Mbps vs. MB/s: Engadget Explains the Difference in Internet and File-Transfer Speeds

Bits are the basic unit of information in computing and represent the binary 1s and 0s that make up code. Bits per second are commonly used to measure data-transfer speeds, such as internet streaming or download speeds. Bytes are groups of eight bits, typically the amount needed to produce a single letter, symbol or number. Bytes are used to describe file sizes or storage space, and bytes per second typically gauge how fast those files can be transferred.

Because both units are too small for contemporary computing, the prefix "mega" indicates one million units. Mbps and MB/s therefore refer to how quickly one million bits and one million bytes can move, respectively.

Megabit per second rates are critical for gauging home internet speed. Download speeds typically far outpace upload speeds. The FCC lists 100 Mbps as the threshold for broadband internet speed, while the upload requirement is only 20 Mbps, according to the explainer. Ookla, an internet speed test company, reported that median download and upload speeds for U.S. households in August 2026 were 307 Mbps and 63 Mbps, respectively. Those average speeds have risen sharply over the past decade; in 2015, the FCC's benchmarks for high-speed internet were four times slower than current standards, the article said. For connections that perform only middlingly, the explainer notes that simple fixes can potentially boost Mbps.

Megabytes per second, by contrast, is typically used to describe the speed of a large data transfer to and from a storage device. It may describe how fast a file can be uploaded to the cloud or moved from a hard disk. Using MB/s, a person can quantify how long it will take to download a video file or transfer a document.

The two metrics may appear interchangeably, but comparing them is simple: divide megabits by eight. For example, an upload speed of 100 Mbps equals 12.5 MB/s. To convert MB/s to Mbps, multiply by eight.