The best internet speed tests, compared
Speed tests don't all measure the same thing, so the same connection can show different numbers. Here's what each popular test does, and which one to use for your question.
For a general check, use a test that measures download, upload and ping, on a wired device. Use a provider's own test when you want to compare against your plan, and a bufferbloat test if calls or games lag while someone else is downloading. You can start with our speed test.
The tests at a glance
Which test to use
| Question | Test to use |
|---|---|
| Am I getting the speed I pay for? | Your provider's test and Ookla, wired, three runs each |
| Why does Netflix buffer? | Fast.com |
| Why do games or video calls lag? | Waveform bufferbloat and Cloudflare (watch loaded latency) |
| Is my Wi-Fi the problem? | Any test, wired and then on Wi-Fi in the same spot |
| Proof for a complaint | Screenshots of wired results over several days and times |
Each test in detail
Ookla Speedtest
The most widely used test, at speedtest.net and in apps for phones, computers and some TVs. It picks a nearby server automatically, and you can change it. By default it opens several connections at once, which shows what your line can carry.
It has the largest server network, so you can test to a nearby city, and the app keeps your history and shows idle and loaded latency. Two catches: some servers are hosted by internet providers, so a test to your own provider's server can read high, and the website shows ads.
Fast.com
Netflix's test starts as soon as the page loads and shows download speed first. Click "Show more info" for upload, latency and loaded latency.
It's the quickest way to check streaming performance, with no ads and nothing to set up. The catch: it only tests to Netflix's servers, and upload and latency stay hidden until you click "Show more info."
Cloudflare Speed Test
At speed.cloudflare.com. It runs a longer series of downloads and uploads of different sizes and shows latency, jitter, loaded latency and packet loss, then rates the connection for streaming, gaming and video calls.
It gives the most detailed free results and is the best of these for diagnosing lag, not just speed. It takes longer than other tests, and the results are harder to read at a glance.
Google speed test (M-Lab)
Searching "speed test" on Google runs Measurement Lab's NDT test. It uses a single connection, and results are published as open data used by researchers.
It's independent of internet providers and one click from a Google search. Because it uses a single connection, fast plans often read lower than on other tests, and it shows few details.
Waveform bufferbloat test
Measures how much your latency rises while the connection is busy downloading and uploading, and gives a grade from A+ to F.
It's the clearest way to see whether lag during calls and games comes from your connection, and it explains how to fix a poor grade. It isn't meant for checking your plan's speed.
Your provider's test
Xfinity, Spectrum, AT&T, Verizon and others have their own tests, which measure to a server inside their network. That makes them useful for checking you get the speed you pay for. See our guides to the Xfinity, Spectrum and AT&T speed tests.
It shows what the provider delivers to your home, and it's the test support will ask you to run. Because it stays inside the provider's network, it can read higher than outside tests.
Your router or gateway app
Many mesh systems and provider gateways can run a test from the router itself. That removes your Wi-Fi and device from the result, so it's the cleanest way to check the line.
Testing from the router takes Wi-Fi out of the result, and some apps test automatically and keep a history. It won't tell you what your devices actually get.
Why different tests give different results
Five things explain most differences. Server location: a server across the country adds latency and can lower speed. Single vs. multiple connections: tests that open several connections show what the line can carry, while single-connection tests show what one download gets.
Time of day: evening congestion can lower results on cable and 5G networks. Wi-Fi vs. wired: on Wi-Fi you're testing the router and the device as much as the connection. The device: older phones and laptops can't reach gigabit speeds over Wi-Fi.
How to get an accurate result
- Plug a laptop or desktop into the router with an Ethernet cable. Wi-Fi results mostly measure your Wi-Fi.
- Pause downloads, streaming, cloud backups and game updates on every device.
- Close other browser tabs and apps on the test device.
- Run the test three times, a few minutes apart, and use the middle result.
- Test once in the evening (7 to 11 p.m.) too; that is when networks are busiest.
A few things can skew a result. A VPN routes traffic through another server, which usually lowers speed and raises ping, so turn it off before testing. Browser extensions and ad blockers can slow or block some tests, and power-saving modes on laptops and phones can limit Wi-Fi speed. On a wired test, an old Cat5 cable or a port running at 100 Mbps caps the result. And if someone else is streaming or backing up during the test, the number will be low.
Testing fast plans, 5G and satellite
Gig and multi-gig plans
A 1 Gig plan tops out around 940 Mbps on a wired test because of Ethernet overhead. That's normal. To test faster than 1 Gig, the computer, the cable and the router port all need to support 2.5 Gbps or more. Most phones and laptops can't reach gig speeds over Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 near the router comes closest. Use a test that opens several connections (Ookla, Cloudflare); single-connection tests read lower on fast lines.
5G home internet and Starlink
5G home internet and Starlink vary more than cable or fiber, so one test says little. Test at different times over a few days, including evenings, and note the range. For 5G, compare results with the gateway in different windows; for Starlink, check the app for obstructions first.
Understanding the numbers
| Number | What it means | Good |
|---|---|---|
| Download | How fast data reaches you | Close to your plan, wired |
| Upload | How fast you send data (video calls, backups) | Close to the plan's upload |
| Ping (latency) | Round-trip delay | Under 30 ms good; under 50 ms fine |
| Jitter | How much ping varies | Under 10 ms |
| Loaded latency / bufferbloat | Ping while the line is busy | Within 30 ms of idle ping |
| Packet loss | Data that never arrives | 0% |
See what internet speed you need for how much a household needs, and how to lower ping if gaming lag is the issue.
Keeping a record and comparing with your plan
Once is enough to check a new plan or a fix. For an ongoing problem, test wired at the same times each day for a week (morning, afternoon and evening) and keep screenshots. A record like that is what support, and the FCC if it comes to a complaint, will want to see.
Providers list typical speeds on the broadband facts label for each plan. Compare your wired results with the typical download and upload speeds shown there, not only the headline speed. See how to read a broadband facts label.
If the results are low
Start with speed test lower than your plan. If wired is fine and Wi-Fi is slow, see how to boost your Wi-Fi. If your plan is fine but the bill isn't, see how to negotiate your internet bill.
Ready to test? Use our speed test, then compare it with one of the tests above.
Questions
Which internet speed test is most accurate?
None is perfect. For checking your plan, use a wired device and compare your provider's test with Ookla Speedtest, three runs each. Similar results mean they're accurate for your line.
Why is Fast.com different from Speedtest?
Fast.com tests to Netflix's servers and focuses on download speed. Ookla lets you pick a nearby server and runs several connections, so results often differ a little.
Why is Google's speed test lower?
Google's test, run by M-Lab, uses a single connection, so on fast plans it often reads below what the line can do across several connections.
Is a speed test on my phone accurate?
It measures your phone's Wi-Fi as much as your internet. For checking your plan, test a computer wired to the router.
What is bufferbloat?
Latency that jumps when the connection is busy, causing lag in calls and games while someone else downloads. Waveform's test grades it; a router with smart queue management (SQM) or QoS can fix it.
How many times should I run a speed test?
Three runs a few minutes apart, using the middle result. For an ongoing problem, test at several times of day over a week.
Does a VPN affect speed test results?
Yes. A VPN sends traffic through another server, which usually lowers speed and raises ping. Turn it off to test your connection.
Why can't I get 1,000 Mbps on a 1 Gig plan?
Gigabit Ethernet tops out around 940 Mbps after overhead, and Wi-Fi is lower. A wired result in the 900s is normal.