Which internet providers let you use your own modem?

Most do: 33 of the 37 US providers we track allow a modem or router you own. 13 publish an approved-device list, 20 publish technical requirements instead, and 4 — AT&T Internet, T-Mobile Home Internet, Verizon 5G Home Internet and Verizon Fios — don't allow customer equipment at all. Each row below links to that provider's page, quoted from its own published policy.

All 37 providers compared

A dash means we have nothing on record from that provider's page for the column. "DOCSIS named" is the version the provider's page mentions for your modem — sometimes a requirement, sometimes a recommendation; each provider page quotes the exact wording. "Models named" counts the exact models we list from the provider's own page, which is often a sample of a longer list.

Which internet providers don't allow your own modem?

Of the 37 providers we track, 4 don't allow customer-owned equipment: AT&T Internet, T-Mobile Home Internet, Verizon 5G Home Internet and Verizon Fios. Each supplies the equipment itself, so there is nothing to buy.

Which providers publish a list of approved modems?

13 providers publish their own approved-device list: Armstrong, Astound Broadband, Blue Ridge Communications, Breezeline, Buckeye Broadband, Comporium, GCI, Hargray, Mediacom, Midco, Sparklight, Spectrum and Xfinity. Buy from the list for your provider — a model that isn't on it may not activate.

Which providers publish requirements instead of a list?

20 providers allow your own equipment but publish technical requirements rather than a list of models: Brightspeed, CenturyLink, altafiber, Consolidated Communications, Frontier, Google Fiber, Metronet, Optimum, Rise Broadband, Service Electric, Shentel, Starlink, Starry Internet, Suddenlink, TDS Telecom, Vyve Broadband, WideOpenWest, Windstream, WOW! and Ziply Fiber. Match the requirements on the provider's page before you buy.

Modems named on the most provider lists

Each of these is named, model for model, on the published lists of the providers under it. Your own provider's page still decides, so check it before you order.

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• ARRIS Surfboard S33DOCSIS 3.1 · 2.5 Gbps port · modem only

  Named on the lists ofAstound BroadbandSparklightSpectrumXfinity

  See price on Amazon →
• Hitron CODA56DOCSIS 3.1 · 2.5 Gbps · no built-in Wi-Fi

  Named on the lists ofArmstrongSparklightSpectrumXfinity

  See price on Amazon →
• Arris TM3402DOCSIS 3.1 · two phone ports · no built-in Wi-Fi

  Named on the lists ofBlue Ridge CommunicationsBuckeye BroadbandOptimum

  See price on Amazon →
• Netgear CM3000DOCSIS 3.1 · 2.5 Gbps port · modem only

  Named on the lists ofAstound BroadbandBreezelineMediacom

  See price on Amazon →