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11 Best CenturyLink Modems: Your Buyer’s Guide

centurylink modem

DSL Internet is on its way out of style but CenturyLink DSL is still the only option available in many rural areas. But just because your ISP has you in their pocket doesn’t mean you have to shell out a monthly fee to rent networking equipment. These are the best CenturyLink modems you can use to save on rental fees. Just don’t forget the WiFi router.

What Are the Best CenturyLink Modems in 2023?

motorola centurylink modem Amazon Customer Reviews
  • AC1600 wireless provides solid range
  • Easy setup
  • USB + 4 ethernet ports
Price: $325.00 Shop at Amazon Shop now Read our review
prism centurylink modem router Amazon Customer Reviews
  • WPS button
  • TR-069 Remote Management
  • USB + 4 ethernet ports
Price: $158.49 Shop at Amazon Shop now Read our review
tplink centurylink modem Amazon Customer Reviews
  • 2 USB ports
  • Dual-band wireless
  • DSL line filter
Price: $139.99 Shop at Amazon Shop now Read our review
linksys centurylink modem router Amazon Customer Reviews
  • MIMO antenna
  • WPS button
  • Cheap
Price: $120.00 Shop at Amazon Shop now Read our review
netgear centurylink modem router Amazon Customer Reviews
  • Dual-band wireless
  • USB support with cloud service
  • ADSL2/2+ backwards compatible
Price: $445.00 Shop at Amazon Shop now Read our review
trendnet centurylink modem router Amazon Customer Reviews
  • Cheap
  • Solid range
  • Low power consumption
Price: $127.95 Shop at Amazon Shop now Read our review
zyxel centurylink modem router Amazon Customer Reviews
  • ADSL2/2+ backwards compatible
  • WPS button
  • Easy tech support
Price: $285.00 Shop at Amazon Shop now Read our review
actiontec centurylink modem router Amazon Customer Reviews
  • ADSL2/2+ backwards compatible
  • 4 port switch and phone support
  • WPS button
Price: $170.00 Shop at Amazon Shop now Read our review
zyxel pk500 centurylink modem Amazon Customer Reviews
  • WPS button
  • Phone port
  • VDSL2 compatible and ADSL2/2+ backwards compatible
Price: $149.97 Shop at Amazon Shop now Read our review
zoom centurylink modem router Amazon Customer Reviews
  • Solid range
  • Cheap
  • DSL line filter
Price: $54.99 Shop at Amazon Shop now Read our review
dlink centurylink modem router Amazon Customer Reviews
  • Solid range
  • Phone port
  • Compact
Price: $212.99 Shop at Amazon Shop now Read our review
Our Unbiased Reviews
  1. 1. Motorola MD1600 Modem Router

    Pros:
    • AC1600 wireless provides solid range
    • Easy setup
    • USB + 4 ethernet ports
    Cons:
    • Does not support bonded DSL
    • High price tag
    • DSL filter required for telephone services

    The Motorola MD1600 Modem Router is a surprisingly modern modem-router combo that gets the most out of CenturyLink’s aged DSL infrastructure.

    This unit combines an ADSL2+/VDSL modem with an AC1600 router to make for a fairly robust networking center that should meet the needs of most users. It is incredibly easy to set up thanks to Motorola’ Setup Wizard software. Let me just say that it is a rare treat for a piece of networking equipment to come with some decent software.

    Just note that this device, like most on this list, do not support bonded DSL connections. It only has a single DSl input port and will need an adapter if you wish to connect a phone line to the same gateway. It has four ethernet ports out, a WAN out port to connect to a wireless bridge, and a USB 2.0 port to connect a network-attached storage device.

    Its dual-band wireless signal is solid and can easily extend to all corners of a medium-sized home. Power users have access to advanced features like guest networks, port forwarding, VPN support, and QoS.

    On top of all this, it is fairly compact and decently priced. If you are looking for a modem-router that will max out your rural DSL connection, then this is a great pick.

  2. 4. Linksys X2000 Wireless Modem Router

    Pros:
    • N300 wireless with MIMO antenna provides solid range
    • WPS button for easily connecting new devices
    • Low price tag
    Cons:
    • No USB port
    • Non-gigabit ethernet ports
    • Not compatible with VDSL

    You may have noticed by now, but if you have the misfortune of being stuck with an ADSL2+ Internet connection, your wireless gateway’s range is far more important than its speed.

    This is because your service acts as a bottleneck, hence why those who live in smaller homes might prefer the Linksys X2000 over our slightly more robust suggestions from Netgear.

    This modem/router combo delivers more middle of the road wireless range, and can easily be found for under $100.

    The X2000 has a built-in N300 router, which is on par with what a majority of ISPs will provide you as rental gear. Its range is nicely boosted thanks to an embedded MIMO antenna.

    The modem portion of this device isn’t compatible with VDSL, so speed won’t be much of a concern. After all, ADSL services max out at 24 Mbps, well before your router will have to break a sweat.

    Wired connections will be on the slower side as well, as the X2000’s three ethernet ports are fast ethernet rather than gigabit.

    This gateway does not have a USB port either, so don’t count on being able to easily network a hard drive.

