Best AT&T Compatible Modems in 2022

If you are on AT&T DSL internet service, you get fast download speeds of at least 100 Mbps, depending on where you live and your equipment quality. To get access to the internet, you need to either get an AT &T modem router combo at a fee or buy your own AT&T modem router combo or separate modem and router units.

If you rent from AT&T, the company gives you a modem that will connect to a DSL cable the company installs at your home. This service option will set you back $10 per month for the equipment, and you also have to pay for the internet plan. This rental fee adds up to $120 a year, which you can avoid if you get your own modem.

All Uverse accounts need the customers to use the company-compatible modems. Still, you can buy a third-party compatible router that will provide you with better signal and network security. Best of all, you get great wireless speeds. Uverse internet is also called AT&T internet connection, and it is a fast fiber internet that provides customers with a 99% reliability rate.

Benefits of Buying Your Own Modem

Buying your own AT&T DSL device might seem like an expensive venture. You have to pay a large amount of money upfront, but the benefits of buying instead of renting are numerous.

Better Coverage

The standard-issue compatible modems and routers from AT&T are often not enough for a large home or apartment. Buying your own equipment allows multiple devices to get a better signal without any blind spots. The type you get depends on your home size or how many floors it is. The modem/router should be located in a central location where multiple devices can get the fast Wi fi signal from your network.

Faster Internet

Buying a router combo allows you to get a high-speed internet signal. The compatible router sends the network faster to all your wireless devices and removes the element of buffering or latency.

Control

When you have your own modem router, other than the standard-issue, you can better control your network. You can get parental control that limits the amount of time your children access the internet, all in real-time, a guest network or a VPN for malware and viruses. A modem/router device from AT&T will not have these specifications.

Find What Modems Are Compatible With AT&T – 2022 List

1. Netgear N600 Modem Router

NETGEAR N600 (8x4) WiFi DOCSIS 3.0 Cable...
  • ELIMINATE MONTHLY CABLE MODEM RENTAL FEES Up to $120 per year
  • Two in One DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem + WiFi Router with 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports...
  • Up to 340Mbps modem speed and Dual Band N450 (2.4GHz & 5GHz) WiFi speed. 8x4...

Last update on 2022-09-06 at 21:15

The Netgear N600 is among the best modems. It is a dual-band DSL modem router. (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) The wireless Gigabit router has Wi fi speeds of up to 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) and works with DSL internet providers only. 

The Netgear N600 modem router is compatible with ADSL providers like AT&T, Qwest, CenturyLink, and Verizon. This dual-band router/modem is not compatible with AT&T Uverse or VDSL from CenturyLink.

The Netgear N600 dual-band compatible router comes with five 10/100/1000 Gigabit ports (4 LAN and 1 WAN) with auto-sensors and 1 ASDL2+ port. With this modem router, you can share media from USB hard drives or thumb drives with other DLNA devices on your network via the ReadySHARE USB. It can connect unlimited wireless devices and five wired devices.

PROS

  • Reduce your cable bill
  • Easy setup process
  • Network access for guests

CONS

  • Reboots itself occasionally

2. Linksys EA9300

Linksys EA9300 Max-Stream AC4000 Tri-Band...
  • This Certified Refurbished product is manufacturer refurbished, shows limited or...
  • Intelligent Tri-Band router with Net Gen. “1.8GHz Quad-Core” CPU and 3...
  • Next-Gen AC Wi-Fi + MU-MIMO + Airtime fairness improves network efficiency and...

Last update on 2022-09-06 at 21:25

The Linksys EA9300 is another on our list of best compatible modems. This is a tri band router with a Net Gen Quad-core CPU (1.8 GHz) and three offload processors that improve your home Wifi performance. This device provides you with three ultra-fast Wifi bands of up to 4 Gbps.

The tri band EA9300 runs on MU-MIMO (Multi-User, Multiple-input, and multiple-output) technology, ensuring your connected devices get high-speed internet Wifi simultaneously, at the same speed, and provides seamless streaming.

Smart Connect selects the best frequency for your wireless device. The beamforming feature has nine amplifiers extending and optimizing the router’s signal coverage and performance for both 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies. The minimum system requirements are the newest versions of Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer version 8 and later, and Safari (Mac and iPad)

The Linksys router sports six active and high gain antennas that help expand your Wi fi range if you have a large home up to a range of 2,800 square feet. The Wifi wireless router has 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports if you want a wired connection and with speeds ten times faster than the standard ports for gaming consoles, Smart HD TVs, and printers. 

The auto firmware updates ensure your router gets the latest features updates and security patches. The Linksys EA9300 router works with Amazon Alexa, which can be controlled using your voice.

