# Best Cable Modems (2026) — ranked by value, every figure sourced and dated

10 cable modems on the record, median price $190. Each price links to the page it came from and the day we captured it — no guesses, no affiliate spin. Current as of 2026-07-11.

Lowest-priced: Motorola B12 — $130.95.

Full comparison: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/cable-modems/

| # | Product | Brand | Price (US) | Deskmark | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [Motorola B12](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/cable-modems/motorola-b12/) | Motorola | $130.95 | Platinum Deskmark 98/100 | en-us.support.motorola.com |
| 2 | [ARRIS SURFboard SB8200](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/cable-modems/arris-surfboard-sb8200/) | ARRIS | $142.46 | Bronze Deskmark 0/100 | surfboard.com |
| 3 | [ARRIS SURFboard S33](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/cable-modems/arris-surfboard-s33/) | ARRIS | $169.95 | Silver Deskmark 85/100 | surfboard.com |
| 4 | [Hitron CODA56](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/cable-modems/hitron-coda56/) | Hitron | $209.99 | Bronze Deskmark 77/100 | us.hitrontech.com |
| 5 | [ARRIS SURFboard S34](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/cable-modems/arris-surfboard-s34/) | ARRIS | $219 | Silver Deskmark 80/100 | surfboard.com |
| 6 | [NETGEAR Nighthawk CM3000](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/cable-modems/netgear-nighthawk-cm3000/) | NETGEAR | $299.99 | Bronze Deskmark 56/100 | netgear.com |
| 7 | [Motorola MB8600](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/cable-modems/motorola-mb8600/) | Motorola | Not published | Bronze Deskmark 0/100 | motorola.com |
| 8 | [Motorola MB8611](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/cable-modems/motorola-mb8611/) | Motorola | Not published | Gold Deskmark 95/100 | en-us.support.motorola.com |
| 9 | [NETGEAR Nighthawk CM1200](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/cable-modems/netgear-nighthawk-cm1200/) | NETGEAR | Not published | Bronze Deskmark 0/100 | netgear.com |
| 10 | [NETGEAR Nighthawk CM2000](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/cable-modems/netgear-nighthawk-cm2000/) | NETGEAR | Not published | Silver Deskmark 95/100 | netgear.com |

Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, the best-value cable modems ranked by sourced, dated price — https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/cable-modems/

Method: Covers standalone DOCSIS cable modems: retail modems a subscriber buys to replace an ISP-rented unit on a cable (HFC) broadband line, sold at a published US price. Includes modem-only units and modems with built-in Ethernet; excludes modem/router (gateway) combos, cable-line MoCA adapters, and fiber (GPON/XGS-PON) or DSL modems. Price is typical US MSRP or street price, USD, for the modem-only SKU. docsisVersion is the DOCSIS specification the modem supports as a string ('3.0', '3.1', or '4.0'). maxDownloadGbps is the manufacturer's rated maximum downstream throughput in gigabits per second. maxUploadGbps is the rated maximum upstream throughput in Gbps. channelBonding is the bonded SC-QAM channel count as a 'downstream x upstream' string (e.g. '32x8'). ofdmChannels is the OFDM/OFDMA channel count as a 'downstream x upstream' string (e.g. '2x2'). ethernetPorts is the number of RJ-45 LAN ports. maxEthernetSpeedGbps is the fastest single Ethernet port's rated speed in Gbps (e.g. 1, 2.5, 10). linkAggregation is a boolean for teaming two Ethernet ports for higher combined throughput. midSplitSupport is a boolean for DOCSIS mid-split (expanded upstream) capability. activeQueueManagement is a boolean for DOCSIS-AQM / low-latency (bufferbloat) support. weightGrams is the unit weight in grams. Any spec not stated verbatim on a fetched manufacturer or retailer page is left null.

License: CC BY 4.0. Every row is dated and links to its source. Price history: https://frontdeskreview.com/data/price-history.jsonl