How to run a consistent internet speed test
Pause downloads, streams, updates and backups before testing. Repeat the test on the same device at different times of day to see whether speeds drop during busy periods.
To compare your results with your broadband plan, connect to the router over Ethernet and check that your port and cable support the plan speed. To check Wi-Fi coverage, compare a test near the router with a test in the room where you use the connection.
What do download speed, upload speed and Mbps mean?
Download speed tells you how quickly you receive data. It affects page loads, video streaming and file downloads. Upload speed tells you how quickly you send data and matters for video calls, livestreaming and cloud backups.
Mbps means megabits per second. MB/s means megabytes per second. A byte contains eight bits, so 100 Mbps is up to 12.5 MB/s before accounting for network overhead.
How latency and jitter affect gaming and video calls
Latency is the response time of your connection, measured in milliseconds. It affects how long an action takes to reach a server and get a response. Jitter measures how much that response time varies between samples.
A connection can download files quickly and still stutter during calls or games. If this happens while someone is uploading files or streaming video, compare how it feels with the other devices idle.
How the test identifies your ISP and region
After measuring speed, MultiShift uses ipdata to show the network organization, ASN and approximate location associated with your public IP. An ASN identifies a network on the internet and may be listed under the provider’s registered name.
The dashboard also shows the code for the Cloudflare endpoint that answered a network lookup, separately from your estimated location. The test exchanges real traffic with Cloudflare, so results may change with the server, route and time of day.