400 Mbps isn’t the fastest internet speed available, but in my opinion it is good enough for gaming, streaming videos & movies, working from home, and a lot of other internet activities. However, is it suited to your needs? Can it handle all the smart devices or devices at your place? Read more to find.
400 Mbps stands for 400 Megabits per second, but the download speeds visible on our browser are Megabytes. So when you subscribe to a 400 Mbps plan, you can expect download speeds anywhere between 45-50 MB/s, and upload speeds depend on your service provider’s plan.
It might not be the fastest, yet it is faster than the average connection speed in the US. Hence, for online gaming, streaming Netflix movies, YouTube videos, Instagram, Skype, or Zoom calls, or even downloading large files, 400 Mbps internet is just perfect.
But is 400 Mbps fast enough for all users? What does it cost? What internet providers offer this service plan? How different it is from other packages? To answer these queries better, I tested Xfinity Blast! plan for 21 days, and have concluded my finding in the article below.
Contents
- How Fast is 400 Mbps, and What Activities Can You Do With It?
- Time Taken to Download Different File Types & Sizes with 400 Mbps Connection
- Can You Stream using 400 Mbps Plan?
- How is Gaming on 400 Mbps?
- Can You Use 400 Mbps for Working From Home? How’s Skype/Zoom Experience?
- How Much Does 400 Mbps Internet Cost?
- 400 Mbps vs Other Internet Speeds
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
How Fast is 400 Mbps, and What Activities Can You Do With It?
An ideal internet user won’t complain about the 400 internet speed. Downloading heavy files also doesn’t take much time with this plan.
Look at the following activities to understand better.
| Activities | Required Download Speed | Required Upload Speed | Can 400 Mbps support it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Media | 500 - 2000 Kbps | 200 - 300 Kbps | Yes |
| Messaging & Email | 100 Kbps | 12.5 Kbps | Yes |
| Web Browsing | 100 - 1000 Kbps | 12.5 - 125 Kbps | Yes |
| WhatsApp Voice Call | 100 Kbps | 12.5 Kbps | Yes |
| WhatsApp Video Call | 2-3 Mbps | 250-300 Kbps | Yes |
| Skype HD Call | 1-3 Mbps | 125 - 300 Kbps | Yes |
| Skype Group HD Call | 4-5 Mbps | 500 - 600 Kbps | Yes |
| Zoom HD Call | 3.5-4 Mbps | 400 - 500 Kbps | Yes |
| Zoom Group HD Call | 4-5 Mbps | 500 - 600 Kbps | Yes |
| Watching YouTube Videos [480p] | 500 - 1000 Kbps | 200 Kbps | Yes |
| Watching YouTube Videos [1080p] | 2-3 Mbps | 250 - 300 Kbps | Yes |
| Streaming Netflix [720p] | 1.5-2 Mbps | 250 Kbps | Yes |
| Streaming Netflix [1080p] | 5-7 Mbps | 600-800 Kbps | Yes |
| Online Gaming | 3-4 Mbps | 300 - 400 Kbps | Yes |
| Streaming Audio Music | 400 Kbps | 50 Kbps | Yes |
Time Taken to Download Different File Types & Sizes with 400 Mbps Connection
With a 400 Mbps download speed, you can take up to 17 gaming sessions and download a file of 170 GB in just 1 hour. Also, this plan allows music lovers to stream up to 666 Spotify sessions. Even you can take Zoom HD video calls without any lag.
Anything above 25 Mbps is considered good enough for streaming videos, gaming, uploading and downloading large files. The duration, however, depends upon the plan you are using. 400 megabits per second can allow you almost all data-intensive tasks.
| Type & Size of File | Download Duration |
|---|---|
| Email Attachments [Up to 25 MB] | 0.5 Seconds |
| 1080p Videos [Up to 1.5 GB] | 30 Seconds |
| HD Movie [Up to 3 GB] | 1 Minute |
| Mobile Applications [Up to 40 GB] | 13-14 Minutes |
| HD Music Album [Up to 500 MB] | 10 Seconds |
Can You Stream using 400 Mbps Plan?
Netflix HD videos have a bandwidth of 25 Mbps per stream in case of download speed. So, is 400 Mbps good for streaming? Well yes, you can stream Ultra HD Netflix videos almost 16 times. YouTube videos have even less bandwidth, a maximum of 5 Mbps, which means you can watch as many as 80 such videos.
Audio streaming platforms like Spotify or Apple Music require up to 1 Mbps internet speed. So, with this plan, almost 666 Spotify streams can be enjoyed at the same time. A huge number indeed for the concerned speed plan.
How is Gaming on 400 Mbps?
In the case of online gaming, you need to consider both upload and download speed for a smooth and lag-free gaming experience. A bandwidth of up to 3 Mbps is said to be ideal enough for gaming. With the 400 Mbps, you can simultaneously have almost 60-70 online gaming sessions.
Note that you must have a good gigabit cable modem and a capable dual-band or tri-band routing unit to experience low-ping gaming.
Another thing is downloading games. High-end games like Quantum Break, having a 178GB file size, can be downloaded in just 1 hour with an internet speed of 400 Mbps. So, that easily answers your question is 400 Mbps good for gaming? Also, low-end games like Minecraft, Puzzle games will take you just 4-5 seconds to download.
