In today’s connected world, having a reliable internet connection is key to staying in touch with family, friends, and managing countless aspects of our lives. But when it comes to setting up your home network, one crucial decision stands out: should you rent your router from your internet service provider (ISP) or bite the bullet and buy one?

Like many consumers, I was faced with this dilemma. Initially, the option of renting seemed convenient — no immediate costs, technical support from the ISP, and free upgrades. However, as months turned into years, I began to realize that I had made a costly mistake.

Firstly, let’s talk about costs. Renting a router can seem affordable in the short term — usually between $5 to $15 per month. In my case, it was a $10 monthly fee added to my bill. Over two years, that rental fee added up to $240. However, continue renting for five years or more as I did—somewhat naively—and that’s when the expense truly bites. After nearly eight years of rental charges at $10 per month, I had spent close to $1k – enough money to have bought several high-quality routers outright.

But cost isn’t the only consideration. When you rent a router, you’re often getting a basic model that might not even be tailored to your needs or the latest technology standards. As my home network grew with smart devices, streaming services, and multiple users online simultaneously, it became evident that my rented router just couldn’t keep up. My so-called ‘free’ upgrade required renegotiating my contract with the ISP, extending my commitment and quietly increasing the monthly rental fee.

On the other hand, if you purchase your router outright, it requires a higher initial investment — good quality routers start at around $100 and can go over $300 for top-line models. But this one-time expense would have been dwarfed by what I eventually paid in rental fees over time. Buying would also have given me control over which model to select according to my specific needs (better range? faster speeds? more device connections?), as well as control over firmware updates and security settings.

Also noteworthy are ancillary benefits like manufacturer warranties and customer support when you own your device. And should you ever decide to switch ISPs or move homes, you take your investment with you—something not possible with rented equipment locked to one provider’s network.

Looking back now, I wish someone had told me how these costs would accumulate and how ownership offers both financial savings in the long term and better performance suited to my personal needs.

The lesson learned from this experience is clear – renting may seem like the path of least resistance initially but buying your router is an investment that saves money over time and increases satisfaction with your home network’s performance. So before you tick that rental box on your broadband subscription form, think about the long-term implications on both your wallet and your digital lifestyle. Renting might just be the wrong decision that could cost you significantly more than anticipated – it certainly did for me.