Internet Speed Test has become go-to-approach these days. Testing connection & device speeds has become necessary as work-from-home has evolved as a new benchmark for many.
In addition, enterprises are now venturing into hybrid working configurations. Therefore, the home internet connections stay critical for people who require to hop on a Zoom video call while the children observe virtual classes, play, or watch movies.
Internet connection problems can be a real pain in today’s remote climate. Having access to free tools for identifying the potential cause goes a long way.
Home broadband connections were positioned to the test. At the same time, in the initial COVID-19 stage of pandemic lockdowns around the planet as workers logged in, en masse, from managed and BYOD gadgets to their needed business applications, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 over VPNs.
Given below are a few internet speed test sites.
Comcast’s Xfinity xFi speed test
Comcast’s Xfinity xFi speed test itself operates similarly to Google’s speed test. Still, the site has some pointers for customers to investigate why the speed results might not compare to the user’s plan. These are helpful but seem defensive as if they were reported to support reduced customer support calls for why broadband isn’t as fast as advertised. It provides more context about factors affecting the home connection, such as an old home gateway lowering available bandwidth. The website prioritizes download speeds but does include a “Show more” option to notice upload speeds, the internet protocol, latency, and where the host server is situated.
| Pros | Cons |
| The results are compatible with other speed tests, It’s pretty simple to use, there are no ads, Test servers are situated in the US | It is a test conducted by an ISP, The information it supplies appears geared towards decreasing support calls |
Ookla’s Speedtest
Speedtest from Ookla was the initial broadband speed test and offered a snapshot of download and upload speeds to an ISP through its website or a lightweight app for macOS or Windows. It’s obtainable in 17 languages, and if you set up an account, you can keep a trace of your speeds over time. The service depicts download and upload rates and heights for ‘ping,’ ‘jitter,’ and packet loss. There are also alternatives to change the local server that the ISP speed test is executed with — a configuration alternative that most other tests lack. Plus, outcomes can be shared on social media. Ookla has valuable descriptive notes for people who aren’t familiar with the ping test. First, it’s a latency test. Ookla states that smaller than 59 milliseconds (ms) ping is suitable for online games. Its website is helpful for those interested enough to learn why a test on a mobile device yields a different result to a laptop or a device that’s physically attached to a router.
| Pros | Cons |
| It’s a general-purpose broadband speed test in service since 2006, It’s not from a service provider or an ISP. Users can choose the host server from which to try their ISP’s speed test. | The site employs tech-lingo that some people might not comprehend, It’s complete with ads and ad trackers |
Netflix’s Fast.com
Netflix’s Fast.com broadband speed is driven by a company curious about its customers holding a relatively quick connection to stream its content. There are no lingering queries about potential bias from speed tests conducted by ISPs. Netflix includes an extensive CDN called Netflix Open Connect, which counts on Open Connect appliances established within ISPs that examine Netflix. That CDN is constructed around the code of moving content closer to users and supplying a fast streaming experience. The Fast.com test is conceived to test the connection between a person’s device and Netflix’s CDN servers. The results are detailed to Netflix’s network, making sense for the company and looking at speeds from a particular perspective. The Fast.com website keeps things uncomplicated by only offering the download speed.
| Pros | Cons |
| It’s created to your link wherever you’re streaming Netflix from | It’s not scheduled to test your ISP’s connection speed, Results are specific to Netflix infrastructure. Only provides download speeds |
The Google Stadia Speed Test
The Google Stadia online gaming platform has struck a few spots since 2019. Still, it is a vast platform, and the company understands that consumer broadband speeds are necessary for adoption. The Google Stadia web interface is pretty straightforward — a one-click job at Google’s Projectstream website from the “Check Now” switch. It’s concentrated on Stadia users, and so, for precision, it suggests people use the device and network where they desire to play and have a robust Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection. It also suggests halting existing downloads and file-sharing and closing all those tabs that are streaming video.
| Pros | Cons |
| It’s a general-purpose broadband speed test founded on a platform in service since 2006, It’s not from a service provider or an ISP, Users can choose the host server to push their ISP’s speed test. | It’s primarily focused on Stadia, despite offering proper measurements for all |
The FCC’s Speed Test app
FCC pitched the FCC Speed Test app in April. It’s open as an Android app in the Google Play Store and an iOS app in Apple’s App Store. You can’t handle the test from your desktop. Still, you are carrying as a part essential for the commission to get a clearer picture of broadband quality across the US. The test delivers outcomes once you press the switch to start the trial in the mobile app. The data collected supports the FCC in enhancing its broadband maps.
| Pros | Cons |
| It enables a project to enhance fast broadband access beyond the US, There are no ads or immediate commercial claims, The FCC seems keen to peek at the consumer rather than carrier stakes | It needs an app download; there is no web-based rendition, There’s no way to test broadband paces from a desktop or Ethernet-connected PC |
Conclusion
Speed tests are helpful to remote workers who might need to figure out whether a poor connection. It is due to the ISP or something else, like the device they’re testing from — be it a laptop, desktop, smartphone, problematic home router, or a Wi-Fi interference issue. To get an authentic portrayal of your broadband speed, you’ll likely require to run the tests considerable times and check results across various devices throughout the day. It may also be worth conducting these tests on multiple devices on your home network. If one gadget constructs a vastly slow or speedier outcome, you may be negotiating with a crisis at the LAN or Wi-Fi level rather than with your broadband provider’s grid.