Download speed (Mbps)
How much data your connection can receive per second, in megabits. This is the number providers advertise. It determines how quickly pages, videos, games, and files arrive.
- Under 15 Mbps: basic browsing works; HD video and updates are slow.
- 15–40 Mbps: fine for one or two people with standard streaming.
- 40–100 Mbps: comfortable for most households.
- 100–300 Mbps: 4K streams, big downloads, several users at once.
- 300+ Mbps: heavy multi-user homes and very large transfers.
Upload speed (Mbps)
How much data you can send per second. Video calls, cloud backups, sending email attachments, and live streaming depend on it. Many connections have far less upload than download. That is normal for cable and DSL, less so for fiber. For smooth video calls, aim for at least 3–5 Mbps of upload per call.
Ping / idle latency (ms)
The time a tiny message needs to reach the server and come back, measured while your connection is otherwise quiet. Ping depends on distance and network quality, not plan size. Under 20 ms is excellent, under 50 ms very good, and anything above 150 ms makes interactive use feel delayed.
Jitter (ms)
How much individual pings differ from each other. Real-time audio and video need packets to arrive on a steady rhythm; jitter breaks that rhythm. Under 15 ms is good. Above 30 ms, expect glitchy calls and inconsistent gaming even when speeds look fine.
Latency under load
Your response time while the connection is busy transferring data. MyRealSpeed measures it during both the download and upload phases. On a well-configured line it stays close to idle ping. If it jumps by hundreds of milliseconds, your router is queueing too much data (called bufferbloat), and calls will stutter whenever someone uploads photos or streams. Routers with "smart queue management" (SQM/QoS) largely fix this.
Packet loss
The percentage of data packets that never arrive and must be re-sent. Browser-based tests can only estimate it indirectly, but its symptoms are distinctive: freezing video, robotic audio, and rubber-banding in games. Consistent packet loss on a wired connection is a strong reason to contact your provider.
Realistic expectations
A wired test at a quiet time is the fairest check of your plan; within 80–90% of the advertised speed is normal. Over Wi-Fi, results drop with every wall and meter. Half of the plan or less is common in distant rooms. Test several times at different hours before drawing conclusions, and read why Wi-Fi tests slower than your plan for fixes.