Are Rental Modems a Rip-off?

August 10, 2022

The decision to rent a modem from your Internet Service Provider may have seemed like a forced option at the time you signed up for Internet service, but you may have a choice.

Many of the major Internet Service Providers give the option of renting a modem from them or providing your own, as long as the modem you purchase is a Certified, or Approved to work on their network.  But what exactly does this mean?

 

ISP Certified or Approved Modems

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) each have differently configured communication networks.  That is why not just any modem can work with any Internet provider.  ISPs need to certify or approve the modem manufacturer and model before they will activate it on their network.  The certification process for the modem manufacturer can take months to be approved by various ISPs and their equipment must meet a strict set of standards before the particular modem model is approved or certified on their network.

Your ISP wants to ensure that the modem you buy will be able to achieve the Internet speeds that they offer on their network, as well as they make sure that the modem will not create a security vulnerability on their network.

 

Buying vs Renting Pros & Cons

Should you rent your cable modem or router? Is it better to buy your own? The answer depends. We have provided articles about how to decide whether to rent or buy a cable modem, as well as one for routers, too.

 

When Should You Buy a Modem?

You should buy a modem if you are looking for a more cost-effective option.  Whenever you plan on purchasing your own modem, please contact your ISP to make sure it is approved to work on their network.

Pros to buying your modem:

  • Buying is less expensive and puts the savings immediately into your pocket.
  • Buying gives you more control of equipment settings and configurations.
  • Buying lets you replace and update your modem technology when you want to.
  • Buying gives you more control of your home network.

Cons to buying your modem:

  • If you are having problems with your modem, you will have to troubleshoot the issue yourself.
  • If your modem stops working, you are in charge of replacing it.

When you buy your own devices, a lot of these things become your responsibility.  It comes with the territory.

But if troubleshooting on your own is overwhelming or unachievable for you, then you may be better off renting from your ISP.

 

When Should You Rent a Modem?

You should rent your modem if your living situation is temporary, you have others to split the cost with, or someone else is covering that cost.

Pros to renting your modem:

  • Renting a modem from your ISP means that if anything goes wrong with the device, they will replace it with a different one.
  • Your ISP will help troubleshoot your modem if you are experiencing issues with it.

Cons to renting your modem:

  • Renting can be more expensive over time than buying at a one-time cost.
  • With a rental modem, you have less control of equipment settings and configurations.

Yes, rental cable modems can be more expensive because the cost of service, which adds up. But what you are really paying for is the convenience of having someone else do the troubleshooting and repairs for you.

At the end of the day, it’s your decision to make. But it’s clear that buying a cable modem has more pros than renting one does.

Buying a cable modem like Hitron’s CODA DOCSIS 3.1 Cable Modem, can increase your Internet speeds and performance and can give you a better Internet experience overall.

Whether you decide to rent or buy, you can find more articles and information about cable modem and routers on our Learn pages.

Recent Posts

Best Xfinity Compatible Modems

If you’re an Xfinity internet customer, finding the right modem can make all the difference in your online experience. Most Xfinity customers opt for the default modem/router offered by Comcast, however, purchasing your own modem can improve your connection speeds,...

What is needed for 2.5G Ethernet?

2.5G Ethernet, also known as 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, is a standard for Ethernet networking that allows for data transfer speeds of up to 2.5 Gigabits per second. In simpler terms: 2.5G Ethernet supports up to 2.5 Gbps speeds and uses an Ethernet connection to do it....

How do I check the health of my modem?

It’s not uncommon for a modem to show symptoms of degrading health, which leads to underperforming. If your cable modem is acting up, you might need to restart or reboot it. However, if that doesn’t work to improve your Internet connection, something bigger might be...

What is 2.5G multi-Gig port?

A 2.5G multi-Gig (multiple-Gigabit) port is a type of port that is designed to support high-speed data transmission that’s higher than 1 Gigabit, such as 2.5 Gbps. Multi-Gigabit Ethernet ports exist on your devices like modems, routers, and switches. To use the port,...

What is the difference between 1G and 2.5G Ethernet?

The quick answer to this question is that 2.5G Ethernet is 2.5x faster than 1G Ethernet. But there’s a bit more to know about it than that. Here’s what you need to know: 1G and 2.5G are what is called Multi-Gig Ethernet speeds. Multi-Gig Ethernet ranges from 1Gbps to...

These Hitron products are now available on Amazon!

You can own high-quality, Carrier-grade products!

Coax Cable Tester

DOCSIS 3.1 Cable Modem

MoCA 2.5 Coax to Ethernet Adapter

Let me know when the OS2210 is available?