Ever wondered how fast your internet really is?
SpeedTest.net is a popular tool for discovering your current upload and download speeds, in Mbps. It also measures your ping time – how fast you get a response after sending a request (the faster, the better).
SpeedTest is run by Ookla. Many Internet Service Providers use the Ookla speed test tool on their site when providing free speed test tools – they just brand it as their own tool.
However, there are various other tools you can use as well. In this article, I will list 16 different alternatives to SpeedTest that you can use to test your internet connection speed.
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Best SpeedTest Alternatives
- 1. TestMy.net
- 2. Google’s Built-In Speed Test
- 3. Fast.com – Netflix’s Speed Test
- 4. SpeedOf.Me
- 5. Speed Check
- 6. nPerf
- 7. OpenSpeedTest
- 8. TestMySpeed.com
- 9. Speakeasy Speed Test
- 10. Cloudflare
- 11. Speed.io
- 12. Which? Speed Test
- 13. HighSpeedInternet.com
- 14. Bredbandskollen
- 15. MySpeedMeter
- 16. OfCom
- Other Alternatives To SpeedTest
- Wrapping It Up: What Is The Best SpeedTest Alternative?
Best SpeedTest Alternatives
Why use these alternatives? You might think that SpeedTest is cluttered with ads, but that’s not the only reason.
It is best to use a few speed test tools at the same time. You might find some slight differences between tools, based on various factors such as the method used or how close the server is.
For example, if the server is closer to the ISP network, you will automatically get better results on the speed test. This might cause you to think that your internet is faster than it really is.
Using several tools with servers in different locations can help you get a better understanding of the bigger picture.
Also, SpeedTest is a multi-thread test. Single thread tests might be more accurate and closer to real life than multi-thread tests.
Not all of these alternatives are HTML5 tests, though I would recommend getting such a test instead of one that uses Flash or Java. Test My Net, for example, does NOT use Flash.
Let us get into it.
1. TestMy.net
Test My Net, or TestMy.net, is a great alternative to Speed Test. They don’t host their servers close to ISP networks – instead, they host their servers close to areas where popular websites are hosted.
This will ensure that the results you get from TestMy.net are close to the speeds you will get when visiting popular websites.
TestMy.net also uses only your browser, without any Flash or Java.
Because of this, it makes it easier to test the speed differences between different browsers on your computer – since it uses only your browser, speed differences will be due to browser misconfigurations as opposed to factors stemming from third-party applications.
TestMy.net was released in 2001, so it’s been around for a while. It’s reliable and a great alternative to SpeedTest.
The downside of TestMy.net is that unlike SpeedTest, it does not test both your upload speed and your download speed at the same time. Instead, you will have to run separate tests for each one.
One thing that I liked about TestMy.net is that in addition to giving you your own internet speed in Mbps, they provide a bar chart showing you your speed compared to your host average, your city average, your country average, and the world average.
This helps you get an idea of whether a slow internet problem is just because of the city you are in or because of the specific service provider you are using.
Some cities around the world tend to have slower speeds in general. However, you may find that your speed is 20 percent slower than the city average.
My upload test, for example, showed that my speeds were comparable to my host average.
Another thing I liked about TestMy.net is that you can have it automatically test your speed periodically over a period of time and log all the results.
2. Google’s Built-In Speed Test
Did you know that Google has a speed test built into their search engine? To access this speed test, just type “internet speed test” into Google, like this:
The test takes less than 30 seconds and will show you both your upload speed and your download speed. I love this speed test because of how quick and easy it is – I don’t need to remember the names of other websites.
It’s a great and quick alternative to SpeedTest.
Also, you won’t have to leave the Google search page to conduct the test – you will just get a pop-up lightbox where you will see the test being done and the final test results.
I just want to note here that it’s not actually Google doing your speed test, it’s just that Google integrates a speed test into the search tool. The actual test is performed by Measurement Labs.
3. Fast.com – Netflix’s Speed Test
If you didn’t know that Google has a built-in speed test, you probably didn’t know that Netflix has a speed test as well, hosted on Fast.com.
The great part about Fast.com is that the test will be performed automatically as soon as you load the webpage, unlike with SpeedTest. It’s a pretty quick test too, and it showed that I had an internet speed of 28Mbps as of the time of the test.
To see more information, including the upload speed, click on see more. There, you can see latency data, client and server data, and your upload speed – my upload speed was 12Mbps.
Latency refers to how fast, in milliseconds, it takes data to be transferred from the origin to the destination. It’s the same thing as Ping.
4. SpeedOf.Me
SpeedOf.Me is a pretty good tool that I would recommend using as an alternative to SpeedTest for logging your test results. It’s pretty easy to use, although it has some ads cluttering the sides of the screen.
