Speed Test
WEBMeasure your internet download and upload speed, ping and jitter with timed transfers — free in your browser.
Real measurement via Cloudflare; results vary with your connection.
What is the Speed Test tool?
Internet speed test measures the four numbers that describe your connection in one run: download speed, upload speed, ping and jitter. Press start and the test transfers timed data to and from a test server, then reports how many megabits per second your line actually moves — no app to install, no sign-up, and no ads interrupting the run. It works in your browser on desktop and phone alike, so a wifi speed test is one tap away wherever you are standing.
Numbers mean more with context. Streaming HD video is comfortable from about 5–10 Mbps and 4K from about 25 Mbps; video calls want 3–5 Mbps in both directions and, crucially, low jitter; online gaming cares less about bandwidth and more about ping. That is why this bandwidth test shows ping and jitter next to download and upload instead of hiding them behind an extra click: a 100 Mbps line with unstable latency can feel worse than a steady 30 Mbps one. Run the test a few times at different hours to learn your real range, and use Carbide's ping test when you want to monitor stability over a longer stretch.
By nature, a speed test has to move real data — that is the measurement. While it runs, the test exchanges temporary transfer data with a test server; the data is meaningless filler, nothing on your device is read or uploaded, and Carbide does not store your results. On mobile connections, remember that a test run uses some of your data allowance.
How to use the Speed Test
- Close heavy downloads or streams first so they don't skew the result.
- Press start — the test measures ping and jitter, then download, then upload.
- Read your download and upload speeds in Mbps once the run completes.
- Check ping and jitter next to them — they decide how the connection feels in games and calls.
- Run the test again at a different time of day; comparing runs shows your connection's real range.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good internet speed?
It depends on what you do. 10 Mbps handles HD streaming and browsing comfortably; 25 Mbps covers 4K streaming; 3–5 Mbps upload keeps video calls sharp; and for gaming the speed matters less than a ping under 50 ms. Multiply by the number of people using the line at once — four streamers need far more than one.
Why do speed tests show different results?
Different tests use different servers, routes and measurement windows, so fast.com, speedtest.net and this test will rarely agree to the digit — all of them are legitimate measurements of slightly different paths. The useful habit is comparing the same test over time: trends and drops mean more than any single absolute number.
What is the difference between Mbps and MBps?
Mbps is megabits per second, MBps is megabytes — and one byte is eight bits. Speed tests and ISP plans quote megabits, download managers usually show megabytes, so a 80 Mbps line downloading at 10 MB/s is performing exactly as expected, not at an eighth of its speed.
Why is my speed slower than what I pay for?
The plan number assumes a wired connection straight to the router at a quiet moment. Wi-Fi distance and walls, peak-hour congestion, an old router and other devices on the line all shave off real throughput. Test over ethernet or standing next to the router — if the wired number matches your plan, the gap is your Wi-Fi, not your ISP.
How can I improve my wifi speed?
Move closer to the router or move the router more centrally, prefer the 5 GHz band for nearby devices, restart the router occasionally, and reduce simultaneous heavy users. If a neighbour's network overlaps yours, switching your router to a clearer channel helps — a WiFi analyzer, coming in the Carbide app, shows which channels are crowded.
Does the speed test use my mobile data?
Yes — measuring speed means actually transferring data, typically tens of megabytes per run depending on your connection speed. On an unlimited or home connection that is negligible; on a small mobile data plan, run it deliberately rather than repeatedly.
Is this speed test free, and what happens to my results?
Free, unlimited runs, no sign-up and no ads breaking the test. The transferred data is throwaway filler used only for timing, and your results are displayed to you — Carbide does not store or share them.
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