Top 10 Best NETGEAR DSL Modems
for December 2023

The Netgear DGN2200 is the first router we've tested that doubles as a DSL modem. This dual purpose router is a godsend for cord cutters, or anyone who's sick of replacing their router every couple of years. The DGN2200 is easy to set up and use, and it handles its dual duties with aplomb. The DGN2200's modem function works as promised, providing DSL service across our entire home. The router's WiFi function is strong and fast and reliable, and it even managed to keep up with our typical data-heavy household. The DGN2200's router function is also solid, offering strong WiFi coverage throughout our entire house. The DGN2200's shared Internet connection feature was easy to set up, and we were able to share an Internet connection between our laptop and tablet and our TV. The only feature that didn't work as advertised was its guest network feature, which prevented other family members from accessing the Internet. The Netgear DGN2200 is a great all-around router: it is fast, it has a ton of features, and it can handle multiple tasks.

The DSL modem router from Netgear is, in a word, impressive. It's fast, stable, and easy to set up, and it has a lot of features, including parental controls and an Ethernet switch, that will appeal to both novice users and experienced techies. The router runs on a dual-core 1.8 GHz processor, and the Wi-Fi performance is speedy, with download speeds of 600 Mbps and upload speeds of 300 Mbps in our testing. (The upload speeds are somewhat slower than the Netgear Nighthawk X8, which we tested separately, but the Nighthawk X8 costs more and has fewer features.) The Netgear is also easy to use, with easy-to-follow setup instructions and a helpful online guide. The router's parental controls let parents set daily download limits, block access to objectionable Web sites, and restrict social networking and online games. The Netgear's Ethernet switch lets users share a single wired Internet connection among multiple devices. This router also supports IPv6, a next-generation protocol that ensures that websites and services will work in the future.

The Nighthawk AC1900 VDSL/ADSL Modem Router is a top-of-the-line, modem-based VDSL/ADSL router with a built-in Ethernet switch, making it a great choice for homes with multiple computers. The router's VDSL/ADSL modem is certified by both CenturyLink and Verizon and is dual band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), so it supports both single and bonded (voice) VDSL connections. The router's built-in Ethernet switch is eight-port, so it's capable of handling multiple wireless clients. The router has 4 gigabit ports for wired connections, and it has a USB port for connecting a USB flash drive. The router also ships with a VDSL/ADSL coupler, which is required for bonded VDSL connections. The router's 5 GHz band supports up to 400 Mbps and its 2.4 GHz band supports up to 160 Mbps.

The Netgear D6200 modem router is a good choice for budget-conscious DSL users who need a little help speeding up their connection. It's dual-band and supports 802.11ac, but it's only N 600-certified, so it's slower than the fastest 802.11ac routers. The D6200 is also the only router we tested with a USB 2.0 port, so if you need to access and share your larger USB hard drives, it's a good choice. The downsides? The D6200 lacks 2.4 and 5GHz 802.11n support, so wireless networking speeds are slower than the router's N 600 rating would indicate. The D6200 is also the only router we tested with an AC1200 signal rating, and its wireless range isn't great. Even though the router's wireless signal rating is AC1200, its Wi-Fi performance isn't quite as strong as the routers with an AC1750 rating. In addition, the D6200's Wi-Fi signal ratings are based on signal detection tests, not actual speed tests, so real-world speeds will vary depending on your Internet service provider (ISP). The router's user interface is straightforward, and its setup process was a breeze. The D6200's hardware design is minimalist, and it's compact enough to fit on a desktop.

