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Public perception of fast internet has changed dramatically in the past decades. In the early 2000s, you were ahead of the downloading game if you had internet speeds of 10 Mbps. These days, however, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) identifies broadband internet as a service that is 25 Mbps or faster—and many people require even more speed than that.
If you are looking into internet packages and wondering is 100 Mbps fast enough for your downloading, streaming, gaming or other internet demands, the answer is usually “yes.” But there is a caveat: It really boils down to your household’s internet data demands.
Key Takeaways
- 100 Mbps is sufficient internet speed for most households with up to five people using devices simultaneously
- Expect to pay $20 to $60 per month for 100 Mbps internet speed
- Streaming, gaming, video conferencing, and working from home are all possible with 100 Mbps internet
How Fast Is 100 Mbps?
At 100 Mbps (megabits per second), internet speed is classified as fairly fast and can effortlessly handle various online activities. To put it into perspective, a 1GB file would take approximately 80 seconds to download at this speed. From streaming to gaming to video conferencing, 100 Mbps is sufficient for most households with multiple devices and regular internet usage.
What Can You Do With 100 Mbps Internet?
When we talk about 100 Mbps, we’re referring to the internet speed enabled by your internet service provider (ISP). There are also other factors that can limit the speed of your internet, including viruses on your device, the number of people accessing the network and your distance from your WiFi router. That said, it is crucial to find the best internet provider that offers 100 Mbps to keep up with your high-speed demands—even in a multi-user household.
| ACTIVITY | AVERAGE DOWNLOAD SPEEDS REQUIRED | AVERAGE UPLOAD SPEEDS REQUIRED | CAN 100MBPS HANDLE IT? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Email and Direct Messaging | 100 Kbps | 13 Kbps | Yes |
| Internet Browsing | 100 - 1000 Kbps | 13 - 125 Kbps | Yes |
| Social Media | 500 - 2000 Kbps | 250 Kbps | Yes |
| Zoom Web Conferencing | 10 - 25 Mbps | 3 - 4 Mbps | Yes |
| Video Conferencing | 1 - 6 Mbps | 750 - 1,400 Kbps | Yes |
| 4K Video Streaming | 50 Mbps | 24 - 62 Mbps (60FPS) | Yes |
| 1080p | 5 - 7 Mbps | 4 Mbps - 7.5 Mbps (30 FPS) 5.5 Mbps - 11 Mbps (60 FPS) | Yes |
| Online Gaming | 3 - 4 Mbps | 300 - 400 Kbps | Yes |
| Music Streaming | 400 Kbps | 50 Kbps | Yes |
Using 100 Mbps Internet for Downloading
However, under optimal conditions with 100 Mbps internet speed, you should be able to download a 20 GB file in just over 26 minutes. To put that in context, the average eBook is 2.6 MB, which you could download in less than one second. The average high-definition movie is about 3 GB, which would take about four minutes to download. That’s not bad for most people.
Using 100 Mbps Internet for Gaming
Anything over 25 Mbps is almost always adequate for gaming—so 100 Mbps will definitely allow you to focus on your game, not loading times. That’s because the effectiveness of your online gaming is dependent primarily on latency, not bandwidth. This is also known as ping, which is the technical term to describe a delay from the game server.
With multiple users simultaneously playing, everything can be thrown off if anyone has a ping. For example, if one player is delayed, their opponent could have a “peeker’s advantage” from seeing what the person with the lag is doing before that person is able to respond. If you suspect you’re falling victim in your games to pinging, the issue could be with the game server or your personal network.
Take note of who else in the household is using the internet at the same time. If your network is getting overloaded, you may need a bigger plan or choose from one of the best gaming internet providers.
Using 100 Mbps Internet for Streaming
Even with multiple users on the network streaming videos or shows to their devices, 100 Mbps should be more than enough to avoid any buffering issues. Take Netflix for example: To watch a video in High Definition, you need at least 5 Mbps. To view a video in 4K/Ultra HD, you need 15 Mbps. In other words, you should be able to stream videos in Ultra HD on six devices.
