Internet Speed Test

Are you getting the internet speed that you're paying for? Find out now...

Internet Speed Test

Is your internet fast enough? Test internet speeds at your location with a single click.

Top 5 Popular Internet Providers

Fastest Internet Speeds

#1	WOW!	WOW! Speed 1200 Mbps Cable Connection $75/mo Deal: New customers get a $300 Prepaid Visa Rewards Card with this plan!	1200 Mbps	View Plan
#2	Breezeline	Breezeline Speed 1000 Mbps Cable Connection $45/mo Deal: Limited Time Offer: 5 year price guarantee + a $200 prepaid gift card with this plan!	1000 Mbps	View Plan
#3	Mediacom	Mediacom Speed 1000 Mbps Cable Connection $50/mo	1000 Mbps	View Plan
#4	TDS	TDS Speed 1000 Mbps Cable Connection $56.99/mo	1000 Mbps	View Plan
#5	All West Communications	All West Communications Speed 1000 Mbps Cable Connection $65/mo	1000 Mbps	View Plan

Speed 140 Mbps
VDSL Connection
$55/mo

140 Mbps

View Plan

#1	Optimum	Optimum Speed 8000 Mbps Fiber Connection $90/mo	8000 Mbps	View Plan
#2	Ezee Fiber	Ezee Fiber Speed 8000 Mbps Fiber Connection $119/mo	8000 Mbps	View Plan
#3	Brightspeed	Brightspeed Speed 8000 Mbps Fiber Connection $119.99/mo	8000 Mbps	View Plan
#4	Fidium	Fidium Speed 8000 Mbps Fiber Connection $125/mo	8000 Mbps	View Plan
#5	GFiber	GFiber Speed 8000 Mbps Fiber Connection $150/mo	8000 Mbps	View Plan

How Do I Read My Internet Speed Test Result?

Once your internet speed test has finished running, you'll be shown a final number followed by "Mbps" which stands for megabits per second. This is basically showing you how fast your internet download speed is. If you want to see your upload speed and latency, click the "Show More Info" button.

What is Download Speed?

Download speed shows you how long it takes for data to be downloaded from the source (e.g., another website) to your phone, computer, or other device.

Whether you're browsing the internet, checking your email, or looking through your Instagram feed, you'll be essentially downloading content.

Not all of your online activities require fast download speeds, in fact, some people don't even need internet speeds of more than 30Mbps. However, for those of us who love watching high-definition (HD) movies or are sharing our internet connection with roommates or family members, a faster internet speed is essential.

Examples of online activities that would require faster internet speeds include:

Streaming video in HD
Playing online video games
Downloading software

What is Upload Speed?

Upload Speed is the opposite of download speeds. Instead of measuring how fast it takes information to get from another source to your device, it's measuring how fast it takes information to get from your device to the external site or server.

For example, if you're sending an email from your computer or if you're uploading a photo to your Instagram profile. Think about it like, the rate in which it takes your photo to go from your computer into your Instagram feed. Much like download speeds, not all online activities require fast upload speeds. Sending basic emails generally doesn't require fast upload speeds and neither does sending online messages.

The kinds of activities that do require fast upload speeds include:

Video chatting/conferencing
Online gaming
Uploading large files (like photos or videos) to online storage

Almost all internet plans will have a higher download speeds than upload speeds, simply because more people are downloading content vs uploading. When you do your internet speed test, you'll also notice that your download speeds are much higher.

What Does Latency Mean?

Latency refers to the time it takes for a signal to travel to its destination (i.e., your internet service provider's server) and back again. It's almost like the steps before and after your download or upload occurs. Latency is measured in milliseconds, with the lower the number the better. Think about it this way, the longer it takes for your request to be sent to your internet service provider (ISP) and back again, the longer your download or upload is going to take. Latency is essentially a delay that happens when you are doing things online.

Bad latency can get really frustrating when you are:

On a video call
Playing online video games

How Many in Your Household?

1 Person?

Look for at least 10Mbps

Basic web browsing
Music streaming
Social Media

2-4 People?

Look for at least 25Mbps

SD Streaming Video
Gaming
Multiple Users

4+ People?

Look for at least 50Mbps

HD Streaming Video
Multi Player Gaming
Working from Home

What Internet Speed Do I Need?

The internet speed you need will depend on a number of factors, including how many people are using it and what you're using it for.

Consider the following when picking an internet plan:

How many people will be using the internet?
If multiple people will be using your internet connection at the same time, you should consider faster speeds.
How many devices will be using the connection?
The more devices—such as laptops, TVs, cell phones, tablets—that are connected to your internet, the more speed you need. Even if you're the only person in your household, all of these connected devices will affect your internet speeds.
What kinds of online activities do you do?
Consider all of the activities everyone sharing the internet in your house is doing. Things like regular web browsing or sending emails won't affect your speeds too much, but if everyone in the house is streaming HD video content, making online video calls, or playing online games regularly, you'll want faster internet speeds.

