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Speed Test
What is the speed of your Internet
connection?
FYI: Most of these won't work correctly in Microsoft Edge
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What is a good internet speed?
A good internet speed is at least 25Mbps download and 3Mbps upload.
These internet speeds are the bare minimum for a broadband connection as
defined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). But you’ll get
better results with an internet plan that supports download speeds
between 40–100Mbps.
That said, no one wants to overpay for internet speed. You can use our
How Much Speed Do You Need? Tool to generate a personalized internet
speed recommendation based on how your household uses the internet. Find
that sweet spot of sufficient download speed without overpaying for
speed you won’t use.
Internet speed |
How fast is this? |
What you can do |
0–5Mbps |
Very slow |
Send emails, search on Google, stream video in SD on one
device |
5–40Mbps |
Slow to moderate |
Stream video in HD on three or four devices, play online
games |
40–100Mbps |
Moderate to fast |
Stream easily on multiple devices in HD or 4K, download
big files quickly, run several smart devices |
100–500Mbps |
Very fast |
Stream in 4K on more than five devices simultaneously,
download massive files quickly, host a live stream |
500–1,000+Mbps |
Extremely fast |
Stream in 4K on 10+ devices, run 10+ smart-home devices
at a time, do basically anything on lots of devices |
1,200–5,000Mbps |
Faster than you need |
Operate a bitcoin-mining farm with two dozen computers,
watch Frozen in 4K on 100 devices at the same time |
Internet speed |
Ideal number of users |
What you can do |
0–5 Mbps |
1–2 minimal internet users |
- Send emails
- Search Google
- Stream in HD on a single device
|
5–40 Mbps |
1–2 moderate internet users |
- Stream in HD on a few devices
- Play online games
- Run 1–2 smart devices
|
40–100 Mbps |
1–2 heavy internet users, or
3–4 moderate internet users |
- Stream in 4K on 2–4 devices
- Play online games with multiple players
- Download big files quickly (500 MB to 2 GB)
- Run 3–5 smart devices
|
100–500 Mbps |
3–4 moderate to heavy internet users |
- Stream in 4K on 5+ devices
- Download very big files very quickly (2–30 GB)
- Run 5+ smart devices
|
500–1,000+ Mbps |
5 or more heavy internet users |
- Stream in 4K on 10+ devices
- Download and upload gigabyte-plus–sized files at top
speed
- Run 10 or more smart-home devices in your abode
- Do basically anything on multiple devices with no
slowdowns
|
What types of internet are there?
How fast are they?
There are several types of internet connections, and the type of
connection you have plays a huge part in the speeds you can get.
Fiber and cable are the fastest and most popular types of internet
connections, but many customers have also embraced 5G home internet in
recent years thanks to its low prices.
In rural areas, satellite and fixed wireless internet are common picks.
They’re slower and more expensive, but get you Wi-Fi in areas where
networking infrastructure is limited.
Internet type |
Max
Download Speed |
Price |
Availability* |
Fiber |
6,000 Mbps (6 Gbps) |
$29.99–$299.95/mo. |
29.2% |
Cable |
1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps) |
$19.99–$109.99/mo. |
88.5% |
DSL |
100 Mbps |
$39.99–$55.00/mo. |
84.4% |
5G |
1,000 Mbps |
$25.00–$144.99/mo. |
N/A |
4G LTE |
Typically 100 Mbps |
$25.00–$149.95/mo. |
N/A |
Fixed wireless |
50 Mbps |
$25.00–$144.99/mo. |
38.8% |
Satellite |
100 Mbps |
$30.00–$500.00/mo. |
99.9% |
Data as of 7/28/23. Offers and availability may vary by location
and are subject to change.
*Percentages are based on internet
availability data from the Federal Communications
Commission.
Fiber internet is the fastest internet you can get. It
uses bundled fiber-optic strands wrapped in a reflective case to
transmit large amounts of data with light signals. Most fiber
internet plans give you 1,000 Mbps speeds, although some
providers can get you speeds of up to 2,000 Mbps or even 6,000
Mbps. Fiber is also the only type of internet that gives you
symmetrical upload speeds—so your uploads will be just as fast
as your downloads.
