Avoid overpaying on internet fee that you don’t need every end of a month. Here we have this article, will help you receive a personalized recommendation based on your household’s internet usage. Also finding the perfect balance of download speed to meet your needs without paying for excess speed.
Why Testing Internet Speed Is Important?
Testing your internet speeds you’re getting helps ensure that you are getting the provider’s promised service. It also allows you to determine what types of online activities you can comfortably engage in, such as gaming or video calls, without experiencing connectivity issues.
How Much Internet Speed Is Necessary?
For smooth streaming, gaming, downloading, and video calls, a minimum internet speed of 25Mbps download and 3Mbps upload is recommended. These speeds are considered essential for broadband connections according to the FCC.
Having a 100Mbps connection allows you to simultaneously stream movies, join Zoom meetings, and play online games on multiple devices. The amount of Mbps needed varies from person to person, with some requiring less and others needing more. If you feel that 100Mbps is not sufficient for your needs, utilize the tool to receive a personalized suggestion.
| Internet speed | Speed level | What you can accomplish |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5Mbps | Extremely slow | Send emails, search the internet on Google, watch videos in standard definition on one device |
| 5–40Mbps | Slow to moderate | Watch videos in high definition on three or four devices, play games online |
| 40–100Mbps | Moderate to fast | Stream easily on multiple devices in high definition or 4K, download large files quickly, operate numerous smart devices |
| 100–500Mbps | Very fast | Stream in 4K on more than five devices at the same time, download huge files quickly, host live streams |
| 500–1,000+Mbps | Extremely fast | Stream in 4K on 10+ devices, operate more than 10 smart-home devices simultaneously, perform various tasks on numerous devices |
| 1,200–5,000Mbps | Faster than necessary | Operate a bitcoin-mining farm with dozens of computers, watch the movie “Frozen” in 4K on 100 devices simultaneously |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYqEHZQGIsw
Determine Ideal Internet Speed
It can be done by taking into account the usual online activities you engage in, the number of people using Wi-Fi, and the number of devices connected to your home network.
Key points to remember include:
- Simple tasks such as surfing Internet and streaming music do not require much speeds.
- More complex tasks like streaming video and downloading large files, as well as using multiple devices, do require faster speeds.
- Aim for at least 25Mbps download speeds if you frequently use streaming services, Zoom, and other popular apps.
- Avoid getting gigabit internet unless absolutely necessary, as a slower plan can still provide fast speeds and cost less. Many households can function well with half of a gigabit plan.
- Keep your router updated to ensure it can handle the speeds offered by your internet plan.
- Consider investing in a mesh router system or placing your router in a central location in your home to improve Wi-Fi signal coverage.
4 Main Types Of Tests
There are various kinds of tests for measuring internet speed that can provide insights into your connection.
Download and upload speed test determine how fast data can be received and sent over the internet. Download speed is relevant to activities like browsing the web or watching videos, while upload speed pertains to sending emails or sharing photos and videos online.
A ping or latency test measures the time it takes for a device to receive a response after sending a signal to a server. It can be likened to the delay between pressing a button on a game controller and seeing the corresponding action on screen, expected result is the low latency.
Jitter tests assess how data moves between different network devices. As network traffic increases, the transmission of data may become inconsistent, causing delays in the connection.
Conducting streaming speed tests is essential to determine if your internet connection is sufficient for streaming videos in high resolution without buffering. To stream videos effectively, a high-speed internet is necessary due to the increased bandwidth requirements.
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How To Conduct A Speed Test
Perform multiple tests, one close to your WiFi hotspot and another in the area where connectivity issues are experienced.
After running the tests:
– If internet speeds are consistent for both locations, the issue may be with the internet service provider.
– If there is a difference in internet speeds between devices, the connectivity issue may be related to local configuration settings or device capabilities. It is possible that the device is not connecting to the appropriate WiFi hotspot, causing issues like connectivity through thick walls but we have already solved it with these genius hacks and tricks.
Action: Selectively enabling and disabling WiFi hotspots can quickly help pinpoint the problematic device. Another option is to conduct a network speed test to compare the speed of wireless and wired connections.
Download Speed Test
– Open multiple connections to a server.
– Initiate the download of a large file on all connections simultaneously.
By maxing out the internet connection’s bandwidth, you can measure the maximum data throughput and determine the available internet speed for downloading data.
Upload Speed Test
– Open multiple connections to a test server.
– Create a large file of random data on your device. Push this data through all connections to the server to measure the maximum speed throughput.
Measuring the data transfer rate over time can determine the current internet upload speed available.
