Netgear Nighthawk CM3000 vs NETGEAR Nighthawk CM2500 Cable Modem

Buy the CM3000 if your cable plan goes above 2 Gbps or you want the headroom for future multi-gig tiers; its 2.5G port and link aggregation reach up to 2 Gbps wired. Buy the CM2500 if your plan tops out at 2 Gbps or below and you want a smaller, lighter modem that owners rate well for easy setup and faster speeds after upgrading. Both are DOCSIS 3.1 standalone modems with no WiFi, and both need ISP activation. The CM3000 is the higher-tier unit; the CM2500 is the better fit for most households on 1 Gbps or 2 Gbps plans.

• Choose the Nighthawk CM3000 if you have or plan a cable tier above 2 Gbps and want a 2.5G LAN port plus link aggregation for up to 2 Gbps wired.
• Choose the Nighthawk CM2500 if your plan is 2 Gbps or lower and you want a compact, light modem that owners say is easy to set up.