When evaluating the quality of your internet connection—especially for real-time activities like gaming, video conferencing, and VoIP calls—you’ll often hear two key terms: latency and jitter. While they’re closely related, they measure different aspects of network performance.
Quick Summary of Differences
Latency measures the time it takes for data to travel from your device to its destination and back, while Jitter measures the variation in that travel time. Low latency ensures fast communication, whereas low jitter ensures stable, consistent performance.
In this article, we’ll explain the difference between latency and jitter, how they affect your internet experience, and what you can do to improve them.
Table of Contents
What Is Latency?
Latency, often referred to as ping, is the time it takes for a data packet to travel from your device to a server and back. It’s measured in milliseconds (ms). Lower latency means less delay between sending and receiving data, which is crucial for responsiveness in real-time applications.
Example
In an online game, if you shoot or move, latency determines how quickly the server responds to your action.
Good Latency Values
- Below 20ms: Excellent
- 20–50ms: Very good
- 50–100ms: Acceptable
- 100ms+: Can cause noticeable lag
What Is Jitter?
Jitter measures the variation in latency over time—specifically, the difference in delay between successive packets. High jitter means your data is arriving at irregular intervals, even if the average latency is low. This can cause disruptions in activities where a steady stream of data is essential.
Example
In a video call, jitter may cause audio to stutter, cut out, or go out of sync with video, even if latency is low.
Good Jitter Values
- Under 30ms: Ideal
- 30–50ms: May cause occasional issues
- 50ms+: Likely to disrupt real-time communication
Latency vs. Jitter: Key Differences
| Feature | Latency | Jitter |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Time it takes for data to travel to and from a destination | Variation in the timing between data packets |
| Unit of Measure | Milliseconds (ms) | Milliseconds (ms) |
| Indicates | Speed of communication | Stability of communication |
| Affects | Responsiveness | Smoothness and consistency |
| Typical Cause | Physical distance, routing paths, network delay | Network congestion, packet queuing, interference |
Why Do Latency and Jitter Matter?
Both latency and jitter are critical for real-time internet activities, but in different ways:
Online Gaming
- High latency causes delayed responses or “lag.”
- High jitter leads to unpredictable behavior—like character teleportation or erratic controls.
Video Conferencing & VoIP
- High latency results in noticeable delays or people talking over each other
- High jitter causes choppy audio or distorted voice
Streaming
- Latency is less critical, as video buffers in advance
- Jitter can cause buffering or playback interruptions, especially for live streams
How to Improve Latency and Jitter
Use a Wired Connection
Ethernet is more stable and offers lower latency and jitter compared to Wi-Fi.
Close Background Apps
Streaming, downloads, and cloud syncs can increase both latency and jitter.
Choose Servers Closer to You
Many games and apps let you select regional servers, reducing round-trip time.
Upgrade Your Router or Firmware
Older hardware can contribute to instability. Quality of Service (QoS) features help prioritize time-sensitive traffic.
Contact Your ISP
If issues persist, your provider may be able to adjust routing or address congestion.
Final Thoughts
Think of latency as the speed of your connection and jitter as its consistency. Low latency ensures quick communication, while low jitter guarantees a smooth, predictable data flow. For the best performance—especially in gaming, video calls, and voice communication—you need both.
Monitoring both metrics can help you troubleshoot connection problems more effectively and choose the right setup for your needs.