Modem vs router vs gateway: what’s the difference?

Understanding the difference between modems, routers, and gateways is essential for building a home network.

Modem

A modem connects your home to your ISP. It converts the signal from your ISP (fiber, cable, DSL) into a format your network can use.

Router

A router creates your home Wi-Fi network and routes traffic between devices. It doesn’t connect to your ISP directly.

Gateway

A gateway combines both modem and router in one device. LinkWi Fiber modems are gateways — they connect to fiber and provide Wi-Fi.