Wi-Fi and Internet Speed Test | What is a good internet speed?
A good download speed test is at least 25 megabits per second (Mbps), and a decent upload speed is at least 3 megabits per second (Mbps). Some people can get away with fewer Mbps and others need more, but for most people, this is a good internet speed.
Speed test internet is usually determined by your download speed. For example, a plan with a download speed of 25 Mbps and an upload speed of 3 Mbps that we recommend is simply called a 25 Mbps internet speed.
We will follow this trend, but it is also important to pay attention to the download speed of the internet.
What speed test internet do you need? Speed Test
Depending on how you use your internet, we’ll recommend a custom internet speed.
- How many people in your family use Internet/Wi-Fi per day?
- How many devices are connected to the Internet in your home, including tablets, game consoles, and smart devices?
- How many people in your family work from home? What video quality do you use for TV and movie streaming?
- How active is your family in online gaming?
- Does your family download large files over the cloud or the Internet?
What is Fast Internet? Speed Test
Fast internet connection at 100Mbps or higher. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defines broadband or highspeed internet as 25 Mbps for download and 3 Mbps for upload speed.
That`s a good speed test for most people, but we wouldn`t necessarily call it fast by today`s standards, since many providers offer 100 Mbps speeds on basic level plans.
A 100 Mbps internet speed will be plenty for many internet users. It gives you enough Mbps to stay online on as many as five devices without limitations like network stuttering, buffering, or long wait times for downloads.
Speed Test
Residential internet speeds can reach a gigabit per second (Gbps), or 1,000 megabits per second (Mbps), on the high end. Some providers even offer 2 Gbps in some regions. Gigabit speeds (which refers to anything above 1000 Mbps) are suitable for large families, apartment buildings, and businesses.
However, the added speed (and cost) may be overkill for most people. But it is undeniable that it is fast.
How to calculate the required internet speed – Speed Test
Internet speed requirements depend on two main things:
• How do you use the Internet?
• how many other people are using your internet
How do you use the Internet?
Different online activities use different bandwidths. Streaming Mandalorian in 4K requires faster download speeds than watching in standard definition.
And online gaming requires more speed than checking email.
Internet bandwidth vs speed
Internet speed and bandwidth are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same.
If the internet is the road and the data is the car, then speed is the speed of the car and bandwidth is the number of open lanes. So let’s say you have 100 data cars moving at the same speed.
If these cars are on a five-lane highway than on a one-lane country road, you’ll get data faster.
How many Mbps per device do I need for normal internet browsing? Is this a good speed for me?
Below are recommended speeds for normal activities. Learn more about the internet speed required for various activities – Speed test
| Download Speed | Activities |
| 1.5 Mbps or less | General browsing, email, social media, music streaming, video chat |
| 3 – 4 Mbps | SD Video streaming |
| 10 Mbps | HD Video streaming & group video calls |
| 5 – 8 Mbps | Large file downloads |
| 25 Mbps or less | Remote work or learning (varies by activity) |
| 25 Mbps or more | 4K (UHD) Video streaming |
Several factors determine whether or not you have the proper speed.
Consider how you use the Internet, the size of your family, and what activities you do at the same time.
Understanding Internet Speed and Wi-Fi – Speed Test
How does this internet speed test work? The internet speed test starts by determining the nearest server displayed in the lower right corner of the test window.
A “packet” of information is sent from the device to the server and back to the server. The time it takes to send this information determines the ping. The speed test then downloads and sends data packets over that connection.
The speed at which the Internet can transfer this data from your network to your device and back to your network determines your download and upload speeds. This speed test is measured between the devices you use to run your tests, which means that the type of connection has a real impact on the results.
A wired (Ethernet) connection directly to your modem provides the most accurate estimate of your Internet service speed, as a wired connection is the most direct connection from your network to your computer through a modem/router.
How many people are using your internet connection?
The second thing to consider is how many people and devices will be connected to the Internet at any given time. Don’t forget the connected devices in the background like smart home technology.
For example, you live with roommates and each has a laptop, smartphone, and game console. If you are using 6 devices at the same time, you need enough bandwidth to handle 6 connections simultaneously.
However, if only two are working at the same time, you can work on slow internet speeds.
Find the speed you need in your area – Speed Test
- Professional advice:
Internet speed is usually sold as “max speed” with a specific number.
This means that the speeds listed in your plan are the maximum you can see, not the average. With that in mind, if you have it available and can afford it, consider subscribing to slightly more bandwidth than you think you’ll need.
If your ISP’s network slows down if you have a speed buffer, your WiFi is less likely to be paralyzed by slowing down your network.