PROS

  • Performance of file transfers is fast
  • Supports beamforming and MU-MIMO
  • Easy setup
  • Works with Alexa

CONS

  • Expensive
  • Has no built-in malware protection

3. Netgear Nighthawk R7000

NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart Wi-Fi Router (R7000)...
  • Fast wifi performance: Get up to 1800 square feet wireless coverage with AC1900...
  • Recommended for up to 30 devices: Reliably stream videos, play games, surf the...
  • Wired Ethernet ports: plug in computers, game consoles, streaming players, and...

Last update on 2022-09-06 at 21:45

The Nightgear Nighthawk R7000 is a dual-band wireless router with high speeds of AC1900(600 2.4 GHz+1300 Mbps 5 GHz) and a coverage of up to 1800 square feet for a large home and a connection of up to 30 devices. The router is great for streaming videos, gaming, browsing the internet, and connecting multiple smart home devices like Amazon Alexa. This router is by design made for Voice over the Internet (VOIP) phone services and comes with a dedicated voice/phone line.

The Netgear Nighthawk R7000 router has four 1 Gigabit ports for gaming consoles and other connections for any wired connection. The R7000 router comes with a 1 GHz dual-core processor, Beamforming+, Smart Connect, Dynamic QoS, Amazon Alexa Voice controls, and much more.

The Netgear Nighthawk router has two USB (3.0 and 2.0) ports which you can use at home or office to share a printer and storage drive with any connected device. You can also use the USB ports on the router to create cloud storage and remotely access it.

Smart parental controls on the router by design help you to monitor your children’s online activity. You can pause their internet access, filter websites, set online time limitations, schedule their internet access time, view site history, etc.

The Netgear Armor by BitDefender protects the wireless router from malware, viruses, or data theft and allows customers a 30-day free trial. It supports WPA2 security protocols and includes DoS, a VPN, firewall, guest Wi fi access, etc.

PROS

  • Long Range
  • High-performance USB network
  • Slick design
  • Optimal router stability

CONS

  • There is not much difference between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 in terms of performance
  • Pricey

4. Arris BGW210 VDSL2 AT&T Wireless Gateway

Last update on 2024-03-19 at 00:41

The Arris BgW210 is the best wireless router for the AT&T Gigapower for lightning-fast speeds. An Optical Network Terminal (ONT) box is needed for this modem to work with your internet service. The Arris BGW210 has four 10/100/1000 ethernet ports, two USB ports, and an RJ-45. The router has a wired Ethernet connection with 1 Gbps speeds. This router by design is for users who need VOIP and streaming services with no latency.

PROS

CONS

  • There may be some difficulty setting up through AT&T

5. Netgear Nighthawk Pro XR700 Wifi Router

NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR700 WiFi...
  • Minimize ping and maximize performance with six 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports for lag...
  • Amp up your WiFi with cutting edge AD7200 Quad stream router that delivers...
  • Put your gaming traffic in a designated express lane with advanced Quality of...

Last update on 2022-09-06 at 21:35

The Nightgear Nighthawk Pro XR700 by design is for gaming without any lagging. The router has a single WAN port and 6 LAN ports that help you hardwire any devices you want, such as your HDTV or gaming console.

The XR700 can easily reach speeds of up to 7.2 Gbps via its 1.7 GHz quad-core processor. The XR700 has a geo-filter that helps it connect to the nearest servers and players and give you a fast Wifi response time.

The XR600 is among the devices with the lowest pings and an Anti-Buffer Bloat (ABB), which gives your Wifi traffic priority to keep you securely in the game. The XR700 allows you to monitor your game and network ping in real-time, which is significant for keeping you in the game. The QoS feature ensures your gaming is not affected by the rest of the network traffic, and you can protect your network via a VPN.

PROS

  • Stable throughput performance
  • A user-friendly management console for gamers
  • Easy installation process
  • Provides 60GHz and 10Gb Ethernet connectivity, as well as numerous I/O ports

CONS

  • Pricey
  • An average MU-MIMO performance

6. ASUS DSL-N10

ASUS DSL-N10 2 in 1 device which serving as...
  • Plug-n-Surf Installation: CD free
  • Graphic oriented user interface
  • Multiple SSID : bandwidth access control

Last update on 2023-12-01 at 00:00

The Asus DSL-N10 is a two in one DSL modem and an inbuilt wireless N 150 router. It has a wide range 5DBi antenna, which is detachable and enough for a small apartment or home with four guest SSIDs and the best transfer rate of 150 Mbps.

The Asus N10 router comes with an easy-to-read screen display and supports 802.11 b/g/n Wi fi wireless networks. It has four 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet ports and allows you up to 4 SSIDs, which means you can manage your network internet access and allocate bandwidth. You can assign different bandwidths for streamlining various activities such as gaming, P2P, or FTP. The hardware switch allows the user to change between router, repeater, and AP modes.