SpeedOf.Me will show you your download and upload speeds at the same time. They will also show you latency data, your IP address, and the server used in the test.
One thing I loved about SpeedOf.Me is the History tab. There, you can see a graph displaying all of your past results – this will help you get an overview of how your speed has improved (or gotten worse) over time.
5. Speed Check
I found Speed Check to be a bit cluttered with ads, but since it is entirely free to use, I could not really complain.
I ran a Speed Check test soon after I ran Netflix’s Fast.com test and found the results to be pretty similar – it showed a download speed of around 25Mbps and an upload speed of 13.70Mbps.
The latency, or ping, was 305.3 milliseconds.
Speed Check is not a bad tool. Personally, however, I found all the ads very distracting and the site a little buggy.
It’s still a decent alternative to SpeedTest.
6. nPerf
I really liked how nPerf showed the test being done in real time. You will see a speedometer gauge calculating your results, along with a graph displaying the ups and downs of your speed during the test.
First, nPerf will test the download speed, then the upload speed, and then the ping. These will be done one after the other, automatically.
After the test is concluded, you will see your upload speed, download speed, and latency. You will also see data such as:
- Longitude and latitude
- Internet Service Provider
- Connection type
- IPv4
- IPv6
- ASN
- Browser
- System
One of the cool things about nPerf is that it does not have any ads, unlike some of the other speed test tools listed in this article and unlike SpeedTest.
It was designed by telecom enthusiasts to help people like you figure out their internet speeds quickly and easily.
Another cool thing about nPerf is that they have mobile apps! Their mobile apps – which are available for Android, iPhone, and Windows phones – allow you to conduct speed tests on your phones quickly and easily, without opening up your browser.
Also, their mobile apps show you a network coverage map, so you know where to go to get the best coverage.
7. OpenSpeedTest
OpenSpeedTest is a cool little website that measures your download and upload speeds, as well as ping. I liked the gauge that shows your results being calculated in real time, but I did not like that their website was cluttered with ads and flashy icons – it was very distracting.
I liked that they have a useful article on how to speed up your internet connection on the site. I found the tips in that article pretty useful, so head there if you are looking for an alternative to SpeedTest and a way to speed up your internet.
8. TestMySpeed.com
TestMySpeed.com is a rather simple looking website – it looks like a basic WordPress blog. Nevertheless, their speed test is simple and easy to use.
To start your speed test, simply click on the start button. The tool will calculate your download, upload, and ping.
I found TestMySpeed.com to be fairly accurate – at least, it gave me similar results as other speed test tools I used around the same time.
There are some ads on the site, but it is not overly cluttered with ads like Speed Check and some other speed test tools.
Besides English, the website has versions in other languages, including Spanish, German, Italian, Hindu, French, Arabic, and Japanese.
For example, this is the Arabic version; it is a good alternative to SpeedTest if you need a tool in one of those languages.
9. Speakeasy Speed Test
Speakeasy Speed Test is offered by Fusion Connect, a cloud solution provider for businesses. It is a basic but good test – it will give you your download and upload speeds in Mbps.
The Speakeasy test has a number of servers, but all of them are located in the USA.
I liked that you can choose which server to use. The tool will automatically assign a server based on the city you are in, but you can choose a different server if you want.
Another reason the Speakeasy tool is good is that it will give you your results history without requiring you to sign up, making it a great alternative to SpeedTest.
You will see the timestamp of each test you made, along with the upload and download speeds, the IP address, and the server you were connected with.
Under the test tool, Fusion Connect has a very useful graph explaining what type of speed you want to aim for based on the activity you plan on doing. Here are some things that stand out:
- For high-quality video conferencing, you will need 20+ Mbps
- For high-quality video streaming, 6-10 Mbps is a good range to aim for
- With just 2-4 Mbps, you can use the web and email, but video streaming will not work well
10. Cloudflare
Cloudflare is a well known CDN service, but they also provide a speed test tool.
I liked the tool because, in addition to giving you your upload and download speeds and latency, they include a jitter measurement, so it’s a great alternative to SpeedTest if you want to check jitter.
Some of the other tools I mentioned in this article also allow you to test your jitter. Jitter refers to how much fluctuation there is in the latency.
The latency data you get from any tool is the median latency. That is good to know, but the reality is that for sustained, long term streaming and gaming, fluctuations do matter.
The more fluctuations you have, the more likely you are to experience interruptions, even if your median latency is not very long. That is why the lower your jitter score is, the better.
I also liked the latency chart, which will show you all measurements in your latency percentile. For your percentile, you will see data such as the median latency, the average latency, the 25th percentile, and the 75th percentile.
The map showing you where the server used is located and how far you are from that server is helpful as well. Remember, the further the server is, the longer it will take.
