Start with the work your connection must do
Basic browsing and messaging use little bandwidth, while 4K streaming, cloud backups and large game downloads need much more. Count simultaneous activity, not just the fastest single task.
- 5 to 10 Mbps: comfortable browsing and one HD stream
- 25 Mbps: a useful baseline for 4K video on one device
- 50 to 100 Mbps: flexible for a small connected household
- 200 Mbps and above: useful for many people, large downloads and heavy cloud use
Upload speed matters too
Plans often advertise download speed most prominently, but video calls, cloud storage, sending large files and livestreaming depend on upload capacity. If calls freeze while downloads look fast, upload or loaded latency may be the constraint.
Low delay can feel faster than a bigger number
Ping is the time it takes a request to travel to a server and back. Gaming, remote desktops and live calls feel better with lower, steadier delay. A very fast connection with erratic latency can still feel sluggish.
- Under 30 ms: excellent for most real-time uses
- 30 to 60 ms: comfortable for calls and most games
- 60 to 100 ms: usable, with noticeable delay in sensitive activities
- Above 100 ms: delays may become obvious
Test more than once
A speed test is a snapshot. Run Raftaar at different times, test near the router and compare Wi-Fi with Ethernet before deciding whether your provider or plan is the problem.