Can You Use 400 Mbps for Working From Home? How’s Skype/Zoom Experience?
Encountering lag or slow network issues when video calls can be super annoying, but is it the same case with 400 Mbps? Absolutely not! This internet plan can make your Zoom, WhatsApp or Skype calling experience pleasant.
Zoom video calls have a bandwidth of 3.8 Mbps for HD calls. So, with 400 Mbps WiFi, you can make up to 10 HD Zoom calls simultaneously. In the case of 720p HD calls, an entire office can do the calling at the same time.
Coming to WhatsApp calls, almost 150 devices can remain connected at the same time. Similarly, Skype calls allow up to 300 connected devices with this plan.
How Much Does 400 Mbps Internet Cost?
The plan and pricing of the 400 Mbps speed depend upon the Internet provider and region you are subscribing to. Generally, the price ranges somewhere between $30-$70 per month. Before subscribing to any plan, you must check its upload and download speed.
Internet Providers That Offer 400 Mbps Plan
| Internet Provider | Service Package | Max Download Speed | Max Upload Speed | Price | Link to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breezeline | Unlimited Ultrafast | 400 Mbps | 40 Mbps | $40/Mo | |
| WOWWAY | Internet 500 | 400 Mbps | 30 Mbps | $55/Mo | |
| Windstream | Windstream 400 | 400 Mbps | 30 Mbps | $47/Mo | Buy Now |
| Xfinity | Blast! | 400 Mbps | 40 Mbps | $101/ Mo | Buy Now |
| Higher Plans | |||||
| Optimum | Optimum 500 | 400 Mbps | 35 Mbps | $60/Mo | Buy Now |
| Spectrum | Internet Ultra | 400 Mbps | 20 Mbps | $70/Mo | Buy Now |
| AT&T | Internet 500 | 400 Mbps | 40 Mbps | $65/Mo | Buy Now |
| Verizon | Internet 500/500 | 450 Mbps | 35-40 Mbps | $70/Mo | |
| Midco | Internet 500 | 400 Mbps | 30 Mbps | $80/Mo | |
| Cox | Ultimate 500 | 350 Mbps | 35 Mbps | $80/Mo | Buy Now |
400 Mbps vs Other Internet Speeds
| Internet Plan | Download Speed* | Upload Speed | Summary | Ideal Users | Suitability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Mbps | 0.625 MB/s | 768 Kbps | Slow | 1 | Browsing on Single Device |
| 10 Mbps | 1.25 MB/s | 1.7 Mbps | Basic | 2 | Browsing on 2 Devices |
| 25 Mbps | 3.125 MB/s | 3 Mbps | Average | 3 | Browsing on 2-3 Devices |
| 50 Mbps | 6.25 MB/s | 10 Mbps | Good | 4 | Social Media / Content Creation |
| 100 Mbps | 12.5 MB/s | 11 - 12 Mbps | Very Good | 5 | High-Graphic Gaming on Consoles |
| 200 Mbps | 25 MB/s | 20 - 25 Mbps | Decent | 10 | HD Streaming on Multiple Devices |
| 300 Mbps | 37.5 MB/s | 32 Mbps | Better | 15 | Home Use with a Few Smart Gadgets |
| 400 Mbps | 50 MB/s | 35 Mbps | Fast | 20 | Small Offices / Small Businesses |
| 500 Mbps | 62.5 MB/s | 60 Mbps | Very fast | 25 | Modern Homes with Lots of Gadgets |
| Gigabit | 125 MB/s | 100 - 120 Mbps | High-Speed | 30 | Hotels, Hostels, or Office Premises |
Frequently Asked Questions
For families having heavy internet usage, 400 Mbps speed is good enough. Businesses dealing with heavy online traffic and multiple device support can also subscribe to this plan.
It depends on your usage but on average, a 400 Mbps internet speed can support up to 5-7 devices easily. In case of heavy internet usage like Netflix streaming and PS4 gaming. And if your work involves just regular web surfing and emailing, this number can go as high as 800 devices.
400 Mbps internet is capable of handling your work from home needs much more easily. You need a minimum of 100 Mbps download speed, and 10 Mbps upload speed, which is achievable with this plan.
Before subscribing to any plan, first, consider the number of devices and people using that plan. A 400 internet is good enough if you are more into online gaming and Netflix HD streaming regularly. While for work-from-home or basic video streaming, an internet speed of 100 Mbps is also sufficient.
First, understand what your need is. For Content creators, YouTubers, Gamers and businesses dealing with data-intensive work, 400 Mbps is better. While for regular work-from-home usage and small families, 200 Mbps is fast enough.
1 Gigabit or 1000 Mbps is technically a much higher internet speed. Generally, such high internet speed is not needed. As mentioned in the gigabit mesh systems article, it is well-suited for places where a lot of people can connect their devices at the same time, like schools, airports, etc. 400 Mbps is good for families and businesses having frequent internet needs.
Conclusion
An internet speed of 400 Mbps is faster than the average speed and can get your work done easily, even if each member of the family is on heavy-internet usage. With this plan, you get a download speed of approximately 350-400 Mbps.
You can download heavy games like Fortnite, deal with business calls, and stream Netflix videos easily. However, before subscribing to any plan, you must be clear about the number of people and devices sharing the internet.
Thank you very much!