Buy Your Own Router or Use Your Internet Provider's?

Start with your bill. If you pay a monthly fee for the provider’s modem, router or gateway, owning your own equipment can remove that charge. If your plan already includes the equipment at no extra cost, which is how Xfinity describes its latest plans, buying your own saves nothing and is worth doing only for better Wi-Fi or more control.

Internet providers usually supply a gateway, a single box that combines a modem (which connects to the provider’s line) and a Wi-Fi router (which creates your home network). This guide explains what the law says about equipment fees, how to check what you pay, and what changes if you switch to your own. It is a research-based guide drawn from federal law, FCC documents and one provider’s published policies. We could not verify equipment fees from provider pages, so we don’t quote any.

Can my provider charge for equipment I don’t use?

No. A federal law, 47 U.S.C. 562, says fixed broadband and TV providers may not charge you for “using covered equipment provided by the consumer.” They also may not charge rent for equipment they never gave you, or for equipment you have already returned. The law defines covered equipment as equipment “such as a router” used on your premises to receive the service.

The rule comes from the Television Viewer Protection Act of 2019. It was due to take effect on June 20, 2020, and the FCC extended that to December 20, 2020, citing the COVID-19 emergency.

So if you return the provider’s equipment and use your own, an equipment rental charge should come off your bill. If it doesn’t, ask the provider to remove it.

How do I check what I pay for equipment now?

1. Look for an equipment line on your bill. It may be labeled as a gateway, modem, router or Wi-Fi equipment charge. If there is none, your equipment is either included in the plan price or yours already.
2. Read the plan’s broadband label. The FCC requires providers to show these labels at the point of sale, and they must disclose prices, introductory rates, data allowances and speeds.
3. Check what your plan includes. Xfinity, for example, says: “The latest Xfinity Internet plans include the Xfinity Gateway at no extra cost.” If you are on an older plan, the answer may differ.

We have not listed fee amounts for any provider. Fees vary by plan, region and date, and the provider pages we tried either didn’t list them or couldn’t be opened for checking.

What are the options?

The middle option is often the easiest upgrade. You keep the provider’s equipment, which is guaranteed to work with the service, and plug your own router or mesh system into it. That gets you better coverage without any compatibility check on the modem side. Having two routers in a row can cause a “double NAT,” which some game consoles flag; the usual fix is to set the provider’s gateway to bridge mode or use your router’s access point mode. Our bridge mode and double NAT guide walks through both. Our gaming router guide and WPS and UPnP guide explain NAT.

What do I need to check before buying my own?

Compatibility. A cable modem or gateway has to work with your provider’s network and support your speed tier. Xfinity says: “Your modem must work with Xfinity and support your internet speed,” and directs customers to a compatibility lookup called My Device Info. It adds that unsupported devices won’t work. Check your own provider’s list if you are not with Xfinity, and see our guide to DOCSIS 3.0 vs. 3.1 vs. 4.0 modems. A Wi-Fi router plugged in behind the provider’s equipment doesn’t need this check.

Speed. Match the modem and router ports to your plan. A plan faster than 1 Gbps needs multi-gigabit ports; see do you need a multi-gig router. See how much internet speed you need and our Ethernet cable guide.

Responsibility. Xfinity says that with your own equipment you are responsible for “keeping your device updated and secure,” “troubleshooting problems with your device” and “setting up and managing your WiFi security.” Our router hardening checklist covers the security side.

Features tied to rented equipment. Xfinity lists several benefits of its rented gateway: app controls such as pausing devices, its Xfinity CyberSecure security service, its WiFi Extenders, and access to Xfinity WiFi hotspots away from home. Check which of these you use before returning the gateway.

Fiber and fixed wireless. Options on fiber and 5G home internet differ by provider, and we couldn’t open those providers’ support pages for this guide. Xfinity notes that in communities where internet reaches each unit over fiber, “any standard router compatible with your speed tier can be used.” Check your own provider’s support pages before buying.

Does the FCC’s router rule affect what I can buy?

Not in a way that stops you buying a router. On March 23, 2026, the FCC added routers produced in foreign countries to its Covered List. The FCC’s FAQ, updated May 12, 2026, says new foreign-produced models can’t receive FCC authorization unless they get a Conditional Approval. Routers that already have FCC authorization, shown by the FCC ID on the device, “may continue to be imported, sold, and used in the U.S.”

For consumers, the FCC says: “Consumers currently using covered routers in small and home offices do not need to do anything,” and “Consumers will continue to be able to purchase previously authorized routers.” The FCC also confirms that provider-supplied gateways that combine a modem and router “fall within the scope of the determination.”

In practice, the rule limits which new models reach US stores, not whether you can buy a router at all. Our Wi-Fi 8 availability report covers which makers held Conditional Approvals as of October 2, 2026.

Should I buy my own?

If you decide on a mesh system, our guides to router vs. mesh and mesh picks for large houses cover the choice.

Fact-check notes

Bottom line

Read the equipment line on your bill before you buy anything. If there is a fee, the law is on your side: return the provider’s equipment, buy a compatible replacement, and the charge should go. If the equipment is included, keep it and spend the money on coverage instead, with a mesh system plugged in behind the provider’s gateway.