Check your broadband speed, live

Run a real speed test right here — your actual download, upload and ping, measured live — then see the speed your household really needs and what to do if you’re falling short.

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0Mbpsready

Press start when you’re ready.

Uses data, like any speed test — best on Wi-Fi. Nothing is stored or sent to us.

STEP 1 OF 3

How many people use the internet at once?

STEP 2 OF 3

What do you mostly do online?

STEP 3 OF 3

Roughly what download speed do you get now?

// GOOD QUESTIONS

Frequently asked

How do I find my current broadband speed?

Just use the live speed test at the top of this page — it measures your real download, upload and ping in a few seconds, for free. The download figure (in Mbps) is the headline number.

Why is the test slower than the speed I pay for?

Usually Wi-Fi. This test measures your device’s speed right now, so distance from the router, walls, and other devices all take their toll. Testing next to the router (or on a cable) shows your true line speed — and if there’s a big gap, better Wi-Fi is the fix.

How does ‘compare with your area’ work?

After a test you can add your result with just your postcode district (BH8, say — never your full postcode or address) and how you were connected. We then show how it sits against other homes or businesses in that district tested the same way — plugged in against plugged in, Wi-Fi against Wi-Fi — because a Wi-Fi reading mostly measures the Wi-Fi. We don’t collect your provider and don’t rank providers. We only show a comparison once a district has eight or more readings, so early on you may be one of the first.

Is slow internet the same as a slow computer?

Not always — a slow computer or weak Wi-Fi often gets blamed on the broadband. Our free health check and a quick look can tell which it is.

What if fast fibre isn’t available where I live?

In rural parts of Dorset and the New Forest, Starlink satellite internet is often the best option — we advise on the right plan, install it and support it.

Still buffering and slow?

Let a friendly local techie sort your broadband, Wi-Fi and devices so everything just works.

01202 775566 · help@365techies.co.uk · MON–FRI 9AM–5PM

// HOW IT WORKS

How to work out the broadband speed your home needs

As a rough guide, a light single user needs around 15 Mbps, an average couple or small family streaming and video-calling wants roughly 30–60 Mbps, and a busy household with 4K, gaming and home working is comfortable at 100 Mbps or more — run the live test on this page to see what you actually get, then compare it with the recommendation.

Household & usageRough download speed to aim for
One person: browsing, email & shopping~15 Mbps
2–3 people: HD streaming & video calls~30–50 Mbps
Busy household: gaming & big downloads~80 Mbps
4+ people: lots of 4K & serious home working100 Mbps or more
A rough guide based on typical needs. The tool's verdict rates a live result as Excellent (100 Mbps+), Good (30 Mbps+), OK (10 Mbps+) or Slow (under 10 Mbps).

Step by step

  1. Run the live speed test — Press Start to measure your real download, upload and ping right now, live against Cloudflare's network — no sign-up needed.
  2. Answer the 3-step needs quiz — Tell the tool how many people use the internet at once, what you mostly do online, and roughly the speed you get now.
  3. Read your recommended Mbps — The tool suggests a target download speed based on your usage and household size, and tells you whether your current speed looks plenty, borderline or too low.
  4. Test next to the router to rule out Wi-Fi — If the result is well below your package, retest beside the router or on a cable — a big gap means the Wi-Fi is the problem, not the line.
  5. Fix a shortfall — Upgrade your package, improve your Wi-Fi, or in rural Dorset and the New Forest consider Starlink where fast fibre won't reach.

Good to know

How much broadband speed do I need in the UK?

For one light user, around 15 Mbps is fine; a couple or small family streaming HD and video-calling wants roughly 30–60 Mbps; and a busy household doing 4K, gaming and serious home working is comfortable at 100 Mbps or above. This tool's quiz gives you a personalised Mbps target from your household size and usage, then compares it to your live test result.

Is 30 Mbps or 100 Mbps enough for my household?

30 Mbps handles HD streaming, video calls and browsing without fuss for most homes, but it can struggle when several people are online at once. 100 Mbps or more is plenty for a busy household running multiple 4K streams, video calls and gaming simultaneously. The recommendation on this page scales with how many people use the connection together.

How many Mbps do I need for Netflix, Teams and gaming at the same time?

Roughly: 4K Netflix needs about 15 Mbps per stream, a Teams or Zoom HD call needs a few Mbps, and online gaming needs little bandwidth but low ping. Doing all three at once comfortably points to a 100 Mbps-plus connection, which is why this tool multiplies your usage by household size when it suggests a target speed.