what itnernet speed do you need to stream 4k

How Much Speed Do I Demand to Stream Video?

Jan 26, 2022 Share
FAQ, Internet Speed Guides, Streaming Guides

If you don't recollect the last fourth dimension you hooked upwardly your Television receiver to an antenna, yous're non solitary. Streaming video is just the norm now for most folks. But it's also one of the near bandwidth-intensive—and frequent—activities we do online. Present it's not uncommon for kids to be streaming Sesame Street on their iPads downstairs while their parents are upstairs watching Tiger Rex, or to have your roommate binge-watching Game of Thrones while you lot're watching live sports.

How tin your net connection keep up? We'll assist you lot figure it out. When looking at the recommended speeds for each platform below, make certain to add upward all the unlike services that could be running at the same time. And don't forget to budget a few Mbps for people who might be trying to work while everyone else is streaming.

How much speed exercise you need for your streaming service?

Before we become started, yous may want to test your cyberspace speed first and so yous can compare information technology to the recommended speeds.

What practise I need to stream video?

With anybody spending more time at home over the last few years, streaming video services like Netflix and Disney+ take become a ubiquitous part of life. If you're a cable TV customer thinking nearly cutting the string once and for all, this is the place to beginning.

The first matter you lot need is a good internet connection. That non merely ways an internet program that can come across the basic speed requirements, just also 1 that'due south not going to run out of data. Streaming video is one of the most data-intensive things you can do online, then look for a service that has a loftier data cap or, preferably, an internet plan with unlimited data.

The adjacent thing y'all need is a streaming service. Most services provide Tv shows and movies on demand, but in that location are besides some—like YouTube TV—that offer live TV channels, just like cablevision Television. Many of these services offer gratuitous trials, and some—like Crackle and YouTube—are completely costless. Instead of charging you for a subscription, their revenue comes from ads.

If you don't know which service to sign up for, endeavor a few and see which ones have the content you're looking for. If you're looking for more than information check out these other articles:

Disney+ vs. Netflix
HBO vs. HBO Max
4K Streaming Guide

How much speed you demand for Netflix

Netflix has very clear recommendations for speed based on the quality of video you desire.¹ Only know that the speeds listed are for streaming on a single device, and so if multiple devices on your network are watching Netflix at the same time, you need plenty speed to handle all those streams at once.

How much speed you lot need for Apple Telly+

Apple doesn't give official requirements for download speeds on its Apple Telly+ streaming service. Like about streaming services, it will adapt the quality of the video automatically to match your download speed; still, users have measured the bitrate of a 4K stream at around 29 Mbps.²

Nosotros recommend at to the lowest degree a 25 Mbps download speed if you want to watch in 4K quality. The quality of video available for Apple TV+ or for movies rented or purchased through the Apple TV app can likewise vary a lot depending on the device you're using to stream. To take total advantage of all the features Apple tree offers—4K HDR video with Dolby Atmos sound—you'll need an Apple TV 4K as well every bit a broadband connection of at least 25 Mbps.

How much speed you need for Hulu

Hulu's speed recommendations are based on picture quality and the type of content you're watching.³ Similar to other streaming providers, Hulu automatically adjusts the video quality based on internet speed. It likewise recommends higher speeds for alive content than library content. These recommendations are likewise the bare minimum, so we suggest a slightly faster connection to make sure you ever get the video quality y'all want.

How much speed yous demand for Amazon Prime Video

Like many services, Amazon automatically adjusts the quality of your videos to serve you the highest quality picture possible based on your speed.⁴ It doesn't have much in the style of speed recommendations, but it does warn that fifty-fifty if you lot're watching on a supported device, yous may experience issues below a certain connection speed. Since these are minimum requirements, we would recommend having a faster connection if possible.

How much speed you need for YouTube

Like Netflix, YouTube does a great job of making its cyberspace speed recommendations like shooting fish in a barrel to understand.⁵ YouTube likewise points out that even if your connectedness can striking these numbers on a speed examination, there are other factors like Wi-Fi operation, the type of connection, and the number of other devices on your network that can reduce your bodily speed. We'll talk more than most other factors that impact buffering below.

How much speed yous demand for YouTube Idiot box

YouTube TV Logo

*Available at an boosted charge. Device and content restrictions apply.

Although it does offering recommended speeds for reliable streaming, YouTube TV notes that you can still use the service with speeds that don't quite meet the bar.¹⁵ For instance you lot can stream an HD video with a 7 Mbps download speed, but you lot're more likely to run into buffering bug. Yous can too watch with speeds slower than 3 Mbps, but whatsoever content may load slowly or rebuffer when you lot try to watch.

How much speed you need for Disney+

Disney+ has speed recommendations that are on par with other streaming video services.⁶ If your connection is fast enough for 4K UHD video but you withal detect yourself existence served low-quality video instead, it's worth noting that some titles just aren't available in this format.

In response to the COVID-xix outbreak, Disney+ has instituted measures to lower bandwidth utilization, which means potentially limiting HD and UHD streaming.

How much speed you need for Sling Television set

Sling TV bug its speed recommendations based on the type and number of devices y'all plan to employ, recommending at least a 25 Mbps connection if you're going to be streaming on multiple devices.^seven Information technology also notes that these recommendations are for "abiding speeds," then if, for instance, you had a cable connexion that slows during peak-use times, yous want to make sure that your speed never dips beneath these requirements for Sling to run properly.

