Are you overpaying for the internet? Find out now
Reliable internet may be something you take for granted, but even the most basic plans represent a financial hardship for low-income households.
Free internet service is available in some cases. Here’s the criteria to qualify for free internet.
Do you work from home? Is someone in your house a hardcore gamer? Do you stream high-definition content from multiple devices at the same time? Your answers to these questions will help you determine how much internet speed you need.
Check yourself
How do you know if you’re paying too much if you do pay for the internet? First, make sure you’re getting what you paid for. If your plan includes 500 Mbps download speeds, you should be getting it. You won’t always see the exact number, but it should generally be close. Check your download and upload speeds at speedtest.net.
If you’re getting the speed you’re paying for but are noticing slowdowns, it could result from several factors. These include the number of connected devices, how many are streaming 4K, simultaneous streams, gaming, livestreaming, security cameras, video conferencing and more. In that case, you may need to upgrade your plan.
Another thing to check is if your router is in a good place. Walls and appliances can interfere with the wireless signal and slow everything down. You want to place your router high up and away from other electronics. Tap or click here for more tips on finding the best spot for your router.
RELATED: Find free Wi-Fi anywhere (but follow our No. 1 public network security rule)
Streaming service recommendations
Popular streaming services recommend internet download speeds to help you know what you’ll need to stream smoothly. Here are some examples:
- Netflix recommends 3 Mbps for 720p HD, 5 Mbps for 1080p HD and 15 Mbps for 4K/UHD.
- To stream YouTube videos, you should have 1.1 Mbps for standard 480p, 2.5 Mbps for 720p HD, 5 Mbps for 1080p HD and 20 Mbps for 4K.
- Skype recommends 300 Kbps for standard video calls, 1.5 Mbps for HD video calls, and 2 Mbps for group video calls of three people, and the numbers go up the more people you have in your session.
- Pandora recommends a consistent 150 Kbps for standard music streaming and at least 300 Kbps for high-quality audio.
- Amazon Music recommends at least of 1.5 Mbps or higher for uninterrupted music.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Sick of slow internet? How to check you’re getting what you pay for
We all know the pain of “slow” internet: videos buffer, downloads take ages, and a single page can take forever to load. We wonder whether it’s our browser, our device, or the website we’re visiting.
It could be your Wi-Fi signal. Wireless networks are notorious for connection problems. Tap or click for ways to boost your Wi-Fi coverage for good, including changing the router’s channel, which hardly anyone does.
5 common tech problems gone with these easy solutions
As someone who has answered numerous questions about all things tech and digital for years, I can tell you the problems never end.
I’ve heard from many people genuinely concerned their phone or computer is being watched. Have you ever had that feeling? It’s eerie. Tap or click here for warning signs your tech has been infected with a virus or keylogger.
Connection lagging? Here's how to test your Wi-Fi speed
Ever feel like your internet is running slow? Webpages seem sluggish while uploads and downloads take forever? It’s very frustrating, especially when you pay for high-speed internet.
Many things can cause websites and emails to load slowly. It could be your browser, your computer or a website problem. Tap or click here to see which browser is best for your needs.