The All-time Internet for Streaming 2022

Want to smoothly stream Netflix and Spotify, and livestream on Twitch? We got you covered.

If you lot'd like to smoothly stream a film on Netflix, listen to Spotify without it pausing to load, or circulate your livestream on Twitch without it buffering, you'll want to brand certain you have the correct download and upload speeds.

We've put together a quick guide for the recommended internet speeds for video streaming, music streaming, and live streaming.

Just more than importantly, we created a pinnacle five list of internet service providers (ISPs) for streaming anything and everything because nosotros know how frustrating sloooooow internet speeds can be.

So, let's notice the best internet provider for you to support your binge-watching and 24/7 music-listening demands.

What are the all-time net providers for streaming video?

Data effective 10/04/21. Offers and availability vary past location and are bailiwick to change.

* For the first 12 months. Some packages crave a 1- or 2-year contract.

due west/ Car Pay + taxes & equip. charges.

For the first 12 months plus taxes and equip. fee.

^ New customers just. Charge per unit requires paperless billing and excludes taxes. Boosted fees apply.

° For the commencement 12 months.

Let'due south see what internet providers and plans are in your area. But enter your Nix code.

What to await for in an internet provider for streaming

We're here to assist y'all find an internet provider that gives you lot uninterrupted streaming.  Nosotros're talking streaming that doesn't interruption in the middle of your Ted Lasso rampage marathon or has high latency when you're searching for new TV shows to watch on Netflix.

We want sufficient speed.

Internet provider features that work all-time for streaming:

  • Availability across the US
  • Toll for the speed y'all become
  • Our org weighted speed score

The all-time internet connection you could go is fiber, just it'due south too the least available across the Us (sigh). Fiber internet'southward speed performance is summit-tier compared to cablevision and DSL, just cable is a solid 2d selection if fiber isn't available almost you.

PS: DSL is usually ameliorate than satellite—but streaming on satellite internet is notwithstanding achievable if you accept no other choices.

Luckily, yous don't demand the most expensive plan to find the speeds y'all need. We recommend 25–50 Mbps per person for streaming, and so 100 or 200 Mbps will probable fit you or your small family unit'south needs. If you have a lot of connected devices or internet users at dwelling, then you should wait into one,000 Mbps.

If you check out the Fastest Net Providers, y'all'll see three cyberspace providers that made our listing here. But we keep cost in consideration for you, also.

Want to read more?

If you'd like to deepen your understanding with a piddling enquiry, cheque out these articles:

  • How to Speed Up Your Net
  • What Are Mbps?
  • How Much Internet Speed Do I Need?

Comcast Xfinity: Best for almost streaming apps

If y'all want a reliable, fast, and fairly-priced internet provider, you'll find it with Xfinity.

4.3 out of 5 stars

4.25

Reliably fast download speeds

Available about everywhere in the US

Prices vary widely based on location

Data constructive 02/17/2022. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to modify.

Our favorite cable internet provider and the fastest internet service is also our number one selection for streaming.

I of the many reasons we chose Xfinity as our favorite internet provider for streaming is considering Xfinity gives you reliable and fast download speeds.

No one wants to accept the movie Don't Expect Up buffering on the endmost scene when destruction is happening, or during the terminal ii minutes of the NBA Title.

Xfinity is available in 40 states, making this the almost accessible internet provider in the U.s.. Only keep in mind that the prices will vary depending on which function of the land you live in.

No matter where you lot live, the programme you and your family need will depend on how many people utilize the internet at once.

Nosotros similar Fast for families of 2–iii that might work from domicile before their night of Netflix streaming, or Superfast for families of 4.

How much does Comcast Xfinity Internet cost?

Information constructive 02/17/22. Offers and availability vary past location and are subject to modify.

** For the first 12 months with a 1-year understanding. Includes $10/mo automated payments and paperless billing discount.

Compare pricing and plans for net providers in your expanse by entering your ZIP code.

Verizon Fios Home Internet: Best fiber cyberspace

Like we said earlier, cobweb is the best performing internet. (The speeds and reliability are unmatched.) And Verizon Fios takes the crown with this connection blazon.

