The right speed depends on two things: how many people and devices share your connection, and what you do online. Use the table below as a quick reference, then run a speed test to see what you currently get.
| Activity | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Browsing, email, music | 5–10 Mbps |
| HD video streaming (per stream) | 5–10 Mbps |
| 4K video streaming (per stream) | 25 Mbps |
| Video calls / working from home | 10–25 Mbps |
| Online gaming | 10–25 Mbps + low ping |
| Busy household (4+ devices, 4K) | 200–500 Mbps |
A simple rule of thumb
Add up the activities likely to happen at the same time in your home. One 4K stream (25 Mbps) plus a video call (10 Mbps) plus general browsing comfortably fits within a 100 Mbps plan. Bigger households with simultaneous 4K and gaming benefit from 200–500 Mbps.
Don't forget upload and ping
Download isn't everything. Upload speed matters for video calls and backups, and ping (latency) matters most for gaming and calls. Curious how your country compares? See internet speed by country.
Frequently asked questions
How many Mbps do I really need?
For one or two people browsing and streaming HD, 25–50 Mbps is plenty. For a family with 4K streaming, gaming, and several devices, 100–300 Mbps is comfortable. Most households rarely need more than 500 Mbps.
How much speed do I need to work from home?
For video calls and cloud apps, aim for at least 25 Mbps download and 5–10 Mbps upload per person. If others stream or game at the same time, add headroom — 100 Mbps+ keeps everything smooth.
Does more speed always mean better?
Not necessarily. Beyond what your devices and usage need, extra speed has little effect. Low ping and stable jitter often matter more for gaming and calls than raw download numbers.
Ready to check your connection?
Run a free speed test