5G vs WiFi — When Each One Is Faster

5G and WiFi are both wireless ways to connect to the internet. But they work through different systems and are fast in different situations. Understanding the difference helps you know when to use your cellular data, when to rely on home WiFi, and whether upgrading one or the other is worth it.

WiFi is short-range wireless that comes from a router inside a building. Your home router, the one at a cafe, the one at a hotel. They all connect to the internet through a wired connection (fiber, cable, or DSL) and broadcast that connection over WiFi radio signals across maybe 100 feet indoors. The newest versions of WiFi — WiFi 6, WiFi 6E, and WiFi 7 — can deliver speeds of 1 Gbps or faster when the underlying wired connection supports it. Older routers (WiFi 4 or early WiFi 5) often cap at 100 to 300 Mbps regardless of your internet plan.

5G is cellular, meaning it comes from cell towers operated by Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and others, and reaches you through your phone's SIM card. 5G has two flavors: sub-6GHz 5G covers most of the country and usually delivers 100 to 400 Mbps. MmWave 5G is the super-fast flavor (1+ Gbps) but has a very short range (often just downtown blocks of major cities). Your phone chooses automatically.

When does 5G beat home WiFi? If your home router is old and your cellular service is strong, 5G may be faster. T-Mobile and Verizon sell 5G home internet (a cellular router that stays in your house) as a replacement for cable or fiber for $50 to $70 per month — often competitive in suburbs with weak cable service.

Watch for data caps. Your home WiFi plan usually has no cap (or a very high one). Your phone plan often has a high-speed data cap after which speeds throttle. Don't stream 4K Netflix all month on a 15GB phone plan.