Download speed measures how quickly data travels from the internet to your device, expressed in megabits per second (Mbps). It's the number that matters most for everyday activities like streaming video, loading web pages, downloading files, and updating apps. The higher your download speed, the faster content arrives.
How it's measured
A speed test downloads data from a server and measures how many bits arrive per second. To stay accurate, our test transfers data over several parallel streams, ramps up the amount of data on faster connections, and ignores a brief warm-up period so the result reflects your true sustained speed. We also disable caching so you're always measuring a real transfer.
What uses your download speed?
- Streaming video (Netflix, YouTube, etc.) — 5–25 Mbps per 4K stream
- Web browsing and social media
- Downloading games, apps, and large files
- Receiving files on cloud services
Mbps vs. MB/s
Speed is in megabits (Mbps), while file sizes are in megabytes (MB). Since one byte is eight bits, a 100 Mbps connection downloads about 12.5 MB each second.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good download speed?
For most households, 50–100 Mbps comfortably handles HD/4K streaming and general browsing on several devices. Heavy 4K streaming, large downloads, or many simultaneous users benefit from 200 Mbps or more.
Why is my download speed slower than my plan?
Wi-Fi distance and interference, older routers, background downloads, VPNs, peak-time congestion, and the device itself can all reduce measured speed. Testing over a wired connection usually gives a higher, more stable result.
Is download speed measured in MB or Mb?
Internet speed is measured in megabits per second (Mbps), while file sizes are in megabytes (MB). There are 8 bits in a byte, so a 100 Mbps connection downloads roughly 12.5 MB per second.
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