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Kathrine Selvage
And while 15 Mbps might be enough for watching Netflix, remember that that's enough internet speed for only watching Netflix. So you'll need faster speed to cover any other connected devices or internet users in your home.
We recommend grabbing at least 50 Mbps download speeds if it's just you and maybe one other person using the internet. As for families, we think 100 Mbps or more download speed is better.
That's because you'll likely have other devices (like cell phones and home security systems) using the internet connection at the same time you're streaming Netflix. Not to mention other people too. The last thing you want is for your home security camera to lag out or for your kiddo's Netflix app playing Paw Patrol to buffer, right?
We recommend an internet plan with at least 50 Mbps download speeds if you enjoy streaming Netflix. And maybe even higher if you want HD streaming. Typically, the best internet speed for streaming video is around that speed, because this ensures that your connected devices and one other person can get online and not flip a table over maddeningly slow internet speeds while you watch Schitt's Creek.
Xfinity is available almost nationwide, and its prices are competitive. You'll easily find a well-priced 100 Mbps plan, like the Connect More plan. Just note that Xfinity plan names and prices change depending on where you live.
Its fiber network and up to 2300 Mbps download speeds make Verizon Fios Home Internet a shoo-in. Not to mention its symmetrical upload speed and download speed. But what really makes this ISP great is its reputation for amazing customer service.
CenturyLink offers unlimited data on all of its internet plans, which earns it bonus points when it comes to budget friendliness due to the lack of monthly overage fees. Its Fiber Internet plan is one of the cheapest gig-speed plans out there, perfect for streaming Netflix with your extended family or multiple roommates. Plus, your upload speed and download speed can reach up to 940 Mbps, which is pretty high compared to most internet service providers.
Have you ever enjoyed blazing speeds on your laptop, phone or tablet and then at other times wondered why your connection was so slow? Maybe an online game takes longer to load when someone else in your home starts a video call or perhaps your streaming devices just keep buffering right when you get to the best part of a movie on Netflix.
"To select the best services or package for your usage, you must understand your bandwidth needs," said Lincoln Lavoie, a senior engineer of broadband technologies at the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory.
"This [bandwidth] depends more on the applications being used (streaming is largely a downstream application), but as users start doing more things like video calls and movie sharing, upload also becomes very important," Lavoie told Tom's Guide.
As the name suggests, gigabit speed offers 1,000 Mbps or 1 Gbps which is an exponential increase over the 20-to-200 Mbps plans that are generally considered high-speed broadband. Check out our article about gig-speed internet for a full explanation on what gigabit internet plans offer, what they cost and what they allow you to do.
This assumes you only stream video to a single device at a time. If there is more than one TV in your home, or you want to watch in the living room while someone else watches something in the bedroom, then your bandwidth needs will grow accordingly.
Although there's a debate over how much internet speed the average home customer needs, it's clear that ISPs benefit from your desire for faster internet speed. The ISPs can also provide some insight into how much speed you really need by listing how many devices can connect to the network at any given time.
Comcast Xfinity, a prominent ISP in the U.S., has varying prices based on speed. If you listen to the above engineer, you can probably get away with the company's cheapest package, which offers download speeds of up to 100 Mbps.
Xfinity also delivers a connection with up to 200-Mbps download speeds for $55 per month. According to the company, that should be enough to accommodate up to eight devices simultaneously connecting to the internet.
There's even a 2-Gbps Xfinity plan for $300 per month with a two-year agreement. "Unlimited devices" should be able to connect to the web at that speed, the company says. But if you want more speed and a little less cost, consider Xfinity's 1-Gbps option that starts at $80 per month.
In many cases, choosing your internet connection speed means weighing how much you're hoping to get versus how much you're willing to pay. However, you need to be ready for the possibility that you won't get what you want.
Most ISPs offer internet packages with an important caveat: "up to." In other words, for the average residential internet customer, ISPs aren't guaranteeing a certain download or upload speed. So, if you're paying for a 25-Mbps package, you may get that speed (if not more) at times. But it's also possible that you'll get less.
Even if your ISP is delivering the speeds you want, the number of devices simultaneously connecting to your network could give you some trouble that could ultimately slow down your connection. With everything from laptops and smartphones to TVs and connected appliances relying on a steady stream of data, it's easy to underestimate your needs.
How can you tell if your network needs a boost? Lavoie said to look for "quality of experience" metrics, including load times and the frequency of connectivity glitches and connection drop-outs. It's also important to use online speed-check tools, like the aforementioned Fast.com or others, to see at what speed you start to experience problems.
Over on its support forums, Microsoft offers a handy reference document to help you know how fast your internet speeds should be to accommodate online play. According to the document, you'll want a download speed of 3 Mbps or better and an upload speed of 0.5 Mbps or better. Your ping rate (a measure of the lag your internet connection causes in online gaming) should also be less than 150 milliseconds.