PROS

  • Easy to setup
  • Stable internet connection
  • Wi-Fi range and speed are excellent

CONS

  • Changes to settings take a long time to take effect

7. Netgear Nighthawk AC1900

NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart Wi-Fi Router (R6900P)...
  • Recommended for up to 30 devices: Reliably stream videos, play games, surf the...
  • Wired Ethernet ports: Plug in computers, game consoles, streaming players, and...
  • Loaded with advanced technology: Designed with a dual core 1GHz processor, 3...

Last update on 2022-09-06 at 21:25

The Nighthawk AC1900 is for demanding gaming and streaming on DSL internet. The Nighthawk AC1900 combines a dynamic Wi fi network with VDSL speeds. The AC1900 wireless network has download speeds of 1.9 Gbps, and the Beamforming feature boosts the coverage range. The router has 2 USB ports and four Gigabit ports for the best connectivity when you need a wired connection.

PROS

  • Slick design
  • Stable connection
  • Friendly price tag

CONS

  • None

8. NETGEAR DM200-100NAS

This is a reliable DSL modem compatible with service providers like Frontier and CenturyLink (non-bonded VDSL). This device is incompatible with Verizon or AT&T Uverse. Before installation, check with the service provider.

The Netgear DM200 has an inbuilt VDSL, which is compatible with an ADSL connection. The DM200 does not have Wi fi capabilities, which means you have to buy a separate router. With the VDSL capability, the modem will give you fast speeds when paired with a fast router.

PROS

  • Easy to set up
  • Value for money
  • Good overall performance

CONS

  • Performance of USB 3.0 is not much better than USB 2.0

9. Actiontec GT784WN

Actiontec 300 Mbps Wireless-N ADSL Modem...
3,326 Reviews
Actiontec 300 Mbps Wireless-N ADSL Modem...
  • Compatible with ADSL CenturyLink (NOT their VDSL) and major DSL service...
  • Not compatible with Verizon FIOS, AT&T U-verse or cable systems such as...
  • Preconfigured for simple setup and will auto-detect your specific service...

Last update on 2022-09-10 at 09:45

The Actiontec GT784WN is a reliable Wireless-N ADSL modem router and works with most major DSL service providers. It provides speeds of up to 300 Mbps and comes pre-configured.

 The Actiontec combo has auto-sensing for an easy and seamless set up. The modem has parental controls and a top-grade firewall, and various encryptions. 

The Actiontec is a three-in-one, namely an ADSL 2/2+ modem, 300 Mbps wireless N router, and a 4-port switch. The GT784WN has been tested and gives the best performance on DSL networks, and supports ADSL2+ with downstream speeds of up to 24 Mbps.

PROS

  • Affordably priced
  • Wireless router and modem in one
  • Advanced security features

CONS

  • Lack of USB/content socket

10. Netgear N300 Modem Router

NETGEAR Wireless Router - N300 (WNR2000)
1,910 Reviews
NETGEAR Wireless Router - N300 (WNR2000)
  • Supports Windows 8
  • Fast downloads and online gaming with speeds up to 300 Mbps
  • NETGEAR Genie App - Easy-to-use dashboard to monitor, control & repair home...

Last update on 2022-09-06 at 21:35

The Netgear N300 is an ADSL modem and router combo which creates a gateway for your DSL internet connection. The Netgear combo router provides fast simultaneous downloads, online gaming, and internet broadband sharing. ReadySHARE allows fast and reliable shared access to external USB storage devices. The N300 modem router has an easy set up via the Smart Wizard CD with a graphical installation guide and several language support. The option of creating a guest network provides you with network security and restricts guests while using your network.

PROS

  • Increases Internet speed by up to 8 times compared to regular routers
  • Two Ethernet ports for high speed wire connections
  • Provides a cost-saving alternative to modem rentals

CONS

  • Operates on a single band and supports only 300 Mbps

AT&T Internet Tiers

AT&T internet service plans are offered at different speeds. Each depends on the type of connection available in your area and the download and upload speed customers need. Most AT&T customers get reliable high speeds of about 90% of the maximum high speeds, even during peak hours.

The AT&T basic plan includes various speeds from 0.8 Mbps and up to 100 Mbps. These plans are common areas with no fiber network or rural areas.

AT&T fiber signal coverage is available for customers in a few areas. The speeds start from 5 Mbps and reach performance speeds of 1000 Mbps. Fiber offers a balance in upload and download rates, which means the performance of the upload and download speeds are the same.

