7 Best Gigabit Modems in 2024 [Xfinity, Spectrum, & More]

This is our review of the best gigabit modems in 2024. 

As network engineers and enthusiasts, we bought a bunch of modems and tested them. 

Through these tests, we found that the best gigabit modem is the Arris Surfboard SB8200. It’s fast, future-proof, easy to set up, and reasonably priced. 

But there may be a better modem for you and your home networking needs. Everyone has different homes, ISPs, max Internet plan speeds, and preferences. 

So, I chose the 7 best gigabit modems so you can choose the best one for your needs. 

Keep reading to learn them.

Top 7 Gigabit Modems in 2024

Here are the top 7 gigabit modems. 

1. Best Overall – Arris Surfboard SB8200 – Cable Modem
2. Best Performer – Motorola MB8611 – Cable Modem 
3. Best Budget Option – Netgear CM1000 – Cable Modem
4. Best for Gaming – Netgear CM2000 – Cable Modem
5. Best for Digital Phone Service – Netgear CM2050V – Cable Modem
6. Best Performer – Motorola MG8725 – Modem/Router Combo
7. Best Value – Motorola MG8702 – Modem/Router Combo

7 Best Gigabit Modems

Here are short reviews of the best Gigabit modems. 

#1 Best Overall – Arris Surfboard SB8200

Approved For

• Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum, Sparklight, WOW, Suddenlink, Armstrong, Breezeline (Atlantic Broadband), Optimum, Astound Broadband (Grande, RCN, Wave)

The Arris Surfboard SB8200 is a DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem that works with Internet plans from 1000 to 2000 Mbps. 

The reason I gave this range is that the SB8200 has Port Bonding. 

Port Bonding lest you combine two Ethernet Ports into a single data stream– in this modem’s case, you can add two 1000 Mbps ports to achieve 2000 Mbps. It’s similar to filling a bucket with two hoses instead of one. 

So, this modem can support Internet plans up to 2000 Mbps. But it is not super useful since most plans don’t exceed 1000 Mbps. Although, it will future-proof your home network better than most modems. 

One downside of this modem is its bright lights. They could be annoying in the evening when you’re watching TV or could keep you awake at night when you’re sleeping. 

Overall the Arris Surfboard SB8200 is an excellent gigabit modem. It can handle 1000 to 2000 Mbps plans and is compatible with most ISPs. 

For more information on the Surfboard SB8200, read our review. 

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#2 Best Performer – Motorola MB8611

Approved For

• Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, Cox, Suddenlink, WOW

The Motorola MB8611 is another top choice if you’re looking for a gigabit modem. This premium option is DOCSIS 3.1 (future-proof) and can support Internet plans up to 2,500 Mbps. 

But, instead of using port bonding like the SB8200, it has a single 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port. Many ISPs don’t offer plans this fast yet. 

But depending on your area, you might have access to speeds faster than 1,000 Mbps. 

Since the MB8611 can support the top speeds available today and is DOCSIS 3.1, it is extremely future-proof and will support your home’s network for many years to come. 

One thing to note– RCN and Optimum have several issues with this modem, so get a different modem that’s approved for those ISPs instead. 

Before you whip out your wallet to buy this modem, consider how fast your current Internet plan is first. If you’re ISP offers 1000 Mbps maximum (or slower), this modem would be overkill. 

For more info on the Motorola MB8611, read our complete review. 

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#3 Best Budget Option – Netgear CM1000

Approved For

• Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, Cox, Armstrong, Breezeline (Atlantic Broadband), GCI, Mediacom, Midco, Suddenlink, WOW, Sparklight, Astound Broadband (Grande, RCN, Wave), (Sometimes Optimum)

If you want a gigabit modem that is sure to work with your ISP (or another ISP you might switch to soon), consider the Netgear CM1000. It is approved for more ISPs than any other modem on the market. 

This means the CM1000 will work for almost every ISP, besides those that aren’t compatible with DOCSIS 3.1 (like Suddenlink’s slower plans). 

One drawback of the CM1000 is that it only supports up to 1000 Mbps max. Compared to other modems on this list, this is limited. 

This means if your Internet plan tops out at 1000 Mbps, this modem is fine, but it won’t prepare your home network for potential future speed increases from your ISP.

However, it works with most major ISPs, making it a reliable option for most homes. 

It’s also not always cheap. But from our experience, it often on 20-40% sale.

For more details on the Netgear CM1000, check out our full review. 

