Is Your Internet Fast Enough for Zoom?

You need only about 10Mbps of download speed to use Zoom for video conferencing, but you also need fast upload speeds, low latency, a laptop or smartphone that’s up to snuff, and a decent router or gateway.

Our guide below explains why you need more than Zoom’s recommended 1.5Mbps of download speed to have a good experience. We’ll also help you troubleshoot, shop for a great internet plan for Zoom, and offer ways to help you save on internet data during Zoom sessions.

You need a minimum internet speed of 0.6–1.5Mbps to use Zoom, but we recommend download speeds of about 20Mbps and upload speeds of about 5Mbps for the best experience.

You also need to save speed for everything else happening on your internet connection, whether that’s a kiddo gaming in another room, a roommate on a video call of their own, or app updates on your smartphone.

If you disconnect all your other devices from Wi-Fi and close all your other apps, here’s the minimum internet speed you need for Zoom.

*Data from bandwidth requirements listed on Zoom’s website.

**Zoom uses the term “high-quality video,” which doesn’t describe any industry-standard video resolution, but we interpret it to mean standard resolution of 480p.

In our Zoom testing, we experienced buffering delays, choppy video and audio, and other interruptions on Zoom calls with speeds as fast as 15Mbps. That’s why we recommend planning on at least 20Mbps of bandwidth for every video call.

The rule of thumb is that you need an internet plan with about 100Mbps of download speed per person so everyone can work, play, and stream smoothly.

Lucky for you, most internet providers offer speeds in that range. If that’s not the case for you, it might be time to switch to a faster internet provider.

How much upload speed do you need for Zoom?

Put your internet speed to the test

Take our quick speed test below to see how fast your speeds are with your current provider. Connect to your router with an Ethernet cable for the most accurate results.

Is your internet fast enough for Zoom?

Internet providers with the best Zoom speeds

Many internet providers can get you Zoom’s minimum speeds, but we wanted to highlight some of our favorites. Xfinity is probably your best bet because it has a wide network, incredibly fast speeds, and great customer ratings.

But fiber providers such as Google Fiber and AT&T give you the added advantage of having very fast upload speeds, ensuring your video feed stays strong.

T-Mobile 5G home internet also did well on our Zoom tests, and we love that it’s available almost anywhere you can get a strong 5G signal on your phone.

You can find more great providers on our fastest internet providers guide. Also, make sure to run a search to see which of these providers are available in your area.

Speed requirements for other videoconferencing apps

You need a minimum of at least 500Kbps (0.5 Mbps) to make video calls on videoconferencing apps other than Zoom.

The internet speed requirements on apps like Skype, Slack, and Google Meet are pretty much the same as Zoom’s requirements. You don’t need a lot of bandwidth to make the apps work, but a faster internet speed reduces the chance of frustrations like poor connections or dropped calls.

How to troubleshoot your Zoom connection

Step 1: See if Zoom itself is the problem

Sometime’s the problem isn’t you—it’s Zoom itself. Head over to the Zoom Status checker to see if the service is reporting any widespread problems.

Step 2: Update your Zoom app

We recommend downloading and using the Zoom app on your laptop rather than trying to join meetings from your browser or smartphone. If you’re on the app but still having trouble, make sure you’re using the latest version and have installed all the updates.

Step 3: Close other applications

If you’re on a slow internet connection, multitasking can slow down your Zoom connection. To bring your Zoom call back to normal, close out your email, web browser, and any other applications or windows you might have open.

Step 4: Restart your modem and router

The quickest and easiest way to address slow internet at home is by restarting your modem and router. Unplug both devices from the wall, let them rest for a minute or so, and then plug them back in. A simple reset clears potential bugs and programming cobwebs that may be weighing down your equipment.

Step 5: Use mobile data or a hotspot

Has your home internet cut out? Simply whip out your cell phone and log on to Zoom with your mobile data. Most cell phones also have a built-in hotspot feature, so if your cellular plan allows it, you can switch on your phone’s hotspot to create Wi-Fi access for your laptop or desktop computer.