Key Things To Look For When Buying AT&T Compatible Modem

Before you buy a DSL modem or modem router, there are a few things you need to consider.

Compatibility

Before you spend money on a modem router, you need to make sure it is compatible with your ISP. You need to know that different services may use different Wi fi signal protocols. To check for compatibility, contact your DSL service provider for a list of compatible modems. If the DSL service provider sells the modems, you can buy from them or use the information they provide to help you decide. Do some shopping to help you compare prices and specs. You may find a cheaper modem or modem router from a third-party seller, which is a great thing.

Speed

Speed performance is a significant factor when buying a DSL modem or modem router. Most of the Wi fi speed details are on the ISP’s website. However, remember they only advertise the download speed and not the upload speed. The upload performance is always less than the download speed, and the internet plan you choose affects the modem optimization. If you buy a device with a download speed of 1 Gbps, and your internet plan is 25 Mbps, you only get as much as you have paid for, i.e., 25 Mbps.

Streaming Channels

All modems have streaming channels in their description. If the modem specs indicate 8×4 or 32×8, the first figure on the left is the downstream channels, and it shows the download data your ISP provides. Most users worry about getting great download speeds, and this figure is usually higher. The second figure on the right is the upstream channels. If buying a modem, look for a higher downstream channel modem. Remember, the more channels, the faster the modem.

Ports

If you are on an internet plan higher than 1 Gbps, the best modem should have several ports. Modems with one port are the best if you need basic speeds. If you want to turn your home into a mini-internet hub, consider a gateway with more than one port. This way, you can hardwire your devices such as HDTVs or gaming consoles.

Security

To avoid cyber threats like malware and viruses, get a modem or modem router with firewalls, encryption standards, parental controls, and guest networks. Parental controls help you to monitor your children and filter the sites they visit. Guest networks help you to keep guests off the main network and allocate the best bandwidth for their temporary use.

Price

The modem-router price should not be a great factor, yet it needs consideration. If you are on a budget, shop for devices that range on the price you are willing to spend. Compare specs and choose along those lines. If the price is a big part of the equation, you may be better off buying a modem router combo instead of buying separate units. 

Design

The overall design of the routers or modems you buy matters for various reasons. The design might matter if you are looking for a router that takes up less space or for one whose design reduces overheating. The choice is yours to make.

FAQs

What modems are compatible with AT&T?

DSL modems are compatible with AT&T. Before you purchase one, confirm if it is compatible with AT&T., You can contact AT&T by calling or going to their website for a comprehensive list of compatible modems.

Can I use my own router with AT&T?

Yes, you can use your own modem with AT&T if you do not want to use the standard-issue device. Confirm that it is compatible with AT&T. 

Can I replace my AT&T DSL modem?

Yes, you can replace your AT&T DSL issue by buying your own modem. However, you need to return the rented one within 21 days or incur a $150 fee.

You can also go to the AT&T Equipment shop and browse their current offers, then upgrade your modem.

Does Netgear modem work with AT&T?

Yes, most Netgear modem models work with AT&T. To be sure which particular Netgear DSL modems work with AT&T, check online for the compatible models.

How do I connect my AT&T modem? 

Most modems are plug-and-play. AT&T gives instructions on the AT&T support site to customers who buy third-party modems. 

How much does it cost to rent an AT&T modem? 

AT&T charges its customers a modem rental fee of $10 per month or about $120 per year

How do I activate my AT&T Modem?

Step 1: Connect Your Modem

  • Plug in your modem and wait for the power light to turn solid green.
  • Connect one end of the phone jack cord into the “DSL” port on the modem (green). Wait for four to six minutes for the DSL light to turn solid green, indicating the modem is ready for activation.

Step 2: Connect to Your Computer

  • Turn on your computer. If it was on when you plugged in the modem, restart it. Connect the Ethernet cable to your computer and its other end into the modem. The modem’s Ethernet light should light green.

Step 3: Access your Modem’s Settings Page

  • Open your  browser. The best is Google Chrome, but you can also use Safari. Connect to any website. The ISP’s activation portal should automatically pop up when you try navigating to any website. It will prompt you to enter some numbers on the modem and your account details. To verify that the modem has been activated, go to any website. 

Conclusion

You do not have to rent a modem from AT&T. Numerous third-party modems are compatible with the service provider. However, before you buy one, please do your research and ensure you buy fully compatible modems, and it has the specs you need for your internet needs. Amazon often gives you the best prices and has all the specs listed and the providers the router/modem works with.

 Consider the speed, modem channels, and other factors mentioned above before you make a purchase. You can find the list of modems on the AT&T website, and depending on what you want and your budget, you should be able to get a modem that suits your needs.

Category: Best Products

Read Next