When it's time to stream games between friends on Twitch, you'll need even faster connectivity, according to Microsoft and other game companies. According to Twitch's broadcasting guidelines, you'll need a bitrate of at least 2.5 to 4 Mbps to play at 720p and 30 frames per second. It then goes up to 3.5 to 5 Mbps for 720p at 60 fps.
The good news is that internet speeds are improving. A study from the popular internet speed-testing company Ookla found that the average download speed increased by 19.6% for fixed home broadband connections between 2019 and 2020.
Gigabit speed connections, once limited to specific neighborhoods in only the largest cities, is now more widely available than ever. According to the The Internet & Television Association, gigabit service is available to more than 80% of households in the United States, with gigabit speed connections offered in more than 40 states.
Regularly checking your connection speeds will not only give you a good idea of whether you're getting the services you pay for, but also how well-suited your connection is for uses like streaming in 4K or online gaming.
If it's just streaming and web surfing you're after, you likely won't need much. But if you're looking to stream 4K video, play online games and connect multiple devices, you'll need more bandwidth, for which you'll have to pay more.
What you pay for may not be what you get. You should periodically analyze your network speeds to see what's happening during slowdown or connectivity loss, as well as regular usage. If you aren't seeing the speeds you're paying for, it may be time to call your internet service provider.
Downloading refers to the process of retrieving data from the internet and saving it onto your device. When you stream content on Netflix, your device (such as a smartphone, computer, or smart TV) downloads portions of the video data in real time.
Absolutely! A 40 Mbps connection is more than sufficient for a single device streaming in HD or even 4K quality. However, if you live in a busy household, or want to scroll through social media whilst streaming you might experience some buffering.
"@context": " ", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ "@type": "Question", "name": "What speed do I need for Netflix on multiple devices?", "acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer", "text": "A download speed of around 5Mbps should be enough for standard-definition (SD) Netflix content on each device. However, if you're all about high-definition (HD) quality, bump that number up to around 15Mbps per device to ensure smooth streaming for everyone." , "@type": "Question", "name": "What broadband speed do I need for Netflix for HD, FHD and Ultra HD?", "acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer", "text": "Want to watch Netflix on 4K (which is Ultra HD) or just HD? Use this table to see what your minimum internet connection speed should be so you can just the right broadband package for you." , "@type": "Question", "name": "What speed do I need for Netflix on a 4K TV?", "acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer", "text": "Aim for a higher download speed of 15Mbps per device for a captivating 4K streaming experience." , "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the difference between upload and download when I'm watching Netflix?", "acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer", "text": "When you're streaming services like Netflix, the terms \"upload\" and \"download\" refer to the flow of data between your device and the Netflix servers." , "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the download speed when watching Netflix?", "acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer", "text": "Downloading refers to the process of retrieving data from the internet and saving it onto your device. When you stream content on Netflix, your device (such as a smartphone, computer, or smart TV) downloads portions of the video data in real time." , "@type": "Question", "name": "What are upload speeds when watching Netflix?", "acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer", "text": "Uploading involves sending data from your device to a remote server, which is not directly relevant when you're watching content on platforms like Netflix." , "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the minimum broadband speed for streaming on Netflix?", "acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer", "text": "What's the minimum speed you need to press play on Netflix without those pesky pauses? A minimum download speed of around 3 Mbps should suffice for SD quality to prevent those infuriating buffering moments." , "@type": "Question", "name": "Is 40 Mbps fast enough internet connection speed for Netflix?", "acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer", "text": "Absolutely! A 40 Mbps connection is more than sufficient for a single device streaming in HD or even 4K quality. However, if you live in a busy household, or want to scroll through social media whilst streaming you might experience some buffering." , "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the slowest internet speed for Netflix?", "acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer", "text": "While you can technically stream with speeds as low as 3 Mbps, it's advisable to opt for faster speeds to avoid frustrations. All of our broadband packages will allow you to stream Netflix in 4K with ease." , "@type": "Question", "name": "What internet speed does a Smart TV need for Netflix?", "acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer", "text": "For smooth streaming on a smart TV, shoot for download speeds of at least 25 Mbps, especially if you're into HD or 4K content." , "@type": "Question", "name": "Is 50 Mbps enough for a family to watch Netflix?", "acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer", "text": "Indeed, it is! With 50 Mbps, multiple family members can enjoy HD streaming on various devices simultaneously. However, if you have other devices connected as well as multiple devices streaming Netflix, you might need faster speeds. We offer speeds up to 900Mbps so you'll never have to worry about slow loading and buffering." ]
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