Internet guide

How much internet speed do I need?

It depends on how many people are online at once: about 50 Mbps for light use, 300 Mbps for two people streaming and on video calls, 500 Mbps for a busy family, and 1 Gbps if you often download large files.

Last reviewed: September 2026

Recommended internet speed by household

People and activities at the same time	Speed to compare
1–2 people, light use	50 Mbps
2 people, streaming and calls	300 Mbps
4 people, busy evening	500 Mbps
4 people, heavy use and downloads	1 Gbps

Comfortable comparison points, not minimums. Use the calculator below for your household.

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Is my internet speed enough?

Quick answers for common plan speeds.

Is 50 Mbps enough?

Yes, for one or two people browsing and using social media.

It may feel slow with large downloads or several video activities at once.

Is 100 Mbps enough?

Yes, for one person streaming in 4K, with room for browsing.

It may feel tight when calls or more screens overlap, and large downloads take a while.

Is 300 Mbps enough?

Yes, for two people sharing a 4K stream while two video calls run.

Weak Wi-Fi or limited upload can still interrupt calls. Faster downloads are a separate choice.

Is 500 Mbps enough?

Yes, for four people with two 4K streams, two video calls and an installed game at once.

Large downloads can still take a while. Check Wi-Fi and upload before paying for more download speed.

Is 1 Gbps enough?

Yes, for that busy four-person mix plus frequent large downloads.

A slow download server, Wi-Fi or an older device can still limit transfers. Gigabit does not fix every delay.

What internet speed do I need for gaming?

For games installed on your device, ping (the delay between you and the game server) and a stable connection matter more than plan speed.

Try these before paying for more speed

Connect the console or PC with an Ethernet cable.
On Wi-Fi, move the device and router closer together, away from walls and obstructions.
Check ping in a speed test while you play. If it stays high on a wired test, raise it with your provider; a faster plan may not change it.

Cloud gaming is different: it streams video, so it needs more download speed. NVIDIA recommends 25 Mbps for Full HD.

NVIDIA: connection and latency guidance

How long does a 100 GB download take?

Download apps often show megabytes per second (MB/s). Divide your plan’s Mbps by 8 to compare.

100 Mbps: ~2 h 13 min
300 Mbps: ~44 min
500 Mbps: ~27 min
1 Gbps: ~13 min

Approximate times at full stated speed. Wi-Fi, other traffic and the server can make it slower.

Still having internet issues?

A faster plan is not always the answer. Here are a few other things to check.

Check your equipment

Your device, modem and router can affect the speed you experience.

Try another device on the same connection. Check the equipment guidance from your provider or manufacturer before replacing anything.

Look at your Wi-Fi setup

Compare the same device near the router and in the room where it slows down.

If performance changes by room, investigate your home network before buying more incoming speed. Router setup and other devices can affect the result.

Check your actual connection speed

Run a connection test yourself when the problem happens.

Where practical, compare a wired test with Wi-Fi. Keep the time, room, device and results to discuss with your provider. This estimator does not run a speed test.

Fibre, cable or copper: why the same speed can feel different

Two plans with the same download speed can feel different. The type of line mostly changes your upload speed and how fast plans can go. When you compare plans in Ontario and Quebec, check the connection type as well as the speed.

Fibre to the home

Fibre runs all the way into your home. It offers the highest speeds, and many fibre plans upload as fast as they download.

Upload: often matches download

Cable

Uses the TV cable line into your home. Downloads can be fast, but upload is usually much lower than download.

Upload: usually much lower

Copper (DSL or fibre to the node)

Fibre reaches equipment in your neighbourhood and a copper phone line covers the rest. Top speeds are lower, and upload is usually much lower than download.

Upload: usually much lower

Also check the price after any promotion ends, installation and equipment fees, and whether the offer is available at your address. Not sure which line you have? Your provider can tell you what serves your address.

CRTC: Measuring Broadband Canada How the CRTC measures internet performance Understand an internet bill increase Explore the Deal Map

Common questions about internet speed

How many devices can 300 Mbps handle?

It depends on what the devices are doing at the same time, not how many are connected. In our calculator, 300 Mbps covers two people sharing a 4K stream while two video calls run. Phones and smart devices that are only connected use very little.

