Fast.com
Best internet speed test for streamers
M-Lab Internet Speed Test
The easiest internet speed test to use
Do you know what your current internet speed is? If the answer is no, there’s an easy way to change it within the next 5 minutes. A simple internet speed test will tell you exactly how fast your connection is and how it compares to your internet service provider’s advertised speeds.
However, there are many speed tests that can perform this simple task. So which one should you trust?
What is the best overall internet speed test?
Use a suitable speed test like Voted Best Overall Speed Test by Ookla and CNET, to help you determine how much speed you’re getting at your address. You may be surprised to find that the speeds are slower than your provider advertises.
We evaluated multiple speed tests based on speed, consistency, accessibility, and browser compatibility to help you decide which test is best for you. Here are our recommendations.
Look at this: How to speed up Wi-Fi
best internet speed test
One of our favorites is Ookla Speed Test. It has a great reputation for consistency and is one of the first speed tests on the web. I like that Ookla has everything you need for speed testing. There’s accuracy, the ability to view your speed test history (when you create an account), the variety of servers you can connect to, and even a handy app to do speed tests from home. Android or iOS device. Ookla’s speed test is also the test we use when testing Wi-Fi routers.
Ookla has kept up well with the times by adding new features and functionality. The service has released a video-specific speed test that measures a network’s ability to handle 4K video streams, and also offers its own VPN service. In addition to its website and smartphone app, Ookla also has an app that can run on Windows or Mac. You can also run the Ookla speed test on your Apple TV.
There is one small drawback. Ookla displays banner ads while running basic speed tests. This isn’t a big deal, but depending on the strength of your connection at the time of testing, it can affect your results slightly.
Fast.com is also a good broadband tester, and the interface is as simple as possible. Plus, one of the biggest benefits is that it’s owned by Netflix. This test is configured to check if your connection is strong enough to stream Netflix at maximum resolution without buffering, making it a great choice for online streamers.
Fast.com is a great tool for some people, but it’s not the most useful test for everyone. The basic interface is easy to use, but it lacks some of the advanced settings and metrics found in other speed tests. Most notably, you cannot specify which server to connect to for testing.
All of these speed tests are easy to use, but M-Lab Internet Speed Test is probably the easiest. His open source M-Lab test, short for Measurement Lab, was developed by a collection of computer scientists and academic researchers with support from Google. This is the test that always pops up when you type “internet speed test” into Google’s search bar. After agreeing to the data policy, click the “Start” button and you will see your download speed, upload speed, and latency within seconds.
This is very easy as you don’t have to bookmark it or remember its name exactly. No ads will be displayed while the test is running. The only data shared with M-Lab is your IP address. M-Lab tests do not allow you to choose which server to use during the test. Also, keep in mind that it is designed for internet speeds of up to 700 Mbps. If you want to speed test your gigabit connection, you’ll need to switch to a different location.
If you’re looking for a speed and consistency test, Speedof.me is the answer. Similar to Ookla, the test interface shows fluctuations in upload and download speeds. Over time, it becomes easier to identify problems with your connection, especially since Speedof.me allows you to compare your results to previous tests. The mobile-friendly website is also great for running tests on your phone, allowing you to perform quick speed tests on the go without downloading an app.
However, Speedof.me is not a perfect option. First, there is no option to manually select the server to connect to. Also, if you’re not into home networking, you might find visualized data more confusing or overwhelming than something like Fast.com that shows you numbers.
Testmy.net is an internet speed test that runs exclusively on HTML5 and PHP. This means you don’t need third-party software like Java or Flash to run your tests, resulting in more accurate results. This can also be a useful tool for comparing performance between different browsers. You can also create an account and track your internet speed for future reference and comparison.
However, this is not the most user-friendly tool. With a large amount of detailed data, you can find out a lot of information that is not relevant to you. The design is also a bit ugly by speed test standards, requiring a few clicks to start the test, but it’s not as streamlined as other speed tests that show a big “Go” button as soon as the page loads. Is not …
Tips for taking an internet speed test
Running a speed test is usually as simple as finding the test and clicking the start prompt, but there are some additional measures you can take to get more accurate and useful results. Here are some tips to consider when taking an internet speed test.
- Test using both Ethernet and Wi-Fi connections. Testing over an Ethernet connection will give you a closer look at the actual speeds you’ll get from your provider. Such tests can often be performed directly from the router via the app that comes with the router. Following the Ethernet test, test over Wi-Fi to see the difference in speed between Wi-Fi and wired connections.
- Test at different distances from your router. Distance from your router can affect your Wi-Fi speed. Run several speed tests at various distances from your router or from other rooms or floors of your home to measure your router’s range and identify dead zones.
