Netgear CM500 High Speed Modem

Last updated: August 31, 2022


No matter which cable subscriber you use, this modem is an excellent option. It is easily connected to a home computer or wireless router using the 1-gigabit ethernet port. The best part is this modem takes just 5 minutes to set up.

Netgear CM500 High Speed Modem

We looked at the top Modems and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Modem you should buy.

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Product Details

Key Takeaway: When shopping on a budget, this affordable modem is the way to go.

In our analysis of 33 expert reviews, the Netgear High Speed Modem placed 4th when we looked at the top 14 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

The NETGEAR CM500 High Speed Cable Modem provides a connection to high-speed cable Internet, up to 680Mbps. It is Cable Labs certified and with DOCSIS 3.0 is 16X faster than 2.0 devices. It works with U.S. cable Internet provider Comcast XFINITY & more. It is not compatible with cable bundled voice services.

Expert Reviews


What reviewers liked

The Netgear CM500 performed extremely well on a network stressed by running four simultaneous bandwidth-hogging applications, including three large game file downloads on a PC, XBox One and PS4 Pro and 4K Netflix streaming.
Easy installation and wide compatibility with many top ISPs.
The CM500 has a good reputation for reliability
The installation is surprisingly easy and fast.

What reviewers didn't like

The CM500 runs a little warmer than other modems we tested, so place it in a well-ventilated area.
Netgear's modems have a disadvantage when compared to similar devices from Arris and Zoom — they only have a one-year warranty, instead of the two years of coverage available from rival modem makers
The CM500 matches the ISP compatibility of the pricier CM600, but its maximum download and upload speeds are lower
Some might find it huge, but that helps in heat dissipation
View our Modem buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.

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