4.5 out of 5 stars

4.v

Fast cobweb internet speeds

Very express availability

Information effective 03/03/2022. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.

Full disclosure—we've only heard adept things near Verizon Fios Domicile Cyberspace, including its customer service (super rare, nosotros know).

Verizon Fios Internet uses a fiber connection that gives y'all fast download and upload speeds, depression latency, and dandy pricing for your wallet. Stream Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on a Lord's day morn without any lagging interruptions.

Sounds like the perfect service, right? The only matter that's holding us back from making Verizon Internet our first selection is its very limited availability in the US (we're talking nine states).

We hope 1 twenty-four hours Verizon Fios will come around. Literally.

Nosotros recommend the Internet 300/300 plan if yous take a small family or the 500/500 plan if you have a family of 4 that uses the net constantly.

If y'all accept a bigger family or y'all plan to download and upload multiple files at once, you won't exist disappointed by Verizon's Fios Gigabit Connection.

How much does Verizon Fios Home Internet cost?

Data effective 11/eleven/21. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to modify.

due west/ Car Pay + taxes & equip. charges.

†† westward/ Auto Pay.

Cheque if Verizon Fios Home Cyberspace is available in your area.

AT&T Fiber: All-time fiber culling

AT&T Fiber is the next best fiber internet service, but like Verizon Fios, the fiber connection is just available in select areas of the US.

4.3 out of 5 stars

4.25

Limited fiber availability

Data constructive 11/10/2021. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.

AT& Fiber is our runner-up Internet access provider for ultra-fast, reliable internet, only information technology's too limited and mostly available in big cities.

If these AT&T Fiber plans are accessible to y'all, the absolute best deal is the $55/month programme for 300 Mbps download speeds. Or hey, for $ten more, you could get 500 Mbps and then the whole family can stream a Idiot box series on their smartphones at once.

AT&T is the best cobweb culling to Verizon Fios Home Internet because of its performance (Verizon's speeds are just a little bit more than reliable). But if you lot don't live in one of the cities Verizon Internet is offered, at to the lowest degree your internet bill will exist slightly less expensive with AT&T.

How much does AT&T internet cost?

Data effective 01/xiv/22. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to change.

‡‡ Cost later $five/mo Autopay & Paperless pecker disbelieve (due west/in 2 bills). Plus taxes & fees. Internet speed claims correspond maximum network service capability speeds and based on wired connection to gateway. Bodily customer speeds may vary based on a number of factors and are not guaranteed. For more data, get to www.att.com/speed101.

^^ Price after $v/mo Autopay & Paperless bill disbelieve (w/in 2 bills). Plus taxes & fees. Internet speed claims represent maximum network service capability speeds and based on wired connection to gateway. 1GIG speeds avail. to new customers with the latest router ("BGW320") and recommended setup. Actual customer speeds may vary based on a number of factros and are non guaranteed.

See if one of these cyberspace services is in your expanse.

CenturyLink: Best for cost lock

CenturyLink Internet makes it simple with 2 plans—DSL (which you lot're most likely to meet) and fiber.

4 out of 5 stars

4

Cost lock with zero contracts

Confusing availability for data speeds

Data effective 11/10/2021. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject field to modify.

CenturyLink's DSL cyberspace service may non be as flashy as other providers, only it comes with low prices and unlimited data for both of its plans. Information technology's as well one of the few, if not the only, ISP that offers a price lock, meaning your internet bill won't automatically jump in toll.

The major downside to CenturyLink is that you might end up with subpar download speeds for streaming. Its DSL cyberspace plans range in speed from 15 to 100 Mbps.

If you're able to connect at 50, 75, or 100 Mbps, you should exist all correct. Only if CenturyLink merely offers speeds in your area that crawl forth, y'all might want to bank check elsewhere.

We highly recommend ordering this program if CenturyLink's fiber internet package is bachelor in your surface area. Just, allow us repeat: if it's available in your expanse (you might at present exist seeing a trend with fiber).

