What is the difference between upload and download speed?

But what do these really mean, and what effect do they have on your overall Internet experience? In today's article, TipsMake.com analyzes the difference between upload and download speeds, and explains which speed is more important depending on your online activity.

What is upload speed?

Upload speed refers to the speed at which your device can transfer data to the Internet. Let's say you're on a video call to someone. Your device uploads data to the Internet so the other person on the call can see and hear you from a distance.

So, for example, let's say that your home WiFi upload speed is 10Mbps (megabit/s). Each megabit contains one million bits. So a 10Mbps upload speed indicates that you can upload 10 megabits (or 10 million bits) from your device to the Internet every second.

In general, you don't want your upload speed to drop below about 2 or 3Mbps, as this will cause problems when performing certain operations. So what online activities depend on your upload speed?

An important online activity that requires good upload speed is gaming. When you play an online game, such as a multiplayer match coming from other locations, you need to constantly send data from your device to the Internet. You can try using a VPN to fix slow gaming, but this doesn't work 100% and using a VPN often negatively affects your connection speed.

The upload speed required to play the game also varies depending on your device. For example, if using PlayStation online, you need at least 2Mbps to play. On the other hand, if you are using Nintendo Switch, then a minimum upload speed of 1Mbps is required. But be aware that you may experience buffering if you play at these minimum speeds.

If you make a lot of video calls or stream live video, your upload speed is also important. Video calls require a minimum speed of 1.5Mbps, but you will need about 10Mbps higher upload speeds if you want to stream.

But upload speed is not the only important factor when surfing the web. Download speed also plays an important role.

What is download speed?

The download speed or download speed you will see in the speed test refers to how fast your device can receive data from the Internet.

Download speeds come into play if you're streaming on Netflix, installing software from the Internet, or simply loading a web page. You also need a good download speed for online gaming (as well as a good upload speed), since you are downloading information about the location of other players, the game environment, etc. In general, you need speed download speed is at least 3Mbps for basic Internet use, but 10Mbps is recommended for a smooth experience. When it comes to activities that require more bandwidth, you'll need higher download speeds to avoid long load times and caching.

Some broadband providers offer very high download speeds, sometimes exceeding 900Mbps. But you don't really need such high download speed for your daily online activities. To do all the things you normally do online, a download speed of about 40Mbps should suffice.

Streaming video content in standard display quality requires 3Mbps, but streaming 4K will require download speeds of up to 25Mbps. Surfing social media, another popular online activity, requires only a minimum speed of 3Mbps. But note that these are the minimum requirements, so they may not provide the smoothest online experience.

You'll only need superfast speeds for UHD streaming or when there are multiple devices on the WiFi network at any given time.

Why upload and download speeds are not the same?

You may have noticed that the download speed is almost always higher than the upload speed. But why is that? In general, the average Internet user will spend more time downloading content from the Internet than uploading it. Most Internet users stream movies and TV shows, check email, surf social media, and visit websites. All these operations depend more on download speed than upload speed.

Therefore, users often have a higher download demand at any point in the network. As a result, ISPs design their cables in an asymmetrical fashion, with larger download capacities to suit user needs.

Upload and download speeds define what you can do online

If you have extremely low upload or download speeds, you will be limited in what you can do online. These numbers determine how quickly you can connect with friends, how long it takes to install software, and how you can access online entertainment services.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 21 May 2022