Read Also: 0 Upload Speed: Why It Happens And 9 Ways To Fix It
Ping Test
Instead of focusing on upload speeds, this test looks at the response time. Here is how it works:
– The device sends a small amount of data over the network to a test server on the internet.
– Once the server receives the data, it sends it back to the device, completing the roundtrip.
For accurate results, multiple ping tests are performed in succession, and the final result is the average of all these tests.
Getting The Best Internet Speed Test Results
Running a speed test is usually straightforward, but there are additional steps you can take to ensure more precise and informative results. Consider these tips when conducting an internet speed test.
– Conduct tests using both Ethernet and Wi-Fi connections: Analyzing your speeds over an Ethernet connection will provide a more accurate representation of the service you are receiving from your internet providers. These tests can often be conducted through the router using the corresponding app. After the Ethernet test, proceed with a Wi-Fi test to compare the speed difference between a wired and wireless connection, two modems in one house. However, an Ethernet connection may experience some common problems like blinking orange lights.
– Experiment with different distances from your router: The proximity to the router can impact the speed of your Wi-Fi connection. Test your speeds at various distances from the router, including different rooms or floors in your home, to evaluate the range of your router and identify any areas with weak signals.
– Try running tests on different devices: Perform a speed test on your computer, phone, smart TV, gaming console, and other devices. If there is a significant difference in speeds between devices, consider adjusting the settings on either the device or router to enhance performance across all devices.
– Test at different times of the day to determine when your internet connection performs best: Peak usage times, usually on weeknight evenings when many people are streaming entertainment, can slow down your speeds. Keep track of when your connection is at its peak performance like using overclocking and schedule large downloads like video games or movies during those times.
– Test results can vary depending on the age of the device: Testing on a 2.4 Ghz device will not yield the same upload and download speeds as testing on a 5 Ghz enabled device. Sometimes 2.4GHz Wifi Not Working but 5GHz Working, you can check 8 ways to fix here.
Best Internet Speed Test Apps For 2024
Ookla
Ookla is well-known for its reliability, accuracy, and features such as viewing speed test history and a wide selection of servers to connect to. It also offers a user-friendly app for speed testing on Android and iOS devices.
Ookla has been successful in keeping up with the latest trends by adding new features and capabilities. They have introduced a video-specific speed test that can measure the ability of your network to handle 4K video streams. Ookla also offers apps for Windows, Mac, and Apple TV for website and smartphone use.
Fast
Fast.com is another excellent broadband test with a very simple interface. One of its major advantages is that it is owned by Netflix, making it a good choice for online streamers. The test is designed to determine if your connection is strong enough to stream Netflix in the highest resolution without any buffering.
While Fast.com is a useful tool for some users, it may not provide all the necessary information for everyone. It has a basic interface without advanced settings and metrics that are available in other speed tests. Notably, you cannot choose the server you want to connect to for your test.
M-Lab Internet Speed Test
Abbreviated as M-Lab, the open-source test was created by a group of computer experts and academic researchers with support from Google. It is the test that appears when you search “internet speed test” in the Google search bar.
You don’t need to save it or recall its exact name. The only information shared with M-Lab is your IP address. Keep in mind that the M-Lab test doesn’t allow you to choose the server for the test and is optimized for internet speeds up to 700 Mbps. If you want to test a gigabit connection, you will need to look elsewhere. Additionally, M-Lab recommends limiting your speed tests to four times a day.
Speedof.me
Similar to Ookla, the test interface displays fluctuations in your upload and download speeds. This can help you easily identify issues with your connection over time, as Speedof.me allows you to compare your results with previous tests. Additionally, its mobile-friendly website is convenient for conducting speed tests on your phone, enabling you to quickly assess your speed without the need to download an app.
However, Speedof.me does have some drawbacks. One limitation is the lack of the ability to manually select a server to connect to. If you’re not well-versed in home networking, the visualized data may appear more complex or overwhelming compared to the straightforward number provided by Fast.com.
Testmy.net
Testmy.net is a speed test for internet that operates using only HTML5 and PHP. This means it doesn’t rely on external software like Java or Flash to run the test, resulting in more precise outcomes. It’s a handy tool for comparing the performance of different web browsers. Additionally, you have the option to sign up for an account to monitor your internet speed for future use or comparison.
However, the tool may not be the most user-friendly. It provides a large amount of detailed data that may not all be relevant to you. The design is not very visually appealing compared to other speed tests, and it requires a few clicks to start a test, instead of featuring a prominent “Go” button upon loading the page like other tests.
