Internet Speed Test
Start Test

How to Test Your Internet Speed

One quick test tells you roughly how your connection is doing right now. A few careful tests tell you what your internet plan actually delivers. Here’s how to do both.

Updated October 6, 2026 · How we write our guides

The quick check (one minute)

  1. Open the speed test on the device that feels slow.
  2. Press Start Test and wait for it to finish.
  3. Read the summary under your result. It tells you what the connection should handle.

This answers “is my internet working properly right now, on this device?” It doesn’t tell you whether the problem is your WiFi, your device or your provider. For that, use the careful test.

The careful test

1. Prepare

  • Use a computer with a cable plugged into the router. For plans above 100 Mbps, check the cable is Cat 5e or better and the computer has a gigabit port.
  • Pause other devices. Stop streaming, downloads, game updates and cloud backups. If you can, disconnect other devices from WiFi.
  • Close other apps and tabs. Pause sync tools such as cloud drives.
  • Turn off the VPN, unless you want to test the VPN itself.
  • Use an up-to-date browser, and temporarily turn off extensions that inspect or block traffic.

2. Test three times

Run the test three times, a minute or two apart. Results naturally vary a little. Use the middle result, or the typical one if two are similar.

3. Test at different times

Repeat in the morning, afternoon and evening on a few days. Many residential networks are busiest roughly from 7 to 11 p.m.; a big drop at those times points to congestion.

4. Test WiFi separately

Then run the same tests on WiFi, near the router and in the rooms you use. The gap between wired and wireless shows how much your WiFi costs you. See how to test WiFi speed.

Keep a simple log

Example log layout
Date and timeDeviceWired or WiFi (room)DownloadUploadPingNotes
Mon 8:15 p.m.LaptopWired   Other devices off
Mon 8:20 p.m.LaptopWiFi, living room    

The test also keeps your last few results in this browser, and you can create a share link for any result to keep or send.

Reading the results

  • Download and upload: compare wired results with your plan’s typical speeds. In the U.S., the provider’s broadband label lists them.
  • Ping: under 50 ms is responsive; under 100 ms is fine for most things.
  • Jitter: under 30 ms keeps calls smooth.
  • Packet loss: ideally 0%.
  • Ping under load (in Test details): a big increase over idle ping suggests bufferbloat.

For context on the numbers, see what counts as a good internet speed.

What to do next

If wired results are close to your plan but WiFi is slow, work on your home network. If wired results are low too, follow how to fix slow internet, then contact your provider with your log.

Frequently asked questions

What time of day should I test?

Test at different times, including the evening (roughly 7–11 p.m.), when residential networks are often busiest. Comparing morning and evening results is the easiest way to spot congestion.

How many tests should I run?

At least three in a row for a single check, and several across different days if you want evidence for your provider.

Does my browser affect the result?

It can, especially at very high speeds. Close other tabs, disable extensions that inspect traffic, and use an up-to-date browser.