    Ultimately, the most appealing element of this modem/router is its price tag. Its feature set still offers plenty for the casual user, so despite not having some more premium features, the X2000 is still a worthy pick.

  3. 5. Netgear Nighthawk D7000-100NAS Modem Router

    Pros:
    • Dual-band AC1900 wireless provides great range
    • USB support with cloud service
    • VDSL2 compatible and ADSL2/2+ backwards compatible
    Cons:
    • High price tag
    • DSL filter required for telephone services
    • Does not work with bonded VDSL

    The Nighthawk series is Netgear’s fastest and most angular. Their D7000-100NAS represents the top of the line performance you can expect from a compatible CenturyLink modem router combo.

    Though this device is not on the CenturyLink approved list, it has been confirmed by many users to work fine on even the fastest CenturyLink networks. Just make sure that your service isn’t on a bonded VDSL line.

    This router supports VDSL2 while remaining backward compatible with ADSL2/2+ service. Its dual-band AC1900 wireless speeds far exceed the possible transfer speeds of either protocol, though, so there is no need to worry about performance with this behemoth.

    Netgear’s proprietary Beamforming+ technology also helps deliver the best wireless coverage throughout your home.

    You’ll have a strong wireless connection pretty much everywhere but inside your fridge.

    The Nighthawk D7000 has a USB 3.0 port to connect a NAS device, which can also be synced with the ReadyCloud service.

    This router even supports OpenVPN for easy remote access.

    If you can look past the Nighthawk D7000’s hefty price tag, you will be able to set aside any worries about wireless speed or coverage. And if you use the Internet as much as I do, it is well worth the cost.

  4. 6. TRENDnet TEW-816DRM AC750 Modem Router

    Pros:
    • Low price tag
    • AC750 wireless provides solid range
    • Reduced power consumption
    Cons:
    • Not compatible with VDSL
    • Non-gigabit ethernet ports
    • DSL filter required for telephone services

    TRENDnet’s TEW-722BRM modem/router is a fairly straightforward take on an ADSL2+ gateway that gets the job done for cheap.

    This device is both a modem for mid-to-low tier CenturyLink connections and an AC750 router that can support a standard sized home.

    Its wireless network is protected with multiple different encryption options. Standard features like a guest network and parental controls are available as well.

    Setup is fairly easy when you follow the guided setup process, and adding new devices to your network is easy thanks to the included WPS button.

    The TEW-816DRM has four ethernet ports, but they are not gigabit speed. It does not have any USB ports.

    These shortcomings might frustrate users with advanced network setups, but for the price, there is little to complain about.

    This unit even has some nice premium features like Dynamic DNS support and energy-saving GREENnet technology. When it comes down to it, this device proves that you can get some impressive performance out of a $70 wireless gateway.

  5. 10. Zoom Telephonics ADSL Modem Router 5790

    Pros:
    • N300 wireless provides decent range
    • Low price tag
    • Included DSL line filter
    Cons:
    • Not compatible with VDSL
    • Non-gigabit ethernet ports
    • Low 24 Mbps maximum downstream speed

    Zoom Telephonics is another reliable networking company that provides networking equipment on a budget. The Zoom 5790 modem/router is available to CenturyLink customers on an ADSL network for a serious budget price.

    This is not compatible with faster VDSL connections, even though its N300 router would perform adequately on either connection. It provides a solid wireless range, but its speed is inhibited by the limitations of this older DSL technology.

    With four ethernet ports (non-gigabit, unfortunately), an included DSL line filter, and standard firewall technology, you should have a pretty solid idea of what this gateway offers without too much elaboration.

    For a CenturyLink modem, this is about as basic as they come. But with an appealingly low price, it is a solid option for anybody stuck in a more dated CenturyLink market.

More Info

CenturyLink is the third largest telecommunications company in the United States, and it offers Internet services at a wide variety of speeds. The company has merged with smaller companies like Qwest and Embarq, and accordingly, offers either VDSL, ADSL, or fiber across all fifty states.

But no matter which service you use, this massive ISP acts like renting network equipment is still the norm. What they don't tell their customers (and honestly should) is that it is both easy and inexpensive to replace their rental gear with your own 2-in-1 unit. The average cost of a combo unit that serves as both a DSL modem and router is about $100. If you instead pay a rental fee of $10 per month, you'll be overpaying in under than a year.

Setting up a new DSL modem is easy, too. All you have to do is plug your modem/router into the DSL line, switch it on, and open a web browser to automatically start the process. As for getting rid of your rental equipment, you simply call and ask for a pre-paid shipping label to return your rented CenturyLink gateway.

You can reference the CenturyLink Modem Compatibility Table to get you started with a selection and tried and tested options. However, judging by the number of approved products that are no longer manufactured, CenturyLink hasn't updated this list in almost a decade.

That's why we did the hard work for you and researched the ten best gateways for CenturyLink DSL. Be mindful that whether you are on VDSL2 or legacy ADSL depends on which service is provided locally, and will be a determining factor in which modems will work for you.

If you are on CenturyLink fiber, you will need a special optical network terminal (ONT), which will be provided for you. In this case, you are best off simply purchasing one of the best AC routers instead. Whichever option you need, you'll find it among our top picks, which have been selected for their combination of performance, features, and value. Let's get started.

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