Internet diagnostics
Internet Speed Test
Measure your download and upload speed, ping and jitter right in your browser, then see how your connection holds up for everyday use.
Ready to test
This test transfers data between your device and test servers. It may use a significant amount of data, especially on mobile connections.
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Your IP and network details are detected for this session and are not stored by TestConn.
Understand your results
A speed test reports several numbers. Here is what each one means and when it matters.
Download
MbpsHow quickly data reaches your device. It shapes how fast pages load, how quickly files download, and whether streams play without buffering — the number most people mean by “internet speed.”
Upload
MbpsHow quickly data leaves your device: email attachments, your outgoing video-call feed, cloud backups and livestreaming. On most home plans it is noticeably lower than download.
Ping
msThe round-trip time for a small message to reach a server and come back — a measure of responsiveness. Lower is better, and it matters most for video calls and online games.
Jitter
msHow much your ping varies from moment to moment. Low jitter means a steady connection; high jitter causes stutter in calls and games even when the average ping looks fine.
Packet loss
%The share of data packets that never arrive and must be resent, showing up as glitches and drop-outs. TestConn currently reports this as N/A — see “How TestConn performs the test” below.
What connection quality do you need?
These are general starting points for one activity at a time. Real needs rise when several people or devices share the connection, or when you want the highest quality.
Browsing & email
Web pages, email and light everyday use.
- Download
- 1–5 Mbps
- Upload
- 0.5–1 Mbps
- Ping
- Not critical
HD streaming (1080p)
A single high-definition video stream.
- Download
- 10–15 Mbps
- Upload
- Low
- Ping
- Not critical
4K streaming
Ultra-HD video; benefits from low jitter and loss.
- Download
- 25 Mbps+
- Upload
- Low
- Ping
- Steady line
Online gaming
Low ping and jitter matter far more than raw speed.
- Download
- 15–25 Mbps
- Upload
- 3–5 Mbps
- Ping
- Under ~50 ms
Video calls
Group HD calls; smoothness depends on steady latency.
- Download
- 5–10 Mbps
- Upload
- 3–5 Mbps
- Ping
- Under ~100 ms
Livestreaming
Broadcasting out; upload and stability are the priority.
- Download
- 10 Mbps+
- Upload
- 5–10 Mbps+
- Ping
- Steady line
Why speed-test results vary
Run the same test twice and the numbers rarely match exactly. The most common reasons:
- Wi-Fi signal
- A weak or congested Wi-Fi signal lowers throughput and raises jitter and loss. Walls, floors, microwaves and neighbouring networks all interfere.
- Distance from the router
- The farther you are from the router, the weaker the signal — and every wall or floor in between weakens it further.
- Network congestion
- During busy hours, heavy use on your line or across the wider network slows everyone down.
- VPN use
- Routing your traffic through a VPN adds distance and processing, which usually raises latency and can cap speed.
- Other devices
- Phones, TVs, consoles and background updates all share your connection while you test.
- Browser and server location
- Browser overhead and the distance to the nearest test server both affect results. TestConn tests against Cloudflare's closest edge, so a nearer edge generally reads faster.
Wi-Fi versus Ethernet
For the most accurate, repeatable test — and the smoothest gaming and calls — connect over Ethernet if you can. Wi-Fi is convenient, but its numbers move around.
Ethernet (wired)
The most consistent option. A wired link avoids radio interference, so throughput stays stable with low jitter and minimal loss. Best for testing, gaming and large uploads.
Wi-Fi
Convenient and fine for most use, but signal strength, interference and distance all shift the numbers. If you test over Wi-Fi, move close to the router and pause other downloads first.
How TestConn performs the test
Cloudflare edge infrastructure. TestConn measures against Cloudflare's global edge network rather than our own servers, so your test runs against a server geographically close to you.
Browser-based download and upload. Your browser downloads and uploads sample data of increasing size and times each transfer, ramping up to estimate your real throughput in Mbps.
Ping and jitter. Latency is measured from many small round-trips to the edge; jitter is how much those round-trips vary.
Packet loss shows N/A for now. A reliable in-browser packet-loss measurement needs an extra server component we do not run yet, so TestConn shows N/A instead of an unreliable estimate.
Results may differ from other services. Server distance, your browser, Wi-Fi and other traffic all vary between tools and moments, so TestConn's numbers can differ from other speed tests. Use them as a consistent gauge over time rather than an absolute verdict.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my results different from another speed test?
Different tools test against different servers, use different methods, and run at different moments. Distance to the server, your Wi-Fi and other active devices all move the numbers. It is normal for two tests to disagree — what matters is a consistent trend over time.
Is my IP address or data stored?
The test runs against Cloudflare's edge, which necessarily receives your connection — including your IP — to perform the measurement. TestConn disables the extra results logging where supported and does not permanently store full IP addresses.
Why does packet loss show N/A?
Measuring packet loss reliably in the browser requires a server component TestConn does not run yet. Rather than show a guessed number, we display N/A until it can be measured properly.
Does the test use my data allowance?
Yes. The test transfers real data between your device and the test servers, which can add up — especially on mobile or metered connections.
How accurate is a browser-based speed test?
It is a good, repeatable gauge of your connection. For the most accurate reading, test over Ethernet and close other apps and downloads first.
Should I test over Wi-Fi or Ethernet?
Ethernet gives the most consistent results. Wi-Fi is fine, but move close to the router and pause other downloads for a fairer reading.
What speed do I actually need?
It depends on the activity — see “What connection quality do you need?” above. Gaming and calls care most about low ping and jitter; streaming and downloads care most about download speed.