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#4 Best for Gaming – Netgear CM2000

Approved For

• Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox, Sparklight, WOW, Suddenlink, Armstrong, Breezeline (Atlantic Broadband), Mediacom, Astound Broadband (Grande, RCN, Wave)

If you want the best gigabit modem for your gaming lifestyle, consider the Netgear CM2000. 

It’s a DOCSIS 3.1 modem that supports up to a whopping 2.5 Gbps (2500 Gbps)– which is so fast that many ISPs don’t even offer it to households yet. (Unlike the SB8200, it doesn’t use port bonding.)

These speeds are perfect for streamers and gamers that want the best quality and bandwidth possible. 

The CM2000 is basically the Arris Surfboard SB8200 on overdrive– the CM2000 is faster, newer, and more future-proof. But it costs a lot more too. 

We recommend only getting this modem if your ISP provides a 1000 Mbps or faster plan (or will soon). Otherwise, you’ll never use it to its full potential. 

For more details on this modem, read our review of the Netgear CM2000. 

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#6 Best for Digital Phone Service – Netgear CM2050V

Approved For

• Comcast Xfinity

If you have Comcast Xfinity’s Voice plan, you need to strongly consider Netgear CM2050V. 

Like the Netgear CM2000, it can support plans up to 2500 Mbps, but it also includes two integrated phone lines that support 3-way conference calls and call forwarding. 

So, it’s an all-in-one modem for Internet and digital voice service. However, it only works with Comcast Xfinity. For most ISPs, you will have to rent your voice modem from them (besides Optimum– learn more at “Voice Service” below. 

Overall, the CM2050V is an excellent choice and a top-performing cable modem for homes with Xfinity’s Voice plan. 

For more details on this modem, read our review of the Netgear CM2050V. 

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#6 Best Performer – Motorola MG8725

Approved For

• Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum, Suddenlink, Cox, Astound Broadband (Grande, RCN, Wave)

The Motorola MG8725 is a great option if you want a gigabit modem/router combo unit. 

It claims to reach speeds up to 2,500 Mbps, but we were only able to test it with an 800 Mbps plan. 

At 5 feet, it reached 800 Mbps– impressive that it hit the top speed of our Internet plan. And at 25 feet, we recorded 529.86 Mbps (all on the 5 GHz frequency band). 

These speeds are fast enough for most homes, even those with multiple active Internet users and many smart devices. 

In terms of range, the MG8725 excels there, too– reaching 100 feet, which is good enough for all but very large homes. 

One drawback is that it is more expensive than other modems, but we think it is worth it if you have a fast Internet plan.  

Altogether, if you have an Internet plan with a maximum speed of 1,000 to 2,500 Mbps and you want a modem/router combo that allows you to reach this, the Motorola MG8725 is an excellent option. 

Read our full review of the Motorola MG8725 to learn more. 

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#7 Best Value – Motorola MG8702

Approved For

• Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox, WOW, Suddenlink, Astound Broadband (Grande, RCN, Wave)

If you want a gigabit modem/router combo without spending too much money, the Motorola MG8702 is a great option. 

However, it is only a Wi-Fi 5 router, which is slower and won’t future-proof your home as well as a Wi-Fi 6 router. 

Despite being Wi-Fi 5, it still provides excellent speeds in our tests– 518.51 Mbps at 5 feet and 272.03 Mbps at 25 feet on the 5 GHz band. This is fast enough for most homes with several users. 

And while the Motorola MG8702 is technically a “gigabit” modem, its router may limit your speed for Internet plans close to 1 Gbps (1000 Mbps). However, given its low costs, this may be a compromise you’re willing to take. 

Still, if you have an Internet plan greater than 1000 Mbps, you will off with a faster unit. 

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What to Consider Before You Buy a Gigabit Modem

Here are the top considerations you should have before you purchase a cable modem. Visit our modem buying guide for more details. 

Approved & Compatible With Your ISP

The most important thing to know before you purchase a gigabit modem is whether or not it is compatible with your Internet Service Provider (ISP). 

You will want to ensure the modem is on the “approved” list for your ISP. “Approved” means someone tested the modem with the ISP and confirmed it works.

Sometimes, it just means the modem has the proper specifications to work with an ISP. 

You might see the terms compatible, certified, or supported used in place of “approved.” It all means the same thing. 

Do You Really Need a Gigabit Modem?

Another thing you should ask yourself is if you need a gigabit modem after all.

Homes with Internet plans with speeds of 1,000 Mbps or higher need gigabit modems to fully access the speed they pay for. 

