Mbps vs MBps: How are They Different?
Understanding how internet speeds and file sizes relate so you know exactly what you’re paying for.
- A lowercase “b” stands for bits (speed), while an uppercase “B” stands for bytes (storage).
- There are 8 bits in every byte, meaning a connection speed of 100 Mbps can download roughly 12.5 MB of data per second.
- Internet providers advertise speeds in Megabits (Mbps) to describe throughput, while your computer displays file downloads in Megabytes (MBps).
Ever sign up for a 100 Mbps internet plan, only to see downloads creeping along at 12 megabytes per second? Don’t worry — your connection isn’t broken. The confusion comes from the difference between a megabit (Mb) and a megabyte (MB), two similar-sounding units that measure very different things. Knowing the distinction helps you set expectations and choose the right internet plan.
Megabits (Mbps) vs Megabytes (MBps)
The primary difference between megabits and megabytes lies in what they measure and how the data is grouped. A bit is the smallest unit of digital information, representing a binary 1 or 0. These are typically used to measure the speed at which data travels. A byte, on the other hand, is a collection of 8 bits working together as a single unit commonly used to measure file size or storage capacity.
When you see “Mbps,” it stands for Megabits per second, referring to internet speed or bandwidth. When you see “MBps,” it stands for Megabytes per second, referring to how much specific file data is moving onto your hard drive. Because one byte is equal to 8 bits, the numbers you see on speed tests will always be eight times higher than the numbers you see when downloading a file in your browser.
| Unit name | Abbreviation | Primary use | Relationship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Megabit | Mb or Mbps | Internet connection speeds, bandwidth capacity | 1 Megabit = 1,000,000 bits |
| Megabyte | MB or MBps | File sizes, storage (RAM/HDD), download managers | 1 Megabyte = 8 Megabits |
What Does Megabits per Second Measure?
Megabits per second (Mbps) is the industry-standard metric for network transmission speeds. In the context of your home internet, think of bits as the individual cars traveling down a highway. The “Mbps” rating tells you how fast those cars can move (and how wide the highway is to accommodate them). This measurement is all about the flow of data rather than the physical size of the data sitting on a disk.
Because the numbers for bits are larger than bytes, it allows for a more granular measurement of speed. This is helpful for ISPs when creating service tiers. However, it can make estimating real-world performance tricky if you don’t do the math. To help visualize this, here’s a breakdown of how common advertised speeds (Mbps) translate to actual file transfer rates (MB) and download times.
| Internet plan speed | Max download rate | Time to download 5 GB HD movie | Time to download 50 GB video game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 Mbps | 6.25 MB/s | ~13 minutes | ~2 hours, 14 minutes |
| 100 Mbps | 12.5 MB/s | ~6 minutes, 40 seconds | ~1 hour, 7 minutes |
| 500 Mbps | 62.5 MB/s | ~1 minute, 20 seconds | ~14 minutes |
| 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps) | 125 MB/s | ~40 seconds | ~6 minutes, 40 seconds |
Every household has different requirements depending on how many devices are connected. If you are unsure if your current bandwidth is sufficient for your usage habits, check out our guide on how much internet speed you actually need.
Where You’ll See Mbps Used
You’ll almost exclusively encounter Megabits per second in contexts related to data transmission and network capacity. Common instances include:
- Residential and business internet service advertisements
- Online internet speed tests
- Technical specifications on router and modem packaging (e.g., Wi-Fi standards like AC1900)
- Video streaming quality requirements (e.g., Netflix recommends 15 Mbps for 4K streaming)
What is a Megabyte?
A megabyte (MB) measures data volume or storage. If megabits are the cars driving on the highway, megabytes are the parking lot where they end up. One megabyte contains roughly one million bytes (or 8 million bits). We use bytes to measure digital files because computers process and store data in these 8-bit clusters. When you save a photo, install a program, or download an email attachment, that data occupies physical space on your hard drive or cloud storage, which is always calculated in bytes.
As technology has advanced, we have moved beyond megabytes into gigabytes (GB) and terabytes (TB) for storage. However, the megabyte remains a standard unit for smaller files like MP3 songs, high-resolution JPEG images, and PDF documents. When you download these files, your browser displays the transfer rate in MBps to tell you how much of that file’s specific volume is arriving every second.
What’s Measured in Megabytes per Second?
The unit MBps (note the capital B) is generally reserved for scenarios where files are being written to or read from storage media. You’ll see this measurement in:
- Web browser download managers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)
- File transfer windows when moving files from a PC to a USB drive
- Video game launchers like Steam, Xbox App, or PlayStation Network
- Cloud storage uploads and downloads (Google Drive, Dropbox)
Converting Megabits to Megabytes
Converting between these two units is straightforward once you remember the ratio: 8 bits equals 1 byte. To convert from internet speed (Mbps) to file download speed (MBps), you maximize the number by dividing by eight. Conversely, if you want to know how much bandwidth a file download is consuming, you multiply the MBps by eight.
For example, if you have a fiber optic connection advertised at 800 Mbps, your theoretical maximum download speed is 100 MBps (800 ÷ 8 = 100). Keep in mind that real-world friction — such as Wi-Fi interference, older hardware, or network congestion — often lowers this number slightly. The difference between bandwidth and latency can also affect how “fast” a connection feels, regardless of the raw Mbps conversion.
Why Do ISPs Advertise in Megabits?
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) advertise in megabits primarily because it’s the standard unit for telecommunications transmission. Engineers have always measured data throughput in bits. However, there’s also a marketing advantage. The number “100” looks infinitely more impressive to a consumer than “12.5,” even if they represent the exact same speed. By using the smaller unit (bits), providers can display larger, more marketable numbers on their plan pages.