7 Best Optimum Internet Compatible Modems in 2023 [Full List]

This is our review of the best-approved modems for Optimum internet in 2023.

Having extensively tested tons of Cox approved modems, I’ve picked seven of the best. At the top of the list it’s the Arris Surfboard SB8200. Because it’s fast, future-proof, and affordable.

But there are better options for the fastest Optimum plans or those on a budget. Plus, I’ve picked three awesome modem/router combos.

Stay tuned to find out what they are. 

The 7 Best Approved Modems for Optimum

7 Best Modems For Optimum

Let’s take a closer look at each of my top seven.

#1 Best Overall Modem – Arris Surfboard SB8200

The modem that offers the best value for money for most Optimum customers is the Arris Surfboard SB8200. It’s quick enough for most of their plans and it’s not going to break the bank.

This modem has a feature called ethernet aggregation. It combines the output of two Gigabit ethernet ports into one for a total WAN speed of 2000 Mbps.

This is actually cheaper than a multi gig port which would provide a total speed of 2500 Mbps. 

Missing out on that extra 500 Mbps is only going to cause an issue for those who are thinking about upgrading to a faster plan with another provider, or hoping for a faster cable plan from Optimum in the future. 

However, there are one or two problems surrounding ethernet aggregation, which I’ll come onto in the buying guide later on in this article.

As you might have guessed from the high speeds, this is a DOCSIS 3.1 modem. As such, you should be able to use it for longer as Optimum is likely to slowly phase out support for the older technology of DOCSIS 3.0.

If I had to pick one flaw it would be that the lights are strangely bright, so I would recommend keeping it out of the way. 

But other than that, this is a fantastic modem for any of the Optimum plans and for a price that makes a lot of sense.

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#2 Best Modem for Optimum 1 Gig – Arris Surfboard S33

The slightly more expensive offering from Arris, the Surfboard S33, squeezes out a little more speed.

The key difference here is the inclusion of a multi gig port. Because of this feature, you’ll be able to get speeds of up to 2500 Mbps through this modem.

That won’t make a lot of difference for Optimum’s current non-fiber plans as none are this fast yet. 

But, it will future proof you a little more if Optimum brings out a faster plan in the future or if you want to switch to another provider. You’d be able to move onto a plan up to 1500 Mbps faster than the current fastest Optimum plan.

As mentioned, this modem is more expensive than the SB8200 but not by much. I’d still consider this to be a relatively affordable modem overall. 

And of course, it’s DOCSIS 3.1 so you’ll definitely be more future proof with this modem than an older, budget one. This means you can most likely have it for many years to come. 

Other than the fact that this kind of speed might be a little excessive for current Optimum plans, we had noticed one small flaw: the hardware. It’s not the most attractive piece of kit and it’s weirdly large, so consider how it’s going to look in your home if that’s a factor for you.

But still, these are minor details. The S33 is another relatively good value offering from Arris and one that will suit the fastest of Optimum plans. 

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#3 Best Budget Modem – Netgear CM500

Want to save money on your modem? Don’t have the fastest Optimum plan (1 Gig)? The Netgear CM500 might be the right option for you. 

One key downside of this modem (but the main reason it’s cheaper) is that it’s DOCSIS 3.0 instead of the newer technology, DOCSIS 3.1. Support for this could be eradicated by Optimum in the future so you might not be very future proof with this modem.

Plus, the channels are low at 16×4. Again, Optimum could phase out support for channels this low in the future. 

The result of these technologies performance wise is that the CM500 is a little slow. Its top WAN speed is 680 Mbps, so it’s not going to be fitting for the fastest Optimum plan. Nonetheless, it’ll still work nicely for Optimum 300 and 500 (for now). 

It should also be noted that the warranty period for this modem is half the length of the Arris offerings we’ve looked at so far. You’ll only get the legal minimum of one year and after this, you’ll need to take care of any manufacturer issues yourself. 

But you get what you pay for. The bottom line is that this is a very affordable offering that will suit many Optimum customers right now.

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#4 Best for Optimum Home Phone – Arris TM3402

Optimum Home Phone customers are in luck as Optimum supports third party modems for its voice plans. And the best option of these is the Arris TM3402. 

The TM3402 supports Home Phone plans through its support for VoIP. It has a port for phone connections, and it’s really easy to set up.

Arris have opted for link aggregation instead of a multi gig port with this modem. That means it’ll combine two gig ports for a total of 2000 Mbps instead of the 2500 Mbps a multi gig port would offer. That’s fine for any Optimum cable plans right now though as none are this fast.

Of course, it’s also DOCSIS 3.1 so you’re going to be future proof in that respect. 

You might find that this modem is out of stock a lot. That could be a testament to its popularity, but I don’t know. I checked the stock at the time of writing this article and only a handful were left, so bear this in mind. 

It is a little on the pricey side but that’s to be expected considering the features it has available. Realistically, this and the stock are the only two minor issues I have with this modem.

However, it should also be noted that this modem is for Optimum customers only. You won’t be able to change providers with it, but then again, not many ISPs support third party modems for voice anyway. 

