Even the greatest internet speed test cannot suddenly enhance your home internet speed. These speeds depend on the precise internet package that you chose from your ISP. But your real Wi-Fi speeds might be lower than you think for a variety of reasons. For instance, the speed of your connection will decrease the further you are from your router, especially if there are many walls and other obstacles on the road. When traffic is at its highest or if your internet provider imposes data limitations or throttles connections to preserve network performance, speeds may also change and decline.
There is a simple technique to check your home’s actual internet speeds if you’re wondering. There are several free choices available, and doing an internet speed test is quick and simple. Even better, you might be able to launch one from the same software you used to configure your router. A test may often be done by just pressing “Go,” and it won’t take more than a minute or two.
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With so many alternatives offering to do just that, which one should you trust? A decent speed test will make it simple to view your current download speeds, upload speeds, and latency (or ping) on whichever device you’re running the test on.
1.Ookla
One of our favorites is the Ookla speed test, which was one of the earliest speed tests on the internet and has a solid reputation for reliability. Regardless of its popularity, we like Ookla because it has all the features a typical user would want in a speed test: accuracy, the ability to view your speed test history (when you create an account), a variety of servers to connect to, and even a useful app for speed testing from your Android or iOS device. By the way, we evaluate Wi-Fi routers using Ookla’s speed test as well.
Ookla has done an excellent job of evolving through time by including new features and functionalities. The service most recently made available a speed test for a video that evaluates your network’s capacity to handle 4K video streaming. Ookla provides apps that you may use on Windows or Mac in addition to the website and the smartphone apps. Even an Apple TV may be used to conduct the Ookla speed test.
Having said that, Ookla does show banner adverts when you carry out simple speed testing. That’s not surprising, however, depending on the quality of your connection at the time of the test, it can have a negligible effect on your outcomes.
2. Fast.com
The UI of Fast.com, another excellent broadband test, is as clear and uncomplicated as it gets. The fact that it is owned by Netflix, nevertheless, is one of its greatest assets. The test is designed to determine whether your connection is good enough to stream Netflix in its highest resolution without buffering, which may initially sound strange, but that’s what makes it a perfect choice for online streamers.
While Fast.com is a valuable resource for some, not all users will find it to be the most useful test. Although the basic design is simple to use, it does not have all of the sophisticated options and data that you would get with other speed tests. The biggest drawback is that you cannot select the server you want to connect to for your test.
3. M-Lab Internet Speed Test
Although none of these speed tests are challenging to use, the M-Lab Internet Speed Test is most likely the one that is most accessible. The open-source M-Lab test, which stands for Measurement Lab, was created by a group of computer scientists and academic researchers with Google’s support. This test is the one that appears when you input “internet speed test” into the Google search box. Simply click the blue “RUN SPEED TEST” button to instantly view your download speed, upload speed, and latency.
You won’t need to bookmark it or remember its specific name, so that’s about as simple as it gets. The only information exchanged with M-Lab throughout the test is your IP address, and there are no advertisements. Just be aware that the M-Lab test is only intended for internet speeds up to 700 Mbps and that you cannot choose which server you’ll use throughout the test. You should look elsewhere if you’re attempting to speed test a gigabit connection.
4. Speedof.me
Speed.me is the way to go if you’re searching for a test that takes a look at consistency as well as speeds. The test interface does a wonderful job of displaying variations in your upload and download speeds, much like Ookla. That can eventually make it simpler to identify when there is a problem with your connection, especially since Speedof. me allows you to compare your findings with those from earlier testing. You may perform tests on your phone using its mobile-friendly website, which is fantastic for doing so without installing an app.
However, Speedof.me isn’t the ideal solution. To begin with, there isn’t a way to choose manually which server you connect to. Additionally, the displayed statistics may appear more perplexing or daunting if home networking isn’t your strong suit than something like Fast.com, which only provides you with a number.
5.Testmy.net
An internet speed test called Testmy.net is totally powered by HTML5 and PHP. That implies that your test may be done without the need for third-party software like Java or Flash, which could lead to more accurate findings. It may thus be used to compare the performance of various browsers. Additionally, you may open an account to monitor your internet speed for comparison or future use.
However, it’s not the tool that’s easiest to use. You’ll have a lot of material to go over with a lot of detailed data, many of which may not be pertinent to you. It takes a few clicks before you can start a test, which is obviously less convenient than other speed tests that have giant “Go” buttons that appear as soon as the website loads. The design is also a touch unsightly by speed test standards.
Speed test FAQs:
What’s a good internet speed?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) stipulates that broadband speeds must have upload and download rates of at least 3 Mbps and 25 Mbps, respectively, but according to the FCC’s own speed recommendations, that’s essentially the bare minimum for activities like streaming 4K video and exchanging large files over the internet.
A number of providers, including AT&T, Comcast, Frontier, Verizon Fios, Ziply Fiber, and others are starting to offer internet plans with multigig speeds as high as 2, 3 or even 5 gigabits per second (that’s 5,000Mbps), but for the time being, those plans are overkill for the majority of residences. The best internet connection would have symmetrical upload and download rates of 100Mbps, which would be enough for most families.
What does ping mean?
Ping will increase if there is some form of interference in the connection or if you are connecting to a server that is very far away. If you’re using a mesh network or range extender to connect, where your data must make many wireless leaps before reaching the modem, your ping may also increase somewhat.
Ping discrepancies are often rather small, making it impossible to detect them without doing a speed test. Having said that, if you’re attempting to make split-second judgments in an online multiplayer game, you’ll start to notice excessive ping, and it can also result in annoyance delays during video calls.
What is jitter?
Similar to ping, jitter is measured in milliseconds, but instead of describing the changes in the latency of the data flowing to different client devices on your network, jitter indicates the time it takes for data to travel from your device to a remote server and get a response. When jitter levels are too high, data isn’t getting to your device as quickly as it should be, which can lead to issues like buffering during video conversations and streaming.
Can speed tests help improve my internet speeds?
Speed tests are a useful diagnostic tool and a quick way to see how your network is doing in different parts of your house, but they won’t improve the speed of your home’s Wi-Fi network.
Running speed tests on your phone or laptop in different places around your home is the ideal way to utilise them. Consider installing a range extender in the room that is closest to the dead zone where the speeds are strongest if you locate one. From there, it will rebroadcast your Wi-Fi signal and maybe speed up things. It could be time to update your router if you see several dead zones in locations where you want to connect. For the best whole-home Wi-Fi coverage, consider going with a mesh router that uses multiple devices.
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