Is It Better to Buy Your Own Modem and Router or Rent Xfinity?

Whether you are looking to live somewhere long-term or temporary, you need internet and Wi-Fi service to do a lot of things nowadays. This may have you wondering about purchasing a modem and router or renting one. Xfinity offers modems and routers to rent. But, is it better to buy your own modem and router or to rent the equipment through Xfinity?

Purchasing your own modem and router will allow you to have better Wi-Fi performance and may be cheaper in the long run. However, It’s easier to rent a modem and router from Xfinity.

There are a few things to think about when deciding on which option to choose. Continue reading to help you understand and choose the option that is best for you.

Purchasing Your Own Modem and Router VS Renting Xfinity

It is up to you whether you want to buy a modem and router or rent those two devices from Xfinity, but you should consider some factors before you make the final decision.

Here is a list of what factors can help you decide if you should buy your own modem and router or rent Xfinity:

• Affordability and long-term investment
• How difficult will it be to install the two devices
• Updating your device
• Wi-Fi performance

Let’s look into each of these points in more detail below.

Affordability and Long-Term Investment

There are two factors that you should consider when you are trying to decide whether you want to purchase or rent a modem and router. These factors are which option is the most affordable at the time and which one is best as a long-term investment.

Purchasing a Modem and Router Is a Good Long-Term Investment

Thinking about it long term, buying a modem and router is cheaper than renting them. However, you do have to spend more money upfront, ranging from $100 to $200 dollars for each piece of equipment, depending on their performance.

Renting Xfinity Is More Affordable Upfront

Renting through Xfinity, on the other hand, you do not have to spend a lot of money from the start since it comes out to $14 per month. However, the longer you rent the equipment, the more expensive it will be because you are making continuous payments rather than a one-time purchase.

The Difficulty of Installation

Another factor that can come into play when you are deciding if you should buy or rent a modem and router is the difficulty of the installation. This task can prove to be a factor that can persuade the way you choose, especially if you are not tech-savvy.

Self-Installation Is Necessary for Your Own Modem and Router

You will have to install the modem and router on your own if you decide to purchase them. This can prove to be challenging if you are not tech-savvy or don’t have the patience to learn the proper way to do it. You need to understand each step and ensure that you are connecting each wire to the proper port.

Xfinity Helps You Sent Up Your Rented Modem and Router

On the other hand, the installation process when renting a modem and router from Xfinity is better for non-tech savvy people than when you purchase the equipment. This is because Xfinity has a 24/7 customer support service to help you set up your modem and router. 

This makes the installation process easier for you since the Xfinity representative will be there if you ever become confused during the process or have any questions.

System Updates in Your Equipment

The next factor to consider when you are trying to decide if you should buy or rent a modem and router is how your equipment will stay up to date. This is important because making sure that your equipment is updated means you will have the latest software versions and your equipment will be working more efficiently.

Your Own Modem and Router Will Eventually Go Out-Of-Date

If you decide to buy your own modem and router, you will have to make sure that your equipment is up to date. This can be done by going to your account through the app or website and checking to see if there are any necessary updates needed for your devices. 

Although this may be a simple task, there is a chance that you may forget to update your devices causing them to not perform as well.

Xfinity Will Update Your Modem and Router For You

Renting a modem and router through Xfinity will make your life easier because they will update the equipment for you. This means that you won’t have to stress about forgetting to update your devices or taking time out of your day to do it. This is especially helpful for people that are too busy to keep track of their devices or are not tech-savvy enough.

Wi-Fi Performance

Another key factor to keep in mind when figuring out which choice is the best one for you is how well the Wi-Fi will perform overall. Nowadays, many people have multiple devices that need to be connected to the internet. This means that the modem and router performance must be good to ensure that the devices connected are fast.

Your Own Modem and Router Have Better Performance

Purchasing your own modem and router can give you the opportunity to have faster internet speeds. You can buy a modem with more channels and a router that can enhance the performance of the internet speed of multiple devices. This option is best for people that understand Wi-Fi or are willing to learn which equipment will give them the best internet speeds.

Renting Xfinity May Result In Poor Performing Equipment

When you rent a modem and router from Xfinity, you may get underperforming equipment. The equipment that they provide may have fewer channels which can cause slower megabits per second. This, in turn, causes slow internet speeds on each device connected to the modem and router.

Conclusion

Deciding on whether you should purchase your own modem and router or rent from Xfinity is important since almost all electronic devices need fast and reliable internet to function properly. 

It is up to you to decide which choice is best for you because each one has its own pros and cons. You must consider if you can afford it, how long will it take to install and update the devices, and how well they will perform.