Test download speed and latency to evaluate connection quality
A speed test measures your actual network transfer capacity by downloading and uploading data chunks from/to a server. It helps determine whether your connection meets ISP-promised bandwidth, locate network bottlenecks, and evaluate VPN/proxy impact on performance.
| Metric | Description | Good Values |
|---|---|---|
| Download | Rate of receiving data from server | 100+ Mbps is excellent |
| Upload | Rate of sending data to server | Typically 1/5 to 1/2 of download |
| Latency (Ping) | Round-trip time for a data packet | < 20ms great, < 50ms good |
| Jitter | Variation in latency over time | < 5ms is stable |
| Unit | Conversion | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Mbps | = 0.125 MB/s | Network bandwidth (bits) |
| 1 MB/s | = 8 Mbps | File download speed (bytes) |
| 100 Mbps | ≈ 12.5 MB/s | Typical broadband download |
| 1 Gbps | ≈ 125 MB/s | Gigabit connection download |
ISPs advertise peak bandwidth (e.g., 100 Mbps). Real-world speeds are affected by peak-hour sharing, WiFi loss, and router performance. Achieving 70%-90% of advertised bandwidth is normal. Test with a wired connection to eliminate WiFi as a variable.
Speed fluctuates with real-time network conditions, and variation is normal. Test 3-5 times at different hours and average the results. Close background downloads, streaming, and cloud sync to reduce interference and get more reliable readings.
Mbps (Megabits per second) is a network bandwidth unit. Since 1 byte = 8 bits, 100 Mbps bandwidth yields a maximum download speed of approximately 12.5 MB/s. ISPs and speed test tools use Mbps, while file managers and download clients display MB/s.