This Is the Internet Speed You Need for Zoom

You can use Zoom even if you have a really slow internet connection. In fact, you can make a group call on Zoom and other video conferencing apps with as little as 1.5 Mbps. Still, faster Wi-Fi always gives you a smoother connection.

See our guide below to learn what internet speed you need for Zoom. We calculated how fast your Wi-Fi should be and have lots of recommendations on how to improve Zoom over a slow connection.

You need a minimum internet speed of 0.6–1.5 Mbps to use Zoom.

That’s a baseline estimate, but you might need faster speeds depending on what you’re doing. Group video calls in the highest resolution possible call for at least 2.5 Mbps upload and download speeds—although that’s still not very fast and easy to get from basic home internet plans.

*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.

When you budget out your speed requirements, you need to factor in what else you’re doing while you’re on Zoom. In our own experience, we’ve experienced buffering, delays with video and audio, and other interruptions on Zoom calls with speeds as fast as 15 Mbps.

If you’re using Zoom with the most minimal speeds, make sure to close other applications and tell others in the house to minimize their internet use during your call so you can get a better connection.

How much upload speed do you need for Zoom?

Is your internet fast enough for Zoom?

Internet providers with the best Zoom speeds

There are a lot of internet providers that 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 like Google Fiber and AT&T give you the added advantage of having very fast upload speeds, ensuring your video feed stays strong.

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

Data from Skype, Slack, BlueJeans, Cisco Webex, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams speed requirements pages.

You need a minimum of at least 500 Kbps (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

Close other applications

If you’re on a slow internet connection, multitasking on other applications while Zoom is open 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.

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, then plug them back in. A simple reset clears away potential bugs and programming cobwebs that may be weighing down your equipment.

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.

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.

Turn off the Wi-Fi on other devices

The more people who are 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.

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.

Connect your internet through Ethernet

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.

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.

Type in your zip code below to see what types of Wi-Fi packages are available in your area:

How much data do you need to use Zoom?

*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.

You need approximately 500 MB to 1 GB of data to have an hour-long video call with one person on Zoom. Group video calls need between 800 MB to over 2 GB of data per hour, depending on the video quality.

Even though using Zoom doesn’t require very fast speeds, it can use quite a bit of your 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 0.5 GB to a whopping 2.5 GB 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 the internet you have and the device you’re on.

*Estimates based on Armstrong’s data usage calculator.

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, using Zoom as an audio-only VoIP service vastly reduces your data usage. By our calculations, voice calls eat up only around 31.5 MB of data per hour—a fraction of how much you would use when your video is switched on. Screen sharing with no video uses 22.5–67.5 MB per hour.

Of course, you won’t have to worry about that if you have unlimited data on your internet or mobile plan. Type in your zip code below to find a provider with all the GB you need.

Zoom FAQ

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.

Is 25 Mbps fast enough for Zoom?

An internet speed of 25 Mbps 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 a faster speed to ensure a smooth Zoom connection.