What is the speed test?
The Uswitch Broadband Speed Test is a free-to-use service that tells you your home internet speed in seconds. It can measure speeds for all types of broadband, including copper ADSL, fibre-optic, cable and mobile broadband.
We’re always making sure our broadband speed checker is as accurate as possible, but you should know that the speed test results only represent a snapshot of your broadband connection at the time of testing. Your first results should not be seen as a full measure of your broadband’s overall performance, so you might want to test it a few times at different points in the day to get a better picture.
However, the results can come in useful, if you’re complaining to your provider about your speed. Especially if your contract has been taken out since 1 March 2019 and your provider has opted into Ofcom’s Voluntary Code of Practice on Broadband Speed.
You can also use the results to compare your broadband speed with other broadband connections that are available in your area. If you run a Wi-Fi speed test and find that your postcode can access much faster speeds than what you're getting, you might be able to improve your connection for a slightly - and very reasonably - higher monthly cost.