But, if you have a slower Internet plan (slower than 1,000 Mbps), you don’t need a gigabit modem– especially if you can only get 100 Mbps in your area. 

However, if you want to future-proof your network, a gigabit modem would be a good way to do that, despite your plan’s max speed. 

A quick way to tell if a modem will support 1,000 Mbps or faster is to see if it is DOCSIS 3.0 or DOCSIS 3.1. DOCSIS 3.0 is the older standard and we only recommend it for internet plans up to 200 Mbps (even though it technically supports 800-900 Mbps). 

DOCSIS 3.1 is the newest standard. It has faster download speeds (up to 10 Gbps), lower latency, better security, lower power consumption, and will future-proof your network better. 

But DOCSIS 3.1 is more expensive and sometimes not necessary, depending on your internet plan.

However, if you want a gigabit modem, it has to be DOCSIS 3.1. For more information on this subject, read our DOCSIS 3.0 vs. 3.1 guide. 

Modem/Router Combo Vs. Separate Devices for Gigabit Internet

Another significant consideration is getting a modem/router combo or a separate modem and router. 

A modem/router combo includes both devices in one, while a separate one means the router and modem are two different devices. 

Both options have some advantages, but I always recommend separate devices. 

Why? Having separate devices makes upgrading easier and gives you better performance and full control. 

Still, modem/router combo units are convenient since they are one device that takes up less overall space. Plus, they have a lower upfront cost than comparable modems and routers. 

Separate Devices Pros

• Full control
• Easier to upgrade one device
• Better performance 

Modem/router combos Pros

• More convenient 
• Easier to setup
• Usually less expensive

Want more information on combo units versus separate devices? Check out our modem/router combos vs. separate devices guide for more help. 

Design/Ports

Another area you should consider when you purchase a gigabit modem is its design and Ethernet ports. 

The modem’s design isn’t crucial, and unless you get a modem/router combo, you can hide it out of view if you want. 

But, if you like a particular physical design better, consider getting it if it fits your other requirements too. 

On the other hand, the amount of Ethernet ports is more important since it determines how fast your modem is.  

For example, some modems, like the SB8200, have Port Bonding (also known as Ethernet Bonding and Ethernet Aggregation). [1] 

Port Bonding combines two Ethernet ports to provide a single data stream of 2000 Mbps to your router. 

Another type of Ethernet port is a single 2.5 Gbps port, which lets a modem work with Internet plans as fast as 2500 Mbps. 

Voice Service (VoIP)

Suppose you have a VoIP plan from your ISP. In that case, you likely rent a modem from them for it to work. 

However, Comcast Xfinity and Optimum allow you to use a modem with Voice support. [2]

So, you’re left with two choices for most other ISPs– use a modem from the ISP for both Voice service and Internet or use the ISP modem for Voice service and get a separate modem for the Internet. 

For most homes, this is unnecessary, and I would only consider this if you’re not happy with the modem from the ISP. 

Warranty & Support

No matter what brand or model of modem you get, there’s a small chance you might run into an issue. In that case, it is important to have a great warranty and good support from the manufacturer. 

Arris and Motorola usually have 2-year warranties on their modems, while Netgear usually has 1-year. [3, 4]

Motorola usually has some of the best support, but it depends on the representative you talk to. 

If you want a longer warranty or more coverage, you can get one of Amazon’s protection plans when you buy a modem through them. This gives you high-quality assistance and covers a replacement (if you need one). 

Approved Modems Lists

If none of our modem recommendations in this article are listed as approved for your ISP, check out our compatible modems guide.

This guide directs you to articles about the approved modems for every major ISP in the US.  

Our team spends hours keeping this list up to date, so it will most likely have everything you need to find a compatible modem for your ISP. 

Setup and Activation

Most modems are simple to set up– all you have to do is connect the coaxial cable and your power cord and let it boot up. 

Then, connect it to your router (or a computer) with an Ethernet cable and open any web browser. Your browser should automatically load your ISP’s activation page. If so, go through the steps to set it up. 

If not, you will have to access the activation page manually, which you can find here: 

• Comcast Xfinity
• Cox
• Spectrum
• Suddenlink
• Sparklight (Formely Cable One)

However, you will have to call certain ISPs if they don’t have a self-activation page. 

FAQs

Here are some common questions about gigabit modems. 

Our Verdict

After lots of testing and consideration, we determined the Arris Surfboard SB8200 is the best gigabit modem. 

It is fast, future-proof, and available at a price that won’t break the bank. Plus, it is approved for most major ISPs.