Am I Getting the Internet Speed I Pay For? A Quick Check

Run a speed test on a device close to your router, ideally with a wired connection, then compare the download and upload results with your plan. Repeat at different times of day. One low result is not proof of a problem, but a pattern is a useful reason to investigate.

What counts as close enough?

For a quick comparison in Guess the Speed, we use 80% of the plan's download speed as our own rule of thumb for "close enough." It is a practical signal, not a promise about what every device must receive or a standard set by a regulator. The percentage helps you notice a gap; it cannot explain the cause by itself.

Providers may describe a service tier as "up to" a speed. A speed test measures what reached one device at one moment, and Wi-Fi typically delivers less than a wired connection. Compare like with like before deciding whether the difference is persistent.

Why tests come in lower than the plan

A speed test can be lower for reasons inside the home or along the route to the test server. The good internet speed guide explains common causes in more detail.

Wi-Fi distance and walls between your device and the router.
Other people streaming, calling, or downloading during the test.
An older device or Wi-Fi standard that cannot use the full connection.
A VPN adding another step between your device and the test.
The selected test server or the route traffic takes to reach it.

How to test fairly

Use a wired connection near the router when one is available.
Pause large downloads, backups, and other heavy activity for a moment.
Run the same test more than once, including at different times of day.
Compare both download and upload with the matching numbers on your plan.
Keep the device, room, and connection type consistent when repeating.

When to call your provider

If several tests across different days stay well below your plan on a wired device near the router, keep a short record before contacting your provider. Note the date, time, device, connection type, and both measured speeds. A repeatable pattern is more useful to discuss than one result from one busy evening.

The Your Wi-Fi lately chart keeps recent real-test results in this browser, while Dev mode's JSON download gives you a detailed record of a run. Neither includes your saved plan speed.

Make it a game

Turn the next test into a family challenge: guess the download and upload, run a real test, and see who came closest. Play Guess the Speed or read more about the speed test game.

Common questions

How close should my speed test be to my plan?

This guide uses 80% of the advertised download speed as its own quick-check rule of thumb. It is not a provider guarantee or a regulatory standard. Repeat the test under fair conditions before drawing a conclusion.

Does one low speed test mean my provider is not delivering?

No. A single test is a snapshot of one device, place, and moment. Repeat on a wired device near the router at different times and look for a consistent pattern.

How can I test my internet speed fairly?

Use a wired device near the router when possible, pause other heavy internet activity, and repeat the test at different times. Keep the device and test method consistent when comparing results.

Does Guess the Speed send my plan speed anywhere?

No. An internet plan entered in Settings is saved in this browser and is never sent to us. The checker compares the plan and measured speed on your device.