The Netgear DM111PSP-100NAS is our pick for the best modem available for cable Internet, because it gives you good speed, great reliability, and, most importantly, it's less expensive than its top competitors. The DM111 is also a perfectly good modem for other ISPs, but it's designed for cable Internet, so it's more reliable, provides better speeds, and is more resistant to cable Internet hiccups and service interruptions. (In our experience, cable Internet problems are the most common cause of modem problems, so a modem designed for a cable Internet network is better suited to dealing with them.) The Netgear DM111 offers fast speeds for both downloads and uploads, and it's faster than just about every other modem we've tested. It's also robust enough to stand up to the cable Internet hiccups and service interruptions we've experienced in the real world. The DM111's network configuration settings are easy to use, and it supports a wide range of connection speeds, so you don't have to buy a new modem just to get some faster speeds. The DM111 is also one of the cheapest modems we've tested, and it comes with free lifetime tech support, so it's hard not to recommend it.

The NETGEAR CM700 is a good choice for cable customers, especially Comcast, Cox, and Spectrum subscribers. While other cable modems we tested worked only with Comcast, the CM700 also works with Xfinity by Comcast, Cox, and Spectrum. It has all the features of previous-generation modems, including dual-band WiFi, 4-port gigabit ethernet, and built-in WiFi router. The CM700 is compact and easy to use, but it has some significant drawbacks. For example, it only supports up to 500 Mbps download speed, which is half the speed of our Editors' Choice winner, the Arris Surfboard SB6141. It also doesn't offer the Gigabit ethernet connection of our top pick. These drawbacks don't affect most users, but for cable subscribers who have already upgraded their routers to the latest standards, the CM700 is worth checking out.

The NetGear C6230 Cable Modem with Built-in WiFi Router is a cable modem and router in one box, and it's one of the best dual-band boxes we've tested. With 16x4 channel bonding, the C6230 provides 300Mbps downstream and 150Mbps upstream speeds, which is more than enough for most homes. The router is dual-band, so if your home has a mix of 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless devices, the C6230 can take advantage of both bands for faster speeds. The Netgear Nighthawk App is easy to set up and use and lets you manage parental controls, monitor network activity, and adjust WiFi network settings. The C6230 also supports the latest wireless security standards, including WPA2-PSK and WPA2-Enterprise. It's also compatible with all major cable internet providers, including Comcast, Charter, Cox, Time Warner, and Verizon. The C6230 is also easy to use. The router's setup wizard walks you through each step, and it comes with cables to connect it to your cable modem and electrical outlet. The router comes with a 1-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

The Netgear CM700 is the best cable modem we've tested. It delivers the fastest speeds we've seen among cable modems, and it's easy to understand and use. The CM700 works with all major cable providers, including Xfinity, Cox, and Spectrum, and it replaces your current cable modem, so you don't need to purchase any new hardware. The CM700 is easy to set up, and there's an intuitive app that allows you to control and monitor your modem. The modem also has a useful Ethernet port that allows you to connect any Wi-Fi router. The CM700 delivers consistently fast speeds, even on our 100Mbps cable connection. Netgear bundles 150GB of free cloud storage for a year, which is useful if you don't have an external drive. The CM700's design is a little drab, but it's small and compact, so it won't take up much room.

The Netgear SpeedBooster Cable Modem Wi-Fi Router Combo (C6250) is a fast, versatile, and relatively inexpensive device that replaces your old cable modem and WiFi router. Its AC1600 wireless speed is as fast as many cable modem router combo devices from other providers. The router's 16x4 channel bonding and DOCSIS 3.0 technology provides fast speeds, and its Gigabit Ethernet ports and 1 USB port give you fast wired connections to your computer, printer, game box, storage drive, and other devices. The C6250 supports all major cable providers, including Xfinity by Comcast, Spectrum, Cox, and CenturyLink, but not Verizon, AT&T, CenturyLink, DSL providers, DirecTV, DISH, or any bundled voice service. The C6250's parental controls and support for WEP and WPA/WPA2 wireless security protocols help ensure that your family's online activities are secure. The C6250's compact size and top-rack-mountable design make it easy to install, and it's small enough to fit even in a small closet. The C6250's one-year warranty and customer support are solid, and Netgear's excellent online tech support is unrivaled.