You are not alone if you can’t recall the last time you connected your Television to an antenna. For most people, streaming service is more important than TV service and that is now the standard. However, it’s also one of our most bandwidth-intensive—and frequent—online activities.
It’s still not uncommon for kids to watch Stranger Things on their mobile phone upstairs while their parents watch their favorite TV series on smart TV downstairs, or for your roommate to binge-watch Vikings as you watch live sports on your TV.
The time is changing and now many people are switching to streaming services because of multiple reasons. Customers have been exploited by cable providers over the years by raising monthly service prices without justification, as well as taxes, fees, and other surcharges. People are cutting cords because their concerns are legitimate.
Most streaming platforms offer on-demand TV shows and movies, but there are others, such as Sling TV which also offer live TV channels, exactly like cable TV. Many of these streaming platforms offer free trials, and others are fully free, such as Crackle. They make money via adverts rather than charging you for membership.
Although streaming services are not the ideal option, they do make a compelling argument. There are no commitments and the monthly fees are reasonable. To enjoy your streaming services, you’ll most likely require a high-speed internet connection like Cox Internet which you can use for multiple other activities as well.
Given the sort of content it provides and the download speed needs, each streaming service is intrinsically distinct from the others. Therefore, we have put together a detailed reference to all of the biggest live TV streaming services’ internet speed needs.
Table of Contents
1. Netflix
Netflix is currently the most used streaming platform not just in America, but in the whole world because of the variety of content you get from it. If you have Netflix, you can never get bored. There will be always something for you to watch. Remember that Netflix doesn’t offer any Live TV content. You will be getting access to the only content, which is available on Netflix.
Netflix provides highly specific speed recommendations based on the video quality you desire, which is usually 3 Mbps for standard definition and 5 Mbps for HD viewing. Just keep in mind that the speeds indicated are for single-device streaming; if numerous devices on your network are viewing Netflix at the same time, you will need more bandwidth to support all of them.
2. YouTube Live TV
Cord-cutters love YouTube Live TV since it gives them access to all of the big cable channels at a very economic rate. It features the best of both streaming and cable programming. The membership includes unlimited cloud DVR storage, allowing you to record all of your favorite shows. You can also utilize the on-demand option to get fast access to a variety of titles.
YouTube Live TV should not be compared to Netflix or Amazon Prime Video because it caters to a different audience. It provides a live cable TV experience with all of the prominent channels to help you feel better. It offers you comedy, action, mystery, realism, drama, and whatnot.
Furthermore, YouTube Live TV allows you to view all of your favorite channels on an internet-connected smartphone.
Now the question is how fast do you need your internet speed connection to watch YouTube Live TV? To stream the channels in standard definition quality, YouTube recommends that you have a download connection of at least 3 Mbps.
If you want to do HD streaming, you are going to need a minimum download speed 5Mbps. However, if you want to do 4K streaming, 5Mbps won’t work. You need around 25Mbps speed, more or less.
If numerous devices are connected to the network at the same time, then you can face issues regarding speeds. YouTube recommends a connection speed of 13 Mbps or higher for reliable HD streaming across multiple devices.
3. Sling TV
Sling TV, in contrast to others, is a less expensive TV streaming service. It distinguishes itself in the market due to its reasonable monthly fees. The streaming service industry is already crowded, and a typical Sling TV membership costs around $35 per month, which makes the customer happy.
Surprisingly, the top-tier package costs around $50, which is still less than most of the other alternatives. Because of the UI interface, Sling TV is behind YouTube Live TV.
It is not as simple or intuitive to use as some of the other streaming platforms. The channel lineup, on the other hand, is incredible, and the video quality is decent.
To enjoy high-quality video on high-end displays like TVs, PCs, or Macs, you’ll need at least 5 Mbps. Sling recommended that you have an internet connection of at least 25 Mbps from your internet service provider if you have multiple devices using the internet at the same time.
4. Philo
This is another great option for cord-cutters and requires a monthly charge of under $20 for the service. Philo is best suited for people who love food or traveling content. It has all the popular food and travel channels. On top of that, it gets you a compelling variety of heavy hitters like AMC, BET, Comedy Central, and Food Network.
Internet speed requirements are similar to others. You need 3 Mbps for standard definition streaming and 7 Mbps for high-definition streaming. However, 13 Mbps is recommended for reliable HD streaming on multiple setups.
Summing it up
It is preferable to have high-speed internet at home, regardless of whatever streaming service you choose. The optimal download speed varies for each household, but for high-definition streaming, a connection of at least 25 Mbps is recommended.
