Choose the Best Internet Plan for Streaming Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video has emerged to be one of the famous streaming platform of the streaming industry. The mere reason is that it has managed to keep the audience hooked with its great content library. 

However, you should have access to a stable and fast internet connection if you want to view content smoothly on Amazon Prime Video. Most of the time people do not realize that the number of devices you use and how many of them access Prime Video at once tend to determine how fast your internet needs to be. This is the reason you experience frequent buffering issues and do not actually manage to enjoy watching its content. 

Well, if you are looking for an ISP that offers incredible internet services, then we suggest you choose WOW! Internet. It offers great internet speed and multiple plans, so everyone can choose any plan as per their streaming needs and budget. You can contact its customer support team for more information regarding the internet plans. 

But if you are looking for more information regarding internet speed, then give this blog a good read.

Internet Speed Required for Streaming

Know that a lot of bandwidth is not required to stream content on Prime Video. Even if you want to stream 4K Ultra HD, then you need a minimum of 18 Mbps to stream it.

For example, five consoles streaming the same movie at the same time would only need 90 Mbps. Even when you double that amount to give each streamer some room, then you only need 180 Mbps.

But according to Amazon, in order to watch HD, you must have a minimum download speed of 5MB/second, or 40Mbps. If five people watch live content at the same time, then you might need 200 Mbps overall.  

However, let’s be honest. Five members of the average home are unlikely to stream 4K video or watch live events at the same time. In addition, not all devices can play 4K content easily.

Minimum Speed Needs for Prime Video

Amazon Prime does not clearly offer any speed requirements for viewing its content. Rather, it offers a number of support articles that specify platforms with different resolution restrictions. However, we also found that they are not exactly accurate; although Amazon claims that web browsers can handle HD content one can easily stream full HD movies.

Nevertheless, to give you an indication of the speeds you require, the best we can do is interpret Amazon’s video quality. The table below can give you a general idea of the internet speed you need to view different quality content.

So, the choice is yours! Choose an appropriate plan that suits your streaming needs. However, you should keep in mind that usually, local traffic and Wi-Fi coverage are the main hindrances to streaming, rather than your internet package. 

Yes, a Wi-Fi router that can support numerous devices at once is also necessary. But imagine the traffic bottleneck if you have five devices, as it can only download small amounts of video to them at once.

Stream 4K Ultra HD content on Prime Video

According to research, it is evident that a smooth 4K video requires around 18 Mbps of the internet because higher resolution means greater data consumption. Moreover, if five users stream at the same time equals 90Mbps.  

However, one should also know that choosing a fast internet service is just one hassle that one has to undergo if he chooses Prime Video. The major reason is that some of the web browsers are unable to play 4K content from Prime Video.

Moreover, the Prime Video App does not support 4K video playback for Mac OS, Windows, iPhone, and several other devices.

But that’s not enough! Amazon Prime Video has certain complicated video options such as Better/Best/Good Quality Video and so on are available for the users. Thus, one can get confused regarding the internet speed each quality needs.

Does Bandwidth Allowance Affect Streaming?

Yes, it does!

The quality of the video you view when streaming depends on the bandwidth available to download the content from a server. An hour of HD streaming requires about 2 gigabytes (GB) of bandwidth, but a two-hour movie requires 4 GB.

There should not be many streaming issues because fast internet is available in most homes in the country.  

For the finest picture quality and uninterrupted streaming, you will need a fiber internet connection that is 25Mbps or faster. This will allow you to watch all the amazing shows on Amazon Prime without any problems.

Choose Fiber Internet

As we previously mentioned, if five people are streaming Prime Video in 4K at once, you need to have at least 200Mbps. However, if someone wants to download a 10GB file rapidly, then you need to choose a speed tier that offers more Mbps.

So, if you ask us we suggest you choose fiber-optic internet which is known to be the best internet for streaming lovers. But keep in mind that its gigabit internet is overkill for most homes and is not necessary. To be honest, 500Mbps internet is more than adequate for a homeowner who has five streamers and gamers in the house.

Which Internet Plan Should I Choose?

Well, 90 Mbps is required by five users simultaneously streaming 4K content. So, if you double the bandwidth just in case, even thus, a 200Mbps plan should be sufficient. However, do not forget to take into account your additional internet activities such as gaming, downloading files, using cloud services, and so on.

In addition, if you have a great internet plan and still facing buffering issues then consider other external factors for this issue.  For instance, your router could be at fault, yes you might be using an old router that is unable to keep up with today’s internet speed and you are unable to notice it.

Furthermore, freeloaders or your neighbors might be using your internet connection which is why you are unable to stream content smoothly. So, change your password and secure it with a complex password. Or the idle devices might be consuming the bandwidth, so disconnect eh devices that do not need a steady internet connection at the time while you are streaming.

Finally, try using an Ethernet cable to see how the internet performs if it doesn’t work then try contacting your ISP to upgrade your internet plan.

Is Satellite Internet Good for Streaming Prime Video

It is possible to watch Prime Video using a satellite internet connection, but you will only be able to do so when you have enough bandwidth. In addition, Prime Video automatically modifies the resolution and quality according to your device, screen, and connection. However, on certain platforms and in web browsers, you can manually change the video quality as per your needs. But be prepared to face buffering issues because satellite internet connections tend to have higher latency from time to time.

All in All..

 So, we hope now you know everything about the internet speed required to stream content on Amazon Prime. So, we hope you are going to choose the right internet provider and speed tier that helps you stream content much more smoothly. If you still have any concerns we recommend you contact the customer support team of your ISP and discuss your internet usage and streaming needs with them. A good team can help you choose the right internet plan that is sufficient for your internet needs.