectivity.

The TP-Link AX3000 will work with all cable modems and can easily handle the bandwidth of large households and home offices. It’s a great investment that should be future-proof for years to come.

The TP-Link AX3000 has two different bands—a 2.4 GHz band with longer range and a 5GHz band with faster speeds. The longer-range 2.4 GHz band can handle speeds up to 574 Mbps, while the 5GHz band can basically hit lightspeed (2.4 Gbps!).

With Wi-Fi 6, beamforming, and four adjustable antennas, you and your family should experience a clear, high-speed internet signal all throughout your house.

A couple of nifty little features put TP-Link AX3000 above much of the competition. It has something called “Target Wake Time” that makes the communication between the router and your devices more efficient, thus saving battery life. There’s also a feature called “HomeShield” that gives you increased security with state-of-the-art IoT protection, parental controls, and weekly reports.

While the AX3000 is a high-quality device with excellent customer reviews, there is a 2-year warranty in case anything breaks on the device.

While some customers might want to buy their modem and router separately, the simplest solution for many customers is to buy a modem/router combo device. The NETGEAR Nighthawk C7000 offers the best of both worlds, with powerful DOCSIS 3.0 and Wi-Fi 5 technology, for under $200.

NETGEAR’s Nighthawk C7000 is a simple, reliable, and powerful piece of equipment that comes from a trusted company. It uses DOCSIS 3.0 and a dual-band Wi-Fi connection to give you super-fast speeds. Theoretically, you can crank this thing up to 1,900 Mbps download speeds, though we really only recommend it for the cheaper Spectrum plans up to 500 Mbps.

The Nighthawk C7000 has a Wi-Fi range of up to 1,800 square feet, making it big enough for apartments, medium-sized homes, and even bigger homes, if you get a Wi-Fi extender.

This modem/router combo doesn’t come with the fanciest features, like Alexa compatibility or Wi-Fi 7 (check out the NETGEAR Orbi WiFi 6 Cable Modem Router we’ve featured below if you want to upgrade), but it’s the perfect mix of affordability and power for most families.

One of the cool things about Spectrum internet is that the company gives you a free modem rental. The consensus among customers and experts is that Spectrum’s modems are actually pretty decent devices. Plus, the company can help you troubleshoot your modem if it's their own, but not if it’s one you’ve bought.

However, Spectrum charges $5 a month for a Wi-Fi router and these routers are usually not that great. So, if you’re trying to maximize your Spectrum Internet set-up on a budget, we suggest taking the free modem but then spending $50 on the TP-Link AC1750 router.

The TP-Link isn’t a fancy device, but it is a very reliable and affordable workhorse that will be perfect for most small- to medium-sized households. It comes with Wi-Fi 5 technology that can easily handle speeds up to 500 Mbps. There are tons of ports on this thing, so you can run a direct connection to your device or plug in extra networked devices.

With three external antennas, you’ll get decent coverage from the TP-Link AC1750. It won’t be as impressive as the mesh system we’ll talk about shortly, but it will definitely cover a couple of floors in an average-sized house.

This router may not be the most future-proof device, but it should stay in compliance with major standards for at least the duration of its two year warranty. Two years of fast, reliable internet for $50? That’s not a bad deal, and we’ll bet this router will last a lot longer than that.

If you’ve got a big property, a very online family, a serious gaming career, or you just want superior internet for your whole house, you may need a mesh Wi-Fi system. Mesh systems employ several different router nodes that are linked together, to give you a seamless and super-fast wireless network that can span thousands upon thousands of square feet.

Our pick for the best mesh system for Spectrum internet customers is the NETGEAR Orbi Wi-Fi 6. We’ve included a single extender in this package, but you can buy the system without it (or with more extenders for a bigger home).

There’s a lot to love about the Orbi Wi-Fi 6, but let's start with the basics. This device uses DOCSIS 3.1 and Wi-Fi 6 technology, meaning it can handle up to 4,000+ Mbps download speeds. That’s probably more speed than you need, but it’s always good to have a little extra capacity.

This system comes with tri-band connectivity, which means you get a 2.4 GHz band, a 5 GHz band, and an additional, 5 GHz dedicated backhaul channel that’s specifically for your mesh system to send information between the different nodes.

The Orbi Wi-Fi 6 even comes with its own app so that you can keep up on your security settings, parental controls, and check your hardware performance. Plus, this modem/router is compatible with pretty much every major cable internet provider, you can take it with you if you decide to switch to Xfinity. 

There you have it. Those are our five picks for the best modems and routers for Spectrum internet customers. Hopefully we’ve helped you find the perfect setup for your household. If you’re still not sure which to pick, here’s a quick recap:

• Best Standalone Modem: The Motorola MB8600 is a powerful and reliable modem that can easily handle download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. It’s the perfect mid-range modem for a great price.
• Best Standalone Router: Check out the TP-Link AX3000 WiFi 6 Router if you want a powerful Wi-Fi system to match the Motorola MB8600 (or another modem). It uses super-fast, dual-band Wi-Fi 6 technology to handle speeds up to 2,400 Mbps.
• Best Modem/Router Combo: Simplify your life by getting the NETGEAR Nighthawk C7000, which is a powerful modem and router combo device at a convenient price.
• Best Budget Option: Spectrum’s internet service comes with a free modem rental that’s good enough for most households. But even those on a budget should invest in a router (Spectrum charges $5 a month for subpar routers). We suggest checking out the affordable but powerful TP-Link AC1750.
• Best Upgrade pick: If you’ve got a big household with a lot of devices going at once, then you should pick up a mesh router. We like the NETGEAR Orbi WiFi 6 Cable Modem/Router combo system because it offers tri-band connectivity and tons of fancy features, like a companion app.

We begin every review with a serious amount of research and testing. For this particular review, we began by looking at Spectrum’s internet plans, policies, and rental equipment. We then researched devices based on what Spectrum internet customers’ need (specifically looking at high-speed cable modems and routers).

We evaluated the top devices from all of the most trusted brands, like NETGEAR, ARRIS, and Motorola. We made our final recommendations based on a series of criteria, including:

• Price
• Maximum speed threshold
• Wi-Fi technology (for routers)
• DOCSIS technology (for modems)
• Warranty length
• Extra features (processors, active queue management, etc.)

We hope that you’ve found our review helpful and easy-to-read. Please let us know if there are any other considerations you recommend!