Unless you live under a rock, imagining a day without an internet connection is impossible.
Without it, there will be no online communication, transaction, or entertainment. However, having a stable and good internet speed is equally important.
Is your favorite movie taking ages to download? Are you experiencing interruptions during a vital meeting? Not sure if the ISP is delivering the promised data speeds? In all these situations, you need to test your internet speed to find out what is wrong.
Many causes can be responsible if you do not have a smooth internet experience. Maybe too many people are using the same router, or your outdated laptop might be the reason you have trouble streaming online. To find out, you should use the best internet speed test sites.
Also Read: Best Wi-Fi Routers for Home and Office Use
Top Internet Speed Test Tools in 2024
Check out the best internet speed test sites and apps that will help you determine the status of your internet speed. After this, I’ll also discuss the significance of these internet speed tests, how accurate they are, and the information you get from the tests.
So, let’s get started with the list!
Cloudflare
Are you looking for the best internet speed test tool that can measure real-time speed? Then, Cloudflare could be your go-to option. As you open this website, it will start demonstrating your real-time download and upload speed. It also shows the ping and jitter of your connection.
This platform also conducts different other tests, including uploads and downloads of 100 KB, 1 MB, 10 MB, 25 MB, and 100 MB. Additionally, it displays your server details, such as server location, IP address, and network provider name.
Moreover, you can share the internet speed results via one-click social media share buttons on Facebook and Twitter. Else, you can download the results in CSV format.
Ookla Speedtest
Ookla Speedtest is a feature-packed tool for testing internet speed across the globe. Besides upload speed, download speed, latency, and jitter, you can use this platform to conduct video tests that will help you measure metrics such as resolution, buffering, and load time.
Speedtest offers additional features like test history review, real-time graphs on connection consistency, and VPN access. If you are interested, you can use its dedicated software applications for Windows, Mac, Chrome, AppleTV, and CLI.
Mobile phone users can also enjoy this service by downloading the dedicated Speedtest app from Play Store and App Store.
It works on:
- Android
- iOS
Free Speed Test by GCore
GCore offers an effective tool for testing the speed of your internet connection. It measures the response time based on communication between the server and your device.
The testing procedure is quite simple; you just need to press the ‘Run Test’ button. The server sends data packets to your device to measure the amount of data it can receive in a particular time limit. It translates the measurements in Mbps and ms.
This test tool can help you determine your connection’s download speed and upload speed. Additionally, you can come to know about the other stats like ping and jitter.
It works on:
- Android
- iOS
Fast
Fast is one of the best internet speed test tools powered by Netflix. As you access the minimalist interface, you will only find the download speed, which is the most important metric for internet consumers.
However, if you want to get other information, you can click on the Show more info button. Then you can see upload speed and latency (unloaded and loaded). Furthermore, you can adjust certain settings of this platform, including maximum and minimum parallel connections, maximum and minimum test duration in seconds, etc.
The web version of this tool is available in different other languages than English. If you are unwilling to use the web version, you can go for its Android and iOS apps.
It works on:
- Android
- iOS
M-Lab
M-Lab offers its users the largest collection of open Internet performance data. The data it collects becomes available to the public so that anyone can use the network connectivity data.
Also Read: Popular Network Connectivity Methods to Know
This is one of the best internet speed test platforms where you can get advanced diagnostics of the broadband connection performance through quick measurements. It only takes a few seconds to measure download speed, upload speed, and latency. It also shows the information on the test server location and retransmission percentage.
SpeedOf.Me
SpeedOf.Me is one of the best HTML5 internet speed tests. Besides showing you the latency, upload, and download speed, this platform also keeps records of your test results in the History tab. You can down the data from this tab in CSV format. SpeedOf.Me also offers an API that is the first speed-test API to measure the connection speed of your users.
TestMy.net
For those looking for a reliable and versatile tool for testing internet connection, TestMy.net is the platform for them. The data they provide is fast and accurate. This powerful broadband speed test tool can calculate your transfer rate and offer quick and accurate results that are easy to understand.
Being an independent third-party app and not affiliated with any ISP, you will get unbiased results from it. On TestMy.net, you can choose from any of the three options. You can select the check download speed or upload speed options; else, you can go for the automatic speed test to check the benchmark Internet bandwidth automatically.
Xfinity
As netizens, you need to understand the difference between the internet speed to your home and the speed you get on individual devices. Xfinity allows you to measure the latter. This one of the best internet speed test platforms comes with a neat interface that can test the speed in one click.
The results will show the download speed by default. However, you can click on the Show more button to view upload speed and latency. Furthermore, you can adjust some configurations on this platform. For example, you can choose the protocol between IPv4 and IPv6 or select the host from a long list.
HighSpeedInternet.com
HighSpeedInternet.com can be a good option for testing your internet speed and finding out if you are getting the promised upload and download speed from your ISP. This tool is also available for Android and iOS users who can download the free and easy-to-use app.
HighSpeedInternet.com only takes one click to start the test and comes with different stats like upload and download speed, ping, IP address, provider name, and server location. It also tells you the tasks you can do with the current speed.