The bottom line is that it’s just about the perfect companion for Optimum customers with a voice plan and any of the internet plans. 

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#5 Best Modem/Router Combo – Netgear C7800

If your priorities are convenience and value then why not combine your router and modem into a single, affordable device? Sounds good? Well, then your answer is the Netgear C7800.

This modem/router combo, or gateway, is a good price but still offers reasonable performance. Part of this is because of the inclusion of DOCSIS 3.1, so you’ll be future proof in that respect as well. 

This is only a Wi-Fi 5 gateway instead of the latest technologies of Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6e. But that’s not the end of the world as we still managed to record a Wi-Fi speed of 513.64 Mbps.

That’s pretty good for a modem and will be enough for most families. Plus, it means you can max out either the Optimum 300 or 500 plans. I wouldn’t recommend it for Optimum Gig though.

The Wi-Fi range of the C7800 is pretty good as well. Our tests found it to be around 80-90 ft, so it should cover a medium-sized home. 

Because we’re in router territory now, we need to talk about features. The C7800 has two worth pointing out: QoS and parental controls.

This means you’ll be able to set priority devices on the network and control what your children are able to access. However, these aren’t the best examples of these features as they’re quite limited in how far they can go.

That’s our only criticism of an otherwise near-perfect gateway device for customers on the Optimum 300 and 500 plans.

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#6 Best Gaming Modem/Router Combo – Netgear CAX80

Optimum customers who want the convenience of a gateway but still want fast connections will love what the Netgear CAX80 has to offer.

The CAX80 has some of the latest modem and Wi-Fi technology in DOCSIS 3.1 and Wi-Fi 6 respectively. This means you’ll be very future proof and able to keep this device for some time.

Wi-Fi 6 means this thing can offer fast wireless connections as well. We tested the speed at Networks Hardware HQ, and it easily maxed out our 800 Mbps plan at the time. This kind of speed makes it perfect for gamers of all levels.

This is quite possibly one of the fastest gateways out there right now and as such, I’d recommend it for any of the current Optimum internet plan lineup. 

As a single device, the CAX80 is quite pricey. But when you consider that it saves you from having to buy a modem and a router separately, the price doesn’t look so bad after all.

It does suffer with one gateway problem, however, and that is limited features. The CAX80 has parental controls and QoS as discussed above but they’re quite limited and can be frustrating to use. 

So the price and the poor QoS and parental controls are the main problems (if you can call them that) here.

But at the end of the day, the CAX80 will be the perfect option for many Optimum users. Especially the ones on the Optimum Gig plan. And of course, it’s a great option for gamers too. 

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#7 Best Budget Modem/Router Combo – Motorola MG7700

You can double down on convenience and value with the Motorola MG7700. This is one of the most affordable gateways on the market right now, but it’s still enough for the Optimum 300 plan.

The key problem with the MG7700 is that it’s a DOCSIS 3.0 modem with only 16×4 channels. This means that you might not be able to use it for that long as Optimum could phase out low channel and DOCSIS 3.0 support.

I thought that this gateway would be slow because of this old technology and the fact that this is a Wi-Fi 5 router instead of a Wi-Fi 6 one. But the speed we managed to record for it was surprisingly promising at 441.28 Mbps.

This makes it a very good option for those with the Optimum 300 plan. I’d be reluctant to recommend it for any faster plans though. 

It also comes with QoS and parental controls so you’ll be able to set priority devices and control network access. But, you guessed it, their scope is limited.

The fact that you get this reasonable performance and a couple of features for such a low price is going to be great news for a lot of people on the Optimum 300 plan. Just be aware that you might not be able to use it for very long.

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Complete List of All Optimum Approved Modems

Here is a list of all modems that are “officially” approved for Optimum. Even though any modem with DOCSIS 3.0 or 3.1 with at least 16×8 channels should work. 

As you will find, not all modems recommended above are from the list. But they are all chosen after talking to an Optimum technician, so they should work. 

Here is the list and its sources. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Brand	Model #	With Router	Channels	DOCSIS	Puma Chipset	VoIP
TP-Link	TC7650	No	24x8	3.0	No	No
Netgear	CM500	No	16x4	3.0	No	No
Netgear	CM600	No	24x8	3.0	No	No
Netgear	CM700	No	32x8	3.0	Yes	No
Netgear	CM1100	No	32×8	3.1	No	No
Arris	SB8200	No	32×8	3.1	No	No
Arris	CM8200	No	32×8	3.1	No	No
Arris	TM1602	No	24×8	3.0	Yes	Yes
Arris	TM1672	No	24×8	3.0	No	Yes
Arris	TM3202	No	32×8	3.1	No	Yes
UBEE	UBC1322	Yes	32×8	3.1	No	Yes
Arris	SB6183	No	16x4	3.0	No	No

Puma Chipset is a bad chip linked with latency issues. Even though much of its problems are being fixed, I would recommend avoiding modems using it. 

It might be the case that there are some modems with 8×4 channels that will work for you. But this will not be the case in all areas.

