Internet Speed Test Coach

Run a free test

Most accurate: stand near your router with a laptop or phone connected to your home Wi-Fi.

Both run a speed test in your browser. Free, no signup. Run it 2-3 times — different times of day, different rooms.

Read your numbers

• Download speed (Mbps) — how fast info comes IN. The big number. Streaming and browsing.
• Upload speed (Mbps) — how fast info goes OUT. Matters for video calls, posting photos.
• Ping or latency (ms) — delay. Lower is better. Most matters for gaming and video calls.

What speeds do you really need?

• 10 Mbps — email, web browsing, one HD video stream.
• 25 Mbps — comfortable for one household, including HD streaming and Zoom.
• 50-100 Mbps — multiple devices streaming simultaneously, 4K video.
• 300+ Mbps — large household with multiple TVs, gaming kids, working-from-home.
• Gigabit (1000 Mbps) — overkill for most. The internet companies push it because the margin is high.

Most senior households are over-paying. If you only have a TV, a phone or two, and check email — 25-50 Mbps is plenty. Consider downgrading.

If your speed is much lower than promised

1. Test wired vs wireless. Connect a laptop directly to the modem with an Ethernet cable. Test again. If wired is fast but Wi-Fi is slow — your router/Wi-Fi is the problem.
2. Restart the modem. Unplug for 30 seconds, plug back in. Solves a surprising amount.
3. Check for a "modem upgrade" need. Old modems can\'t deliver new speeds. Call your ISP.
4. Check the actual cable plan you\'re paying for. Some "boosts" expire after 6 months and you\'re stuck on the slow plan.
5. Move the router. Central in the home, off the floor, away from microwave and big metal objects.
6. Mesh Wi-Fi if your home is large or has dead zones. (See our Mesh Wi-Fi Picker.)