Is 10 Mbps Fast in 2023? Is It Sufficient?

In 2023, an internet connection of 10 Mbps is not considered fast. It’s adequate for light web use like checking email, surfing, reading blogs, and downloading small files.

If more than two people will be using the internet simultaneously, I would recommend at least 30 Mbps.

A connection with only 10 Mbps is painfully slow. A 1 GB file would take around 14 minutes to download.

Is it sufficient to use 10 Mbps for a single user? Exactly how useful is it? Do you recommend signing up for this speed plan?

After three days of using AT&T’s most basic internet service, I was able to provide some answers to the questions posed above.

How Fast is 10 Mbps?

To understand if 10 Mbps is good or bad, let’s have a look at the bandwidth requirements of different internet activities and know if it can support it:

Is 10 Mbps Fast
Online Activities Minimum Required Upload Rate Upload Rate Prerequisites Does it work with 10 Mbps?
Social Media (Facebook/Twitter
/Instagram/Tiktok)
500 – 2000 Kbps 200 – 300 Kbps Yes
Messaging & Email 100 Kbps 12.5 Kbps Yes
Web Browsing 100 – 1000 Kbps 12.5 – 125 Kbps Yes
Google Meet
Voice Call
100 Kbps 12.5 Kbps Yes
Google Meet
Video Call
2-3 Mbps 250-300 Kbps Yes
Skype HD Call 1-3 Mbps 125 – 300 Kbps Yes
Skype Group HD Call 4-5 Mbps 500 – 600 Kbps Yes
Zoom HD Call 3.5-4 Mbps 400 – 500 Kbps Yes
Zoom Group HD Call 4-5 Mbps 500 – 600 Kbps Yes
Watching YouTube Videos [480p] 500 – 1000 Kbps 200 Kbps Yes
Watching YouTube Videos [1080p] 2-3 Mbps 250 – 300 Kbps Yes
Streaming Netflix [720p] 1.5-2 Mbps 250 Kbps Yes
Streaming Netflix [1080p] 5-7 Mbps 600-800 Kbps Yes
Online Gaming 3-4 Mbps 300 – 400 Kbps Yes
Streaming Audio Music 400 Kbps 50 Kbps Yes

Is 10 Mbps Good For Streaming?

When it comes to online video streaming, YouTube is where most people start. Just with that shall we begin?

If you only have one or two devices online at once, a 10 Mbps connection will suffice for streaming videos from services like YouTube.

Sharing the outcome with another person will change it in some way. You may be wondering if 10 Mbps is adequate for Netflix.

Online bandwidth requirements for the OTT platform average around 25 Mbps. Therefore, a speed plan of 10 Mbps will not be very helpful.

There could be a delay in service. On the other hand, audio streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music only need 0.6 Mbps of bandwidth. So, you can connect up to 15 devices at once and listen to music via streaming.

Is 10 Mbps Good for Gaming?

It is not necessary to have a very fast connection in order to play games online. It has been said that the sweet spot for gaming bandwidth is between 3 and 8 Mbps.

This could, however, be an exception for more advanced games like Mortal Kombat and Counter-Strike. A connection speed of at least 50 Mbps is required to play these games smoothly.

Playing minor strategy games or puzzle games is fine on a 10 Mbps connection because they use fewer data. It’s also worth noting that roughly 5-6 people can play these games simultaneously using the same internet plan.

On average, 12 Mbps is needed for mid-tier games like shooting games or racing games. If you only have a 10 Mbps connection, you might experience some lag when playing these games.

Once more, playing even moderately demanding games over a shared connection is not a good idea.

As I discussed in my guide to choosing a router for gaming, a lower latency makes for a more enjoyable gaming experience.

Average Latency Summary
Less than 20 Ms Excellent for use in gaming
20-50 Ms Experience with gaming that is about average
50-100 Ms Observable lapses in speed
100-200 Ms a sluggish overall gaming experience
200-500 Ms Slow to a crawl
500 Ms+ Detectable lags

Is 10 Mbps Good or Bad for Video Conferencing?

The recommended bandwidth for a Google Meet video call is 0.6 Mbps to 1.5 Mbps. So, anything higher than that is recommended for Google Meet conferences.

One-to-one Google Meet calls necessitate a connection speed of 1.2 Mbps both ways. A bandwidth of 1.5 Mbps is required for group calls.

When only six or seven people are using a single 10 Mbps WiFi connection, everyone can enjoy high-quality video calls.

Skype is also used for video conferencing, but its high bandwidth requirements mean that connections of less than 10 Mbps are not recommended.

Apps like GMeet require up to 1.2 Mbps, so a group of 6-7 people sharing a 10 Mbps connection should be fine.

Downloading Files with 10 Mbps Internet

A 10 Mbps connection can take up to two seconds to download a high-resolution photo or open a web page.

The time it takes to download an MP3 file is almost 4 seconds, while the time it takes to download a mobile app can be as long as 24 seconds.

Activity Download time
Web Browsing 2 seconds
Sending Email <0.1 seconds
Downloading Video 4 seconds
Downloading a Software 24 seconds
Downloading Picture 2 seconds

Money Required for 10 Mbps Connection

WiFi speeds of 10 Mbps are typical for residential broadband connections. The cost of 10 Mbps connections varies depending on the package selected.

In addition, this speed is unmatched by any cable internet service. Thus, it is typically associated with prepaid LTE data plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a connection speed of 10 Mbps sufficient for working from home?

It is possible to work from home with a connection of this speed. However, only one person can make use of it at a time.

If more than one person uses it at the same time, there will be lag and the speed will be slowed down.

Is 10 Mbps good for Microsoft Teams?

The upload and download speeds for 1:1 calls between team members must be 1.2 Mbps. You need a speed of 1.5 Mbps in order to make group calls. So, it should not be a problem.

How many devices can a 10 Mbps plan support?

It is dependent on the application. If browsing the web or checking email is the plan, then the plan can be supported by anywhere from five to eight devices. On the other hand, if you need to stream videos in high definition, you only need one device.

Wrap Up

If you’re the only one using the connection, then a speed of 10 Mbps is fine. Videos, games, and video chats can all be streamed.

However, 150 Mbps is preferable if there are many users or devices sharing the connection.

More people using the internet at once can slow it down and cause delays. Similarly, it may take some time for large files to download.

You should evaluate your expectations and needs before committing to an internet plan.

Further Read:

  1. Can 1 Mbps Be Considered Fast
  2. Is 300 Mbps Fast For Gaming?
  3. Cancel Cox Services – Complete Guide
  4. Xfinity Modem/Router Blinking Blue – Causes And Fixes
  5. What To Use 5GHz Vs 2.5GHz In 2023