There's loads of different speed test services, so which ones are the best?
If you haven't read our article: "How to run a speed test properly (and why results often mislead)", we'd recommend doing so first.
But once you understand how to run a test, the next question is: which one?
There's a variety of tests out there, but these ones have stood the test of time and seem to give fairly accurate results (see Caveats further down).
One of the most popular, and as a result has a high chance of a test server located near you ensuring accurate results. For greater accuracy, download the OS-specific app, or try the command line version.
Backed by Cloudflare’s global infrastructure, it provides a detailed look at latency, jitter, and consistency — not just raw speed. Best for diagnosing real-world performance, though the interface can feel technical.
Built by Ubiquiti, it offers both a web and mobile app with clear visuals and optional network scanning. Performs best near major hubs; smaller server pool means results may vary by location.
Developed by Netflix to test streaming performance. Super quick and simple, but hides upload and latency by default. Best for checking download speed, less so for full diagnostics. In our testing though, it seems to often overstate the speed compared the others.
Use our Google sheets template to log your results
There is evidence that some Internet Service Providers have, in the past, treated traffic to popular speed-test services differently from normal Internet traffic.
This can result in speed tests showing excellent performance, even when real-world traffic is subject to congestion, contention, or traffic management on an oversubscribed network. As a result, everyday applications and websites may perform worse than a speed test would suggest.
This behaviour is less common today, especially in business-grade services. It’s harder to do covertly because:
However the core issue hasn't gone away. Speed tests measure throughput to a specific destination, not latency, packet loss, routing quality, or peak-time contention.
A speed test however, can definitely show when your connection is experiencing a problem.
To ensure you're testing properly and seeing the bigger picture, check out our article "How to run a speed test properly (and why results often mislead)".
For more information about Enlink Networks, visit our home page or contact us with your questions.
