It's a common point of confusion. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) sells you a plan in megabits per second (Mbps), but your web browser and game launchers show download speeds in megabytes per second (MB/s). Why are the numbers so different?
The Simple Answer: Bits vs. Bytes
The key is understanding the difference between a "bit" and a "byte".
- A bit is the smallest unit of digital data.
- A byte is made up of 8 bits.
Notice the difference in capitalization: 'b' for bits, 'B' for bytes.
- Mbps = Megabits per second
- MB/s = Megabytes per second
The Math is Easy
To convert from the Mbps speed your ISP advertises to the MB/s speed you see in downloads, you simply divide by 8.
Formula: Mbps / 8 = MB/s
Example:
If you have a 100 Mbps internet plan:
100 Mbps / 8 = 12.5 MB/s
This means the maximum theoretical download speed you will see in a program like Steam or your browser is 12.5 megabytes per second. In reality, it will be slightly less due to network overhead.
Why Do ISPs Use Mbps?
Historically, data transfer speeds have always been measured in bits per second, so it's a long-standing industry convention. It also provides a larger, more impressive-sounding number, which is a clear marketing advantage.
Now that you know the difference, you can run a speed test on our site, take the Mbps result, divide it by 8, and see if your real-world download speeds match up!