Speed Test
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Internet Speed Test
Check your real download speed, upload speed, ping, and jitter right here — no app, no plugin. Then see exactly how much speed you need for smooth HD and 4K streaming.
What internet speed do you actually need?
Streaming quality is mostly about download speed. Here’s a rule-of-thumb for what each video quality needs, per stream:
| Quality | Resolution | Recommended download |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (SD) | 480p | 3+ Mbps |
| High Definition | 720p | 5+ Mbps |
| Full HD | 1080p | 5–8 Mbps |
| Live TV (HD / sports) | 720p–1080p | 8–10 Mbps |
| 4K Ultra HD | 2160p | 25+ Mbps |
⚠️ These are per stream. If two TVs stream 4K at once, double the number. For a whole household, a plan of 100+ Mbps keeps everything smooth with room to spare.
How to read your results
Download speed
How fast video reaches your device. This is the number that decides whether your streams play in HD or 4K without buffering.
Upload speed
How fast you send data out. Matters for video calls and uploads — barely matters for watching content.
Ping (latency)
Delay before data starts moving. Under 50 ms is excellent; high ping causes lag and slow channel switching.
Jitter
How consistent your ping is. Low jitter means a steady stream; high jitter causes random buffering spikes.
Speeds too slow? Try these first
- Restart your router and streaming device. A 60-second reboot fixes the majority of slowdowns.
- Switch to 5 GHz Wi-Fi or go wired. An Ethernet cable to your streaming device is the single biggest upgrade for stability.
- Move closer to the router. Walls, floors, and distance all cut speed. Line-of-sight helps a lot.
- Close background bandwidth hogs. Big downloads, cloud backups, and game updates on other devices steal speed.
- Limit simultaneous streams. Every extra 4K stream needs its own ~25 Mbps slice.
- Test at different times of day. Evenings are peak hours — congestion is normal, so run a few tests to compare.
- Still short of your plan’s speed? Contact your ISP. If the plan itself is too slow for 4K, it may be time to upgrade.
Streaming privacy
Does a VPN slow your connection?
A VPN encrypts your traffic — useful on shared or public Wi-Fi, and it can stop some ISPs from throttling video. A quality provider adds only a small amount of overhead. The easy way to check: run the test above with your VPN off, then on, and compare.
Try NordVPN →Speed test FAQ
Why is my speed lower than the plan I pay for?
Wi-Fi loss, peak-hour congestion, older devices, and background activity all reduce real-world speed. For the most accurate reading, test on a device plugged in with Ethernet, with nothing else running.
Download or upload — which matters for streaming?
Download. Watching video pulls data to you, so download speed determines your streaming quality. Upload only matters when you’re sending data out, like on a video call.
How much speed do I need for 4K?
About 25 Mbps per 4K stream. If multiple TVs will stream 4K at the same time, multiply that by the number of streams.
Why does my speed change every time I test?
Speed naturally fluctuates with network congestion, Wi-Fi interference, and time of day. Run the test a few times and look at the average rather than a single result.
Is this speed test accurate?
It uses HTML5 to measure your fastest, most stable download and upload bursts, just like a dedicated app. For best accuracy, close other tabs and apps, and test on a wired connection when possible.
