What internet speed do you need at home
When choosing a plan it is easy to overpay for speed you never use, or to save and wait for video every evening. Calculate from your tasks: what you do online and how many devices work at the same time.
Free test: download, upload, ping and jitter in 20 seconds.
Speed per task
- Websites, email, messengers: 5 Mbps.
- HD video (720p–1080p): 5–8 Mbps per screen.
- 4K video: from 25 Mbps per screen.
- Video calls: 4 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, ping under 80 ms.
- Online gaming: 10 Mbps is enough, but ping under 40 ms matters.
- Streaming on Twitch or YouTube: at least 10 Mbps upload.
- Large downloads: a 100 GB game takes over two hours at 100 Mbps and about 30 minutes at 500 Mbps.
A simple family calculation
Add up what runs at the same time in the busiest hour and add 30–50% on top. Example: a 4K TV (25 Mbps), a tablet with HD video (8), a video call (4) and a game console (10) make about 47 Mbps; with headroom that is 70–100 Mbps, so a 100 Mbps plan covers it.
Recommended plans
- 1–2 people, video and social media: 50–100 Mbps.
- Family of 3–4: 100–300 Mbps.
- Large family, streaming, frequent downloads: 300–1000 Mbps.
Check whether your speed is enough
Run the speed test in the evening when everyone is online. After the test you will see which tasks your connection handles: HD and 4K, video calls, gaming, streaming. If the cable result is close to your plan but Wi-Fi is several times lower, replace the router rather than the plan. Step-by-step instructions are in how to test your internet speed in Kazakhstan.
Frequently asked questions
Is 100 Mbps enough for a family?
For a family of 3–4, 100 Mbps is usually enough: two or three 4K streams, calls and games at the same time. With many devices, streaming or large downloads choose 300–500 Mbps.
Do I need a gigabit plan?
Rarely: for frequent large downloads, streaming or a big household. Without a gigabit router and Wi-Fi 6 such a plan will not reach its speed.
Why does video buffer on a fast plan?
Usually because of Wi-Fi or the router, not the plan. Test over cable: if the result is close to the plan, improve your Wi-Fi.