You most likely always ask yourself what internet speed you need each time you renew your internet plan. If you are a gamer or stream movies and series on Netflix frequently, you have to choose the right speed to avoid the annoyance of lagging the internet.
The internet demands from streaming and gaming platforms have increased over time, and knowing which plan is right for you and your household can save you some big bucks.
Picking the right internet speed can be tricky, with the number of connected devices in our homes increasing rapidly. It may seem as if one moment your internet is blazing, and the next, it slows down to a crawl. Your game may begin to lag when someone else connected to the internet begins to stream music, or perhaps just as you are getting to your favorite part of the movie on Netflix; it begins to buffer. This can have you scratching your head at what internet speed you should get. Here are some quick tips on picking the right internet speed for your needs.
How To Pick The Right Internet Speed For Your Needs
Netflix would need at least 5Mbps to stream full HD content and 25 Mbps for Ultra HD content. If you plan to connect several devices at once, you would need faster speeds for that. It is pretty much the same across all streaming services like Twitch, for example.
If you are an avid gamer and enjoy playing online with friends, then a download speed of 3 Mbps or better would serve you well. Your ping rate, which is a measure of lag in online gaming due to your internet connection, should also be less than 150 milliseconds. However, if you plan to stream your gaming between your friends on Twitch, you would need faster internet connectivity; this should be somewhere around the range of 2.5 to 4 Mbps for streaming at 720p and 30 frames per second. For streaming at 1080p and 60 fps, your devices would demand speeds of 4.5 to 6 Mbps.
Remember, there is such a thing as too much speed. The thing is, most internet service providers would push you to get a faster plan, but in all honesty, you do not have to pay more than you need to. To select the best home internet deal, you must understand your bandwidth needs. Your bandwidth depends more on the applications you use, such as streaming. After surviving a year of lockdowns, homeowners should know just how important sufficient bandwidth is for the whole family.
Check your internet speed before you make your decision. Knowing your current internet speed can help you make an informed decision about the best home internet deal. You can make use of popular tools like Fast.com or Ookla Speedtest to measure your internet speed. They are free to use and can be pulled up in any web browser.
The bottom line is, you have to make sure what you pay for is what you get. And if you don’t see the speeds you require, it may be time to contact your internet service provider.
This post is originally published at Florida Independent.