Imagining a day without a stable internet connection can seem like a nightmare to most of us. Isn't it? Everything starting from our online communication, and entertainment to our everyday work, relies on a stable internet connection. Therefore, it's important to test your internet speed to fix its connection disruption.
For stable internet, you must have a least of 25Mbps of download speed and also at least 3 Mbps of upload speed. However, it's not a magic number that you need to attain. If you have selected a standard internet plan from a reliable internet service provider, then there are higher chances that you will enjoy a stable speed. But, when your download seems stuck, the browser struggles to load pages, and your videos keep buffering, then it's time to check your internet speed to discover if any issues are there in your devices or internet service plans. There are several download and upload testing utilities or tools available, that allow you to check the speed on different devices.
If you want to learn more about the available download and upload testing utilities on the internet and how you can use them to your advantage, keep on reading this article. We will discuss everything in detail.
Have you ever noticed that you're not getting the optimal internet speed offered by your internet service provider? Well, you're not the only one facing the same problem. Regardless of the strict measures of the ISP, users don't receive the optimal download and upload speed as promised. Generally, the download speed is supposed to be higher than the upload, as most of our online activities require higher download speeds. If your download speed is slow, then there are issues.
But, in case, both speeds are slow on your device, then you must check the speed. This is because you can't blindly blame your ISP as slow down can occur due to a variety of reasons. So, let's check out the available tools for testing your download & upload speed.
SpeedTest by Ookla is a tool packed with unlimited features for testing your internet speed regardless of where you're located. Along with checking the download, upload speed, jitter, and latency, this tool conduct video tests for measuring load time, resolution, and buffering. With its feature to review test history, you can check the real-time graphs to know whether you're receiving a consistent stable connection or not.
There is both a free and paid version of this app. The free version is available for all but only consists of limited features. While with the paid one you can have access to unlimited VPN to make sure you enjoy a stable internet speed. But, sometimes, VPN also slows down the internet, so you must access a reliable VPN service provider only. The app is available for Mac, Windows, Chrome, CLI, and AppleTV.
With SpeedTest Master, you can check your internet speed within thirty seconds time. Regardless of the connection you use, be it ADSL, 2G to 5G, or wireless routers, this app is all covered to test your internet speed. It also provides you with an advanced ping test which helps you to check network stability. So, you can easily detect the strongest signal and test its strength of it.
It means with its advanced ping test feature, you can find a less-crowded channel for the wireless device and enjoy a smooth browsing experience. This app also helps you with data usage monitoring so that you don't overuse the restricted limit set by your ISP. You can find it in ten different languages and download it from both Google and Apple stores.
One of the simple and advanced internet download and upload speed testing utilities available is Meteor. Since it offers an easy-to-understand interface, you can easily check the internet speed of any device without facing any hitch. The best part of this app is that it allows you to test your speed on different apps such as YouTube, Zoom, Spotify, and others.
This means you can understand whether you're facing a slowdown on certain pages or applications or the speed is slow on everything. The app is available both for android and apple users. You can review the details on their website and check your internet speed if you're facing constant buffering.
The basic function of a download and upload testing tool is to provide you with information about how fast or slow your internet connection can transfer data between the server and your devices. So, when you start a testing tool, your device will start sending signals to the nearest server to initiate the test. Then, the server will send back the data to your device. In the meantime, the app will measure how much information your device has downloaded in a specific time. The higher the data, the more support you will receive in conducting your online activities.
These testing tools provide you with the following information:
1. Download Speed
A fast download speed determines whether you can smoothly watch videos online, and browse websites without any buffer. You must check the download speed to see how fast the information that you request from the internet can reach your device. Generally, a download speed of 25Mbps per person is considered a good internet speed. Use these speed testing tools to check whether you have an optimal download speed or not.
2. Upload Speed
The upload speed determines how fast you can send data to the internet. It's required when you want to make video calls, send documents, back up your files to the cloud, etc. Most internet service providers offer slower upload speeds than downloads as you need more speed when you request data from the internet. However, a minimum of 3Mbps per person is required. Use these tools to determine your measurement.
3. Latency
Latency or also known as ping determines how much time it is taking for a signal to travel between one server to your device. The higher the latency, the slower your connection will be. While a lower latency indicates that your internet speed is more stable and responsive. Lower latency is required especially when you're playing games or doing video chats.
Both the download and upload speeds are measured in Mbps. If you choose reliable tools for download and upload testing, then it will provide much more insights than just the speeds and latency. In fact, the tool will help you not just to diagnose the underlying cause of having a slow internet speed but also help you improve it later on.
No matter what issues are there, the good news is that you can diagnose them by using the tools available on the internet. If the speed is slow only on a specific device but fasts on others, then you can't blame your ISP. Also, if the speed is faster in certain areas of your home and slower in other areas, then you must re-think before blaming your ISP. Only if the speed is slow on every device that you're connected to and in every area of your house, you should call your internet service provider for help. In case, the issue becomes worse, try to switch to a different ISP.
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