I'm paying for 500 Mbps internet but my speed test only shows 50 to 80 Mbps on WiFi. Am I being scammed by my ISP?
You are probably not being scammed — WiFi rarely delivers the full speed you pay for because of signal loss, distance, and interference. First, test with an ethernet cable plugged directly into your router. If the wired speed is close to 500 Mbps, your internet plan is fine and the bottleneck is WiFi. WiFi speeds depend heavily on distance from the router, walls between you and the router, other devices on the network, and your WiFi adapter's capability. If your laptop has an older WiFi 5 (802.11ac) adapter, it may max out at 200 to 300 Mbps even under perfect conditions. WiFi 6 (802.11ax) adapters can do better. To improve WiFi speed, make sure you are connected to the 5GHz band (faster but shorter range) rather than 2.4GHz. Move closer to the router or reduce the number of walls between you and the router. If you have a large home, consider a mesh WiFi system like Google Nest WiFi, Eero, or TP-Link Deco which places multiple access points around your house. Also check if your router itself is old — routers more than 3 to 4 years old may not support the speeds your ISP now provides.
Need personalized advice? Chat with an expert for $3.
Our verified experts will provide personalized advice for your specific situation.
Average response time: under 2 minutes · Money-back guarantee
Chat with an Expert — $3 →
