Internet speed, in depth.
Practical, in-depth guides on the questions people ask most — gaming ping, 4K streaming, slow connections, and what your ISP is really doing. Each one is written to actually answer the question, then points you back to a free test.
What is a good ping for gaming?
A good gaming ping is under 50ms, and under 20ms is ideal for competitive play. Learn what ping does to your game, the thresholds by genre, why jitter matters as much as ping, and how to lower yours.
Read guide →How much speed do you need to stream 4K?
Streaming services recommend about 25 Mbps per 4K stream, though modern codecs let Netflix and YouTube run closer to 15-20 Mbps. Learn the real per-platform numbers, how to size a multi-device household, and why stable speed matters more than peak speed.
Read guide →Why is my speed slower than I pay for?
Your speed is usually lower than your plan because providers advertise 'up to' peak speeds, and Wi-Fi, distance, peak-hour congestion, old hardware, and shared devices all reduce it. Learn what's normal, what isn't, and how to diagnose where the loss happens.
Read guide →How to increase your internet speed
Most speed problems can be improved for free: go wired, reposition your router, switch to 5 GHz, change Wi-Fi channel, pause background apps, and try faster DNS. Learn the fixes that actually work, in order of impact, before you pay for a faster plan.
Read guide →What is internet throttling?
Internet throttling is when your provider deliberately slows your connection, often for specific activities or after a data cap. Learn the common types, how to detect it with before-and-after speed tests, why a VPN can reveal it, and what your rights are.
Read guide →Know your numbers first
Most of these guides start with a speed test. Run yours — ping, jitter, download and upload, measured in your browser.
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