When shopping for internet service, whether you're setting up internet in a new place or are interested in a better internet deal at your current home, it's natural to consider price first and speed second. After all, you've probably got a good idea of what you want to pay for the internet each month.
Speeds, on the other hand, aren't always quite as easy to compare, which can make it difficult to find the best plan.
Most internet service providers offer a guide on their websites to help you decide, but such recommendations may be an attempt to upsell you on the benefits of faster speeds you might not actually use. We're here to help you understand how much internet speed you really need.
Locating local internet providers
What is a fast internet speed?
The Federal Communications Commission defines a broadband connection with speeds of at least 100 megabits per second down and 20Mbps. For most, this threshold is the bare minimum for sufficient speeds, at least when it comes to the download speeds.
If you plan to connect multiple devices and use a few for streaming or gaming, you'll probably want to aim for something a little higher than 100Mbps. With smart home gadgets growing in prevalence and our media consumption increasingly driven by streaming, it makes sense to opt for something above 100Mbps if plans like those are available in your area.
Locating local internet providers
It's also important to note that having fast internet speeds to the home doesn't guarantee them in the home. Network congestion, poor router placement, interference from nearby networks and other factors can all slow things down.
To find out whether your internet speed is truly to blame, check out our guides onhow to test your connection by conducting a speed test and how to boost it if that seems to be the issue. In some cases, your ISP might be the cause of your slow connectivity.
What internet speed do you need?
According to the latest OpenVault report, the average American household uses at least 520Mbps in downstream speeds and 28Mbps upstream.
These days, with so many people working from home, a lot of us are using the internet more and more. That isn't the case for everyone, which you'll want to keep in mind while shopping for an internet plan.
If you work from home, stream lots of high-resolution videos or regularly play online games, you'll likely need more internet speed than someone who casually uses social media and gets their TV from a cable provider.
That same OpenVault report highlights that over 99% of US households pay for at least one streaming service and over 3 billion people play video games.
Different activities require different internet capabilities -- here's a small chart to help give you an idea:
Internet speed recommendations
| Activity | Usage required | Our recommended speed |
|---|---|---|
| 1Mbps | 1Mbps | |
| Web browsing | 3-5Mbps | 5-10Mbps |
| Social media | 3-5Mbps | 10Mbps |
| Video calls | 3-5Mbps | 10-20Mbps |
| HD streaming | 5-10Mbps | 10-20Mbps |
| Online gaming | 3–6Mbps | 25-35Mbps |
| 4K streaming | 25Mbps | 35Mbps |
Show more (2 items)
Considering the speed recommendations above, a cheap 50Mbps should be able to handle all your needs, including 4K streaming, right? Well, not exactly.
Using Wi-Fi will reduce your actual speeds, even with a top-of-the-line router or Wi-Fi extender. Each connected device will compete for and reduce the available bandwidth, so it's a good idea to opt for a plan with faster speeds than what's recommended for a single activity.
Here are the speed ranges that we at CNET frequently recommend:
- 0 to 5Mbps is possibly enough to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps may allow for higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
- Higher than 1,000Mbps provides ample speed for all common internet uses on a virtually unlimited number of devices.
Consider the users and devices on your network
Another important factor to consider in your search for the ideal internet speed is how many users and devices are on your network on a given day. Your household may only consist of one or two people, but it could be hosting 10 to 15 devices (laptops, cellphones, gaming consoles, smart TVs, smart home gadgets, you name it). If you're using these devices consistently, you'll want to ensure your internet speed has the capacity to cover them all.
Video is often the biggest bandwidth hog, so aim for an internet plan that can accommodate your viewing habits. If it's applicable, think of the times you've streamed Netflix or taken a video call from Mom, then imagine everything else that could have been happening on your network at the same time and use the chart above as a rough guide.
For instance, if you live alone and like to tweet about your favorite show on your phone while you stream it in 4K on your TV, you'd want at least 35Mbps for smooth playback and another 10Mbps to keep up the conversation on Instagram. A 50Mbps internet plan might be the minimum for you to be close to your sweet spot.
Upload speed vs. download speed
As you're considering speeds, it's also important to understand the difference between upload and download speeds. Here's the difference -- upload speeds tell you how fast you can send data out to the internet, while download speeds tell you how fast you can pull data from the internet.
Fiber internet typically comes with symmetrical upload and download speeds, but many internet providers offer plans with significantly less upload speed than download speed. With plans like these, the ratio is typically 1Mbps of upload bandwidth for every 10Mbps of download bandwidth.
You'll be using the download side of your connection far more often than upload, so don't feel like you have to upgrade to a plan with faster download speeds than you need just to get faster uploads. Upload speeds come into play when you're videoconferencing, posting to social media or emailing a large attachment, but these tasks don't require a lot of upload speed. In most cases, 20Mbps or less will get the job done.
Data caps and speed throttling
Data caps are something to look out for while searching for your home's ideal internet speed. Internet data caps are ISP-enforced data usage limits. It's important to consider them as you shop, especially if you use your internet for high-data-usage activities like streaming Netflix or scrolling through social media. Video-heavy use cases like that eat through lots of data, and if you hit the data cap, you'll need to pay extra for an additional allowance. Or, in some cases, face drastically reduced speeds for the remainder of your billing cycle.
Low-speed internet plans -- a 10Mbps DSL connection, for example -- are typically intended for light internet usage, so the data caps that sometimes come with them can be painfully tight. Meanwhile, some providers offer plans with no data caps at all.
If you're unsure whether it's worth paying for a higher data cap or switching to a provider that doesn't use them, check with your ISP to see if they offer any tools to help you track your household's data usage (most do, usually via their app). That'll give you a better sense of how much you need and whether you need to make a change.
Final thoughts on internet speed
Now that you have a general idea of everything that goes into internet plans and the aspects you must consider when choosing one, you are ready to begin your search. If you have further questions about your internet needs, check out the rest of CNET's broadband coverage.
