When you are working with Google WiFi, you naturally need to have the best modem for Google WiFi possible. But what does a modem for Google WiFi look like?
You will need to know what you need in terms of speed and features from your modem. You will also need to think about speeds, compatibility, and other features that might impact your decision to buy a modem.
We know there is a lot to think about when it comes to shopping for a modem, so we have broken it down to help you out. We have reviewed the best modems for Google below.
Key Features A Good Modem For Google WiFi Should Have
Channel Bonding
The first feature that you should look at when shopping for a Google Modem is channel bonding. Channel bonding is a technology that has two radio channels that do not have a frequency band bonded together.
As a result, you get more bandwidth, so your internet will be able to take on more speeds. This is not just a feature within routers, but it is incredibly important within modems as well.
Compatibility With Your ISP
To put it simply, your modem is never going to work with an ISP that is not compatible. Modems typically works with either cable internet or DSL, but a cable modem cannot work with DSL and vice versa.
You have to confirm compatibility before your commit to a modem. Remember as well that if you have fiber internet, you will not need a modem at all, because fiber doesn’t use modems.
Speed & DOCSIS Standard
The speed and DOCSIS standard also need to be taken into consideration. The DOCSIS standard will actually affect your speed as well.
DOCSIS 3.1 is the current fastest modem standard, but many other cable modems still work off of the DOCSIS 3.0 standard, which is often adequate, though not as fast as DOCSIS 3.1. Your goal should be to get a modem that offers faster speeds than your internet package, getting the most out of what you’re paying for.
Ethernet Ports
Another feature that you should look for in your modem is the amount of Ethernet ports. So many modems only have one port to work with, which will allow you to plug in your Google router, but no room for anything else.
If you want to wire in other devices, you need to have a modem with more Ethernet ports to work with. If you do have a router too, your Google router has a couple of Ethernet ports as well.
5 Best Modems For Google WiFi & Google Nest
Device | Speed | Channels | Rating | Check Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Netgear CM700 Editor's Choice | 500 Mbps | 32x8 | 100% | |
2. Motorola MB7621 Budget Friendly | 650 Mbps | 24x8 | 99% | |
3. Netgear CM1200 High Performance | 2000 Mbps | 32x8 | 95% | |
4. Arris SB6190 | 600 Mbps | 32x8 | 98% | |
5. Motorola MB7420 | 686 Mbps | 16x4 | 99% |
1. Netgear CM700 Cable Modem
Best Modem For Google WiFi & Google Nest (Editor's Choice)
Best modem for Google WiFi on the market right now is the Netgear CM700. This is a reliable modem that has great performance and features.
Design
The CM700 has a robust design, and it is bigger than other tower designs that you might have seen. Tower designs usually have better ventilation, but since this one is big, you need to keep it in a well-ventilated space. The base of the modem is a little bit less sturdy than others and might be a bit top-heavy, so be careful.
This modem comes with one Gigabit Ethernet port to allow you to connect to your router easily. It does not have any more ports than that, however, so you will have to rely on your router if you wanted to wire in any gaming system or HDTV.
Performance
Looking at the CM700’s performance, the CM700 is a DOCSIS 3.0 modem with 32x8 channel bonding to give you even more speed capabilities. It will handle HD streaming without any trouble, but it is not built for 4K by itself.
The setup for the modem should only take up to 5 minutes, since you only need to plug it in and either go through your computer or call your ISP to get it totally up and running.
Additionally, the CM700 has a 500 Mbps max download speed, which is really excellent from a modem. It should be able to give you all of the speeds that you want from your Google WiFi. It can handle high-speed cable internet with speeds up to 1.4 Gbps, which really means that it will be able to make the best use of whatever speeds you are getting from your ISP.
2. Motorola MB7621 Cable Modem
Budget Friendly
Perfect modem for Google WiFi that works with more limited budgets is the Motorola MB7621. This cable modem is a DOCSIS 3.0 and has excellent speeds and features.
Design
The design of the Motorola MB7621 is a tower design with a lot of venting down the sides. This will help to keep it as cool as possible, though you should still keep it away from walls. The compact design makes it easy to conceal, so it will not take up much in the way of room on your desk or shelf.
The MC7621 has one Gigabit Ethernet port to connect your modem to your Google wireless router, or your Google WiFi point. Most routers come with additional ports, so if that’s something you might. It also has a Full-Band Capture Digital Tuner to ensure more reliable connectivity.
Performance
The MB7621 is a DOCSIS 3.0 modem, so it is fast, though not as fast as DOCSIS 3.1 It has a quick start guide to make it easier than ever before. It also has the Broadcom chipset rather than the Puma chipset, so there are no security concerns that way Setup for this modem is quick and straightforward, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting online.
Really, the MB7621 has great speeds for a modem, reaching up to 650 Mbps. 650 Mbps is perfect if you have anyone within your network who streams a lot and often.