Cable internet uses the same coaxial copper cables that
transmit cable TV services. It can reach gigabit speeds and is
more widely available than fiber, making it an excellent option
for most customers looking to have high-speed internet in their
homes. Cable
internet plans often include bundle deals that let you pair Wi-Fi with a TV package.
DSL, short for digital subscriber line, uses the same
wiring as landline telephone networks. It’s relatively slow
(maxing out at 100 Mbps) and is becoming somewhat obsolete,
since most DSL providers also offer fiber and have focused more
on expanding their fiber services in recent years.
5G home internet is a relatively new internet type that
provides internet over a fixed wireless connection. This type’s
speeds range from 30–1,000 Mbps. 5G networks are still in the
process of coming together, so 5G home internet isn’t widely
available yet. The technology works best in densely populated
areas, so 5G is mostly available in towns and cities—for now at
least.
4G LTE home internet uses similar technology as 5G
internet, but over 4G networks. It delivers slower speeds,
usually dependent on what kind of cell service is available in
the area. But it’s a great option for rural users whose other
options might be limited to satellite internet.
Fixed wireless is a wireless, cellular–based type of
internet connection. Most fixed wireless plans give you max
speeds of 25–50 Mbps, making it a solid fallback option if you
can’t find something faster or cheaper.
Satellite internet is available almost anywhere in the
United States, but it’s the slowest kind of internet you can
get. Most satellite customers live in rural areas where you
can’t get any other type of internet connection.
How can you improve your internet speed?
You can improve your internet speed by upgrading to a faster plan,
updating your equipment, or taking simpler measures like closing out
apps and browser windows.
Internet can be slow for all sorts of reasons—and not just because you
have a slow plan. So read on for common solutions and home remedies to
put some pep in your Wi-Fi’s step.
Update your modem and router. Outdated equipment can impede
your Wi-Fi speeds, keeping you from hitting the speeds you’re paying
for. To stay up to date, get a modem and router that meet wireless
standards for Wi-Fi
5 (802.11ac) or Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). And if you have a cable gigabit
plan, make sure you have a DOCSIS
3.1 gigabit modem.
Move your router to a better location. Your router dispatches a
Wi-Fi signal to all the connected devices in your home, so make sure
it’s in a centralized location (like your living room) and away from any
obvious obstructions. Bulky furniture or electronic appliances like
microwaves can block its signal.
Plug your computer directly into your router. Use an Ethernet
cable to give your computer a more direct line to your home network.
Wired connections improve your speeds and reduce the chance of signal
interference.
Regulate other users’ online activity. If you have an important
Zoom meeting, ask your kids to switch off the Xbox to free up more
bandwidth. Some routers have Quality
of Service (QoS) settings that let you put limits on certain users
and online activities.
Close out unnecessary tabs and apps. Got two dozen tabs open on
your browser? Clear the air by closing the ones you’re not using.
Upgrade your internet. If all else fails, you can always look
into upgrading your internet speed. You may even consider switching
providers if the service you have now just doesn’t cut it.
Download speed vs. Upload speed
What’s the difference?
There are two types of internet speeds you should know: Downloads
and Uploads.
Download speed is the speed at which information travels
from various servers on the internet to your own,
internet-connected device. Upload speed is the rate at
which information travels from your internet-connected
device to the internet.
Most internet connections have faster download speeds
than upload speeds. But fiber internet gives you “symmetrical”
internet speeds, meaning your uploads are just as
fast as your downloads.
Activities that require download bandwidth:
- Streaming videos or music
- Reading an article or blog post
- Scrolling through your social media feed
- Downloading files
Activities that require upload bandwidth:
- Participating in a Zoom call
- Writing an article or blog post on Google Docs
- Posting to social media
- Hosting a
livestream
Most internet users download much more information than
they upload, so internet providers have traditionally
allocated less bandwidth to uploads.
But upload speeds are still important, especially as
more people depend on Zoom, Google Docs, and other
interactive applications to work from home. Video
conferencing, online gaming, social media, and sharing
large files all require upload bandwidth—and fast upload
speeds reduce the chance of choppy video calls and long
load times. To get fast upload speeds, look for a fiber
internet provider. How do you get fast upload speeds?
To get fast uploads, look for a fiber
internet plan. Fiber is the only type of internet
you can get that has equal upload and download
speeds—also called symmetrical speeds.
If fiber isn’t available in your area, you can also get
faster upload speeds by upgrading your current internet
package—you won’t see as huge of a speed jump, but it
could make a difference.