How much speed you demand for HBO Go

HBO GO doesn't give many recommendations regarding connection speed, but it does annotation that for mobile devices, either a 3G connection or a connectedness to a Wi-Fi network that meets the minimum speed is required.⁸ Its minimum requirements are also fairly low, so we recommend having a higher speed for consequent HD streaming.

How much speed you lot need for Beginning Streaming Service

SHOWTIME has simply one recommendation for streaming, withal, similar HBO GO, it strongly recommends that mobile devices use a Wi-Fi connection, though mobile devices tin can also stream video with a 4G connectedness.⁹

How much speed you need for STARZ

STARZ doesn't interruption down its speed recommendations for unlike video quality or dissimilar devices.^ten In general, it simply encourages viewers to use the latest devices and software for the all-time feel.

How much speed you need for AT&T TV At present

AT&T gives us one speed that'due south high enough to hands handle most streaming.¹¹ Simple, right? Sorry, simply Boob tube from AT&T isn't quite that straightforward. AT&T Television receiver NOW is the streaming service formerly known as DIRECTV Now. This is not to be dislocated with the new streaming service AT&T TV, which is more similar a traditional cablevision service, consummate with 2-year contracts and almanac price hikes. These two services should also not exist confused with AT&T WatchTV, which is a third TV service provided by AT&T.

How much speed yous need for VUDU

VUDU offers streaming in HDX, which is a format developed by VUDU that claims a better movie experience past preserving a film's native 24 frames per 2d frame rate.¹² If your net connexion tin't maintain the required minimum speed, you can employ the VUDU app to download the video in HDX format.

How much speed you need for Crepitation

Crackle is an ad-supported streaming service, so in addition to playback issues related to your cyberspace speed, advertisement blockers might interfere with your video.¹³ If you've checked your speed but are still having problems, effort disabling your ad blocker and see if it makes a difference.

How much speed you need for Acorn TV

Acorn Tv cites only a minimum speed requirement.¹⁴ This minimum is also fairly low compared to other streaming services. For college-quality streams, specially on multiple devices, you'll desire more speed.

What if you lot meet the minimum speed requirements and still accept problems?

Keep in mind that even if your internet speed meets the recommended speed of the streaming service you're using, you could nevertheless have trouble with the quality of your video. If someone is downloading a large file or on a video chat while you're trying to stream video, your bandwidth is going to exist split between all these activities.

Some types of net connections can experience slowdown at peak-use hours. Fast net connections likewise demand fast Wi-Fi routers that can handle multiple devices streaming at the same fourth dimension. Watching a flick on Netflix uses more than bandwidth than surfing the web, Voice over IP, or even online gaming. As such, one of the virtually basic reasons to upgrade your internet service is to make sure that the video you stream has a crisp, clear picture and buttery-shine playback.

What should you exercise if your cyberspace speed isn't fast enough for streaming?

If your internet service isn't fast enough for your streaming service, you're probably due for an upgrade. Nosotros'll assist y'all observe the fastest cyberspace service providers in your area by entering your ZIP lawmaking in the box below.

Netflix. "Net Connection Speed Recommendations," Accessed March v, 2021.
Benjamin Mayo, 9to5Mac, "Apple Goggle box+ Praised for Its High Bitrate Streaming Video Quality" November 5, 2019. Accessed March 5, 2021.
Hulu. "Net Speed Recommendations," May xi, 2020. Accessed March 5, 2021.
Prime Video. "Issues with Alive Streams on Prime Video" Accessed March viii, 2021.
YouTube Aid, "System Requirements" Accessed March 8, 2021.
Disney+ Assistance Eye, "What Are the Disney+ Internet Speed Recommendations?" Accessed March 8, 2021.
Sling, "Internet Speed Recommendations," Accessed March 8, 2021.
HBO GO Help Heart, "Supported Devices" Accessed March nine, 2021.
Showtime Help Heart, "I'm Having Trouble Getting Programs to Play/Video Is Skipping," Accessed March 9, 2021.
STARZ, "Often Asked Questions about STARZ," Accessed March 9, 2021.
AT&T. "Get Cyberspace Speed Suggestions for AT&T TV," Accessed March 9, 2021.
VUDU Customer Support, "What Are My Bandwidth Requirements to Sentry My Movies on the Spider web?" Accessed March nine, 2021.
Crepitation Help Center. "Common Video Playback Issues" Accessed March 9, 2021.
Acorn TV, "Acorn Television set Videos Are Buffering,"Accessed March 9, 2021.
YouTube TV Assistance, "Troubleshoot Video Streaming Issues." Accessed January xix, 2022.

Writer - Peter Christiansen

Peter Christiansen writes about satellite cyberspace, rural connectivity, livestreaming, and parental controls for HighSpeedInternet.com. Peter holds a PhD in communication from the University of Utah and has been working in tech for over 15 years as a reckoner developer, game programmer, filmmaker, and writer. His writing has been praised by outlets similar Wired, Digital Humanities Now, and the New Statesman.

Editor - Cara Haynes

Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she'south edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet.com for 5 years. She graduated with a BA in English and a minor in editing from Brigham Immature University. When she's not editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands similar Pluralsight. She believes no one should experience lost in internet land and that a good net connection significantly extends your life span.

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