In short: close every download, run the test three times at different hours and at least once over a cable or right next to the router. Look at ping as well as download: for games and calls it matters more. If the result is far below your plan only over Wi-Fi, check the router.
What the numbers mean
| Metric | What it is | What it affects |
|---|---|---|
| Download | Data coming to you per second | Video, file downloads, websites |
| Upload | Data going out from you | Streams, calls, sending files |
| Ping | Milliseconds until a reply comes back | Games, calls, how snappy sites feel |
| Jitter | How much ping jumps between measurements | Lag and stutter in games and calls |
Speed is measured in megabits, file sizes in megabytes. There are eight megabits in a megabyte, so at 80 Mbps a file downloads at roughly 10 MB per second. It is all about the units.
Why the test shows less than your plan
Wi-Fi loses speed
The most common reason. Walls, distance to the router, neighbours on the same channel. Older 2.4 GHz routers rarely give more than 50-70 Mbps, even on a 500 Mbps plan.
How to tell. Test next to the router and in the far room. If the difference is several times, it is the Wi-Fi. If you have a cable, test over it: that is the honest speed of your plan.
What to do. Connect to the 5 GHz network if the router has one. Put the router higher and closer to the middle of your home.
Something downloads in the background
System updates, Steam games, photo cloud sync, torrents. They eat the line and the test only sees what is left.
How to tell. Close everything and test again. If the number went up, you found it.
Evening, and the network is busy
From 7 to 11 pm everyone is online at once, and many home networks get slower.
How to tell. Test in the morning and in the evening. A steady difference of more than two times means the network is short on capacity in the evening.
Mobile internet depends on where you stand
On mobile, speed changes with every step: the tower, walls, how many people are around. In the subway and malls it is almost always lower.
How to tell. Test by a window and deep inside the building. Check whether the icon says 4G or 3G.
How to compare VPN speed
First turn the VPN off to see what your plan gives you. Then turn it on to compare speeds.
Honestly about me: with UnitVPN your traffic goes through my server, and your plan sets the top speed. Usually the loss is small. If speed drops a lot with the VPN on, switch to a closer server. I pick a fast one myself, but sometimes choosing by hand helps.
How much speed you actually need
| Task | Download | Ping |
|---|---|---|
| Social apps, music, messengers | from 5 Mbps | secondary |
| Full HD video | from 10 Mbps | secondary |
| 4K video | from 25 Mbps | secondary |
| Video calls | from 5 Mbps both ways | under 100 ms |
| Online games | from 10 Mbps | under 50 ms great, under 100 ok |
Summary
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Below your plan only over Wi-Fi | Test over a cable, switch to 5 GHz |
| Slow in the evening | Test in the morning, if the gap is big, contact your home internet support |
| Numbers jump between runs | Close background downloads, test three times |
| High ping with normal speed | See the article about ping in games |
| Much lower speed with the VPN on | Pick a closer server |
Check it yourself Internet speed test Ping, download and upload in 20 seconds Open 
