What broadband speed do I need for gaming?
Lag and poor responsiveness can really ruin an online gaming session. Make sure you've got a broadband package that's fast enough for the job with our one-stop guide.
Featured Deal
Call Hyperoptic 0333 242 0295
150Mb Fibre Connection - Broadband & Phone.
New customers onlyCall Hyperoptic - 03300 291 603The same upload and download speed
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159Mb average* speed
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No setup costs
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24 month contract
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£22.99
per month -
Increasing to:
£25.99 on 1 Apr 2026
£28.99 on 1 Apr 2027
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£26.74 Avg. monthly cost
No setup costs
-
New customers onlyCall Hyperoptic - 03300 291 603The same upload and download speed
Call Hyperoptic 0333 242 0295
150Mb Fibre Connection - Broadband & Phone
New customers onlyCall Hyperoptic - 03300 291 603The same upload and download speed
-
159Mb average* speed
-
No setup costs
-
12 month contract
-
-
£23.99
per month -
Increasing to:
£26.99 on 1 Apr 2026
-
£26.24 Avg. monthly cost
No setup costs
-
New customers onlyCall Hyperoptic - 03300 291 603The same upload and download speed
*Average speeds are based on the download speeds of at least 50% of customers at peak time (8pm to 10pm). Speed can be affected by a range of technical and environmental factors. The speed you receive where you live may be lower than that listed above. You can check the estimated speed to your property prior to purchasing.
Fibre/cable services at your postcode are subject to availability. You can confirm availability on the provider's website.
Some broadband providers may increase monthly prices each year during your contract. Please refer to individual broadband provider's terms and conditions before signing up.
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Why do I need gaming broadband?
Whether you’re downloading games, installing updates or streaming live games where you compete against thousands from all around the world, a fast and reliable service makes your gaming experience better, smoother and faster. As games and software becomes more advanced, this becomes ever more important.
The general rule for gamers is the faster your broadband the better your gameplay experience. Ultrafast broadband deals can provide download speeds of more than 100Mbps, which will handle even the most demanding games. But most gamers can probably get by with an entry-level fibre package.
What should I consider when looking at broadband for gaming?
As a gamer, there are a number of things to consider before signing up for a broadband package. These include:
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Speed
Ensure you have the bandwidth you need to stream or download gaming content with an internet connection of at least 50Mbps. The gameplay will not only be faster, but if anyone else in the household starts using the internet at the same time, you shouldn’t experience a loss in quality. Do a speed test on your line to make sure you can actually achieve the promised speed from any broadband package offered.
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Download limits
Most packages now offer unlimited downloads. If not, and you’re a heavy gamer, you should probably avoid. But look for Truly Unlimited broadband if you want a deal where your provider won’t apply either a fair usage policy or traffic management that can slow the connection during peak periods.
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Type of connection
Generally speaking, fast fibre optic connections are best for gaming. This is because they don’t rely on ageing copper wires to deliver the broadband to your home. If you can get them in your area, look for providers that offer FTTP to ensure you're connected to the network end-to-end with fibre. Many fibre providers only use fibre to the exchange and still rely on copper wires into your home.
Which providers offer broadband deals for gaming?
Believe it or not, your broadband speed doesn’t have to be super fast in order to play games.
In fact, you’ll only need around 5Mbps to play most online games, though it’s better to go for extra speed if you can – especially if you live in a busy household. To that end, a fibre optic package is well worth a look. It means both your download and upload speeds will be fast and stable enough for most online games.
There isn't really such thing as a specific gaming broadband package, but there are plenty of deals that offer a good enough connection to play.
Here’s just some of the providers who offer fibre deals:
Virgin Media – offers download speeds as high as 1130Mbps, making it one of the fastest providers in the UK. Indeed, for gamers it’s a no brainer, though you should be prepared to pay a little more overall l, as Virgin Media isn’t the cheapest.
BT – Go with BT and you can expect packages with ample speeds for gaming. And if you’re worried about not being able to get a sturdy connection in every room of your house, BT Complete WiFi offers wall-to-wall coverage in every room of your home.