Y'all can probably tell by now that we really like fiber net connections, simply we just wish they were widely accessible for streamers.

How much does CenturyLink Net cost?

Data effective 10/04/21. Offers and availability vary past location and are subject to modify.

°° Paperless billing or prepay required. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges apply. Get the fastest internet speed available at your location (max speed is up to 100 Mbps).

*** Rate requires paperless billing. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges utilise. Speeds may not be bachelor in your area. Maximum download/upload speed of upwards to 940 Mbps via a wired connexion.

Enter your Zip code to see your cyberspace options.

Windstream: Best rural speeds for streaming

Windstream is one of the height internet providers for rural communities, and they offer inexpensive plans for those who want to save a buck.

3.8 out of 5 stars

3.75

No contracts or data caps

Information effective 01/21/2022. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to alter.

Windstream is our fifth selection for streaming because it could be hard to find high-speed internet with this service, but this could be i of the best choices if you alive in a rural location.

Windstream makes information technology possible for y'all to stream your Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max while you lot're cooking, doing a project, or entertaining.

When you look at the plans, you'll discover iii of the plans are the same price. This is considering prices vary by location and this is the lowest cost you can look forward to.

Another thing to notice–the plans that listing a range will tell you the exact download speeds to wait in your area when you lot finish signing up for the package.

Why does Windstream take to make it so complicated?

It's however a reliable service though! On the upside, you'll get unlimited information with Windstream's plans so you tin stream equally much of Schitt'due south Creek as you lot want.

How much is Windstream Internet?

Data effective 01/21/22. Offers and availability vary by location and are subject to modify.

††† For the kickoff 12 months. No data caps. No overage charges. 30 day money back guarantee.

What cyberspace speeds practice I need for streaming video?

To grab the latest Netflix Original or heed-boggling hit on HBO Max, yous'll need anywhere from three to 50 Mbps download speeds. (If you desire to immerse yourself in 4K glory, you'll need that top-end 25–fifty Mbps speed.)

Simply don't forget that's the recommended cyberspace speed for just one streaming service. And so if you and your family are streaming HD or 4K movies on multiple devices, you'll desire more Mbps.

Nosotros recommend at least 25 Mbps for one person, but if you lot have more than than 1 person streaming in your home, we bump our recommendation up to fifty Mbps at the minimum.

What's the all-time internet speed for streaming video?

Cheque our FAQs section for more than specific download speed suggestions for each streaming service.

What internet speeds practice I need for streaming music?

Y'all'll simply need 1–x Mbps as a starting point for streaming The Weeknd'southward latest striking. But keep in mind that you'll want more download speed as a buffer. Yous know, so yous can picket YouTube, play video games, and apply your smart thermostat while you jam out.

We aim for at least 25 Mbps, which is enough for one person. Luckily, plans with these speeds don't usually cost a lot. But like we said, we recommend this speed if you alive by yourself (*cue the music All by Myself*).

Or y'all can opt for an Internet access provider similar CenturyLink, where you sacrifice a little fleck of performance for an unlimited data program. This is swell for those who like to listen to music as they work.

Other ISPs such equally Xfinity have a 1.two TB data cap, which is unfortunate as you use about 1 GB of data when y'all've streamed music for your entire 8-hour work-day.

What's the best internet speed for streaming music?

Streaming app

Optimal download speed

Spotify Less than 1 Mbps
Pandora Less than 1 Mbps
Apple Music 7–10 Mbps
Amazon Music 7–10 Mbps
TIDAL 2–18 Mbps
YouTube Music 1–20 Mbps

Calling all alive streamers. Jump down to the FAQs section for recommended download speeds for live streaming on platforms such as YouTube and Twitch.

