What the numbers mean
- Download (Mbps): how fast data reaches you — the most important number for browsing, streaming and downloading.
- Upload (Mbps): how fast you can send data — matters for video calls, live streaming and uploading photos or files.
- Ping (ms): how quickly the connection responds. Lower is better; under about 50 ms feels snappy for online games and calls.
How much speed do you need?
| Activity | Download speed per device |
|---|---|
| Browsing, email, social media | 1–5 Mbps |
| Video calls | 3–5 Mbps |
| HD video streaming | 5–10 Mbps |
| Online games | 5–10 Mbps, with low ping |
| 4K streaming | 25 Mbps or more |
Several people sharing one connection — as on a family Wi-Fi or a pisowifi — split the total speed between them.
Tips for a more accurate test
- Pause downloads, updates and streaming on your device while testing.
- On Wi-Fi, test close to the router, then from where you usually sit, to see how much distance matters.
- Run the test a few times and at different times of day — speeds often drop in the evening when more people are online.
Why is my internet slow?
Common causes are weak Wi-Fi signal (walls and distance), too many devices sharing the connection, busy evening hours, or an issue with your provider. Restarting the router and moving closer to it fixes many problems. If speeds are far below your plan for days, contact your internet provider with your test results.
Speed tests use Cloudflare's public test servers. Results show the speed between your device and the nearest server and can vary from test to test.