How much bandwidth do smart devices like Alexa use?

Having smart devices in your home has become the new normal, but just how much bandwidth do smart devices like RING or Alexa use?

Considering that many households are on an internet plan with data caps, smart devices may seem like a helpful member of the household but could be negatively impacting your home network’s bandwidth. We’ll go over everything you need to know before you add a smart device to your home network.

How much internet speed do you need for a smart home?

The speed you need to power a smart home largely depends on the types of devices you have connected to your home network, the number of devices you have and the types of internet activities you complete every day. A larger home with 4-7 internet users each connecting multiple devices, plus multiple smart home devices, needs much more speed than a home with one or two internet users and perhaps one or two smart devices.

Smart devices don’t always require a lot of bandwidth and only use your internet in short bursts, with the exception of video devices such as smart doorbell cameras or security cameras, which use more bandwidth than simply using an Alexa command.

Best internet for smart homes

The most important thing is to choose an internet plan that supports the number of devices you have connected at once and the types of internet activities these devices are doing. As mentioned above, most smart home devices don’t require much bandwidth unless they involve video, like security or doorbell cameras.

Consider fiber internet if it’s available. It is the best type of internet and has speed tiers available for those who need a bandwidth-heavy plan. Explore some popular internet plans below from top ISPs, but remember to check your address since provider availability varies by location.

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. As of 05/08/24. **PABP & Paperless billing + taxes and equip fee. Price includes $5/mo. AutoPay & Paperless billing discount (within 2 bills). $10/mo. equip. fee applies. **Wireless speeds may vary. 07/12/24.

Understanding bandwidth

In simple terms, bandwidth is the maximum amount of data transmitted over an internet connection in a given amount of time. Bandwidth and speed are commonly used interchangeably, but they are technically different.

While bandwidth is the amount of data you receive over your connection, speed is how fast that data is uploaded and downloaded. The two components of bandwidth are your download speed and upload speed, which are measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Think of it as a faucet—the wider it is, the more water (data) flows through. ISPs generally use speed to describe the plan’s total bandwidth, which is where the distinction can get a bit murky.

Factors affecting bandwidth

Your internet plan will have a maximum bandwidth, which is usually displayed in Mbps or Gbps, but a couple of factors can limit your bandwidth. When multiple people are connecting to a single network, each of them is using a portion of your network’s bandwidth. The more devices you have connected at once, the slower your internet connection will be.

Similarly, if you are doing multiple internet activities at once on one device, it’s going to slow down each once since they are each using a portion of your allotted bandwidth. In general, a good rule of thumb is to limit the amount of devices connected at once to ensure a reliable speed.

Bandwidth requirements for smart devices

Smart devices such as speakers don’t require much bandwidth, while others like RING doorbell cameras or smart TVs require more. The general rule of thumb is to allow for an extra 5 – 40+ Mbps for smart devices, depending on which ones you use.

If you have smart home gadgets that don’t require a lot of data, add an extra 5 – 10 Mbps. For those requiring video, add an extra 10+ Mbps, depending on the amount of devices you have.

Can you save bandwidth without upgrading your internet plan?

Yes, you can always reduce your bandwidth by managing the number of devices you have connected to your home network at a time. Think of it like a highway – traffic can occur when more cars are traveling at one time. It’s the same with your home network. The more devices you have connected at once, the more congested your network will be.

Alexa devices

It’s hard to pin down a figure on how much data Alexa uses. It all depends on how often you use it and how you’ve set up Alexa. The best answer is, the more devices you have, the more data you use. Mike Donovan from Good Home Automation calculates that Alexa uses an average of 36 MB per day (per device), which amounts to a whopping 1.08 GB per month, for 30 minutes of daily music streaming, one daily weather inquiry, two commands and one question.  

Commands that use the most data

Alexa commands, such as controlling the TV or asking questions each have their own amount of data use. Using Donovan’s research, the amount of data used for common commands includes:

• Turning lights off or on: 5 kB
• Asking about the weather: 138 kB
• Asking a question: 240 kB

Internet speed required for Amazon Echo

You will find more infographics at Statista

Amazon Echo is one of the most popular smart speakers available, so what kind of speed does it require?

According to Amazon, low bandwidth can cause Amazon Echo/Alexa response delays and streaming issues. Amazon recommends a speed of at least 512 Kbps to stream content such as music, audio and more. 

To find the speed of your home’s network, you can ask Alexa to perform a speed test. Slower than average speeds and lagging may be caused by many factors including:

• Approaching your data cap, which could cause your speed to be throttled
• A weak router signal due to device location
• Multiple smart devices streaming or using bandwidth at the same time
• Having an internet plan with slower speeds

Knowing what’s happening by determining your network’s speeds can help you figure out how to solve the issue and improve the performance of all your connected devices.

Does Alexa use Wi-Fi when not in use?

Alexa is always on standby, listening and waiting for your commands. Even if Alexa is idle, it’s still using bandwidth. Donovan found that daily background usage involving no commands still used 7.244 MB per day. s

Alexa will slow down Wi-Fi, but all smart devices in your home do that

Alexa slowing down Wi-Fi isn’t exclusive to the smart device. The more devices sharing your home’s bandwidth, the more likely your home connection will slow down. If you’ve ever shopped for an internet plan, you know that paying for more bandwidth and avoiding data caps may be the best way to avoid lag, especially if there are multiple devices at home, simultaneously streaming games, video and audio. 

Other smart home devices

Bandwidth requirements for other smart home device brands are going to be similar depending on the type of device you’re using. Google Home has products ranging from speakers, cameras and TVs, to house appliances like vacuums, lighting and plugs. With thousands of products to choose from, it’s safe to say requirements will vary. But if you are sticking with the usual suspects, such as speakers or security cams, your internet plan will be more than enough to cover your smart devices.

Ring security devices are also popular choices in smart homes. Ring recommends at least 2 Mbps to support most of its products. These days, most internet plans have base plans more than capable of handling that.

How to monitor and manage bandwidth usage

Depending on your provider and equipment, you can monitor and manage your bandwidth usage in a few ways. Most providers have network management apps that may break down your monthly usage and allow you to manage it by setting limits. You can also do this online by logging into your account.

Your router may also have features that allow for network management. If you rent your equipment from your ISP, you can likely check online or in your ISP’s app. If you have your own equipment, your equipment’s brand likely has its own app where you can optimize your settings and monitor your usage.

The bottom line on smart device data usage

Smart devices clearly uses part of your home’s bandwidth, even when you’re not engaging with it. It typically isn’t an issue unless you have a plan with low data limits. Most households shouldn’t notice a difference unless they have multiple smart home devices running. If that’s the case and you’ve expanded your home with more smart devices than your current internet plan can handle, check out what type of internet deals are available in your area. 

Bumping up your internet plan to one with a faster speed may solve laggy internet issues caused by the growing number of data-intensive devices in a home. Depending on the provider you choose, the difference in price may not even be dramatically more, but could make a huge difference in speeds and performance. 

Smart device bandwidth FAQ’s

Sources

• The Verge
• Policy Advice
• Good Home Automation
• Canstar Blue
• Amazon
• Amazon Developer