What is the difference between megabits and megabytes?
Most internet users may not understand the difference between megabits and megabytes. Although you may hear about them often, you might not fully understand the distinctions between them. Fortunately, it is very simple! In this guide, we will outline all aspects that make them unique from each other.
Megabits are expressed in Mb (or Mbit) when it comes to digital storage, or Mbps (megabits per second) in the context of data transfer rates.
For example, an Internet speed test can measure the speed of your network at 15 Mbps, which means that 15 megabits are transferred every second.
If a file of 500 MB (megabytes) is downloaded, it is technically also 4000 MB (megabits).
Megabits vs megabytes
If you’re ever confused, use this simple equation to understand megabits vs megabytes:
8 bits = 1 byte
This formula can be used to convert megabits to megabytes, and vice versa.
Since we know that a megabyte represents 8 times the megabit value, it becomes easy to calculate the megabyte equivalent by multiplying the megabit by 8. Alternatively, you can divide the megabit amount by 8 to determine the megabyte equivalent. It’s that easy!
What is the point of understanding megabits to megabytes?
It is important to know the distinction of megabits to megabytes when you treat your Internet connection because it is one of the key criteria to choose your internet package. If you don’t truly understand the difference, you could end up signing up for a plan that’s either not nearly enough or far too much. Internet providers may try to trick you by advertising plan using megabits rather than megabytes. Now that you’re aware of the distinction, you’ll be able to find a perfect plan with no problem, confusion or unexpected surprises.
So choose well according to your needs!
The more Mbps you have, the faster you can download files!