Should You Buy Or Rent Your Router From Your Internet Service Provider?

Or should you bring your own?

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When you sign up for a new internet plan, your ISP will also want you to add its gateway (usually a modem and router combo) to the deal. While this might be included, historically it's been posed as a rental, costing anywhere from $10 to $20 on top of your monthly bill. The company poses the rental as the "easy" option and touts all the benefits of its own hardware.

Some ISPs allow you to buy the company's model outright or choose your own equipment instead. The right path depends on what you want from your router and your preference for spending now versus later.

Pros and cons of renting a router

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Renting is the simple method. If you want to view the cost of your modem/router as part of your internet bill and avoid the up-front charge of buying...

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