You can even share your speed test results on social media using the Facebook and Twitter sharing buttons under your test results.
11. Speed.io
If you just want a different layout than the one on SpeedTest, you can use Speed.io. However, it seems like it uses the same data as SpeedTest and is also powered by Ookla, so the only difference between the two sites might be the layout.
12. Which? Speed Test
Which? is a website that reviews and tests various products. They also offer a speed test you can use for free.
However, I am not sure how accurate this speed test is. As you can see, the results I got, for both my download and upload speeds, were considerately lower than what I was getting with the other tests.
The site is geared towards UK consumers, however, so perhaps it would work better if used in the UK. As such, it might be a good alternative to SpeedTest if you are based in the UK.
13. HighSpeedInternet.com
HighSpeedInternet.com is a site that reviews and promotes broadband providers. They also have a speed test tool on their website that is free to use.
I liked that in addition to giving you the upload/download speeds and latency data, they also tell you what you can expect to do with the speed you have.
For example, they told me that my speed was perfect for making group video calls on Skype and online gaming (single player). However, I would benefit from faster speeds if I wanted to set up a fully automated smart home or stream Netflix on many devices at once.
However, take those recommendations with a grain of salt. Remember, HighSpeedInternet.com makes money by promoting broadband providers.
As such, they have a vested interest in getting you to sign up for new, faster internet plans.
It’s a good alternative to SpeedTest if you want to see other broadband options you have.
14. Bredbandskollen
Bredbandskollen is a Swedish site run by the Swedish Internet Foundation. It has a free speed test that anyone can use.
Although the site is based in Sweden, there is an English version of the site as well. It is a great alternative to SpeedTest if you happen to be in Sweden, but you can also use it in other countries without a problem.
I did find the results to be a bit lower than with some other speed test tools I used.
15. MySpeedMeter
I found MySpeedMeter to be a good SpeedTest alternative because it allows you to choose a server. You can choose from servers in the following locations:
- London, UK
- Los Angeles, California, USA
- Tokyo, Japan
- Taipei, Taiwan
- Hong Kong
- Sydney, Australia
After you choose a server, the tool will automatically run a speed test for you. It will measure your download speed first, followed by your upload speed.
16. OfCom
OfCom stands for Office of Communications. It is the UK’s government approved communications regulator.
They have a free speed test on their website. It is a great alternative to SpeedTest if you live in the UK.
Since it is a government-approved regulatory agency, you don’t have to worry about getting a manipulated result. The agency is there to help consumers get the best in the communications industry, which is why they provide a free test.
However, they don’t give you your actual upload and download speeds right away – to see that data, click on the “Details” tab. That will show you your upload/download speeds and data delay (ping).
Instead, they let you know how well your speeds are overall – for example, at the time of the test, they said my speed was poor.
They also tell you what you can do with the speeds you have. There will be a list of activities with one of the following three icons next to them:
- A green checkmark, indicating your speed is perfect for that activity
- A yellow warning sign, indicating you can do that activity but will likely experience problems such as lagging internet and poor load times
- A red X mark, indicating that you can not do the activity with the speeds you have
Some of the activities they list include:
- Web browsing
- Online gaming
- Video calling
- Video streaming (HD)
- Video streaming (4k)\
The tool also shows your mobile internet and broadband internet availability in your area. Just enter your UK postcode to see the options you have.
A cool thing about the OfCom’s speed test is that in addition to being available in English, it is available in Welsh. The Welsh language version is geared towards Welsh speakers in the UK.
I doubt there are any other speed test sites available in Welsh, so it’s pretty cool that this one is.
Other Alternatives To SpeedTest
I thought it would be worth noting that many Internet Service Providers have their own speed test tools as well. If you get your service from a specific broadband provider, you might want to use their speed test tool.
The upside is that some internet service providers will not charge you for such a test, so you won’t have to use up mobile data if doing the test on a phone. The downside is that your ISP’s tool might not be very accurate.
Of course, some ISPs might give priority to their tools to make their speeds look better, but even if that is not true, their server is located right by the network. When you access normal websites like Netflix, that is not the case, so the speed results you get might not be very realistic.
Here, I will list some speed test tools provided by Internet Service Providers:
- Google Fiber: If you use Google Fiber, you can use the Google Fiber Speed Test.
- Cox: Cox Communications has a free speed test you can use. It is only accessible within the United States.
- AT&T: AT&T’s speed test is powered by Ookla, so it should be the same as the results you get with SpeedTest.
- Centurylink: Centurylink’s speed test is free, but be aware that they are promoting faster plans to users.
Wrapping It Up: What Is The Best SpeedTest Alternative?
I would recommend using TestMy.net, as it is an HTML5 test and is very accurate.
It is reliable and lets you track your history.