Recommended internet speeds for casual surfing Keep this in mind as you select your internet plan and review both speeds.
Your upload speed, though, is the rate at which you send files. Your download speed refers to the rate at which you download items and load webpages.
However, remember that as the speed of your internet package increases, so does the pricing.Īnother thing to keep in mind is that your download speed and your Mbps upload speed measure two completely different things. And if you’re running a business from home, you probably want to opt for the highest-speed internet available. Gamers and internet users interested in video streaming through Hulu and other streaming platforms - and who worry about buffering speed and an interruption to their activities - might opt for a next-level internet package. If you’re using the internet to only check your email and catch up with your friends through social media, then you probably only need a very basic plan. What internet speeds are good for different things online?Īs you evaluate internet plans for your home, the first thing you need to ask yourself is this: What will you be doing online? Your planned internet activities will dictate the speed that’s best for you. The higher end of the basic tier also works better if you’ll have more than one user at a time accessing the internet. At the 10 Mbps level, some video streaming and casual gaming are both possible. For example, Frontier offers a basic internet service at 9 Mbps, which is plenty if you are a light internet user.īasic plans are ideal for low bandwidth users, single-person households or those who don’t need video streaming, conferencing or internet gaming capabilities. Look for plans that offer 5 to 10 megabits per second (Mbps). If you plan on primarily using your internet connection for web browsing, checking your email or using social media, you really only need the most basic internet plan. Internet for browsing websites & social media Basically, it comes down to your unique internet needs. You might also consider a higher internet speed if you work with larger, higher-quality files regularly. But if you have multiple people in your home using the internet at the same time, you might consider a plan with a higher Mbps download speed. Today, most ISPs offer wireless internet with connection speeds measured in Mbps.įor the most basic internet usage at home - meaning you sometimes browse the web, scroll through social media, or stream music or movies - a minimum speed of about 10 Mbps should do the trick. One Kbps is 1,000 bits, and it takes 1,000 kilobits to make a megabit. One Gbps is the equivalent of 1,000 megabits per second.īefore wireless internet became widespread, dial-up internet was measured by kilobits per second. You might occasionally find internet packages with faster speeds measured by gigabit per second. This measures how quickly files are transferred, whether downloading or uploading them, or how fast a website loads while you’re surfing the internet. The most common measurement of internet speed is in terms of megabits per second, often referred to as Mbps. Your latency measures the reaction time of your internet connection. Just click “Go” and it will measure both your download and upload speeds, as well as your latency - also referred to as ping. If you’re curious about your current internet speed, check out this internet speed test. Having an internet plan that works best for you means less interruptions to your daily life. That’s why you need to find an internet provider with the right internet speed for you.
It can affect everything from your workflow to streaming movies and TV shows at home with your family. This is just one example of how a slow internet connection could have a detrimental effect on your day-to-day life. If you had faster internet that was the appropriate speed for video conferencing, you wouldn’t likely be having this problem.
The only problem is that they can’t understand anything you’re saying, as your video continuously cuts out during your presentation. This meeting is the moment you’ve been waiting for and could make or break your relationship with your client. This is after weeks of research, hard work and preparation. You’re pitching a project to a potential client in a virtual meeting.