It is Saturday afternoon, and the movie you have been waiting for has finally been released online. You have the subscription, time, and the right snacks. Cozying up on the couch with the softest blanket and the remote is all you need. You press and play and your TV displays the ‘check your internet connection’ sign.
We understand your frustration because then comes the never-ending wait of getting to your customer service representative. Restarting the router didn’t help, clearly. It never does.
Do you what this means? This means your internet connection is not suitable for your online activities and you need to get one that does, pronto.
Streaming is all the rage today, with smooth user experiences and zero buffering times. I mean we all remember YouTube in 2009, right? No more cheering for the grey lines instead of the red ones.
But what good is having a seamless streaming platform if you still cannot make it work? This is why choosing a good internet connection with the best internet service provider is important. Don’t worry, we have got you covered. Read on to determine your internet needs and the best internet connection for streaming movies.
What Constitutes as Streaming?
Simply put, streaming is the new term for watching stuff online. We stream videos on YouTube, gameplays on Twitch, and movies on Netflix. You get the point, right?
In technical terms, it is the constant transfer of data to your computer, which lets you watch videos and listen to music online. You do not have to download anything to your computer while streaming. As convenient as this sounds, this also means you are highly dependent on your internet connection for all kinds of streaming activities. If it’s not the right internet, your streaming is then susceptible to problems like high latency and network congestion.
In recent years, there has been a rising trend in streaming platforms. Now we have dedicated platforms for every kind of content we stream. For example, there is Audible for streaming audiobooks, Apple Podcasts for podcasts, Spotify for music, Netflix for movies and shows, ESPN for sports, etc. All in all, there are a variety of options to choose from.
In fact, the US had more than 2200 streaming platforms available for users in 2023, so you can imagine how streaming has become an integral part of our lives.
What Internet Speed Do I Need For Streaming?
When streaming videos, you may have noticed that some of these videos get pixelated. While that happens because of the dip in internet speed, this is actually how streaming platforms like Netflix, YouTube, etc. try to minimize buffering as much as possible.
However, if you have consistently terrible internet, then the streaming platforms won’t be able to do much for you. In this scenario, changing your ISP becomes inevitable. A good place to start is knowing how much internet speed you need for different streaming qualities. This information will help you in choosing the right internet plan for you and the best internet connection for streaming movies.
| Streaming Quality | Internet Speeds |
| SD (Standard Definition) – 480p | 5Mbps |
| HD (High Definition) – 720p | 25Mbps |
| 4K – 2160p | 50Mbps |
How Much Speed is Required by Streaming Platforms?
Now that we have the speed requirement for streaming quality sorted, let us get into how much internet speed different streaming platforms need.
As we mentioned above, there are multiple streaming services but since we are focusing on streaming movies online, so we will be only discussing the minimum internet speeds required for that!
However, it is important to note that these minimum speed requirements are for single devices:
- Netflix needs a minimum of 5Mbps for SD (480p) and 15Mbps for HD (720p, 1080p) streaming.
- Amazon Prime needs at least 6Mbps for SD, 13Mbps for HD streaming, and 18Mbps for 4k (UHD) TV.
- Disney+ needs a minimum of 5Mbps for HD and 25Mbps for 4K, which is the lowest speed requirement of all.
- Hulu needs at least 16Mbps for 4K and 8Mbps for HD.
- HBO Max requires a minimum of 5Mbps for HD and 50Mbps for 4k for a seamless streaming experience.
As we discussed above, these speed requirements are for single devices. If you have more users in your house who are likely to stream movies at the same as you, then you need a home internet with a higher speed.
Types of Internet Connections That Support Streaming
A high-speed internet has become synonymous with fiber internet, which has become a household name at this point. However, that is not the only type of internet connection that allows you to stream movies. Not to forget, every type of internet connection comes with its downsides.
Fiber Internet
Fiber Internet is provided to users through a fiber-optic cable. Data transmission through fiber cables is fast, almost close to the speed of light (like 70% close!). Plus, the cables are barely affected by bad weather conditions, which makes it highly reliable.
That means it is the best type of internet connection for streaming movies due to its consistently high speed. Especially when there are multiple people in your home streaming at the same time. The high speeds can easily go up to gigabytes.
The downside of fiber internet is availability and cost. Despite being mostly available in urban areas, fiber internet is not available in rural locations., So, that makes fiber internet plans costly among all the internet options.
Cable Internet
Cable internet uses copper coaxial cables to transmit data from your ISP to your home. These are the same cables used to transmit signals for your cable TV, which means that cable internet is dependent on a preexisting cable infrastructure.
Moreover, coaxial cables are limited in their ability to transmit a large amount of data, which makes cable internet speeds less reliable than fiber. The download speeds vary from 10Mbps to 1Gbps and upload speeds from only 5 to 50Mbps.
