Internet Speed Test Tool

Check your internet speed with this simple, fast and accurate speed testing tool.

What do my speed test results mean?

Just as there’s no one-size-fits-all internet plan, there’s also no one perfect internet speed to suit all Australians. The internet speed you experience will depend on the type of broadband connection you have and the plan you choose, but knowing the speed you should be achieving can help you determine if your plan is underperforming. This is where running an internet speed test can come in handy.

Simply click or press the ‘Go’ button above, and our in-page tool will perform an instant speed test on your internet connection. In a matter of seconds, you’ll receive three key results: your download speed, your upload speed, and your ping (see below for what these terms mean and why they’re important).

Download speed: How fast your connection can retrieve information from the internet (for example, loading websites or streaming YouTube).

Upload speed: How fast your connection can send information to the internet (for example, posting on social media or making Zoom calls).

Megabits per second (Mbps): Units of measurement that indicate how much data can be transferred across a connection per second. The more megabits that can be sent, the faster your connection should be.

Typical evening speeds: The average download speeds experienced by customers during the busiest usage hours of between 7pm-11pm.

Ping & latency: Latency refers to the response time of your connection, i.e. the time between you performing an action or sending information, and that information reaching its destination. This is measured in milliseconds, and is often referred to as ‘ping’; ideally, your ping should be as low as possible.

Bandwidth: How much data your connection can send or receive per second.

What internet speed do I actually need?

The right speed for you will depend on several factors, including:

• How many people are in your household? Will they be using the internet at the same time?
• What do you typically use the internet for? Basic use — such as browsing web sites and sending emails — may be fine with a slower plan, but more intensive activities such as high-definition streaming or online gaming will require something faster. 
• How many devices will you be connecting, and will they be used simultaneously? Alongside computers and laptops, you may need to connect smartphones, smart TVs, gaming consoles, tablets, security systems and more. 
• What speeds are available on your NBN connection type? FTTP and some HFC connections can access all speeds, while FTTN, FTTB and FTTC may be limited to NBN 100 or NBN 50, and satellite and fixed wireless connections max out at around NBN 25 speeds (NBN 50 for fixed wireless plus). 
• What is your budget? Plans are priced by speed, so you may need to compromise if you have a spending limit. 

The more people in your home, and the more data-intensive your daily use is, the more likely you are to need a faster plan. To give you an idea of what the four standard tiers are best suited for, you can compare NBN 12, NBN 25, NBN 50 and NBN 100 uses below. 
← Mobile/tablet users, scroll sideways to view full table →

If you’re on an eligible FTTP or HFC connection, and want a premium speed experience, you may also be interested in NBN 250 or NBN 1000 plans. These plans are typically quite expensive — ranging from $110 to $180 per month on average — and are best suited to large households with big download demands. 

But if you can afford to go super-fast, and feel like you’d benefit from the extra speed, you can now find NBN 250 and NBN 1000 options from most major NBN providers, including Telstra, Optus, TPG and more. 

Read more: What internet speed is best for my household?

Speed for the NBN

If you’re one of the millions of Aussies now on an NBN plan, you have a range of speeds to choose from — which can make it harder to figure out if you’re actually getting the best speed for your needs. Depending on the NBN technology type used to connect your home to the network, you could have up to six or more speed tier options available at your address.

Currently, there are six main residential NBN speed tiers commonly available to customers. These tiers are divided by the maximum download and upload speeds available; the higher the speeds, the faster your plan should be.

If you know which speed tier you’re currently using, you can then gauge whether your current speeds are up to par. The easiest way to check your internet speed is simply to run an internet speed test on your home NBN connection (especially during the popular usage times of 7pm-11pm). Use these results to see how close to your plan’s advertised and average speeds your service typically is. 

Ideally, your results should be as close to your plan’s maximum download and upload speeds as possible. You may even find your download result is slightly higher than the advertised maximum for your NBN speed tier, as NBN Co often over-provisions network capacity to help guard against congestion. However, if your speeds are significantly less than what your provider advertises, it may be time to find a new plan.

How fast are wireless internet speeds?

If you’re on a home wireless or mobile broadband plan, you’ll be using a 4G or even 5G mobile network to connect to the internet. How fast your mobile broadband plan is will depend on the network you’re connected to, your location, the devices you’re using, and the plan you’ve signed up for.

If you’re on a 4G mobile broadband or home wireless internet plan, you can typically expect download speeds between 12Mbps and 100Mbps, so similar to what you’ll achieve on the four most common NBN plans. Your real-world speed will depend on the provider you’re with, as well as the network coverage and congestion in your area.