Optimum Approved Modem Buying Guide

Make sure you stay tuned to find out more about how I reviewed these modems. You’ll be able to use this information to help you make the right call.

And if you still want to know more about buying a modem when you get to the end of this article, be sure to check out this guide.

Should you actually upgrade your modem on Optimum in the first place?

Renting a modem from Optimum will cost you $11.99 per month. In a year, this will rack up to $144, and at that point, you’re well into modem or even gateway price territory.

So financially alone, it makes sense to move to a third party modem on Optimum internet plans.

You’re also likely to find better quality modems if you shop around as well. So in answer to the question: yes. You should upgrade your modem on Optimum.

However, the price of the gateway device (modem/router combo) from Optimum directly is now free. That being said, you’ll be limited on performance and features with this.

If you’re not sure whether to buy or lease a modem, you can weigh up the options in this article.

Will your modem be fast enough?

Check out the current Optimum plan lineup below:

Plan	Recommended Wi-Fi Standard	Required Channels	Required DOCSIS
Optimum 300	Wi-Fi 5	16×4 or more	3.0 or 3.1
Optimum 500	Wi-Fi 5 or 6	24×8 or more	3.0 or 3.1
Optimum 1 Gig	Wi-Fi 6	N/A	3.1

Which plan are you on or want to move onto? Optimum 300 is going to be enough for most people but perhaps you need the faster speeds.

Either way, you’ll need to make sure your modem is fast enough for your plan. Most modems will be fast enough for the Optimum 300 plan but for the other two, be sure to check out the top speeds.

It’s particularly important to consider this in the example of a gateway. Modem/router combos are going to be restricted speed-wise by their Wi-Fi router parts so the top speed of that is likely to be more of a factor.

By the way, you can also get a selection of fiber plans but these will not need a modem. If you’re on one of these plans, check out our guide to Optimum routers here.

DOCSIS and channels

I generally recommend opting for a DOCSIS 3.1 modem. This is the latest modem technology protocol that converts an outside signal into a home network. And DOCSIS 3.1 is going to be faster than the older technology, DOCSIS 3.0.

It’s also going to be more future proof. Some providers are phasing out their support for DOCSIS 3.0 already and it might not be long before Optimum begins to do the same. 

To find out more about DOCSIS 3.0 and DOCSIS 3.1 side by side, check out this comparison article. 

If you do end up with a DOCSIS 3.0 modem, you’re also going to need to consider its channels. 

Cheap and slow modems might have 8×4 channels but you can get up to 32×4. 8×4 channel modems are going to be no good for Optimum as the minimum requirement for them is 16×4.

DOCSIS 3.0 benefits

• More affordable
• Enough for slower plans

DOCSIS 3.1 benefits – Our recommendation

• More future proof
• Fastest option

Ports and ethernet aggregation 

The port output of your modem determines the overall speed it can send through to a router. 

You might get a single gig ethernet port for a top speed of 1000 Mbps. Some modems use a technology called ‘ethernet aggregation’ to combine two of these for a total speed of 2000 Mbps.

However, note that not all routers support this function. And, you will need two IP addresses. It appears as if Optimum only offers this feature to business customers.

That’s a little redundant right now though, as the fastest Optimum non-fiber plan is 1000 Mbps so you won’t need to use ethernet aggregation.

In some cases, you’ll get a multi gig port which will allow for speeds of up to 2500 Mbps. 

You won’t need to worry about this if you’re opting for a modem/router combo.

Buying a modem/router combo or keeping each part separate

If you want better performance, features or more control over your network, keep your modem and router separate. This is what I’d recommend for most people.

Separate routers can offer faster Wi-Fi speeds than gateways. Plus, you’re likely to get better parental controls, QoS and more. You may also be able to get features like Mesh for seamlessly extending your network range. 

However, you can save time and money if you opt for a modem/router combo device. Plus, some of these do offer reasonable performance.

Separate modem and router device benefits – Our recommendation

• Better speed
• Stronger features
• More control over network

Modem/router combo benefits

• More affordable
• Convenient

We compared these two options in more detail here.

VoIP voice support

Optimum does support third party modems for use with its Home Phone plans. This is actually fairly rare in the ISP world.

You will need a specific type of modem if you have an Optimum Home Phone plan though. It will need VoIP support, so keep an eye out for that. I’ve recommended an example in my top seven above (the Arris TM3402).

Warranty

Finally, be sure to look at the warranty of a modem if you’re planning on keeping it for much longer than a year.

The legal minimum is one year and some manufacturers go with this. However, other manufacturers like Arris extend this to two years. Sometimes, you might even get more than that.

Optimum Approved Modems FAQ

Check out some more common questions and answers on Optimum modems below.

Wrapping Up on Approved Modems for Optimum

The best approved modem for all Optimum plans has to be the Arris Surfboard SB8200. It’s affordable and very high quality.

If you want a modem/router combo, your best bet will be the Netgear C7800 for the same reasons.

These are just blanket recommendations though. Optimum Home Phone customers or those on a budget will need a different device. So make sure you check out my buying guide before you make your final decision.

Enjoy!