Internet Health Test
With Internet Health Test, one can seamlessly find out the internet speed. It displays all crucial metrics like upload and download speed, jitter, and ping. You can either select the host server from a list or let the tool select it automatically. Besides being quick, it allows you to share the test result with others through Facebook and Twitter share buttons.
SpeedSmart
SpeedSmart offers a standard approach to testing the performance and speed of your internet connection. This HTML5-based best internet speed test tool works across devices—desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones. Thanks to its global spread, dedicated server network, and exclusive testing technique, it offers accurate results.
It not only offers the basic test metrics like upload speed, download speed, and ping; the app also lets you keep track of internet performance over time with a detailed history that contains charts and stats. Furthermore, you can share the results with others.
Smartphone users can also utilize this service with their Android and iOS apps which can test the speed of 5G, 4G, and WiFi connections.
It works on:
- Android
- iOS
V-SPEED
V-SPEED speed test is a robust app for measuring Internet connection speed on Android and iOS smartphones. This app not only boasts an intuitive interface but also offers a large number of configuration settings. You can use it to test download speed, upload speed, latency, and ping.
It will also show you the basic connection info such as IP address, WiFi network name, ISP organization, and SIM operator. For speed checks, the app can select the default server.
V-SPEED lets you share your speed test results on Facebook and Twitter. You can also check the result history and use different criteria to filter and sort the results.
It works on:
- Android
- iOS
Speed Test Master
If you always lag while playing online games, it is time to check your internet speed with one of the best Internet speed test app named Speed Test Master. This Android and iOS compatible app takes only one tap the check network performance using thousands of servers worldwide. Furthermore, you can get your results in 30 seconds.
Whether you want to test 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, DSL, ADSL, or WiFi, this app can do it. To check the network stability, you can use its Advanced ping test feature. With its help, you can detect the strongest signal spot and test its strength.
Speed Test Master can be used to automatically diagnose a network when there is a bad connection. Its other features include saving the test results, monitoring mobile data usage, etc.
It works on:
- Android
- iOS
Meteor
Meteor is a simple and best internet speed test app that offers you easy-to-understand results. Both Android and iOS users can try this app for download speed, upload speed, and ping of their internet connections. It is the right tool sot check the speed of WiFi, wireless, and mobile connection (3G, 4G LTE, 5G).
This ad-free tool has a unique test that tells you how your internet speed will impact your mobile apps’ performance. From 27 globally popular apps and games, you can test the performance of six apps simultaneously. Thus, the free app works as the data source for user experience on mobile network speeds.
It works on:
- Android
- iOS
Now that you’ve checked out the various internet speed test tools, let’s understand how these speed tests work and what they tell us about our internet connectivity.
What Does the Internet Speed Test Signify?
An internet speed test refers to the internet connection parameter analysis. This process includes sending a sample file from the server and calculating how long it takes to download and upload that small file.
Moreover, you can monitor ping with some speed test tools or hosts. The reliable and best speed tests have numerous host servers worldwide so that one can test the speed of different locations.
Besides the slow internet connection, you may want to check the speed to see if you are getting what your ISP has promised. The internet speed test also lets you know if the ISP is throttling your data at a particular time of the day.
Comparing speed with your friends, colleagues, and neighbors or improving the service of an ISP in an area are some common reasons you might test your internet speed. All the tools listed here on this list are very precise when it comes to measuring the internet speed, which brings me to my next point.
How Accurate Are These Internet Speed Tests?
Users need to take help from third-party internet speed test tools. Hence, you might doubt the accuracy of these tests. Typically, these tests give you accurate results. However, like every other type of test, the accuracy depends on various factors.
Things that can have an impact on test results include the distance of server location, testing device location, testing time, testing using VPN, online activity, connected device count, and internet gear.
To get a more accurate idea of your internet speed, you should perform repeated tests at different times of the day using the best internet speed test tools. This will reveal the WiFi speed range, so you know what to expect.
Moreover, the speed tests not only tell you about your download and upload speeds. They reveal a lot more information, such as ping and jitter, which could also cause some issues when you’re gaming online or streaming. Let’s take a look at this in detail.
What Information Do You Get From These Speed Tests?
Users can get real-time data on the speed of their mobile or WiFi connection. The test usually offers the following metrics:
#1. Download Speed: Most of your work on the internet, such as browsing websites or video streaming, involves downloading data. Download speed tells you how quickly the requested information reaches your device from the web.
#2. Upload speed: Upload speed is another crucial component of the internet. You need to have a good upload speed during video calls, sending emails and documents, and storing files in the cloud. This measurement tells you how quickly the data you send reaches the internet.
#3. Latency: If you are into gaming, your connection should have less latency. The latency, also known as ping, refers to the time (milliseconds) a signal takes to travel to and from the server. The lesser the ping is, the more responsive your internet connection is.
With all this information, you’ll have a better knowledge about how your ISP works, whether it’s providing the correct speed, or if you’ve got some issues elsewhere. So, these speed tests are an excellent way to monitor your internet connectivity.
Concluding Words
Whether you are having trouble streaming, downloading, or gaming, an internet speed test comes in handy to determine the current upload and download speed. From this guide, you have learned the best internet speed test tools and apps.
Next time something is wrong with your internet, you can perform a test immediately.