What is an upload speed that is good for Skype and Zoom?

Upload speed, together with ping latency and download speed, is one of the key specs that tell us how good an internet connection is. 

Zoom vs. Skype

Some first words

These days, since more and more activities we do online require uploading data, slow upload speeds might result in poor internet experiences. 

Live-streaming, uploading videos to YouTube, sending emails with large attachments, sharing photos on social media, video calling, video conferencing, and others all need good internet upload speeds for sure. 

So, what speed for uploading should we have for making calls on Skype and Zoom? Well, the answer is right below here; let’s check out to find out now!

But first, why don’t we spend a minute learning “What is an upload speed” and why it matters?

Uploading data

What is upload speed?

Put simply, upload speeds refer to how quickly data is sent from your computer or any other device to the internet. 

Like download speed, upload speed is measured in megabits per second (Mbps). The higher the Mbps value, the faster the speeds and the better the connection. 

Faster upload speeds mean that you can send files, upload videos, or share photos in less time. Higher internet speeds for uploading also allow you to make calls and video calls in better quality.

Zoom

Why and when the upload speed matters

Upload speed matters whenever you engage in activities that involve sending or uploading data, especially large amounts of data. 

As mentioned previously, increasing numbers of online activities these days require the use of upload bandwidth. 

In reality, uploading is essential for anything from broadcasting live videos, making video calls and conferences, to photos or files sharing on the cloud. Even for online games, your gaming experiences can be affected a lot if the upload speed is slower than it should be. 

So, if you are a streamer, homeworker, or gamer, a good upload speed does matter to you.

See also: What upload speed do I need for gaming?

Skype

Internet speeds recommended for calls on Skype and Zoom

It’s worth noting that both download and upload speeds are used when you make calls on Skype or Zoom.

So, what speeds do you need to make calls on Skype and Zoom - two of the most popular video calling and conferencing platforms?

Good download and upload speeds for Skype

Here are the minimum internet speed requirements and recommended speeds for different types of Skype calls, according to Skype:

Type of call	Minimum speeds		Recommended speeds
	Download speed	Upload speed	Download speed	Upload speed
Calling	30 Kbps	30 Kbps	100 Kbps	100 Kbps
Video calling / Screen sharing	128 Kbps	128 Kbps	300 Kbps	300 Kbps
Video calling (high-quality	400 Kbps	400 Kbps	500 Kbps	500 Kbps
Video calling (in HD)	1.2Mbps	1.2Mbps	1.5 Mbps	1.5 Mbps
Group video (03 people)	512 Kbps	128 Kbps	2 Mbps	512 Kbps
Group video (05 people)	2 Mbps	128 Kbps	4 Mbps	512 Kbps
Group video (07+ people)	4 Mbps	128 Kbps	8 Mbps	512 Kbps

Source: support.skype.com

See also: What upload speed do I need to stream on Twitch?

Good download and upload speeds for Zoom

Following are Zoom’s recommendations on internet download and upload speeds for using its services.

For 1:1 video calling

• For high-quality video: 600 kbps / 600 Kbps (up/down)

• For 720p HD video: 1.2 Mbps / 1.2 Mbps (up/down)

• For 1080p HD video: 3.8 Mbps / 3.0Mbps (up/down)

For group video calling

• For high-quality video: 1.0 Mbps / 600 Kbps (up/down)

• For 720p HD video: 2.6 Mbps / 1.8 Mbps (up/down)

• For 1080p HD video: 3.8 Mbps / 3.0 Mbps (up/down)

Other services

For further details on internet requirements for other services like screen sharing, audio VoiP, and more, you can visit Zoom’s website to learn more. 

Anytime you want to know whether your connection is fast enough for the calls, it’s a good idea to run a download and upload speed test to find out. 

Internet speed test

Wrapping up

As you can see, making 1:1 video calls in on these two platforms doesn’t require high internet speeds. However, you will need faster download and upload speeds when joining in calls in higher resolutions and with more participants. And that’s all for this post; hope you enjoyed it. Next posts will be “What is a good upload speed for streaming on Twitch” and “what download and upload speed is good for gaming”, check them out now if you are not sure how fast your connection should be for playing and streaming online games.

Sources:

support.skype.com/en/faq/fa1417/how-much-bandwidth-does-skype-need

support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362023-Zoom-system-requirements-Windows-macOS-Linux