TalkTalk – With TalkTalk, you’ll get affordable fibre packages with average download speeds of 67Mbps – plenty fast enough for online gaming. Other perks include one of the cheapest TV packages around and a top notch customer service team.
Sky – Sky broadband offers truly unlimited fibre packages, so you can download as much as you want. Moreover, it also boasts one of the UK’s most impressive TV offerings, with channels like Sky Atlantic showing some of the most popular TV shows.
Plusnet – Like TalkTalk, Plusnet offers affordable and simple broadband packages. It’s not got much in the way of extras, but its packages are easy to understand and you’ll get decent bang for your buck.
How to compare and switch broadband
There are three simple steps to compare broadband deals and switch providers
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Check you're out of contract
Ensure you're no longer within the minimum terms of the contract length with your current broadband provider. You can find out by looking at your original contract, confirmation email, or by contacting their customer service.
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Enter your postcode and choose a personalised bundle
We algorithmically sort broadband packages based on your location, the speed you'd get, and how much it costs.
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Complete your switch
Your new provider should contact your current provider and arrange the switch for you. And you'll receive letters and emails updating you on this.
How to get a better broadband deal
Whether you're looking for cheap and cheerful or high-spec full fibre broadband, everyone's needs are different. Finding the best deal for you starts with understanding how you plan to use it or if bundling your services lower your monthly bill.
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Are you still within your contract?
If you're still in your minimum term, you'd be subject to an early repayment charge if you ended your contract early.
If you're out of contract or approaching the end, you can switch without penality.
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Can you get a better deal for the same price?
A tariff may offer everything you're looking for, but does it come to the right monthly price and offer good value for money? Shop around to find the right tariff at the best possible price.
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Can you get any bundles, freebies, or cashback?
Many providers offer tempting incentives, such as cashback or gift cards to new customers. These may help bring down the cost of an expensive broadband deal, although you should also consider whether these gifts are as important as factors such as speed and cost.
More guidance for gamers
Do some online games use more broadband?
While gaming is booming, it’s a misconception that gamers hog all the bandwidth.
The exact amount depends on the game, but Fortnite and Minecraft both reportedly use about 100MB of data per hour, with other games coming in a bit higher.
In contrast, a virtual Zoom meeting can consume about 810MB per hour, while streaming Netflix in HD uses up to 3,000MB per hour – or 30 times more data than gaming.
Does my internet connection speed make a difference to the gaming experience?
Yes, but given most games do not use as much data as people might think, a good quality home broadband package should suffice.
One factor that can make more of a difference than speed is latency, aka lag. You can measure yours by doing a broadband speed test and checking the 'ping' - the lower the better.
Does it matter at what time of day I play games online?
If your broadband contract is one of the very few that are subject to ‘traffic management’ restrictions then it’s preferable to avoid streaming or downloading games at peak hours – typically after school and work.
But these days broadband packages generally have no traffic management, meaning there is no impact on performance whatever time you play.
Can I play games using 4G?
You can play games on 4G and the better your 4G signal, the better the experience will be. However, while gaming is not as data-heavy as many people think, playing for hours will eat through your data allowance. This won’t be a problem if you have unlimited data but if you have a set quota then it will disappear quickly. For example, if you've got 250Gb a month, you could burn through one-fifth by downloading a single game.
Can I use my mobile hotspot for gaming?
Yes, you can tether from your mobile hotspot. This may well give you adequate speeds for gaming - but you may experience a high 'ping', aka latency or lag.
You might find the connection is not as good as fixed-line, home broadband, but you can look to increase the speed by refreshing your settings, closing down background apps and switching from 2.4GHz to 5GHz (each handset will have a different way of doing this).
Can I play games online through mobile broadband?
Technically, yes. But although you can play games online using mobile broadband, you’ll need to think carefully about the amount of data you’ll need.
You see, most mobile data plans come with strict data allowances that just aren’t practical for online gaming. Chances are you’ll soon run out of data, so it’s best to stick with fixed line broadband if you can help it.
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Reviewed on 17 Dec 2025