Download speed vs upload speed
When ISPs advertise their internet speed, they mostly refer to either the download speed or the speed they use to get data from the internet. Speed recommendations also apply to download speeds.
Upload and download speeds are important, but most people use more upload bandwidth than upload bandwidth. ISPs usually offer their customers download speeds that are much slower than download speeds (typically 1 Mbps of upload bandwidth for every 10 Mbps of download bandwidth). So, the download speed of the 100Mbps internet package is about 10Mbps.
If you frequently share large files, upload videos, or store a lot in the cloud, you may need to pay more attention to upload speed. Some ISPs (mostly fiber optic internet providers) offer symmetrical bandwidth so you get the same download and upload speeds.
What is ping (latency)?
Latency is the time it takes for information (called a ping) to travel from your computer to a network server and back to the network server. From a practical point of view, latency is the elapsed time from the moment an object is clicked until the result of that click is displayed. It is measured in milliseconds, the lower the delay, the better. High latency causes problems like lag in video games.
Need to switch internet plans if your speed is slow?
If you know your internet speed is slower than recommended depending on your internet usage, how can you reconcile the two? We recommend that you switch to a faster plan.
However, this is not always possible if you already have the fastest internet speeds in your area or if more expensive plans are not available from your current provider.
The first thing to do is to make sure that your experienced internet download and upload speeds are comparable to the speeds advertised by your ISP.
If not, take your records and use them as a bargaining chip for free speedups or discounts on services. You also need to shop. There may not be much competition in your area, but most people in the US have access to at least two internet options.
And ISPs are actively working to build better internet infrastructure, so there may be faster plans like never before.
If you don’t have access to a faster internet plan, there are ways to make the most important connections easier by reducing bandwidth usage.
Here is a guide on what to do if you feel stuck on slow internet.
Run an internet speed test to evaluate your download speed, upload speed, and latency.
Test your internet speed – Speed Test
- Troubleshooting a slow internet connection
Even if you`re paying for fast internet, you can still experience problems with network congestion, throttling, and equipment bottlenecks-any one which can cause your speed to slow down, resulting in long load times, buffering, and other problems.
Here are a few ways to troubleshoot a slow connection and improve your speeds.
Restart your equipment
Sometimes a simple restart of your computer, modem, or router is all you need to get your internet speed back to normal. Restarting a tired machine clears away the issues and returns things to normal.
Connect to your router via Ethernet
Most people use WiFi to get internet on their devices, but you can get slightly faster speeds by plugging your computer directly into your router using an Ethernet cable. This reduces the chance of signal interference and creates a more direct connection.
Move your router to a better location
The router distributes the internet signal to devices throughout the house. So the best place for your router is to be centrally with too many obstacles like walls, furniture, or metal items. If your router is hidden in a closet in your bedroom, move it into your living room.
Upgrade your router
Routers become obsolete after years of use as firmware standards improve and faster speeds become cheaper. Aim to buy a WiFi 5 (802.11ac) or WiFi 6 (802.11ax) certified router. You can check the standard by looking at the label on the back of your router or the box that came with it.
Upgrade your speed
If you’re still experiencing buffering and slowdown issues, it may be time to upgrade your bandwidth. Run a speed test to see what you’re getting and check with your ISP to see if a faster package is available.
Change your internet provider
Your ISP may not be able to provide the speed and performance you need. You may be limited by slower connection types (such as DSL or satellite instead of fiber or cable), or you may have limits on the amount of bandwidth you can receive.
In this case, it is better to check what options you have and switch to a newer and better ISP.
Search by zip code below to see what’s available in your area.
Get the best internet speed for what you do online.
Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Speed
- What is the average internet speed in the US? Speed Test
According to internet speed test data, the average internet speed in the country is 42.86 Mbps. Of course, these averages change all the time and these numbers may not reflect your online experience.
What is Mbps?
Mbps stands for megabits per second. ISPs use Mbps to measure bandwidth. One megabit is a million bits, each of which is a small piece of data.
For example, if your internet speed is 25 Mbps, that means your connection can transfer 25 megabits of data per second. The faster your internet connection, the faster you can get your data.
A megabit (MB) is different from a megabyte (MB) because technical language sometimes sounds weird. 1 megabyte is 8 megabits. In general, we use bytes to talk about file size, and bits to talk about data transfer speed.
What internet speed is right for Wi-Fi? Speed Test
Anything faster than 10Mbps is enough internet speed for wifi, but you can use wifi with almost any internet speed. Wi-Fi connections can slow down your internet speed due to distance, interference, or the number of devices connected to the signal.
Wired Ethernet connections make better use of bandwidth. So, if you have a slow internet connection, we recommend using a wired connection to connect your primary device for best performance.
