ISP latency test
A speed test tells you how much your line can carry. This test shows how quickly it gets answers from the rest of the internet, which is where a poor provider route shows up.
Free. Runs in your browser with real HTTPS requests. Nothing to install.
Speed and latency are different things
Megabits per second describe the width of the pipe. Latency describes how long a single request takes to get an answer. A line can be fast and still feel slow if the route to where you are going is long, congested or badly peered. Your provider decides much of that route.
How to tell your provider from your own network
- Run the test on a cable connected to the router. If the numbers are much better than on Wi-Fi, the problem is your wireless network.
- Pause other uploads and downloads and run again. Big improvements point to bufferbloat on your own line.
- Look at the colours. If most destinations are normal and only some are red, the issue is on the route to those, which is often a peering issue at your provider.
- If almost everything is red on a cable and with a quiet network, the problem is likely in the line or the provider.
- Repeat at a different time, for example in the evening and at night. A pattern that appears only in the evening points to congestion.
What this test cannot tell you
It measures from your device to public destinations. It cannot name which hop is at fault, and it does not rank providers against each other. It gives you evidence you can use: which destinations are slow, how steady the line is, and how it compares to the world. Saved test reports can be shared when you contact support.
Questions
Can this test prove my provider is at fault?
It gives strong hints, not proof. Consistent red results on a cable, with a quiet network, at several times of day, are good evidence to bring to your provider.
Why does the result change during the day?
Networks are busier in the evening. Some providers are more congested at peak times, which shows as a slower, less steady line.
Do you compare internet providers?
No. We compare each destination with the world average, not providers with each other.