Using 100 Mbps Internet for Multiple Users
With 100 Mbps internet, you should have no problem connecting up to six users or 10 devices at the same time. If you start to notice issues when people are streaming, gaming or downloading on different devices at the same time, you might want to consider a larger plan. But keep in mind that although there are technically plans in the 1000 Mbps range available, that is way more than most people need—even with big households.
Using 100 Mbps Internet For Working From Home
If you work from home and your role requires a stable internet connection, 100 Mbps internet is an adequate speed for tasks like virtual meetings and video conferencing, large file transfers, accessing cloud services, email and direct messaging. If other members of your household also work from home, 100 Mbps internet can connect multiple users without issue.
What Are the Limitations of 100 Mbps Internet?
Most people can do almost anything they need with a 100 Mbps connection. However, in this age of more people working, gaming and streaming from home, there are cases where this plan isn’t enough. For example, if you regularly download large files—such as HD movies—and don’t want to wait a few minutes each time, faster speed would help.
Similarly, if you notice issues like buffering when multiple users in the house are on their devices at the same time, you might want a bigger plan. For families or households with more than six people who simultaneously use devices, 200 to 500 Mbps plans should be able to handle the load.
If you’re debating between a 100 Mbps plan and one with more speed, it’s also worth considering the price jump between the plans. If it’s significantly more money for a faster plan, it might be worth it to wait a few minutes for those downloads.
Cost of a 100Mbps Internet Plan
The cost of a 100 Mbps internet plan depends on several factors, such as the chosen internet service provider, geographical location and any ongoing promotional offers or discounts. While the price range can differ based on these factors, customers can generally anticipate paying from $20 to $60 per month for a 100 Mbps internet plan.
Please note that this speed is not available everywhere or with every provider, so if you have your heart set on 100 Mbps internet, it’s worth chatting with a few companies to see where and if it is accessible.
- Google Fiber: Approximately $20 per month. (Note that to obtain this plan, you’ll need to live in a qualifying area and have a household income less than $40,000 per year. Learn more on Google Fiber’s website).
- Verizon Fios: Approximately $40 per month
- Xfinity: Approximately $30 per month
- Astound: Approximately $20 per month
- Cox: Approximately $50 per month, $20 per month for qualifying households (Learn more on Cox’s website)
Is 100 Mbps Internet Fast Enough For Me?
To ensure an optimal online experience for you and your family, it’s crucial to carefully consider your usage when choosing the right internet speed. For instance, if your household includes multiple users who engage in online activities like streaming 4K videos, gaming and video conferencing simultaneously, faster speeds are essential in preventing interruptions and lags.
With higher speeds, you can enjoy smoother streaming, reduced buffering, lower latency during your online activities, greatly enhancing your overall satisfaction with your internet service. Therefore, opting for internet speeds that exceed 100 Mbps will ensure your internet connection can meet the demands of your household’s online usage.
Key Considerations When Choosing Internet Speed
When selecting the right internet speed for your needs, there are several key considerations to keep in mind to ensure a satisfactory online experience:
Number of Users
A crucial point to consider is that the internet speed can be affected by the number of devices connected to the network simultaneously. When multiple devices, like smartphones, laptops, gaming consoles and smart home devices, are active on the same network, the available bandwidth is shared among them. This division of bandwidth can result in reduced speed for each device, potentially leading to slower internet performance for all connected devices.
Online Activities
Knowing the type of online activity you’re engaging in is crucial for a smooth internet experience. Streaming HD videos, online gaming, video conferencing and downloading large files all require varying levels of bandwidth to perform optimally. Understanding these demands can help you choose an internet plan that meets your specific needs and ensures a seamless online experience across different tasks.
Bandwidth
Bandwidth measures the amount of data that can be sent over a network in a given amount of time. Understanding the bandwidth consumption of your online activities is crucial to ensure your internet speed can effectively support the required bandwidth, meeting all your online needs.
Budget
The internet speed you need is going to depend on what you use it for, but if you’re just looking for a general rule, consider your budget and find a balance between the internet speed you need and the plan’s cost. Some internet service providers offer a range of plans with different speeds to cater to varying budgets.
