Check Internet Speed Test
Use our free check internet speed test to measure your real‑world download, upload, ping, jitter, and packet loss—then get simple, actionable advice to improve performance for streaming, gaming, and video calls.
How to run an accurate check internet speed test
Follow these quick steps for the most reliable results:
- Connect as close to your router as possible (or use an Ethernet cable).
- Close background apps, VPNs, torrents, and cloud backups.
- Pause any ongoing downloads or OS/app updates.
- Prefer 5 GHz/6 GHz Wi‑Fi over 2.4 GHz for higher throughput.
- Run tests at multiple times of day (busy vs. off‑peak) and average the results.
Tip: For Wi‑Fi only diagnostics, try our dedicated Wi‑Fi Speed Test.
What your results mean
- Download (Mbps): How fast you can receive data. Affects streaming, browsing, downloads.
- Upload (Mbps): How fast you can send data. Affects backups, live streaming, file sharing, and sending video during calls.
- Ping (ms): Round‑trip time. Lower is better for gaming and calls.
- Jitter (ms): Stability of your connection. Lower jitter = fewer glitches in video/audio.
- Packet loss (%): Lost packets cause stutter, buffering, and voice/video artifacts.
Recommended minimums by activity
| Activity | Download | Upload | Ping | Jitter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web browsing, social | 5–10 Mbps | 1–2 Mbps | < 80 ms | < 20 ms | Most devices |
| HD streaming (1080p) | 10–15 Mbps per stream | 3–5 Mbps | < 60 ms | < 15 ms | Smart TV/Box |
| 4K streaming | 25 Mbps+ per stream | 5–10 Mbps | < 50 ms | < 10 ms | Wired preferred |
| Video calls (HD) | 10–20 Mbps | 5–10 Mbps | < 50 ms | < 10 ms | Headset helps |
| Online gaming | 10–25 Mbps | 3–5 Mbps | < 30 ms | < 10 ms | Ethernet ideal |
| Cloud backup | 20–50 Mbps | 20–50 Mbps | < 80 ms | < 20 ms | Stable upload critical |
If your speeds vary wildly, check the “jitter” value and consider testing “latency under load” (bufferbloat). High latency while downloading/uploading suggests your router’s QoS is not optimized.
Improve your internet speed in minutes
- Move your router higher and closer to where you use the internet.
- Switch to 5 GHz/6 GHz and choose a clear channel (1/6/11 on 2.4 GHz).
- Update router firmware; reboot modem/router if uptime is very long.
- Replace old Ethernet cables (use Cat 5e/6+), upgrade aging routers.
- Enable Smart Queue Management (SQM) or QoS to reduce bufferbloat.
- Separate SSIDs for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz to force faster band on capable devices.
See our guide: “What Is a Good Internet Speed?” on the blog for deeper recommendations.
Our test methodology (short version)
- Multi‑thread + single‑thread throughput to capture both peak and consistency.
- Warm‑up phase to avoid burst bias; timed sampling with moving averages.
- Ping/jitter both idle and under load (optional), plus packet loss checks.
- Results shown in real time with a stability indicator.
Want the technical details? Read our full Blog.
Frequently asked questions
What affects my internet speed the most?
Signal quality (Wi‑Fi interference, distance), last‑mile congestion, router performance, peering of your ISP to the test server, and device CPU/RAM.
Should I use VPN during the test?
No—VPNs change routing and often add overhead. Test both with and without VPN if you want to compare.
Why is my Wi‑Fi slower than Ethernet?
Wireless shares spectrum and is sensitive to interference and walls. Ethernet is dedicated, full‑duplex, and has lower latency/jitter.
How do I estimate download time?
Use our calculators: convert Mbps to MB/s and estimate file download time based on your measured throughput.