Should I Buy or Rent My Internet Modem and Router?

If you have Internet at your home or office, you know you need to have a modem and router to allow your devices to connect to the web. There are two options with your modem and router. First, you can just lease the equipment from your cable provider. Your other option is to purchase your own equipment to use. Of course, there is a one-time purchase, but once you buy it it's yours forever. There are many schools of thought when it comes to leasing your Internet equipment vs buying it outright. What should you do? Well, check out these tips and suggestions to help you make the right choice for your home or business.

If you think about it, purchasing a modem and router makes for a good investment because leasing equipment can add up pretty quickly. The monthly fee for leasing from your Internet provider can run anywhere from $8 to $12 dollars and while that sounds cheap, think of how much money you will spend if you multiply that amount by 12 or 24 months. There are probably some of you reading this not realizing you are leasing your equipment. Well, you are. To be double sure, check out your latest internet bill and verify there is an equipment or modem fee. Not sure how much you're paying, check out the current list of rental prices from the popular Internet providers: