When speeds get really fast (1,000 Mbps or faster), we talk about them in gigabits per second (Gbps), which is a billion bits per second. Internet connections can handle a lot of this data, so we usually talk about speeds in megabits per second (Mbps), which is a million bits per second. Internet speed is measured in bits (a single binary 1 or 0) per second. What an internet speed test measures What does Mbps mean? Just click on the button below to take our speed test. Testing the speed of your internet connection is easy. We’ll walk you through all the ins and outs of measuring your internet speed and what your speed means for you. This test will measure your download and upload speeds (as well as other information like latency, which you can see if you click on the details), which you can compare to your provider’s advertised speeds.īut there’s more to internet speed than just the numbers. ![]() Just download our free, easy-to-use speed test app for quick and reliable results. That said, you will start to notice high ping if you're trying to make split-second decisions in an online multiplayer game, and it can also cause annoying delays during video call conversations.Testing the speed of your internet connection is easy. In most cases, ping differences are pretty minor, enough so that you won't notice them without running a speed test. Your ping might also rise slightly if you're connecting through something like a mesh router or a range extender, where your data needs to make multiple wireless jumps before reaching the modem. Ping will go up if you're connecting to a server that's very far away, or if there's some sort of interference somewhere in the connection. Think of it like a round-trip flight time for your internet connection. Simply put, the ping number is the time that it took for your device to send a signal to whatever distant server you connected to during the speed test, and then receive a response. In addition to showing you the current upload and download speeds for whatever device you're running the test on, most internet speed tests will also give you a figure called ping, which is a latency measurement measured in milliseconds. That's not surprising, but it might make a slight impact on your results depending on the strength of your connection at the time of the test. You can even run the Ookla speed test on an Apple TV.Īll of that said, Ookla does display banner ads while you run basic speed tests. In addition to the website and the smartphone apps, Ookla also has apps that you can run on Windows or on Mac. Most recently, the service released a video-specific speed test that measures your network's ability to handle 4K video streams. Ookla's done a good job of keeping up with the times by adding new features and capabilities over the years. Incidentally, Ookla's speed test is also the one we use when we're testing Wi-Fi routers. Popularity aside, we like Ookla for having everything a basic user needs from a speed test: accuracy, the ability to view your speed test history (when you create an account), a wide array of servers to connect to, and even a handy app for speed testing from your Android or iOS device. One of our favorites is the Ookla speed test, which has a strong reputation for consistency and for being one of the first speed tests on the web. The speed test results will give you a lot of insight into what is going on with your internet connection. In most cases, running a test is as easy as pressing "Go," and won't take more than a minute or so. ![]() You might even be able to run one from the same app that you used to set up your router. Running an internet speed test is quick and easy, and there are a ton of free options to choose from. Speeds can also fluctuate and decline during hours of peak usage, when traffic is at its highest, or if your internet provider enforces data caps or throttles connections to help maintain overall network performance.įor those curious to know your home's true internet speeds, there's an easy way to check. For instance, the further you move away from your router, the slower your speed will be, and this is especially true if there are a lot of walls and obstructions in between. That said, there are many reasons why your actual Wi-Fi speeds might be slower than you'd think. Those speeds entirely depend on the specific internet plan you signed up for with your ISP. Even the best internet speed test can't magically increase your home internet speeds.
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