Selecting the right internet plan for your home is crucial for ensuring seamless connectivity across all devices used on your network. But with various types of connections available – like DSL, cable, satellite, and fiber optic – making a confident choice can be a challenge.
Once you settle on a provider, you’ll have to choose a service package, and that can be even more confusing. Most providers offer several tiers with varied bandwidth and speed options, but if you don’t know what you need, the sales rep may talk you into the most expensive option.
Worse, you could end up committing to a type of internet that isn’t a good fit for your household. For example, you might see an ad for “high-speed DSL” and sign up, thinking it’s going to be fast. When you realize you can’t host group Zoom calls or play games online and try to cancel, you’ll be required to pay to get out of your contract.
Understanding the differences between internet connections and knowing the factors that impact speed can help you avoid these scenarios and get a plan that meets your household’s needs.
Here’s what you need to know.
Table of Contents
Speed matters more for certain activities
Since speed is often touted as the most important aspect of an internet connection, you might be wondering if you should just buy the fastest plan possible. While you certainly won’t regret having super fast internet, if it’s not actually necessary, you’ll be wasting money. Browsing the internet, checking email, watching YouTube videos, and streaming an occasional movie won’t require a top-tier plan.
On the other hand, if you have gamers or people who frequently stream media in your household, getting fiber optic high-speed internet will be a game changer. With speeds up to 8 Gbps, multiple people can either game or stream media at once.
Not all high-speed plans are truly high-speed
You may have noticed that nearly all internet providers label their services “high-speed, but that term can be misleading. Technically, everything is high-speed compared to dialup, but even the most expensive high-speed plan can fall short of your needs when you buy the wrong service.
For example, cable and DSL are both labeled “high-speed,” but DSL is just one step above dial-up, and cable isn’t much better. The average DSL download speed can range between 1-100 Mbps, but in some areas it’s limited to 30 Mbps. On the high end, high-speed DSL almost reaches the bottom end of a cable connection, which averages around 210 Mbps for downloads.
To get speeds upwards of 1GB-10GB suitable for gaming, streaming, and group video conferencing, you’ll need a fiber optic connection.
Your location matters
While speed is important, there are other factors to think about, like your location. If you live in a rural area, you may only have a choice between DSL or satellite providers. And you might be surprised to learn that satellite isn’t automatically faster than DSL.
For example, Starlink offers decently high speeds in the range of 200 Mbps+ for satellite internet, but maximum speeds are rarely reached for a sustained period of time. In reality, it doesn’t take much for a fast satellite plan to sink to DSL speeds of 20 Mbps or less when congested. This typically happens during peak hours (6PM-11PM) and in remote areas where speed is automatically throttled.
Traffic congestion is a problem for all shared internet connections, including cable. Having sufficient bandwidth is the only way to mitigate the slowdown caused by high traffic congestion. Your connection will still slow down a bit during busy times, but not like it would with a slower plan. If DSL or satellite are your only options, choose the faster plan to get the most out of your service during peak hours.
Reliability trumps speed
At the end of the day, the reliability of your internet connection matters most. An ultra-fast connection that cuts out or lags all the time won’t be a pleasant experience.
The best way to choose an internet plan for your household is to assess your needs first and then look for a provider with a positive reputation that offers suitable plans. Knowing what you need before looking at your options will empower you to make an informed decision and avoid being sold on services that don’t meet your needs. The last thing you want is to sign a contract for the wrong services or get stuck paying for more than you need.