If you've signed up for an internet plan but realize later that your speeds just aren't fast enough, call your internet service provider and ask for an upgrade. Even if you're on a contract, ISPs will often allow you to upgrade to a faster plan without penalty.

Fastest Internet Providers

#1	Optimum	Optimum 8 Gig Internet Fiber 8000/8000 Mbps Unlimited Data $90/mo with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. View Plan	$90/mo with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas. with $10/month eligible Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Wired connection. WiFi speeds may vary. Not available in all areas.	View Plan
#2	Ezee Fiber	Ezee Fiber 8 Gig Fiber 8000/8000 Mbps Unlimited Data $119/mo Available in select locations Available in select locations View Plan	$119/mo Available in select locations Available in select locations	View Plan
#3	Brightspeed	Brightspeed 8 Gig Fiber 8000/8000 Mbps Unlimited Data $119.99/mo Limited availability/areas. Taxes and fees extra. Autopay required. Pricing Subject to change. Limited availability/areas. Taxes and fees extra. Autopay required. Pricing Subject to change. View Plan	$119.99/mo Limited availability/areas. Taxes and fees extra. Autopay required. Pricing Subject to change. Limited availability/areas. Taxes and fees extra. Autopay required. Pricing Subject to change.	View Plan
#4	Fidium	Fidium 8G Fiber 8000/8000 Mbps Unlimited Data $125/mo With AutoPay. Available in select locations. + $199 Upfront With AutoPay. Available in select locations. View Plan	$125/mo With AutoPay. Available in select locations. + $199 Upfront With AutoPay. Available in select locations.	View Plan
#5	GFiber	GFiber Edge 8 Gig Fiber 8000/8000 Mbps Unlimited Data $150/mo Available in select locations Available in select locations View Plan	$150/mo Available in select locations Available in select locations	View Plan

How Do I Find a Faster Internet Plan?

If you're in need of a faster internet plan, we've got you covered.

Our WhistleOut search tool makes it easy for you to find and compare internet plans available in your area.

Simply enter your address, choose the minimum speeds you want (if you have a preference) and hit "Search."

Once you have your results you can filter them by:

Internet speed
Monthly price
Data allowance
Type of connection (e.g., cable, DSL, satellite, fiber)
Special deals on offer

If internet speed is the most important thing to you, then you can sort the search results by fastest speed. Note that the general rule when it comes to internet plans is the faster the speeds, the more expensive your plan.

Before you have your heart set on the fastest plan possible, try to figure out whether you really need those speeds or not. You could save yourself a lot of money every year just by choosing a plan that's a little bit slower, and in some cases, you won't even notice the difference in speeds.

It's important to note that not all internet providers offer service in all areas, so you'll need to enter your address to get accurate results.

Find a Better Internet Plan Now

What Affects My Internet Speeds?

A few variables go into determining your internet speed. One is connection type.

There are five internet connection types—DSL, cable, satellite, mobile and fiber—each with its own particular speed ceiling. Fiber is the fastest of these, while DSL and satellite are often the slowest.

Another factor that will affect your internet speed is bandwidth, which you can think about in terms of the capacity of your connection. If several people are using a connection simultaneously, your bandwidth will be stretched, and speeds will slow.

If, on the other hand, you're the only one on the network, you should be able to realize your plan's top speeds. Unless, of course, you're on a satellite internet plan and there is problematic weather in the area; since a satellite signal is beamed quite literally from the sky, weather can impact and slow speeds. Similarly, if you're using mobile internet—which allows you to connect via cellular signal—and the network is particularly busy, your speeds could also slow.

The point is that internet speed can be mitigated by a number of factors. That's where performing a quick speed test can be handy, as it enables you to get a snapshot of your current speeds.

How Do Internet Speed Tests Work?

Internet speeds tests basically work by sending a small amount of data from your device to the server and back again. The result is how much time it took for that piece of data to be uploaded then downloaded again.

If you notice that your speed test results are different depending on the day, this is because your speeds are affected by a number of things, including:

The location of the server you are connecting too. (The closer the server, the faster your speeds.)
The number of devices and people currently using your internet connection.
The amount of congestion on the internet network.
Your internet connection setup.

Some things you can do before you start an internet speed test include:

Restarting your modem and router
Pausing all use of your internet connection—don't use your internet while you are testing it
Restarting your computer
Clearing your web browser's cache

Doing all of this will help you gain a more accurate reading of your internet speeds, but of course, there may be other factors that can affect your speed test results.

Since results vary quite a bit and are dependent on a number of factors, it's important to remember that speed test results are to be used as a guide only. While they are a good indicator of how fast your internet is, it's not an accurate indication of what speeds your internet service provider is actually giving you.