Check your need for speed with our guide to the right internet connections for online gaming
Here’s something most internet guides get wrong: for online gaming, your ping matters more than your download speed.
You could be on a 1000 Mbps plan and still have a frustrating experience if your latency is high. And you could game comfortably on a 50 Mbps plan if your ping is low and stable.
So let’s answer the questions that actually matter — and help you choose the right plan for gaming in Australia.
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Enter your addressDownload speed vs. upload speed for gaming, what matters more?
For most online games, download speed matters more — but upload speed becomes equally important if you’re streaming your gameplay.
Download speed is how fast data moves to your device — game updates, assets, and world data. Upload speed is how fast data moves from your device to the game server — your actions, position, and inputs.
However, very slow upload speeds can still cause lag, especially in fast multiplayer games where your position needs to sync quickly with the server.
What is a good download and upload speed for gaming?
For the game itself, you need less speed than you might think.
- Minimum download speed for online gaming: 3–5 Mbps
- Recommended download speed for gaming: 25 Mbps or above
- Minimum upload speed for gaming: 1–3 Mbps
- Recommended upload speed for gaming: 5 Mbps or above
Where higher speeds genuinely help is downloading games and updates. Modern titles are enormous and 100 GB+ is common, and patches can be 20–50 GB. On nbn® 50 that could be a few hours. On nbn® 500, it can be minutes.
Here’s how the main nbn® speed tiers stack up for gaming.
Is 25 Mbps good for gaming?
It’s the minimum we’d recommend — it can be fine for a solo gamer on a tight budget, but you’ll feel it on large downloads or with battle royale or MMO (massive multiplayer online) style games.
Is 50 Mbps good for gaming?
Yes. nbn® 50 may suit a solo gamer or light household. It can handle gaming, HD streaming, and general browsing comfortably. Game downloads take longer than on faster plans, but gameplay itself will be smooth, though you may still struggle with battle royale or MMO (massive multiplayer online) style games.
Is 100 Mbps good for gaming?
Yes. 100 Mbps is more than enough for gaming and can comfortably support 2–3 people using the internet at the same time.
With recent nbn speed upgrades, many households can now access much faster speeds for the same price. Eligible Swoop customers on nbn® 100 have been upgraded to nbn® 500 at no extra cost, delivering five times the download speed while keeping the monthly price the same.
If you’re currently on nbn® 100, it’s worth checking your address here to see if nbn® 500 is available.
Is 500 Mbps good for gaming?
Absolutely. nbn® 500 is a great option for gaming households.
It’s fast enough to download a 100 GB game in under 30 minutes and can provide plenty of headroom for multiple people gaming, streaming, and downloading at the same time.
Is 1000 Mbps good for gaming?
Yes, though you may not notice a difference in gameplay versus 500 Mbps. nbn® 1000 (also called nbn® Home Ultrafast) is best suited to households with 10+ devices, content creators, or anyone regularly transferring very large files.
Here’s a simple household guide:
- Solo gamer — nbn® 50 does the job
- 2–3 people gaming, streaming, WFH — nbn® 100 or nbn® 500
- 4+ people or serious gaming household — nbn® 500 or nbn® 1000.
What is a good ping for gaming?
Ping (also called latency) is the real measure of gaming performance. It’s how long it takes for a signal to travel from your device to the game server and back, measured in milliseconds (ms).
- Under 20ms — Excellent. Essentially no noticeable delay.
- 20–50ms — Great. Smooth for almost any game.
- 50–100ms — Acceptable. Fine for casual play, may feel sluggish in competitive games.
- Over 100ms — You’ll notice lag. Not ideal for online multiplayer.
There’s a third factor most guides skip: jitter
Jitter is how much your ping fluctuates. A steady 40ms ping is far better than one that bounces between 10ms and 120ms — that inconsistency causes rubber-banding and warping, which is even more disruptive than stable lag.
Does internet speed affect ping?
Not directly.
Ping is determined by your connection type, your ISP’s network routing, and the physical distance to the server — not your plan’s download or upload speed.
What will lower your ping: switching from Wi-Fi to ethernet, choosing an ISP with better network infrastructure, and connecting to closer game servers.
Does download speed affect ping?
No — they’re separate measurements. A faster download speed means files transfer quicker, but it doesn’t change the time it takes for your game inputs to reach the server.
What is a good internet speed for gaming and streaming?
If you are gaming and streaming to Twitch or YouTube at the same time, upload speed becomes important.
For example, a typical nbn® 100 plan delivers around 100 Mbps download and ~18 Mbps upload during evening hours, which is generally enough for gaming and a 1080p stream.
However, with recent nbn speed upgrades, Swoop now offers nbn® 500 for the same price as nbn® 100 in many areas.
With nbn® 500 (50 Mbps upload) you get significantly more headroom for streaming, faster downloads, and smoother performance if multiple people are gaming, streaming, or downloading at the same time.
Wi-Fi vs. ethernet — does it matter for gaming?
Is Wi-Fi or ethernet better for gaming? Ethernet wins every time — and switching is often the biggest improvement gamers can make without changing their plan.
Wi-Fi can introduce latency and instability. Walls, distance from the router, and nearby networks can cause lag and jitter.
A wired ethernet connection from your router to your PC or console provides the most stable connection and lowest ping.
If running a cable isn’t practical, use a high-quality Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7 router close to your gaming setup. Swoop’s eero 7 router supports Wi-Fi 7, making it a strong option if you’re upgrading your network.
A note for Australian gamers — server locations matter
Here’s something many gaming guides miss.
Many popular games have Australian servers. Titles like Valorant, Fortnite, Call of Duty, and League of Legends host servers in Sydney or Melbourne, where players typically see 10–30 ms ping.
But some games route Oceania players to US or Asian servers, where 150–200 ms ping is normal due to distance.
If a game feels laggy, check which server you’re connected to before assuming it’s your internet connection.
How to test your internet speed and ping right now
You don’t need to be on a new plan to check your current performance. Here’s how.
- On Windows: Open Command Prompt, type: ping 8.8.8.8
- On Mac: Open Terminal, type: ping -c 10 8.8.8.8
- In your browser: Go to Swoop’s Speed Test to show ping, download, and upload results.
Quick summary — what to look for
Choosing an internet plan for gaming? Here’s what matters:
- Ping under 50ms to Australian servers — test this, don’t guess.
- Stable ping — low jitter matters as much as low latency.
- Wired connection where possible — ethernet beats Wi-Fi for gaming every time.
- Download speed based on household size — nbn® 50 for solo, nbn® 500 for busy households.
- Upload speed of at least 5 Mbps — important for multiplayer, essential if you stream.
- Unlimited data — game downloads are massive. Don’t get caught on a capped plan.
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Get connected with Swoop
All Swoop plans include unlimited data, so large game downloads won’t blow your budget.
We offer nbn plans across every speed tier, plus our own fixed wireless network for regional and suburban Australia.
Not sure which plan is right? Check what’s available at your address here and we’ll help you find the best fit.
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