- Test using different devices. Run speed tests on your computer, phone, smart TV, gaming console, and more. If speeds vary significantly between devices, you may need to adjust settings on your device or router to improve performance on all devices.
- Test at different times of the day. Depending on the type of internet connection you have, peak usage times (typically weeknights when many people are streaming entertainment) can hinder your speed. Try running several speed tests throughout the day to find out when your connection’s performance is at its peak. Please keep these times in mind. Ideal for scheduling downloads of large files such as video games and movies.
What are the different test types?
There are different types of speed tests that can help you better understand your internet speed.
- Download and upload speed test Refers to the speed at which data is sent and received over the Internet. Actions like surfing the web and streaming videos fall under download speed, while sending emails and uploading photos and videos online fall under upload speed.
- Ping or latency speed test indicates the time it takes for a device to send a signal to the server and receive a response. Think of it this way. When a button on a video game controller is pressed, it triggers an action on the screen. The ping test measures the time from command to result, so the higher the delay rate, the slower the reaction time.
- jitter speed test Describe how data flows between all network devices. Data is sent between devices at set intervals, but the connection may be slow if the network is congested. This is jitter.
- streaming speed test Make sure your internet connection is strong enough to stream at full resolution with little or no buffering. Streaming video requires more bandwidth, so download speeds must be fast enough to support the action.
How CNET Selected These Internet Speed Tests
For more than 20 years, we’ve been reviewing data using trusted sources, expert opinion, and a pragmatic approach. We strive to personally test products and services in order to provide our readers with insight and multiple options for what they’re looking for. Our team has approved these internet speed tests through several factors such as speed, consistency, accessibility, and browser compatibility. In fact, we use Ookla’s speed test when testing Wi-Fi routers, so we know from first-hand experience that it’s reliable.
Internet Speed Test FAQ
What is a good internet speed?
The Federal Communications Commission defines broadband speed as at least 25 megabits per second for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads. Still, according to the FCC’s own speed guide, this is his minimum speed for things like streaming 4K video and sharing large files on the web.
Multi-Gig speed internet plans are starting to appear from many providers, including AT&T, Comcast, Frontier, Verizon Fios, Ziply Fiber, and more, with speeds of 2, 3, 5, 10, and even 50 gigabits per second (or 50,000Mbps). . But such plans are overkill for most families, at least for now. The ideal is a symmetrical Internet connection where uploads are just as fast as downloads. A speed of 100Mbps is sufficient for most homes.
Why is my internet speed so slow?
There are several factors that can affect your speed, but the most likely cause of your tested speed being lower than your ISP’s speed to your home is the use of your Wi-Fi connection.
Wi-Fi is almost always slower than an Ethernet connection. The further you move away from your router, the slower your speed can be. If there’s a wall or other obstruction between your router and the device you’re using, your internet speed can slow down.
Internet speeds may also fluctuate depending on peak usage times. Perhaps worst of all, your internet speed can be noticeably affected if your internet provider enforces data caps or throttles your connection to maintain overall network performance.
Keep this in mind when running speed tests and take steps to mitigate potential speed disruptions. For example, being closer to the router will help you get more accurate results. However, for best results, try testing over an Ethernet connection if possible. Also, consider running several speed tests throughout the day to see how your speeds vary from hour to hour.
Do some ISPs offer their own speed tests?
Many national internet providers, such as Google, Spectrum, and Xfinity, offer speed tests on their sites. Although it is useful to use service-specific tests, we recommend using tests separate from your provider to increase objectivity.
Fast.com vs. Speedtest.net: Which is better?
Both internet speed tests are good options for determining the strength of your connection, but each has its pros and cons. Fast.com is owned and operated by Netflix, so it’s a great test for online streamers who rely on plenty of bandwidth. However, it does not offer as detailed analysis capabilities as Speedtest.net, nor does it allow users to specify which servers they connect to. Speedtest.net, on the other hand, has a great reputation for consistency, but it does contain banner ads that can slightly affect your test results.
Can speed tests help improve internet speed?
A speed test won’t change the speed of your home Wi-Fi network, but it’s a great diagnostic tool that lets you easily see how your network is performing in different parts of your home.
The best way to take advantage of speed tests is to run them on your phone or laptop in different rooms throughout your house. If you find a dead zone where speed drops rapidly, you may want to consider placing a range extender in the room closest to the dead zone where speed drops sharply. From there, your Wi-Fi signal will be rebroadcast, potentially slowing you down. Things went well. If you find multiple dead zones where you want to connect, it might be time to upgrade your router. To maximize Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home, consider using a mesh router for multiple devices.