How much upload speed do I need?

Upload sends data out: your camera on a call, a stream you host, backups and security cameras. For two people streaming and on video calls, we suggest 20 Mbps. Live streaming and large backups can need more, so check that service’s guidance.

Do I need faster internet to work from home?

Often not. Video calls depend on steady upload more than a big download number: Zoom lists 3.8 Mbps upload for a 1080p group call. Our two-person streaming-and-calls example suggests 300 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. If calls break up, try a wired connection before upgrading.

Is fibre internet worth it?

It depends on how you use your connection. Fibre’s biggest advantage is upload: many fibre plans upload as fast as they download, which helps with video calls, backups and cameras, and fibre offers the highest top speeds. For lighter use, a cable or copper plan at the speed our calculator suggests can work well.

Why is my internet slow when I pay for 500 Mbps?

The plan’s download number does not guarantee that speed on every device. Wi-Fi coverage, equipment, upload congestion or a problem with the incoming connection may be responsible. Compare wired and Wi-Fi tests at the time the problem happens before changing plans.

See what to check when internet is slow

Method and sources

We look at what happens online at the same time in your home, add room for busy moments and round to a common plan speed. Choosing frequent large downloads suggests a faster plan for shorter waits. It doesn’t change the plan you enter in the Free Savings Preview. The details are below.

A planning estimate, not a speed test or a guarantee. Your Wi-Fi and equipment matter too.

We combine household guidance from Consumer Reports, Oxio and Vidéotron with published app requirements. The guides differ on where to draw the line between everyday, busy and heavy use. Our exact cutoffs are PriceFox comparison guidelines, not measured requirements or a consensus across providers.
For the first result, we assume one 4K screen per two people (rounded up), up to two separate video calls (no more than the number of people), one installed game and no camera uploads, only for selected activities. Optional details replace these assumptions. Only count activities that overlap; work calls followed by evening streaming are not simultaneous.
Our comparison starting points are 50 Mbps for light use, 100 Mbps for one person using streaming, calls or games, and 150 Mbps for two or more. Three simultaneous screens/calls/gaming sessions, or two 4K screens, move the comparison to 300 Mbps. Five sessions move it to 500 Mbps. Eight sessions, or six sessions across at least two activity types for six or more people, move it to 1 Gbps. Installed games count as at most one session for these comfort steps; cloud games count separately.
Selecting frequent large downloads sets a 500 Mbps comparison starting point, or 1 Gbps with four or more people online. This favours shorter waits without claiming these speeds are necessary. It does not model file size or a completion deadline. Compare the extra price, equipment and upload speed. Occasional updates do not need this selection.
We also check the entered activity load: 5 Mbps per HD screen or 25 per 4K screen (Netflix/Disney+); a rounded 4 Mbps each way per call (Zoom); 5 down/1 up per installed game (PriceFox allowance); 25 down for Full HD cloud gaming or 55 for 4K (NVIDIA/PlayStation), plus our 1 Mbps upload allowance. Each listed 1080p camera adds 2 Mbps upload (Nest). Actual services, quality and devices vary.
That activity check adds our background allowance of 5 Mbps down and 0.5 up per person, then 25% headroom once. Download uses the higher of this calculation and the household starting point, rounded up to 50, 100, 150, 300, 500 Mbps, 1 or 1.5 Gbps. We show the calculated target as one speed, with the next comparison step offered only as optional extra speed. Download wait times illustrate a decimal 100 GB transfer at full stated speed, before overhead or competing traffic; they do not change the recommendation. The comfort starting point does not receive another 25%. The upload figures on this page are calculated separately and rounded up to the next 10 Mbps, with a 10 Mbps minimum.
Those upload figures cover the stated calls, games and cameras, not large file uploads, backups or live broadcasting. Those needs require a separate check. Higher tiers can reduce transfer time but do not guarantee better Wi-Fi or less gaming lag. Multi-gigabit plans need a specific workload and compatible equipment. This estimator does not confirm availability, achieved speed or savings.

Household guides checked September 25, 2026. App and performance guidance rechecked September 28, 2026.