Enter your Zippo code to compare prices and plans in your expanse

Recap: All-time internet providers for streaming

  • Comcast Xfinity Internet : Ranging from $twenty–$95 per month and featuring speeds of 50–1200 Mbps, Xfinity ensures every streamer can find a plan that works with their budget and their streaming needs. It'due south also the most widely available cyberspace provider.
  • Verizon Fios Home Internet : With its fast download speeds and depression latency, Verizon Fios' fiber connection is the best performing internet connexion. But it's only available in nine states. If it's available in your expanse, you could go Verizon Fios for $40–$90 per month for 200–940 Mbps download speeds.
  • AT&T Cobweb : AT&T's cobweb connection is also very limited, but it's an excellent fiber alternative if Fios isn't in your surface area. You can become great-performing net for $55–$80 per calendar month with download speeds of 300–940 Mbps and unlimited information.
  • CenturyLink Internet : This net provider offers DSL internet for $50/month for 100 Mbps download speeds, or y'all tin go fiber for $65/month for 940 Mbps download speeds. We like how CenturyLink locks in the price and so yous don't accept to worry about your beak jumping upwardly in price.
  • Windstream Net : This is one of the best ISPs if you live in a rural area, and we like how you can notice a plan as depression as $40 for download speeds of 400 Mbps and $70 for 1000 Mbps. Don't forget that we suggest y'all notice the exact download speeds to expect in your expanse at checkout.

If you're not convinced that ane of these providers is for you, bank check out our superlative 8 best cyberspace service providers.

Methodology

When it comes to finding the best net service for streaming, we sifted through dozens of cyberspace providers and plans with the following in mind:

  1. Connection type (fiber, cable, DSL, satellite)
  2. Reliable and trusted visitor
  3. Fair pricing for speed operation
  4. Data caps

Cobweb is best, cable is good, and DSL is ameliorate than satellite net. Cobweb will give you bang-up speed and low latency when you're streaming Yellowstone, while satellite is the all-time pick if you don't accept access to other cyberspace connections.

Nosotros simply recommend reliable and trusted companies considering we wouldn't recommend something we don't desire.

We value fair pricing for what you go, so this will very much exist in consideration when we rank our favorite providers.

FAQs

You lot don't need a lot of speed for Netflix—only 3 Mbps to stream in SD and 5 Mbps to watch in HD. But if you need that 4K resolution in your life, then yous'll need at to the lowest degree 25 Mbps.

Hulu requires 3 Mbps to watch anything in the streaming library, at least 8 Mbps to watch Hulu + Live Telly, or 16 Mbps if you lot want to stream Hulu'southward newest Original in 4K.

Y'all'll need 5 Mbps to stream Disney+ in Hd and sing along with all your favorite songs. And for those 4K Disney shows with all their phenomenal catholic power, you lot should be equally aureate every bit Rapunzel's hair if yous have at least 25 Mbps.

You'll demand speeds of 3 Mbps or improve to get your dose of major sports networks, like NFL Network and NBA Goggle box, on YouTube Boob tube. Make that thirteen Mbps or better if you'd similar to scout the 2022 Super Bowl in Hard disk drive.

You'll need at least 25 Mbps to smoothly stream your movies, TV series, and live channels in 4K.

To livestream in 720p resolution, you'll need at least 4 Mbps. If you want better quality to livestream in 1080p, you'll desire at least vi Mbps.

Keep in mind that this doesn't include the internet speeds you'll need for gaming. Cheque out the Best Net Providers for Gaming if you need a new provider to play Madden NFL 22.

To hop on a live stream with YouTube, you'll need at to the lowest degree 8 Mbps download speeds and about ii–xviii Mbps upload speeds for 720p resolution.

Simply if you'd like your subscribers to view you in 4K, you'll want download speeds of 13 Mbps or more and upload speeds of 20–51 Mbps.

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Chantel Buchi

Written by

Chantel Buchi

Chantel is all about finding the best tv set or streaming service to watch as many football games as possible to keep her Fantasy Football team in cheque. Prior to being a TV and Streaming Tech Reporter for Reviews.org, she worked for NFL Network and The Alliance of American Football. Before that, she received a B.A. of Communication at the University of Utah and an K.Southward. in Sports Journalism at USC. Go Utes and Fight On. Contact her at chantel@reviews.org

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