The main difference between
the two terms comes down to bits vs. bytes. The first acronym, Mbps with a
lowercase “b,” refers to megabits per second, while the second, MBps with a
capital “B,” stands for megabytes per second.
While both are terms related
to measurements, they are used differently. Megabits per second is commonly
used when talking about internet upload
and download speeds, or the rate at which information is uploaded or
downloaded based on your connection speed.
Alternatively, megabytes per
second is typically referenced when talking about file size or the amount of
data transferred. In many cases, you may see MBps shortened to just MB, such as
a 500 MB video clip. MB can also be used when talking about internet data caps or
mobile data allowances. For instance, a cell phone plan may come with a 500 MB
monthly data allowance.
In short, if you were to
download a file from the internet, the size of that file is measured as MBps,
but the rate at which it downloads is measured as Mbps.