Due to relatively lower speeds, especially in peak usage, it is highly unlikely that you can stream movies in UHD. Although, you can still stream movies in SD or HD quality. However, we will only recommend cable internet due to its nationwide availability and reliability.
Wireless
As the name suggests, wireless internet allows you to receive internet through a wireless signal distributed by a cellular network tower. It is received by a receiver fit inside your home.
Since the signal travels in radio waves, the internet can have speeds as high as 1000Mbps if it’s 5G. Another alternative in wireless is fixed wireless, which is slower in speed (50Mbps).
The downside is that wireless internet is susceptible to bad weather, and can have outages in storms. It is not the most ideal for movie steaming if there is no 5G in your area.
DSL
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is another high-speed alternative internet connection that uses your phone line to transmit data. DSL follows through in its promise of consistent connectivity, even in peak hours, unlike cable internet. With speeds going up to 400Mbps (same for download and upload), DSL is a good option for streaming movies.
It is affordable but the only downside is location. You need to be close to your ISP to get DSL internet connection otherwise, the longer the distance, the lesser the quality of internet you get.
Satellite Internet
Satellite internet is a popular choice for rural and remote locations because satellite signals reach where fiber and cable cannot.
However, satellite internet is notorious for slow speeds, high latency, and data caps. This is not a good package for movie streaming but that doesn’t mean streaming is impossible with satellite internet.
You can always opt for plans with no or higher data caps. There are a variety of hacks that can greatly reduce your internet latency. All in all, satellite internet is the best option for remote areas, even though it has a slower speed than other types of internet connections.
Top Internet Connections for Streaming Movies
Now that we have the basics sorted, let us get into your best bets in an internet connection for streaming movies.
We are mentioning the most desirable options before we give you the best one in our opinion. The purpose of doing that is to allow you to know the top connections because the possibility of unavailability of our best pick in your area is always there.
Xfinity
Xfinity Internet provides internet at high speeds, with 99.99% reliability. It gives you fiber-backed cable internet, which you can think of as a hybrid between fiber-optic and cable internet.
With Xfinity Internet, you can also get a diverse range of speeds, ranging from 150Mbps to 1.2Gbps (Disclaimer: subject to change and availability). It has a variety of internet plans that cater to a plethora of internet users, having something for everyone.
Due to its high speeds and availability in 41 US states, Xfinity is a good internet connection for streaming movies. Lastly, data cap limit is set to 1.2TB. But residential data usage hardly crosses 1.2TB usage, so if you get Xfinity, you will essentially be free from the stress of data caps.
Verizon
This is a very popular choice, both in wireless (5G) and fiber internet.
Verizon offers impeccable high-speed plans on the East Coast. These plans can easily range from 300Mbps to 1000Mbps, resulting in low latency rates, which is more than enough for seamless movie streaming.
The downside of having Verizon is that it has limited availability when it comes to its fiber internet plans (Verizon Fios). Also, since it is a fiber connection, its plans are relatively pricier than other alternatives.
Google Fiber
When it comes to high-speed internet, fiber optics takes the cake. This is why we are recommending another fiber internet service provider for streaming movies i.e. Google Fiber.
Unlike its competitors, Google Fiber is an exclusively fiber-based internet connection that is a complete package in terms of value for money, low latency, and high speeds. It provides higher download speeds ranging from 5Gbps to 8Gbps in some areas.
Just like Verizon, Google Fiber’s downside is its high price (compared to all the options mentioned here) and limited availability.
Viasat
Viasat is a satellite internet provider that has pricey internet plans.
However, the reason Viasat made it to the top internet for streaming movies is its availability. It is available in all of the US and has the best speeds when it comes to satellite internet. In select areas, it has speeds as high as 150Mbps. If you are lucky enough to be in such areas, this speed is more than enough to stream your favorite movies in peace.
Despite its high latency and all the usual cons associated with satellite internet, Viasat is easily available if you reside in a remote area.
Making a Final Choice: Choosing the Best Internet Connection for Streaming Movies
Now that we have the top options sorted, let us come to the best internet for streaming movies.
Note that speed is not the only factor when it comes to streaming movies, since there are more high-speed options available in the market. An ideal internet connection for streaming movies should be a good combination of price, value for money, speed, location, and customer service.
On that note, Xfinity Internet checks all the boxes. It is not overly pricey which is why it provides great value for money to an average residential internet user. Plus, due to its reliance on hybrid fiber-coaxial cable, Xfinity gives the best of both worlds. It has also fewer downtimes and high speeds of fiber optic internet. It also has the affordability and availability of cable internet.
As far as its 1.2 TB data cap is concerned, if it bothers you, you can eliminate it by paying a couple of dollars extra each month. But like we said before, 1.2TB is more than enough for an average residential internet user. Lastly, Xfinity’s wide coverage and more than 20 million WiFi hotspots throughout the US ensure seamless connectivity!