When you sign up for an internet service, most ISPs try to bundle in a router. Some might even say untrue things to get you to accept it, like you need their router for optimal service or better Wi-Fi or put it on as a "free" rental. While it's convenient to accept the ISP router and not have to worry about finding your own Wi-Fi router (and a modem if you have cable), it's not always the best option and, in some cases, could slow down your network. Often, the supplied router is just enough for your internet plan and doesn't take into account how many devices you may have to connect. If you keep the ISP-provided router, you're essentially saying they can dictate things on your home network, and that's not okay.

7 You probably can’t connect as many devices

The modern home needs routers that can cope with more connected devices

Many home routers, including those supplied by your ISP, have a limit on how many devices can connect to it at any one time. This could be 50 devices or as many as 250, but the limit is there, and once it's reached, it will kick off idle devices if new ones connect. This isn't strictly an ISP router issue, but the limit is often lower on these, so it's easier to run into the cap. With how many Wi-Fi devices the average home has, even without factoring in smart home things like doorbells, cameras, and thermostats, it's easy to get to the limit.

The easiest way to connect more devices to your Wi-Fi is with a mesh router setup. Each node can support the same number of devices, so you can support 2x or 3x the number that can connect to one router. And it won't come with slowdowns like a Wi-Fi extender would, making a better internet experience for all your household.

6 The Wi-Fi version might be older

You don't need Wi-Fi 7, but most ISP routers are still way behind

Many ISPs still use older router hardware, often lagging behind where the market is when it comes to important connectivity like Wi-Fi. For the longest time, you were limited to Wi-Fi 5 on many ISP routers, even when you could get Wi-Fi 6 or 6E on many devices. And they're more likely to sell you Wi-Fi extenders to try and cover your whole home when you might be better served with a mesh router setup. It's true that you don't need Wi-Fi 7 right now, but most new devices coming on the market support it, and at some point, you'll want to upgrade your router to take advantage of it.

5 You can’t customize many settings

ISP routers are often locked-down

ISP routers have gotten better over the years, with many of the features you'd want for your home network. But you're at the whims of the ISP as to which features are allowed, even if the hardware supports them. Many ISPs lockout advanced features or even charge for them to be unlocked. Parental controls, Dynamic DNS, and some antivirus features are often upsold in this manner when you can get similar features for free from networking manufacturers like Asus or TP-Link.

4 Your ISP still has access

It's your home network. No interlopers allowed

Using the ISP-provided router gives them permission to enter your home network. They might say it's only used for troubleshooting purposes, but do you trust them? Some things they can do are inject ads into webpages you visit by using custom DNS records, limit your browsing ability to websites they decide aren't allowed, or track your network traffic for advertising purposes.

It also means the ISP is in charge of firmware updates, and I've woken up to the internet being disconnected too many times because of an overnight upgrade that went wrong. Even if you like the cable TV guides that get sent to overlay on your TV screen, letting anyone inside your home network is a bad idea. Using your own networking hardware is the only way to ensure that the ISP isn't snooping on your network, and that's a good enough reason to upgrade all on its own.

3 Combo routers are less powerful

From Wi-Fi signal strength to Ethernet speeds, dedicated devices are better

Modem-router combos, or gateways, simplify the ISP's setup process by requiring only a coaxial cable to connect them. But, to get all the basic functionality into one box, corners are cut, and you end up with a lower-powered combo router instead of two good devices. They also have a habit of overheating, which isn't unique as all consumer-level networking equipment suffers to some degree, but it's worse when two devices are inside the same tiny space.

2 You might get faster speeds

If you've had your ISP router for a while, it might not support the latest plans

It wasn't that long ago when the fastest internet package you could get topped out at 100Mbps. That made it fairly easy for ISPs to supply routers. Wi-Fi was slower back then as well, so it wasn't always immediately noticeable if you weren't getting the full download speed. But now you can get Gigabit speeds in most areas that have cable or fiber internet, and even multi-gig in some areas. If you've still kept the same ISP router from those days but been upgraded in speeds, the chances are you're not taking advantage of the full speeds you can get.

This is going to be more common if you have cable internet. The DOCSIS standard for connectivity has improved drastically since then, and the older routers just won't be able to connect at the speeds you can potentially receive. It's worth mentioning that you'll probably need a new modem and a router if you have cable internet, and you'll probably need to talk to the ISP to get your new hardware registered on their network. If you have fiber, it's a matter of plugging in the new router, as the ONT takes care of the connection to the wider internet by itself.

1 You might still be paying for it

ISPs love renting routers to you, so you pay forever

With most ISPs, the router they provide is tacked on to your bill as a service fee, with a monthly rental cost. That's even true if they said it would be free when you signed up, because the small print sometimes says it's free for a number of months, and then the charges start. Or it might become a charge if you make other adjustments to your account, like increasing your service speed or adding streaming services. Not to mention the charges they'll add if you don't return the router when you close your account.

That's predatory behavior that the telecommunications industry has long been associated with. But it doesn't need to be like that. The best budget routers are often under $100 and offer features above and beyond what the ISP router offers. Plus, you'll own it, so it's yours to use on other ISPs if you switch, reducing the friction of changing service providers.

If you're still using the ISP-provided router, maybe reconsider

Even if you have modest networking needs, a handful of devices to connect, and a slower internet package, it's still worth it to replace the ISP router. The biggest reason for me is privacy, because nobody should be able to connect to your home network unless you want them to. The ISP will absolutely track your traffic habits and use it to sell advertising (or to other companies, so they can use it for advertising) if they can, so don't let them.