See what your connection is really doing.
Runs from this browser to the Mac Wireless server: latency, then download, then upload. About 20 seconds.
Estimated results only. Performance varies by Wi-Fi or cellular signal, device, browser, network traffic and server conditions. Streaming HD video needs about 5 Mbps; 4K about 25 Mbps; video calls about 3 Mbps up and down.
What internet speed do you need?
Less than most people are sold. HD video needs about 5 Mbps per stream, 4K about 25 Mbps, and a video call about 3 Mbps each way. Add up what your household does at the same time, then leave some room — that total is the speed that matters.
| Activity | Download | Upload |
|---|---|---|
| Email, browsing, music | 1–5 Mbps | Under 1 Mbps |
| Video call | About 3 Mbps | About 3 Mbps |
| HD video stream | About 5 Mbps | — |
| 4K video stream | About 25 Mbps | — |
| Online gaming | 3–6 Mbps | 1–3 Mbps, with ping under 50 ms |
| Large uploads (backups, video) | — | 10 Mbps and up |
What is a good ping?
Under 50 milliseconds feels instant on video calls and games; 50 to 100 is fine for streaming and browsing; above 150 you notice the delay on calls. Ping measures a round trip to the server, so a server farther away, a busy Wi-Fi network or a weak signal all push it up.
Why is my result slower than my plan's speed?
A speed test measures everything between the device and the server: the Wi-Fi in your house, how far you are from the router, the device itself, other people using the connection and the network's traffic at that moment. Test again next to the router, then on a cable if you can, to see where the speed goes.
Is 5G home internet fast enough to work from home?
For most homes, yes, where the address qualifies. Mac5G Home plans run at up to 100 or 200 Mbps each way — enough for several video calls and HD streams at once. Because speed depends on the signal at the exact address, the address check comes first.