An internet speed test is a tool that measures the the upload and download speed of an internet connection between a device and a destination server. Internet speed tests often measure the latency (ping) between the two device and server as well. Internet speed test work by sending and receiving data to a test server and measuring the speed.

A typical internet speed test consists of the following:

• Select a server to test: It is recommended to select a location close to you that way the results are more accurate and latency issues between you and a distant server don't impact the results.
• Download speed test: The download test measures how fast data gets to you from the server. This test is helpful when troubleshooting issues such as slowness when streaming an online video or downloading files.
• Upload speed test: The upload test measures how fast your device can send data to the server. This test is helpful if you are streaming recorded video from your device and sending to the internet.
• Latency test (ping): Latency measures the time it takes a packet of data to make a round trip from your device to server and back. High latency can impact activities such as online gaming.

Running internet speed tests are free and there are a few benefits and reasons you would want to to occasionally perform a test. IPSearch.io offers a speed test at the top of this page and we have links below to service specific speed test.

Reasons and benefits to running an internet speed test:

• Troubleshoot issues: If your browsing your streaming service is running slow then you can validate your current performance by doing a internet speed test.
• Validate ISP claims: You will want to use the ISP speed test and connect directly to to the modem to perform this test. It some cases you can do the speed test against your modem by logging into the router / modem.
• Compare your ISP to others: You can compare your speed to your neighbors speed that is running a different ISP to determine who's service performs the best.
• It is FREE: Online speed test are free so there is no good reason to not occasionally running.

When performing an internet speed test you need to remember that other network devices will impact the results of the test. Depending of your expectations of the test you will need to prepare your test differently.

• Test normal circumstances: Keeping all devices hooked to the network will show your actual speed under normal circumstances.
• Max speed: Disable the Wi-FI and unhook all other devices from the router. Run the speed test hooked directly into the router or perform the speed test directly from the modem if that option exist.

In most cases it doesn't matter which internet speed test you run and the speed test on this website is sufficient. If your goal is to test the speed of specific services then you should seek on specific speed tests.

Examples of service specific speed tests:

• Netflix: You can access Netflix's speed test at Fast.com
• Google: Search the phrase "Internet Speed Test to utilize Googles test. This is helpful when troubleshooting speed issues with YouTube, YouTubeTV, or Google
• Comcast Xfinity: You can access Comcast's speed test at https://speedtest.xfinity.com/ t
• AT&T: You can access AT&T's speed test at https://www.att.com/support/speedtest/
• Verizon: You can access Verizon's speed test at https://www.verizon.com/speedtest/
• Spectrum: You can access Spectrums speed test at https://www.spectrum.com/internet/speed-test
• Optimum: You can access Optimum's speed test at https://www.optimum.com/internet/speed-test
• Cox: You can access Cox's speed test at https://www.cox.com/residential/support/internet/speedtest.html#runOoklaSpeedTest

Chances are that your ISP or streaming provider has a designated speed test you can use. You shouldn't see much different results when testing speed against servers in the same city.