Choose the Best Internet Plan

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Observed placements: 1
First observed here: Jul 5, 2026
Last observed here: Jul 5, 2026
Destination: fiber.compareinternet.com

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Observed conversationJul 5, 2026 · interface recreation

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Am I better off buying my own modem instead of paying the monthly rental fee?

In many cases, yes. If your internet provider charges a monthly modem rental fee, buying your own modem often pays for itself within a year or two.

Here's a simple comparison:

If you rent	If you buy
Typical rental: $10–$20/month	Typical modem: $60–$200
Replaced by ISP if it fails	You own it and replace it if needed
Easy support from ISP	You may need to troubleshoot compatibility
Costs continue indefinitely	One-time purchase

For example:

A $15/month rental fee costs $180 per year.
A $120 modem pays for itself in 8 months.
After two years, you'd spend about $360 renting versus $120 buying (assuming the modem still works).

Buying your own modem is usually a good idea if:

You plan to stay with the same ISP for at least a year.
Your ISP allows customer-owned modems.
You don't mind a little setup when you first install it.

Renting may make more sense if:

You move frequently.
Your ISP includes advanced equipment (such as a modem/router with Wi-Fi 7 or managed mesh networking) that would be expensive to buy.
You want the ISP to replace equipment at no additional cost if it fails.

One important thing to check is whether your ISP requires a specific modem or has a list of approved models. Buying an incompatible modem can be frustrating.

If you tell me:

your internet provider (e.g., Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox),
your internet speed (e.g., 300 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 2 Gbps), and
whether you also rent a Wi-Fi router or just the modem,

I can recommend specific compatible models and estimate exactly how long it would take for buying one to save you money.

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