Download Speed Test

Download speed is how fast data reaches your device — it decides how quickly pages load, videos start and game updates finish. This test measures it live in megabits per second (Mbps), then checks upload and ping too, so you see the whole picture in one run.

Why your download speed changes

Your download speed isn't a fixed number. It depends on the server you test against, how many devices are using the connection, the time of day and — very often — your Wi-Fi. A test on a cable usually shows the closest number to what your plan promises. Evenings are often slower because the whole neighbourhood is online at once.

What download speed you need

Netflix recommends 5 Mbps for one Full HD stream and 15 Mbps for 4K. Browsing, email and social media need only a few Mbps. Add up what your household does at the same time, add about 25 % headroom, and you have your number. Most homes of up to four people are comfortable on 100 Mbps; busy homes with several 4K TVs and gamers do better on 200–500 Mbps. The speed calculator does the sums, and what is a good internet speed explains the ranges.

Getting an accurate result

Plug a computer into the router with a cable, pause downloads, streams and backups on other devices, and close other tabs. Run the test two or three times and look at the typical result rather than the best. Then test on Wi-Fi where you usually sit to see how much wireless costs you. How to test your internet speed has the full checklist.

Compared with your plan

Plans are sold as "up to" a speed. On a cable, getting 80–95 % of the advertised download is normal — network overhead takes a small share. On a 1 Gbps plan, a wired result around 900–940 Mbps is as good as gigabit Ethernet gets. Enter your plan speed in the test settings and the result shows what percentage you're getting. If even a cable test is far below your plan, see why is my internet slow.

Download vs. upload

Most home connections are asymmetric: download is several times faster than upload, because people receive far more data than they send. Fibre plans are often symmetric. If video calls or cloud backups feel slow while browsing is fine, check your upload speed.

Megabits vs. megabytes

Speeds are measured in megabits per second (Mbps); file sizes are usually in megabytes (MB). One byte is eight bits, so 100 Mbps moves about 12.5 MB per second. Switch the units with the Mbps / MB/s toggle above, or use the converter. To see how long a particular file will take, try the download time calculator.