Are you overpaying for the internet? Find out now
Reliable internet may be something you take for granted, but even the most basic plans represent a financial hardship for low-income households.
Free internet service is available in some cases. Here’s the criteria to qualify for free internet.
Do you work from home? Is someone in your house a hardcore gamer? Do you stream high-definition content from multiple devices at the same time? Your answers to these questions will help you determine how much internet speed you need.
Check yourself
How do you know if you’re paying too much if you do pay for the internet? First, make sure you’re getting what you paid for. If your plan includes 500 Mbps download speeds, you should be getting it. You won’t always see the exact number, but it should generally be close. Check your download and upload speeds at speedtest.net.
If you’re getting the speed you’re paying for but are noticing slowdowns, it could result from several factors. These include the number of connected devices, how many are streaming 4K, simultaneous streams, gaming, livestreaming, security cameras, video conferencing and more. In that case, you may need to upgrade your plan.
Another thing to check is if your router is in a good place. Walls and appliances can interfere with the wireless signal and slow everything down. You want to place your router high up and away from other electronics. Tap or click here for more tips on finding the best spot for your router.
RELATED: Find free Wi-Fi anywhere (but follow our No. 1 public network security rule)
Streaming service recommendations
Popular streaming services recommend internet download speeds to help you know what you’ll need to stream smoothly. Here are some examples:
- Netflix recommends 3 Mbps for 720p HD, 5 Mbps for 1080p HD and 15 Mbps for 4K/UHD.
- To stream YouTube videos, you should have 1.1 Mbps for standard 480p, 2.5 Mbps for 720p HD, 5 Mbps for 1080p HD and 20 Mbps for 4K.
- Skype recommends 300 Kbps for standard video calls, 1.5 Mbps for HD video calls, and 2 Mbps for group video calls of three people, and the numbers go up the more people you have in your session.
- Pandora recommends a consistent 150 Kbps for standard music streaming and at least 300 Kbps for high-quality audio.
- Amazon Music recommends at least of 1.5 Mbps or higher for uninterrupted music.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
It just got a lot easier for music to follow you around the house using Alexa
Amazon recently unleashed Multi-room audio for compatible Echo devices to the public. It makes everything from chores to party time that much more awesome.
Read on to find out how this handy feature works and how to use it.
4 ways to create and share music playlists with friends and family
Just like food, music is best enjoyed with other people. That’s why playlists are such a great way to connect with others. You can bond over your favorite songs and even develop your skills as a disc jockey.
When you’re trying to put together the perfect playlist, you might forget a specific song’s name. Luckily, you can just hum a few bars of the melody and let tech do the rest. That’s right: Google lets you search for music by humming — and you don’t have to be a good singer for it to work.
Careful, Android users: There's a sneaky reason your alarm might be muted tomorrow morning
What’s scarier than jolting out of bed with the dreaded feeling of oversleeping? While not thinking clearly, you are simultaneously trying to get your bearings together while figuring out what happened or why the alarm didn’t go off.
The best way to listen to podcasts on iPhone and Android
Podcasts are exploding in popularity, and it’s not hard to see why. They’re a fun way to gobble down the content you love, and they don’t require too much attention. While you fold laundry, do the dishes or drive to work, you can listen to engaging audio stories that uplift, educate and inspire you.
22 fun, smart and interesting podcasts worth checking out
As you face seclusion in your home for the next few weeks, finding enough activities to keep yourself and family busy can be quite a challenge. Thankfully, the internet is jam-packed with a world of ideas.
You can get busy with a well-deserved Netflix binge, play board games like Monopoly and Scrabble, or attempt a complicated puzzle. Tap or click to test your skills at the impossible ten penny puzzle.
5 apps to help seniors navigate the coronavirus pandemic
Things are pretty up in the air for everyone right now, thanks to COVID-19. It’s a challenging time in general, but it can be more challenging if you’re not even allowed to leave your home.
People over 70 are one of the most vulnerable groups, so you’re encouraged to be as isolated as possible. This can make anyone miserable, since it can be lonely. But safety comes first.
3 million cars vulnerable to serious hacking attacks
Connected cars are continually increasing in popularity. With that comes an increase in susceptibility to cyberattacks. Now hackers are using that connection to take control of smart cars. You won’t believe how they were able to do it.
Streaming music services Apple Music, Spotify and more compared
When it comes to music, everyone has their preferences. Reviews of Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora and others will help you choose.