The fastest way to check your speed
Open a web browser and go to speedtest.net or fast.com. Both are free, run in your browser with no download required, and take about one minute. Click the button to start, wait while the test sends data to and from a server, and you'll see three numbers: download speed, upload speed, and ping (measured in Mbps and milliseconds).
Speedtest.net is run by Ookla, a company that has been measuring internet speed since 2006. Fast.com is run by Netflix. Both give reliable results. The choice between them doesn't matter much — if you run both on the same device at the same time, the numbers will be close.
For the most honest result, run the test on a device connected by ethernet cable to your router, not over Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi speed varies based on distance, walls, and interference from other devices. If you're testing Wi-Fi speed specifically (because that's how you actually use the internet), move the device closer to the router and away from microwaves and cordless phones, which can interfere.
Key Takeaways
- Speedtest.net and fast.com are the two most common free tools and give results in under a minute with no software to install.
- Download speed is what matters most for everyday use like streaming video or loading web pages; upload speed matters if you video call or upload files.
- Your actual speed will often be lower than what your internet plan promises, and that's normal — plans list maximum speeds, not may provide speeds.
- Run the test multiple times at different times of day, because speed changes based on how many people are using the network.
- A wired ethernet connection gives a truer picture of your internet speed than Wi-Fi, which is affected by distance and obstacles.
What the three numbers mean
Download speed is how fast data comes to your device. This is the number that matters most for most people. Streaming video, loading web pages, downloading files, and video calls all depend on download speed. The higher this number, the faster these things happen.
Upload speed is how fast data leaves your device to go to the internet. This matters if you video call, upload photos to cloud storage, or stream video from your computer. For most people who just watch video and browse, upload speed is less important.
Ping (also called latency) is how long it takes for your device to send a signal to a server and get a response back, measured in milliseconds. For everyday browsing and streaming, ping doesn't matter much. For online gaming or video calls, a lower ping (under 50 ms) means less delay and a smoother experience.
Why your speed is lower than your plan promises
Internet plans advertise maximum speeds — the fastest you could theoretically get under perfect conditions. Real-world speeds are almost always lower. A plan that says "up to 100 Mbps" might deliver 70 to 90 Mbps on a good day, and that's normal.
Speed drops because of distance from the router, Wi-Fi interference, the number of devices using the network at the same time, and how busy the internet backbone is at that moment. If you're testing at 8 p.m. on a weeknight, your neighborhood is probably using more bandwidth than at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday.
If your speed is consistently much lower than your plan promises — say, a 100 Mbps plan delivering 30 Mbps — that's worth reporting to your internet provider. But if you're getting 70 to 90 Mbps on a 100 Mbps plan, that's expected.
Testing on different devices and at different times
Run the speed test on the device you actually use most — your phone, laptop, or tablet — because that's the speed that matters to you. A test on a wired desktop computer tells you what your internet connection is capable of, but if you mostly use Wi-Fi on a phone, that's not your real experience.
Run the test several times over a few days at different times of day. Morning speeds might be different from evening speeds. If you test once at 2 p.m. on a Saturday and get 50 Mbps, but your plan is 100 Mbps, run it again at 8 p.m. on a weeknight. The second test will give you a better picture of what you actually get when the network is busy.
If you're testing Wi-Fi, move to different rooms in your house and test from each one. Speed drops the farther you are from the router. If you get 80 Mbps next to the router but only 20 Mbps in the bedroom, that's a Wi-Fi coverage problem, not an internet speed problem.
When to test with ethernet instead of Wi-Fi
If your speed test over Wi-Fi shows much lower speeds than your plan promises, plug an ethernet cable directly from your router to your computer and test again. If the wired speed is much higher, your Wi-Fi is the bottleneck, not your internet connection.
Ethernet cables are cheap (under $10 for a long one) and give you a direct connection to the router with no interference. If you want to know whether your internet provider is delivering what they promised, test with ethernet. If you want to know what speed you actually get in your living room, test over Wi-Fi.
Other speed test tools
Speedtest.net and fast.com are the most common, but other options exist. Google has a built-in speed test — search "internet speed test" and a tool appears at the top of the results. Your internet provider may also have their own speed test on their website, though these sometimes show higher numbers than independent tests.
The differences between tools are usually small. If you get 75 Mbps on Speedtest and 72 Mbps on fast.com, that's normal variation. If one tool shows 75 Mbps and another shows 40 Mbps, run both again — something else was probably using the network during one of the tests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my speed test result different every time I run it?
Internet speed changes based on network traffic, the time of day, and what else is using your connection at that moment. Someone streaming video or downloading a file on another device will lower your test result. Run the test when no one else is using the network, or close other apps and browser tabs before testing.
Is my internet speed good?
That depends on what you do. For streaming video in standard definition, 5 Mbps is enough. For 4K video, you need around 25 Mbps. For video calls, 2.5 Mbps upload is usually fine. For online gaming, anything above 10 Mbps download works, but low ping matters more. Compare your test result to what you actually do online.
Should I test on Wi-Fi or with an ethernet cable?
Test both. Ethernet shows what your internet connection is truly capable of. Wi-Fi shows what you actually get in the rooms where you use the internet. If they're very different, your Wi-Fi coverage needs improvement, not your internet plan.
My speed test shows I'm getting less than my plan promises. Should I call my provider?
If you're getting 70 to 90 percent of your plan's promised speed, that's normal. If you're consistently getting less than half — a 100 Mbps plan delivering 40 Mbps or less — it's worth calling. Have your test results ready and test again right before you call, so you have current numbers to share.