How it works
Internet plans and network gear are rated in bits per second (Mbps, Gbps), while browsers and download tools usually show bytes per second (MB/s). Since a byte is 8 bits, divide a bit rate by 8 to get the byte rate: a 100 Mbps connection moves at most 12.5 MB/s.
Network rates use decimal prefixes (1 Mbps = 1,000,000 bits per second). Some download tools report in binary units (MiB/s), which are about 4.9% larger than MB/s.
Formula
Bytes per second = bits per second ÷ 8
Questions people ask
What is the difference between Mbps and MB/s?
Mbps is megabits per second; MB/s is megabytes per second. 1 MB/s = 8 Mbps.
How long will a 5 GB download take on a 100 Mbps connection?
5 GB is 40,000 megabits, so about 400 seconds (6 minutes 40 seconds) at the full rate. Real-world overhead usually adds 5–10%.
Why is my download slower than my plan speed?
Protocol overhead, Wi-Fi conditions, server limits and network congestion all reduce throughput. Also check that you are comparing Mbps with Mbps, not MB/s.