It even lets you stream more than one thing at a time, if you have more than one person or device that need to stream at the same time, which is perfect for most networks right now.
3. Netgear Nighthawk CM1200 Modem
High Performance
The best high performance modem for Google WiFi is the Netgear Nighthawk CM1200 modem. This is a DOCSIS 3.1 modem, which is more powerful than the DOCSIS 3.0 modems, so be prepared for awesome speed.
Design
Looking at its design, the CM1200 is a sleek tower modem. It is black and will be very easily to conceal if that is something that you prefer.
The tower modems have a longer lifespan, since the components will not overheat and breakdown as quickly as horizontal modems do, though they still do need ventilation when it comes to putting it near a wall or other obstacle.
The CM1200 comes with two 1 Gigabit ports and one 2 Gigabit port to give you the fastest wired internet speeds possible, making it easy to connect your router. It will work with any WiFi router, including the Google WiFi, but you can also use the Ethernet ports for an HDTV or gaming device.
Performance
This modem was built for performance, so you should not be surprised to see that it offers speeds up to 2 Gpbs. That depends on the available speeds from your ISP of course, but it will still be able to make the best use of the speeds that you can get, which will carry over to your router.
In addition to the amazing speeds that you get from the internet, it also comes with heavy-duty 4K HD streaming as well as MU-MIMO technology. This means that the modem is already built to handle more than one user on at a time, even if every user is streaming content.
4. ARRIS SURFboard SB6190 Cable Modem
Another great modem that works with Google WiFi is the ARRIS SURFboard SB6190.
This is a basic modem that will get the job done without all of the bells and whistles, but it is still a DOCSIS 3.1 modem, which is the latest release in the DOCSIS platforms and ultimately among the fastest modems on the market.
Design
The SURFboard SB6190 is a bit bulkier design-wise than some of the others that we have reviewed. It might make it slightly harder to conceal, but it also makes it seem sturdier, as if it would be much harder to break than some of the more delicate modems out there.
It does not come with a VoIP telephone adapter, but it does have a Gigabit Ethernet port to connect to your computer or to a router. That means that it will not work with a Voice system, like Xfinity Voice. It should easily work with Google WiFi or Google Nest, however.
Performance
Taking in its performance, the SURFboard SB6190 works well for speeds up to 400 Mbps, making it a little faster than the average modem. At 400 Mbps, you should be able to stream without any trouble. In fact, this modem is ideal for UHD movie streaming, gaming, and it easily allows more than one device to stream at the same time, which is likely what you need.
Moreover, this modem is also easy to set up and should be good to go in a matter of minutes. It will self-activate with your network, requiring no effort on your part, getting you started without breaking a sweat.
5. Motorola MB7420 Cable Modem
The final modem that we will be looking at for Google WiFi is the Motorola MB7420. This is another budget friendly option that will still do what you need it to.
Design
In line with the typical Motorola design, the MB7420 is a tower modem with a black casing. This is nice, because it has a lot of great venting already, ensuring that your device will not randomly overheat on you. It also increases the longevity of the device.
The design is also compact, so it is easy to conceal and will not take up much space on your shelf, but don’t try to hide it in a corner all the same.
Also, the MB7420 comes with one Gigabit Ethernet port to allow you to connect to a TV, computer, game system, or router. It also has power-surge circuits and rugged lightning to keep it protected, so you know it will not short-circuit on you.
Performance
Taking a look at its performance, the MB7420 is a DOCSIS 3.0 mode with speeds up to 686 Mbps. That is pretty impressive since it is a budget friendly option. It is recommended for internet speeds up to 300 Mbps, since the download portion of its speeds is just over 300 Mbps, which is about average for ISPs.
The MB7420 is easy to set up, especially since it uses a quick start guide to get itself up and running. It should not take any time at all. The only real disadvantage to this modem is that if it happens to crash, it is not made to reboot automatically, so if there is a power surge, you will need to manually restart the device.
How To Connect Google WiFi & Google Nest To Modem
- Connect Google WiFi point to modem. Connect the Google WiFi to the power outlet and to your modem.
- Download the app. Download the Google WiFi app on your mobile device. It should be available to all platforms.
- Connect to a WiFi point. Open the Google app and follow the directions to connecting it to the internet. The app should be able to locate to point right away.
- Set it up. Use the app to name your network and create a password.
Final Words
Even though it might seem confusing to buy a modem for Google WiFi, there are still some modems that are much better than others.
Without a doubt, the frontrunner for the best modem for Google WiFi is the Netgear CM700. This is an all-around great modem with the speeds and features you are looking for.
There are also modems that are high performance, like the Netgear Nighthawk CM1200, or modems that are budget friendly, like the Motorola MB7621. Any of the modems that we have looked at should work well for most networks with Google WiFi or Google Nest.
Hey, it’s James here. I’m the founder and editor here at RiverstoneNet.com. I’m a network engineer during the day and a blogger at night. Let me know if I can help you with choosing a new modem/router or troubleshooting your Internet connection.