Wireless Wi-Fi

It is no secret that Wi-Fi speeds blow cellular data usage out of the water. It's why so many people flock to Panera or Starbucks with their laptops and tablets, and the reason behind wireless hotspot testing in underground subway stations.

But just how fast is your Wi-Fi connection? According to network management firm WeFi's infographic (below), it runs about 69 percent quicker, boasting a national average of 2.76 Mbps compared to 1.92 Mbps over cellular.

Those averages take into account all available cellular networks — from 2G to 4G — and dramatically change from coast to coast. East Coasters consume 13,081.1 GB more data per month than users on the West Coast, which, according to WeFi, is enough to fill more than 800 iPads.

In a state with a population of 19.6 million people, average Wi-Fi speeds in New York are lightyears ahead of a smaller, less-connected area like South Dakota, population 833,000. New York runs on average Wi-Fi speeds of 3.71 Mbps versus 1.88 Mbps on cellular. Meanwhile, South Dakota's cellular network is more reliable, pumping 3.33 Mbps, more than the 1.74 Mbps of Wi-Fi.

The reason, WeFi said, is that more people equal more power: Wi-Fi speeds are the highest in states with large populations; cell speeds drop in areas with very high or very low population densities. According to the graphic, downloading a movie could take someone with Wi-Fi just over two hours, while a cellular network would slow the process by about an hour. Downloading an MP3 via Wi-Fi? Should take no more than 10 seconds, though cell users can count on at least another four-second wait.

Data usage isn't only for surfing Pinterest or streaming the latest Mad Men episode. WeFi counts sports network ESPN among the top suppliers of data downloads, followed by Instagram's tinted photos and a massive supply of data uploaded to Google+. Social networks seem like data hogs, but they actually fall far from other sites. Facebook, in fact, middles out, averaging up and down depending on the day, while Twitter's huge popularity doesn't take up the same huge bandwith.

For more, see PCMag's Fastest Mobile Networks coverage, as well as Should You Buy an 802.11ac Router?

Infographic: How Fast Is Your Wi-Fi?