Wondering how fast your broadband is? Use our broadband speed test below to check the connection on the device you’re using. We’ll help you make sense of the results, without a networking lesson. Before you press GO, connect to your home broadband and pause any streaming, downloads or cloud backups. Use an Ethernet cable to your router if you can.
How to test your broadband speed:
- Use a cable for a clearer result – Connect your computer directly to your router with an Ethernet cable, then switch off WiFi on that computer so it uses the cable. This removes the wireless connection from the test.
- Give the test some breathing room – Pause downloads, streaming and backups on your device and elsewhere in the house. That game update can wait a moment. You don’t need to unplug every device; the aim is to reduce other internet activity while the test runs.
- Check WiFi where you actually use it – If you want to check your WiFi, test close to the router first, then try the room where you normally work or watch TV. Keep the device connected to your home WiFi, rather than mobile data.
- Compare a few results – Run the test more than once, at different times. Note whether you used WiFi or Ethernet so you can compare like with like.
What your broadband speed test results mean
- Download speed – This measures how quickly your device receives data, in megabits per second, or Mbps. Downloads, streaming and loading webpages all use it. A higher result means more data can reach your device each second.
- Upload speed – This measures how quickly your device sends data. Upload speed matters when you share videos, back up photos or send your camera feed during a video call. It is measured in Mbps too.
- Ping – Ping measures the time it takes for a message to reach the test server and come back, in milliseconds. Lower is generally better for responsiveness. It matters for things such as online gaming, where quick responses count.
Getting a useful full fibre speed test result
The test measures the connection through your device to a test server. Your broadband package, router, computer or phone, and the connection between them can all affect the result. On a fast full fibre package, check that your equipment can handle the speed you want to measure. For example, a 1Gbps Ethernet port cannot measure a 2300Mbps connection at its full speed. A lower result on one device does not, by itself, show there is a fault.
Broadband slower than expected?
Start with a wired test if possible, with other internet activity paused. If Ethernet performs well but WiFi is slower, try moving closer to the router and follow our WiFi troubleshooting guide. If repeated results are still below the speeds expected for your plan, get in touch. Tell us your results, when you tested, which device you used and whether it was connected by cable or WiFi. Those details help our team investigate.
Broadband speed test questions answered
- Is a WiFi speed test the same as a broadband speed test? A WiFi test includes the wireless connection between your device and router. An Ethernet test removes that part, which helps you work out where a slowdown may be happening.
- Why does my phone get a different result from my laptop? Devices have different capabilities and may connect differently. Test them in the same place, with other activity paused, to make the comparison more useful.
- What is a good broadband speed test result? Compare the result with the speed information for your own plan and how you tested. There isn’t one number that suits every package. If you’re unsure what to expect, our team can help.
- Why is my upload speed different from my download speed? Some broadband plans offer different speeds in each direction. Even on a plan with equal upload and download speeds, individual test results can differ because the connection and test conditions can vary in each direction.
- Does running a speed test make my broadband faster? No. It measures performance. The results can help you choose the next step, whether that is adjusting your WiFi setup or asking our team to investigate.
- Should I turn off my fibre connection box before testing? No. Keep your router and fibre connection box switched on. Only turn off your fibre connection box if our support team specifically asks you to.