What is latency?
Connection type |
Latency (in ms)* |
Fiber |
8–13 |
Cable |
12–26 |
DSL |
21–37 |
*Data from the Federal Communications Commission’s “Measuring
Fixed Broadband—Eleventh Report.”
Latency (or ping rate) is the time required for a signal
to travel from your computer to a remote server and
back.
It’s a different measure of internet speed, and it’s
just as important for the performance of your home
network. High latency can lead to choppy video over
Zoom, audio/video delays in livestreams, and laggy
gameplay. Having low latency is particularly crucial in fast-paced
online gaming because it enables quick response
times and instantaneous action.
Get fiber internet for low latency—and faster online
gaming
Out of all internet connection types, fiber internet has
the lowest latency. Fiber-optic light signals work more
efficiently than the electrical signals more commonly
used with cable and DSL internet, which both have higher
ping rates.
Cable has higher latency rates than fiber, while DSL’s
latency is higher than cable. But the highest by far is
satellite internet—which makes sense, considering its
signal must travel all the way to a satellite orbiting
dozens of miles above Earth and back.
Why is internet speed important?
Internet speed matters because it sets the parameters
for what you can do online. Internet service providers
sell plans that range anywhere from less than 1 Mbps
(incredibly slow) to 5,000 Mbps (insanely fast), but
most netizens would be happy with 100
Mbps download speeds.
Having a sufficiently fast internet or Wi-Fi speed makes
it easier to do high-bandwidth activities (like
streaming in 4K or downloading a large video game file)
without worrying about long load times, buffering, or a
dropped connection.
Fast internet also ensures you can multitask over Wi-Fi
on the same device or use multiple Wi-Fi devices at the
same time. In that way, a faster internet connection
isn’t just about speed—it’s also about capacity. More
bandwidth can efficiently support a variety of users and
tasks at the same time.
Benefits of high-speed internet:
- Quick downloads
- Fast load times
- Lower chance of buffering or dropped connections
- Smoother connection on Zoom calls and livestreams
- Better support for multiple users on the same Wi-Fi
network
Think of having fast Wi-Fi as using a pickup truck or
SUV instead of a two-door sedan when you’re moving to a
new apartment. With a larger vehicle, you can move more
stuff to your place in fewer trips, saving you time and
energy.
How is internet speed measured?
Internet speeds are measured in bits per second. A bit
(short for binary digit) is the most basic unit of digital data.
Internet service providers (ISPs) usually advertise their services using
three metric bit measurements: Kbps, Mbps, or Gbps.
- Kbps means kilobits per second (1,000 bits per second)
- Mbps means megabits per second (1,000,000 bits per second)
- Gbps means gigabits per second (1,000,000,000 bits per second)
Mbps is the most common term you’ll see—most internet plans range in
speed from 1–1,000 Mbps. A Wi-Fi speed represented in Kbps is usually
super slow because it means it’s less than 1 Mbps.
Internet that reaches Gbps is often referred to as gigabit internet.
While it’s not crucial for everybody to have gigabit internet speeds, it
might benefit you if you live with a lot of people or regularly do
high-bandwidth activities like streaming movies in 4K.
Is Wi-Fi speed the same as internet speed?
We’re splitting hairs a little bit here, but Wi-Fi speed is a slightly
different thing than internet speed.
Wi-Fi as a term is often used interchangeably with internet (in fact, we
do so on this very page). Technically, though, Wi-Fi refers specifically
to a wireless internet connection carried over a router or mobile
hotspot. Wi-Fi speeds can be slightly slower than a wired internet speed
directly from your modem because a Wi-Fi signal can face interference
over the airwaves, even in a contained area such as your home.
Internet Speed Terms
People frequently ask, “What is ‘ping’, ‘download speed’ or ‘upload
speed’? Or “What does Mbps mean?" and “What’s the difference between
Mbps and MB's?" We have all those answers for you and more in this handy
little glossary.
Download speed
How quickly you can pull data from a server on the internet to your
device. Most connections are designed to download much faster than they
upload. This is because the majority of online activity, like loading
web pages or streaming videos, consists of downloads. Download speed is
measured in megabits per second (Mbps).
