Looking for the right internet bundle can be tricky; there’s a lot of choice on the market, and all the terms and contract lengths can get intimidating. You’re not sure what you need for your purposes, or what providers even service your area. Let’s break it all down for you with a few important questions.
Depending on what you want to use the internet for, you’ll have to factor your main needs into your decision. Are you online a lot? Or are you rarely online? Do you use the internet for work related purposes? Or do you want a strong internet connection for gaming and/or streaming?
For those who are always online, or want to use the internet for entertainment purposes, a heavy duty package is what you’ll need to go for. If you’re rarely using the internet, such as needing to just look up a few things or use online banking services, a low duty package is what you’ll require instead.
All of the possible bundles you could need should be listed out on an ISP’s website. So instead of searching up the first ISP near me and going with their services, take some time to make sure they can offer a bundle that’s suited to your purposes.
How Will You Connect?
This is often dependent on where you live, and what kind of connections are available in your area. The most common connections include:
- Fiber-Optic – known for superfast speeds and strong service; can be expensive, and is least likely to be available in your area.
- Cable – a standard connection for most, combining a variety of cables to provide faster internet access; can be budget friendly
- Satellite – used to cover rural areas with poor potential coverage; can be expensive to set up but is an incredibly stable form of connection
- Mobile – uses a mobile signal to connect to the internet via the use of a ‘dongle’; one of the more budget friendly yet inflexible types of internet coverage
All of the above can have their own add ons based on which provider you work with. So look up internet providers for my area, see which of the above connections they offer, and decide which one works best for your needs and budget.
How Much Data Do You Need?
Data is often related to the use of the internet on a mobile device, using 3G, 4G, and 5G. However, your home internet package will also make use of monthly data allowances to allow you to connect. And based on what you want to use the internet for, you’re going to need various different data allowances.
Most ISPs sell ‘Unlimited’ packages, which has become commonplace in the past 10 years. With an unlimited bundle on your side, you can download, visit, watch, game, and steam as much as you like without reaching a cap and getting your connection cut off. However, an unlimited package can still be a bit pricey for some people, so it’s good to know what kind of data you’ll need to buy based on your usage.
- If you just want to casually browse, and/or use email inboxes, you can safely rely on 10GB.
- If you want to use TV, film, and video streaming platforms, you’ll need upwards of 20GB.
- If you want to access online gaming sites, as well as use the internet for all other purposes listed above, you’ll need at least 40GB.
What Speed Would Suit You?
Now’s the time to think about the speed of the internet in terms of your usage. We all need different speeds based on the way we use the internet, and not all speeds are going to be capable of the same actions.
For example, if you can take your time and don’t mind waiting for things to load and download, based on your light use of the web, you can stick with a standard internet speed of 11mbps. This is good for those who just want to email, message, and casually surf.
However, if you’re someone who gets annoyed at a slow loading website, or a picture that just won’t seem to download at all, you’re going to want to purchase a bundle that promises a rate of at least 50Mbps. With a Fiber-Optic package, you’re guaranteed to get a speed of 70Mbps+, which is great for anyone looking to stream and game.
Buying an internet bundle should never be confusing; do some research before settling into a policy.
