Stop Overpaying for Speed You Don't Use
Broadband providers love selling you their fastest packages. But here's the truth: most households don't need gigabit speeds. What you need is the right speed for how you actually use the internet.
Here's a breakdown of what different speeds can handle, so you can choose the tier that matches your life—without paying for unused capacity.
Single Person / Light Use: 30-50 Mbps
Who It's For
Perfect if you live alone and your internet use is fairly straightforward.
What It Handles:
- Browsing websites and online shopping
- HD streaming on Netflix, iPlayer, or YouTube
- Emails and social media
- Video calls on Zoom, Teams, or FaceTime
The Reality: One person won't notice any lag at these speeds. HD streaming uses around 5 Mbps, so you've got plenty of headroom even if you're on a call while streaming in the background.
Small Household (2-4 people): 50-100 Mbps
Who It's For
Ideal for couples or small families who use the internet regularly.
What It Handles:
- Multiple devices streaming HD content on Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video
- Someone on a Zoom call while others browse
- Background downloads (software updates, game patches)
- Smart home devices running simultaneously
The Reality: This tier gives you breathing room. Two people can stream HD shows on separate TVs while someone else browses without anyone noticing slowdowns.
Busy Family: 100-300 Mbps
Who It's For
Families with teenagers, remote workers, or multiple heavy users online at once.
What It Handles:
- 4K streaming on multiple devices
- Online gaming (requires low latency, not just speed)
- Working from home with large file uploads
- Video calls while others stream or game
- Multiple people online doing different things simultaneously
The Reality: If you've got kids gaming online, someone working on Zoom, and someone else streaming 4K, this is where you want to be. 4K streaming uses around 25 Mbps, so 100+ gives you the capacity for a busy household.
Power Users / Large Households: 500-1000 Mbps (Gigabit)
Who It's For
Heavy gamers, content creators, or large households (5+ people) all online at peak times.
What It Handles:
- Multiple 4K streams running simultaneously
- Uploading huge video files (YouTubers, photographers)
- Downloading large game files quickly (100GB+ games)
- Large households with everyone online at once
The Reality: This is overkill for most people. Unless you're regularly uploading massive files or have a genuinely large, tech-heavy household, you're paying for speed you won't use. Even streaming 4K on three TVs only uses about 75 Mbps combined.
What Else Matters Beyond Speed?
Upload Speed
Most broadband packages advertise download speed, but upload speed matters too—especially if you:
- Make video calls regularly (Zoom, Teams)
- Upload files to the cloud
- Stream your gaming online
Check the upload speed, not just the download. Asymmetric packages (high download, low upload) can feel slow if you're uploading content.
Router Quality
A poor Wi-Fi router can be your biggest bottleneck. Even if you have gigabit broadband, a cheap or outdated router can deliver patchy speeds and drop connections.
Tip: If your provider's router is rubbish, consider upgrading to a better one or using a mesh system for larger homes.
Latency (Ping)
For online gaming, low latency (ping) is more important than raw speed. A 50 Mbps connection with 10ms ping beats 500 Mbps with 100ms ping for gaming responsiveness.
Bottom Line: How to Choose
- Count your simultaneous users: How many people are online at the same time doing bandwidth-heavy tasks?
- Add up typical usage: Streaming, gaming, calls, uploads—what's happening all at once?
- Choose the tier just above that: Don't go for the cheapest, but don't overpay for unused speed
- Check upload speeds and router quality: These matter more than most people think
Ready to compare broadband deals? Use our Broadband Comparison tool to find the best packages in your area.