Upload speed
How quickly you send data from your device to the internet. A fast
upload speed is helpful when sending large files via email, or in using
video-chat to talk to someone else online (since you have to send your
video feed to them). Upload speed is measured in megabits per second (Mbps).
Latency (or Ping)
Latency (or Ping) is the reaction time of your connection-how quickly
your device gets a response after you've sent out a request. A low
latency (fast ping) means a more responsive connection, especially in
applications where timing is everything (like video games). Latency is
measured in milliseconds (ms).
Packet loss
Packet loss occurs when a packet of data being sent over the internet is
not received or is incomplete. This is described in percentage of
packets lost compared to packets sent. Packet loss in most cases is a
result of poor signal/line quality.
Jitter
Also called Packet Delay Variation (PDV), jitter frequency is a measure
of the variability in ping over time. Jitter is not usually noticeable
when reading text, but when streaming and gaming a high jitter can
result in buffering and other interruptions. Technically, this is a
measure of the average of the deviation from the mean.
Mbps
Megabits per second. A megabit is 1 million bits of information. This is
a standard measure of internet speed and 1 Mbps is 1,000 times faster
than 1 Kbps. Not to be confused with megabytes (MB) which is a measure
of size rather than bandwidth. Because a megabyte is larger than a
megabit, and to avoid confusion, MB's is not used to denote internet
speeds.
Kbps
Kilobits per second. A kilobit is 1,000 bits of information. This older
measure of internet speed is only used when needed to describe slower
connections. Not to be confused with kilobytes (KB) which is a measure
of size rather than bandwidth. Because a kilobyte is larger than a
kilobit, and to avoid confusion, KB's is not used to denote internet
speeds.
FAQ's
What factors may impact my Speed test result?
A
Speed test measures the speed between your device
and a test server, using your device's internet connection. Several factors can
impact the speed recorded by a test:
- Devices (phones,
tablets, PCs, etc…) can have very different Wi-Fi and cellular radio
capabilities. This means you might get one Speed test result on one device
and a different result on another, even using the same provider. Some
devices may not be able to measure the full speed of your internet service.
It’s also possible that your Wi-Fi router doesn’t support the full speed of
your service.
- Speed test servers may perform differently. Generally,
you will get faster speeds from servers closer to you.
We recommend testing to a variety of test servers to get
the most complete picture of your speed.
- Browsers (Chrome,
Firefox, Edge, Safari, etc…) have different capabilities and may provide
different results, particularly on high-speed connections.
What should I do if my internet speed is slow?
Before you contact your internet service
provider (ISP) or mobile carrier, check to see if you’re running any ongoing
downloads or other programs like video chat that might be hogging your
bandwidth. Close those and test again. If your Speed test result still seems
slow, reboot your phone or computer, modem and router. Then make sure that your
router does not have any Quality of Service (QOS) features turned on. If that
doesn’t fix the problem, here are a few more steps you can try.
Contacting your ISP or carrier for help is a
good next step after you’ve gone through these steps. Keep in mind that on
higher bandwidth connections (150 Mbps and above), you will need a higher
quality router to keep up.
Why am I getting different speeds between my computer and my phone/tablet?
A Speed
test is measuring your real-time network
connection, so tests taken within a few minutes of each other might vary a
little based on network congestion and available bandwidth. If your Speed test
results are significantly different, make sure that you’re:
- Testing the same
connection. If one device is on Wi-Fi and the other is not, you’re testing
the speeds of different connections.
- Testing to the same
server. Speed tests automatically select a server to test to based on ping,
but you can also select a server to test to.
Also, note that there are large variations in
Wi-Fi and cellular radio quality and MIMO stream handling quality between
devices. These variations can cause a device to deliver slower test results than
another device or computer.
What speeds do I need for streaming or large downloads?
If you’re asking this question, you’re already
sick of the wheel of constant buffering. To get the best possible performance,
you generally want download speeds at least as fast as the following:
What speeds do I need to transfer large files?
You can transfer large files at any speed; it’s
more a question of how long that transfer will take. Here are a couple of tables
to help you out:
What’s an acceptable ping (or latency) for online gaming?
If you’ve ever noticed that another
player always seems to have the jump on you, that might be because they have a
faster ping.
Here’s a rough guideline:
- Winning: 0-59 ms
- In the game: 60-129
ms
- Struggling: 130-199
ms
- Game over: 200+ ms
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