The best UPS for a modem and router in 2026
Seven battery backups that keep your Wi-Fi running through outages, with measured runtimes for a modem and router.
For most homes, the CyberPower LE1000DG is the one to buy: it kept a modem and router online for 3 hours in Wirecutter's tests and costs about $140. For longer outages, the CyberPower CP1350AVRLCD3 lasted 4.5 hours. On a budget, the Amazon Basics 800VA lasted 1.5 hours. A UPS only helps if your provider's network has power too; for longer outages, see our backup internet guide.
Some links on this page are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Picks are based on specs, maker documentation and published testing, noted where used.
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What you need to know
Anyone who works from home, relies on security cameras or wants Wi-Fi to survive short blackouts and flickers.
If your neighborhood's internet goes down with the power, a UPS can't help. See our backup internet guide.
Measured runtime at 20W from Wirecutter's tests, voltage regulation, battery-backed outlets and warranty.
A bigger VA number means more power at once, not longer. Two 1000VA units can differ by hours.
The picks
CyberPower LE1000DG
Wirecutter's top pick after testing. It kept a modem and router running for 3 hours, has automatic voltage regulation to ride out brownouts without draining the battery, and switches to battery in 4 milliseconds. About $140.
Simulated sine wave output, which is fine for network gear but not ideal for a high-end PC.
CyberPower CP1350AVRLCD3
The longest runtime in Wirecutter's tests: 4.5 hours on a modem and router. It adds a status screen, USB charging ports and coax pass-through for a cable modem. About $196.
Tower-shaped and about 24 pounds, so it needs floor or shelf space.
APC Back-UPS BE600M1
Small enough for a shelf or media cabinet and enough for a modem and router for roughly 30 to 60 minutes, with cheap, widely sold replacement batteries.
Short runtime, and no automatic voltage regulation.
Amazon Basics Standby UPS 800VA
Wirecutter's budget pick kept a modem and router online for 1.5 hours and had better surge protection than most units it tested. Usually about $70 to $90.
No voltage regulation, a one-year warranty, and it is often out of stock.
CyberPower CP1000PFCLCD
Pure sine wave output suits NAS boxes and PCs with active-PFC power supplies, and Gadget Wisdom recommends it for networks with a switch and access points.
Not a runtime pick: Wirecutter measured 90 minutes on a modem and router, half the LE1000DG's time.
CyberPower BRG1500AVRLCD2
For a modem, router, switch, access points and cameras. Wirecutter measured 5 hours on a modem and router, and it carries a five-year warranty. About $290.
Expensive and large for a basic two-box setup.
TalentCell Mini UPS
A lithium battery that powers a modem and router directly over DC, skipping the wasteful AC conversion, for around 8 to 9 hours.
Check each device's power adapter first. Some routers, such as several Asus models, need 19.5V, which this can't supply without a converter.
How long will it last?
A modem and router together draw about 20 to 35 watts. The VA rating on the box tells you the most a UPS can power at once, not how long it lasts, so two 1000VA units can differ by hours. These are Wirecutter's measured runtimes:
Test it before you need it: with your gear plugged in, unplug the UPS from the wall and time how long your Wi-Fi stays up. Then plug it back in to recharge.
Every extra device cuts the runtime, and runtime drops faster than you'd expect as the load rises.
Plug only the modem, router and ONT into the battery outlets. Some UPS outlets are surge-only, and some CyberPower models have "ECO" outlets that switch off; keep network gear off those. More in do you need a UPS for your modem.
- Fiber: plug the ONT (the fiber box) into the UPS too
- Cable: the neighborhood node may lose power in a wide outage, so a UPS mainly covers short blips
- 5G home internet: the cell tower usually has its own backup, so a UPS often keeps you online longer
The best UPS for each setup
- Modem and router only: CyberPower LE1000DG, or the APC BE600M1 if space is tight.
- Working from home through long outages: CyberPower CP1350AVRLCD3.
- Fiber with an ONT: the LE1000DG, with the ONT on a battery outlet.
- Router, switch and NAS: CyberPower CP1000PFCLCD for its pure sine wave output.
- Network closet with cameras: CyberPower BRG1500AVRLCD2.
- Overnight outages: TalentCell Mini UPS, or a portable power station.
- Tight budget: Amazon Basics 800VA.
- Internet down, power fine: a UPS won't help; see our backup internet guide.
How we picked
We compared published lab tests, owner reports and maker specs, and ranked on:
- Measured runtime on a 20W modem-and-router load, from Wirecutter's tests where available
- Automatic voltage regulation, which spares the battery during brownouts
- Battery-backed outlets, surge protection and transfer speed
- Replaceable battery and warranty length
- Price
More on our process is in how we research.
Others we considered
- CyberPower AVRG900LCD: nearly identical to the LE1000DG; buy whichever is cheaper.
- CyberPower EC650LCD: a cheap compact pick, but only four of its eight outlets have battery backup.
- APC Back-UPS Pro BR1500MS2: a popular closet UPS, but Wirecutter found its surge protection covers only one of three wires.
- CyberPower ST425: a basic standby UPS for brief blips.
- Precision Power PP75L-12P: a 12V DC backup that fiber providers use for landlines; often sold used and needs some wiring.
- Anker Solix C300: a portable power station that works as a UPS, with a 10ms switchover; about $330.
Questions
Will a UPS keep my internet on during a power outage?
Yes, if your provider's equipment still has power. Fiber and 5G often stay up; cable can go down in wide outages.
What size UPS do I need for a router?
600VA to 1000VA for a modem and router; 1000VA or more if you add a switch, access points or a NAS. Check measured runtime, not just the VA number.
How long do UPS batteries last?
Three to five years. Most units warn you when the battery needs replacing.
Do I need a pure sine wave UPS?
Not for a modem and router, which run fine on simulated sine wave. Pure sine wave is safer for PCs and NAS boxes with active-PFC power supplies.
Can I plug a power strip into a UPS?
UPS makers advise against it. It can overload the battery and void the warranty. Use the UPS outlets directly.
Does a UPS protect against power surges?
Yes. Its outlets include surge protection, and the battery outlets also keep devices running through blackouts and brownouts.
Will my UPS turn back on after the battery runs out?
Not always. Some models stay off until you press the power button after the battery fully drains. If the UPS protects a NAS or gear at a vacation home, check the manual for automatic restart and test it before you rely on it.
Can I use a portable power station as a UPS?
Some work, but many take 20 to 40 milliseconds to switch to battery, long enough for a modem or router to reboot. Look for a UPS mode with a 10ms or faster switchover.
- Wirecutter (The New York Times), "The Best Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)," Aug 2026
- Gadget Wisdom, "Best UPS Battery Backup for Routers and Modems," Mar 2026
- PowerOutage.us, "5 Best UPS Battery Backups for WiFi Routers (2026)"
- Maker product pages for CyberPower, APC, Amazon Basics and TalentCell, checked Oct 19, 2026
Prices and offers change often; confirm at your address before you order. How we research
Jean founded ShopHighSpeed after trying to find one straight answer about business internet in his own town. He has been a Comcast and Verizon Fios customer, and ranks providers on what they actually deliver, not on what they advertise.