A handful of providers also offer 5G mobile and home internet, which is significantly faster than 4G, but much less widely available. 5G mobile can theoretically reach speeds of one gigabit per second and up, but the speeds you’ll actually experience are unlikely to be quite that fast. 

Optus cites a typical 5G internet speed of 210Mbps in busy hours for its uncapped plan, while Telstra lists speeds up to 291Mbps. Depending on your plan and provider, you can expect a maximum speed of anywhere between 100Mbps and 400Mbps during the evening, but you should check with your telco to see what’s typically available in your area.

You can use the above internet speed test tool to check your internet speed on mobile broadband and home wireless plans, alongside NBN or fibre connections. 

Wireless internet speed caps

Some providers might throttle your wireless internet download speed. This is particularly common with 5G home internet and mobile broadband/data-only SIM plans, now that fast 5G technology is more widely available.

It means that providers can offer a 5G home internet plan but at a cheaper price point than plans with unlimited speeds or higher speed caps. This can be great if you’re looking for something faster than 4G home wireless but cheaper than uncapped plans. However, if you’re looking to take advantage of those faster 5G speeds, you’ll want to keep an eye out for speed caps.

How do I find out what speed I’m paying for?

Not sure which NBN speed you have? You should be able to see your NBN speed tier listed on your latest broadband bill, or by logging into your NBN provider’s self-service portal or app. NBN providers will typically list a plan’s speed tier in that plan’s name or description; for example, iiNet’s NBN 50 plan is named ‘NBN50 Liimitless’. If you’re unsure, you can contact your provider directly for clarification.

If you’re not on the NBN, your bill will likely still provide information on the speeds available with your plan, especially if you’re on a fibre connection such as OptiComm. If you’re using mobile or home wireless broadband, your plan only offer the fastest speeds available at your location, but even then there’s no need to put up with a slow performance.

If all else fails, run our free speed test and use those results to figure out how fast your plan actually is on average. You can use your results to help figure out which NBN or fibre speed tier you’re paying for, or to take to your provider if you feel your connection is slower than it should be.

What if my internet is slower than it should be?

Switching to a faster internet plan is easier than you think, and can be the best way to supercharge your broadband performance. If you’ve tested your current connection, and your results just aren’t as fast as the plan you’re paying for, consider shopping around for a better plan and provider.

Compare Fastest Internet Plans

If you want to try some DIY speed boosters before reaching, you also have options. There are a range of factors that can impact your internet speeds, many of which can easily be fixed without the need to call your provider or switch plans. Issues that may cause your internet speed to slow down include:

• Internet outages due to network maintenance or downtime
• Problems with your modem-router, including out-of-date software or simply the need to reboot your modem
• Multiple devices in your home downloading at once
• A weak or limited WiFi range or signal
• A virus or malware infecting your device
• Being stuck on an overloaded DNS server
• Using a VPN

If none of these factors apply but you’re still experiencing problems, it may be time to find a faster internet plan.

Related: 13 reasons why your internet is slow

One of the quickest and most effective ways to increase your internet speed is to switch to a faster broadband plan. If you’re on a lower NBN speed tier, you can easily upgrade to a faster plan from as little as $5 or $10 more per month. You may also want to compare and check internet speeds for your current NBN tier across different providers — moving to another telco could give you a significant speed boost, without the need to pay more for your plan.

If you’re not an NBN user, or don’t plan on paying more for your broadband plan just yet, there are also some quick DIY options to improve your home internet speeds. These include:

• Optimise your WiFi range and signal with a WiFi extender or booster, and make sure your modem is unobstructed and as close as possible to your devices.
• If you’re using a VPN, consider switching it off when you don’t actively need it.
• Check your modem-router for damage or out-of-date software/firmware, and consider upgrading to a newer model.
• Check to make sure there’s no automatic downloads, updates or background processes running on your devices that could impact available bandwidth.

More advanced options include changing your DNS server, switching your WiFi channel, and disabling your router’s Quality of Service feature.

Related: 6 ways to increase your internet speed

Want a plan with faster internet speeds?

If you’re struggling with slow internet, it may be time to look for a faster plan. For most Australians, your best bet is upgrading to a better NBN speed tier — although the right option for you will depend on how you use the internet, the size of your home, and how much money you’re willing to spend.

We’ve compiled a range of fast NBN plans in the below table to help you compare options and prices.

Compare NBN Plans ⚡

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Canstar Blue Editorial Team

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Tara Donnelly

Telco Editor

Emma Bradstock

Telco Specialist

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