Test it
Check your current broadband connection under sensible conditions.
UK broadband speed test
Test your connection, understand the result and keep a clear record if something doesn’t look right.
Check your broadband speed without entering your address or postcode.
Free No account needed No address or postcode needed UK focused
Check your current broadband connection under sensible conditions.
Compare the result with the minimum speed you were given, in plain English.
Repeat your checks and build a clear Broadband Reality Report over time.
Most speed tests stop after showing you a result. Broadband Reality Check is designed to help you understand that result, record how the test was carried out and build a useful history if the same problem keeps happening.
Prepare your test
A few things can affect a broadband speed test. We’ll ask three quick questions first.
Ethernet is a cable connection between your device and router. It usually gives a more useful broadband comparison because Wi-Fi can reduce the speed measured by your device.
Prepare your test
This helps us explain whether Wi-Fi itself may be affecting the result.
Prepare your test
A VPN can affect a speed test. If you’re not sure, just choose “Not sure”.
A VPN is software or a service that routes your internet connection through another network. If you know you’re using one, turning it off before testing can give a more representative result.
Prepare your test
Large downloads, game updates, several streams or cloud backups can affect the result.
Your broadband promise
This is the personalised minimum speed your provider gave you when you bought or renewed your broadband.
Check the email, contract or welcome information you received when you took out or renewed your broadband. Look for wording such as “minimum guaranteed speed” or “minimum download speed”.
Your broadband promise
It is a personalised minimum download speed your broadband provider may give you for your line when you take out or renew a package.
It is not necessarily the same as the headline speed in the package name.
No problem if you don’t have it. You can still run the test and add the number later.
Your broadband promise
Enter the number from your broadband contract or provider information.
Before the test starts
Broadband Reality Check uses Measurement Lab (M-Lab) to perform this live speed test.
M-Lab collects technical measurement and connection data, including the public IP address used for the test, and publishes its measurement data for internet research. M-Lab says its test data is retained and published indefinitely.
Your Broadband Reality Check details — such as the minimum speed you enter and your test-condition answers — are not sent to M-Lab as part of the speed measurement.
Your Broadband Record: after a completed test, the result and the test conditions you entered are saved in this browser on this device so you can compare repeated tests. They are not sent to us, and you can remove individual tests or clear all saved results at any time from “My record”.
Data use: speed tests transfer data and can use a significant amount on very fast connections. Avoid running the test on a metered or limited mobile-data connection unless you are comfortable with that.
Read the M-Lab Privacy Policy in a new tab.
M-Lab requires third-party test clients to obtain informed consent before a measurement begins. We show the notice before the test rather than hiding it in small print.
Live speed test
Please keep this page open. The full check normally takes around 20–30 seconds.
Finding a nearby M-Lab measurement server…
Your result will appear automatically when the test finishes.
Your result
Here is what this browser-based M-Lab test measured on your connection.
Important: one browser speed test cannot establish why a connection is slower or whether a broadband provider is at fault. Wi-Fi, device performance, VPNs, other internet use and the wider network path can all affect the result.
Test not completed
No result has been recorded. We’ll explain what happened below.
The M-Lab measurement service did not return a complete test.