What is the Best Internet speed for Gaming?
You are playing a game with a worthy opponent. Everything is going fine but suddenly the internet starts lagging. You push the button with full force, hoping your character will throw a power pack punch but you fail.
In this situation, most people instantly start blaming the speed.
If you are a gaming enthusiast who likes to play online games, chances are you already know the importance of speed in online gaming.
So, if you ask me, the answer is simple. You need at least 5Mbps speed or maybe a little higher if you have a good internet connection. The average US household has nearly 25Mbps speed, so there is a high chance that you have the right speed.
So what’s stopping you from delivering the power pack punch?
In the case of online gaming, the culprit is not speed; instead, there is another very important factor that impacts the quality of online gaming.
What is that factor, how to get rid of it, what are the best internet connections for gaming, and more?
Keep reading as we answer the what, where, how, and which of online gaming internet.
What Is The Best Gaming Internet In The Market?
Whether you are just a beginner getting into online gaming and want a good internet recommendation or you are a professional gamer with advanced equipment and a lot on the line, the internet plays a very vital role.
Currently, there are more than 2900 internet service provider offering their services in the USA. With so many options, navigating through the internet options in the USA becomes a very daunting task.
Most of these ISPs are small, offering their services in smaller regions with limited coverage. However, with smaller areas to cover, they ensure a good service but can cost a lot. Similarly, a few internet service providers have made it big in the US market. These ISPs offer wide coverage, and exceptional speed, and that too at affordable rates.
If are taken aback by all this information, we have good news for you. We have sorted all good ISPs that can meet your needs as gamers.
| AT&T | No contract | AT&T Internet Plans |
| No Equipment Fee | ||
| No Data Caps | ||
| Cox | Fortified Security | Cox Internet Plans |
| Panoramic Wi-Fi Control | ||
| No Contracts | ||
| Xfinity | Wide availability | Xfinity Internet Plans |
| 24/7 Customer Service | ||
| Nationwide free Wi-Fi hotspots | ||
| Optimum | FREE Wi-Fi Extender | Optimum Internet Plans |
| No Data cap | ||
| Optimum Gateway (Wi-Fi 6) | ||
| Spectrum | No Data Cap | Spectrum Internet Plans |
| No Contract | ||
| Free Modem |
So how did we get here?
Let’s look at some of the important factors that can help you narrow down your options.
How to Determine the Best Gaming Internet in the Market?
While speed is a deciding factor for most users, it takes a back seat when it comes to online gamers. In this case, latency is as important as speed. The above-mentioned list was curated after careful consideration and multiple factors.
Here are some factors to consider before signing up for gaming internet:
Latency (or Ping)
For online gaming, latency or ping plays a pivotal role. Latency can be defined as the delay between command and action. So when the player presses a button to make the character throw a punch, latency will determine if the punching will start right away or if will it take some time.
In case of high latency, there is a noticeable delay between the action and command. If you haven’t figured it out already, low-latency internet is generally considered a much better option for online gaming.
You might be wondering, what is the ideal latency?
Latency is measured in milliseconds (ms) and for online gaming anywhere below 40ms is ideal. However, even if the latency is less than 100ms, it is still acceptable.
Download Speed
Download speed is the first thing that a user considers when opting for an internet connection. Before you start questioning its importance, let’s address it right away.
For gaming, fast-speed internet especially the download speed is not given the priority. Even as a pro gamer, you do not need up to gigabytes of speed. Even if the download speed is somewhere 5 megabytes per second (Mbps), it is enough for a basic single-player online game.
A slightly higher download speed only becomes essential while playing an online multiplayer game. In a multiplayer game, you are connected to a different server and the bandwidth is shared with other active users as well. In this case, download speed takes a hit and the overall gaming experience is affected.
Upload Speed
Now that you know download speed is not that important, you might question the importance of upload speed.
Well, to clear up the confusion, an easy answer is that when compared to download speed, upload speed has even less significance. So where 5Mbps is considered a good download speed, 3Mbps is considered sufficient upload speed.
In case you are a gaming streamer, you might need a slightly higher upload speed. In case of live streaming is involved an upload speed of 5 – 10 Mbps is considered good enough.
Keep in mind that there is no hard and fast speed requirement. In fact, heavy games with in-game communication with multi-players require a higher upload speed. To give you a perspective here is a range of optimal upload and download speeds based on the number of players.
| Game Genre | Minimum Download Speed | Minimum Upload Speed |
| Massively Multiplayer Online | 5 Mbps | 1 Mbps |
| FPS/Battle Royale | 5 – 10 Mbps | 1 – 2 Mbps |
| Multiplayer Co-op | 4 Mbps | 1 Mbps |
| Single-Player | 3 Mbps | — |
Just a reminder that this is the minimum speed requirement. However, a higher upload speed means a better experience and overall enhanced user experience.
Data Caps
Unlimited internet has become the slogan for modern ISPs. The idea behind the data cap is to put a limit to the monthly internet allowance. This helps the user to better manage the data usage.
In the modern day and age, most internet service providers offer unlimited data. However, there are still a few exceptions. These internet brands put a cap closer to TB, which becomes unnoticeable for residential internet users.
Now, you might be wondering if there is an optimal data limit for online gamers.
A simple answer to this question is to look for an internet brand that offers at least 50 MB. However, this is just a minimum limit. If you play 4k games or stream the game, you will be exhausting at least 3-7GB of data per hour.
So, to keep your options open, it is much better to look for an internet service provider with unlimited data. Especially if you are a professional gamer who likes to stream as well, you must look for an internet plan that puts a cap on at least 1 TB/month.
Connection Type
Apart from the above mentioned factors, another very important factor is connection type. For online gaming, a wired connection is considered better. This means that while paying game you need to get a coaxial cable because it ensures low latency making a lag-free gaming experience possible.
On the contrary, when you connect the device to wireless internet, it has higher ping, high latency, and less speed. As a result, the gamer gets to experience a delay in response.
As a rule of thumb, fiber, and cable are considered the best options when selecting an internet connection for gaming. For both these connection types, latency stays under 70ms, offering a smoother gaming experience.
Easy Tips to Ensure a Smoother Gaming Experience
- Stick to a wired connection, especially fiber or cable internet
- Do not rely on a Wi-Fi connection for seamless connectivity
- Lover closer to your router or modem when playing games or switch to an ISP compatible with Wi-Fi 6
- Opt for a secure WI-FI or at least have an ISP that ensures better data protection
- Make sure to reboot your router daily or at least once a week
- Use a Wi-Fi extender if the modem or router is away
- Move the router to a better location especially away from appliances like microwave, cordless, TV, etc.
- Upgrade the router to a mesh router system or opt for Wi-Fi 6
If nothing works out, maybe it’s time to upgrade the internet package or switch the internet service provider.
FAQ’s
What is the recommended internet connection type for gaming?
Fiber internet is the best option for gaming. However, in case fiber internet is not available in your area, cable internet is the second best option.
Is 500 Mbps considered enough for online gaming?
Yes, 500 Mbps is an optimal speed for gaming. In fact, 100 Mbps is also considered a good enough speed range.
Is gaming the internet expensive?
Most games can be played on residential internet, so gaming internet is not expensive at all. However, if you are a professional gamer and want dedicated internet, it will cost somewhere between $40-$100, which is an affordable range.