Step 6: Switch off “Enable HD” and “Touch up my appearance”

Zoom’s “Enable HD” and “Touch up my appearance” features both take extra bandwidth and data to function, so you can get better performance by switching them off.

To turn them off, head to the video settings menu by clicking the tiny, upward-pointing arrow next to the Start Video button in the bottom left corner of your screen. There you can click off the check marks on both features.

Step 7: Turn off the Wi-Fi on other devices

The more people using your Wi-Fi connection, the more strain it puts on your home internet speed. If your kids or roommates are streaming video or playing games on their devices while you’re in a Zoom meeting, ask them to switch it off so you can get a better connection. If asking nicely doesn’t work, you can kick them off by logging into your router.

Step 8: Move your device closer to your router (or move your router to a better place in your house)

You may be in a part of the house with a Wi-Fi dead zone, where the router’s signal can’t reach your device. If that’s the case, take a seat on a couch or a chair within eyeshot of your router to improve the signal.

To improve the Wi-Fi signal, you could also move your router so it’s in a more centralized position in your house. Place it on a table or shelf, away from metal objects, microwaves, and other obstacles. If your home has multiple floors or a complex layout, consider investing in a mesh wireless system or long-range router.

Step 9: Connect to your router with an Ethernet cable

Instead of relying on a Wi-Fi signal, you can plug your computer directly into your router with an Ethernet cable. That gives you faster speeds and more reliable performance.

Step 10: Upgrade your internet plan—or switch providers

If you’re still having trouble, consider calling your internet provider to upgrade your internet speed. Or, if other options are available in your area, you can switch to a new provider that gives you faster speeds and better performance overall.

How much data do you need to use Zoom?

Even though using Zoom doesn’t require fast speeds, it can use quite a bit of data. Drawing from our knowledge of the difference between megabits and megabytes, we did some calculations to get a baseline estimate. We found that you can end up using anywhere from 0.5GB to a whopping 2.5GB per hour on a Zoom call with video enabled.

The chart below gives you an idea of some other popular tasks and how much data they devour. Zoom doesn’t appear to need as much as streaming services like Netflix—but keep in mind that your Zoom data usage could vary depending on your connection and your device.

How do you use less data on Zoom?

The best way to use less internet data while on a Zoom call is to switch off your video.

If you have strict data restrictions on your internet or mobile plan, you can save data by using Zoom as an audio-only VoIP service. By our calculations, voice calls eat up only around 31.5MB of data per hour—a fraction of how much you would use when your video is switched on. Screen sharing with no video uses 22.5–67.5MB per hour.

Of course, you won’t have to worry about that if you have unlimited data on your internet or mobile plan.

Zoom FAQs

How do you turn off HD video on Zoom?

You can turn off HD video on Zoom by clicking on the Video Settings menu and checking off the box for HD under the Camera menu. Access Video Settings by clicking on the small, upward-pointing arrow next to the Start Video button at the bottom left corner of your screen.

Do Zoom’s AI tools require faster speeds or extra data?

Zoom offers extra AI features like audio transcription, automated emails, and closed captioning, but they don’t require faster internet speeds or take up extra data on your end. That’s because the Zoom servers take on the extra data processing required. Learn more about the Zoom AI Companion.

Is 5G home internet fast enough for Zoom?

Yes, T-Mobile home internet works well for Zoom and other video conferencing apps. In our tests, we didn’t run into any problems with lag, pausing, or choppy audio and video on our 5G connection.

T-Mobile lets you cancel the service for free in the first 15 days of use, so we recommend getting it set up and running a speed test at different times of the day to see if the service will work well where you live. This is important because 5G home internet can have speed variance throughout the day, and your signal at home may be deprioritized relative to mobile traffic in the same area.

Is 25 Mbps fast enough for Zoom?

An internet speed of 25Mbps is fast enough for Zoom. That’s enough bandwidth to support one-on-one calls, group calls, and all other Zoom tasks in HD resolution. If you’re sharing Wi-Fi with four or more people, you may want speeds of at least 100Mbps to ensure a smooth Zoom connection.