Netgear Nighthawk CM3000 vs NETGEAR CM500 Cable Modem

Buy the CM3000 if your cable plan is fast and you want a modem that will not hold it back. Buy the CM500 if you are on a basic plan and want a simple, proven modem. The CM3000 is the newer DOCSIS 3.1 unit with a 2.5G port and link aggregation; the CM500 is an older DOCSIS 3.0 16x4 design capped at 680 Mbps down. Owners of the CM500 report it is reliable and easy to self-activate, but it cannot use the speed of mid-tier or gigabit plans. The CM3000 is larger and runs warmer, and some early buyers have reported firmware and activation quirks with certain providers.

• Choose the Netgear Nighthawk CM3000 if your plan is 500 Mbps or faster, you have or plan to get multi-gig service, or you want headroom for the next few years.
• Choose the NETGEAR CM500 if you are on a basic or mid-tier plan under about 300 Mbps and want a small, cheap, set-and-forget modem.