An internet speed test on CompareInternetHub helps you see, in seconds, whether your current connection is fast enough for how you actually use the internet—streaming, gaming, remote work, or running a smart home. When you start the test, it checks your real‑time download speed, upload speed, and latency by sending test data between your device and a nearby server, then compares those results to what typical plans in your area advertise.
This page doesn’t just show numbers; it explains what “good” speeds look like for common tasks, highlights if your results are below what you are paying for, and helps you decide whether you should optimize your Wi‑Fi or switch to a better plan or provider. Use the test regularly—especially when things feel slow—to track performance over time, document issues before calling your ISP, and quickly discover faster internet deals available at your address through CompareInternetHub’s comparison tools.
What is a good internet speed?
A good internet speed is one that comfortably supports all the people and devices in your home at the same time, without buffering, lag, or dropped video calls. For most households in 2025, experts now treat around 100 Mbps download and at least 10–20 Mbps upload as a solid baseline, since that’s enough for HD/4K streaming, online gaming, and remote work on several devices at once. Smaller households with one or two light users can often get by with 50–100 Mbps, while busy homes with three or more heavy users, multiple 4K streams, cloud backups, or smart security cameras often see the best experience on 200 Mbps or faster plans. If your speed test results are consistently below these ranges for your situation—or far below what your provider advertises—it’s usually a sign that you should either optimize your home network or consider upgrading to a faster plan.
How much internet speed do I need?
| Household type / usage | Recommended download speed | Recommended upload speed | Typical use cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 user, light use (browsing, email, messaging) | 25–50 Mbps | 3–5 Mbps | Basic web, social media, SD/HD video on one device. |
| 1–2 users, regular HD streaming & video calls | 50–100 Mbps | 10 Mbps | HD streaming on 1–2 devices, Zoom/Meet, light gaming. |
| 2–4 users, mixed use with some 4K streaming | 100–200 Mbps | 10–20 Mbps | Multiple HD/4K streams, online classes, console/PC gaming, cloud storage. |
| 3–5+ users, heavy streaming & online gaming | 200–500 Mbps | 20–50 Mbps | Several 4K streams, low‑lag gaming, frequent large downloads/uploads. |
| Work‑from‑home power users / small home office | 300–500+ Mbps | 50+ Mbps | Multiple video calls, large file transfers, VPN, cloud apps on several devices. |
| Creators, large families, or many smart‑home devices | 500 Mbps–1 Gbps+ | 50–100+ Mbps | 4K/8K streaming, backups, uploads, smart cameras, many simultaneous users. |
What is the fastest type of internet?
The fastest type of internet available to homes today is fiber‑optic internet. Fiber uses thin strands of glass to transmit data as pulses of light, which allows providers to offer multi‑gigabit speeds (1–10 Gbps and higher) with extremely low latency and symmetrical upload and download rates—something cable, DSL, and most 5G home internet plans typically cannot match in real‑world conditions. Independent comparisons consistently show that fiber delivers the best combination of raw speed, reliability, and responsiveness, making it ideal for 4K/8K streaming, competitive online gaming, cloud backups, and busy homes where many devices are online at once.
Why is my internet so slow?
Slow internet is usually a symptom, not a mystery, and it almost always comes down to a handful of common causes: congestion, Wi‑Fi problems, outdated equipment, or limits on your plan. When too many people or devices are online at once—especially in the evening when everyone is streaming or gaming—your connection can feel clogged and speeds drop, even if your plan looks fast on paper. Weak Wi‑Fi signal, interference from walls or nearby networks, and old routers or modems can also choke your connection before data ever reaches your device, making a wired speed test look fine while your phone or laptop crawls. In other cases, the problem is your service itself: your plan may simply be too slow for how your household uses the internet, your provider’s network may be congested at peak times, or you may even be hitting data caps or throttling limits that quietly reduce your speeds.
How can I improve my internet speed?
Improving your internet speed usually starts with a few simple fixes at home before you ever change plans or providers. First, restart your modem and router, then move the router to a central, elevated, open spot away from walls, metal, and other electronics; this alone can noticeably boost Wi‑Fi signal and reduce dead zones. Whenever possible, connect high‑demand devices like gaming consoles, desktop PCs, or streaming boxes with an Ethernet cable instead of Wi‑Fi, since wired links are faster and more stable.
Next, cut down on congestion by disconnecting devices you are not using, closing background apps, and scheduling large downloads or cloud backups outside of peak evening hours. If your equipment is several years old, upgrading to a modern modem and a Wi‑Fi 6 or Wi‑Fi 6E/7 router, or switching from basic extenders to a mesh Wi‑Fi system, can unlock speeds your current hardware simply cannot handle. Finally, run a fresh speed test after these changes; if your results are still far below your plan’s advertised speeds—or your usage now exceeds your plan’s capacity—it may be time to upgrade to a faster tier or switch to a higher‑performance provider through a comparison tool like CompareInternetHub.
Do I need a faster router?
A faster router is worth considering if your Wi‑Fi feels slow or unstable even though your internet plan looks fast on paper and wired speed tests to your modem are close to what you pay for. Older routers, especially models limited to Wi‑Fi 4/5, 2.4 GHz only, or 100 Mbps Ethernet ports, can become a bottleneck that caps speeds, struggles with many devices, and drops performance in busy homes. If your router is more than three to five years old, can’t support your plan’s top speed (for example, a gigabit plan on a 300–600 Mbps router), or regularly needs reboots to stay usable, upgrading to a modern Wi‑Fi 6 or Wi‑Fi 6E router can deliver higher real‑world speeds, better coverage, and smoother performance for multiple users at once.
However, a new router cannot make a slow internet plan faster than what your ISP provides—it can only remove bottlenecks inside your home network. The best approach is to run a wired and a wireless speed test: if wired speeds match your plan but Wi‑Fi is much lower, your router or Wi‑Fi setup is likely the problem; if both are slow, you probably need a faster plan or different provider rather than just new hardware.
How do I get faster internet?
Getting faster internet is a mix of optimizing what you already have and, when needed, upgrading to better service. Start by running a speed test to see what you are actually getting today, then compare that to your plan’s advertised speeds and what your household really needs for streaming, gaming, and remote work. If your wired speeds match your plan but Wi‑Fi feels slow, focus on your home network: restart your modem and router, move the router to a central open spot, switch to the 5 GHz band, limit background downloads, and use Ethernet for high‑demand devices like PCs, TVs, or consoles.
If speeds are still lagging, check how many devices are connected and whether your router or modem is outdated—older hardware often cannot handle modern 300 Mbps, 500 Mbps, or gigabit plans, so upgrading to a newer Wi‑Fi 6/6E router or mesh system can unlock much higher real‑world speeds. When even a clean, modern home setup can’t keep up—because your plan tops out too low or your technology (like DSL or basic fixed wireless) is the bottleneck—the only way to truly get faster internet is to upgrade to a higher‑speed tier or switch to a better technology, such as moving from DSL to cable or from cable to fiber, using a comparison tool like CompareInternetHub to find the best options at your address.
Who are the fastest internet providers?
The fastest internet providers today are almost all fiber‑optic ISPs that offer multi‑gigabit plans with symmetrical upload and download speeds. Across national reviews and speed‑test data, Google Fiber (GFiber), AT&T Fiber, Frontier Fiber, Xfinity’s emerging 10‑gig fiber footprint, and Verizon Fios consistently rank among the top performers, with max advertised speeds between 5 Gbps and 8 Gbps for residential customers in select markets. Actual speeds and availability depend heavily on your city and neighborhood, so checking your address on a comparison tool is the best way to see which of these ultra‑fast options you can get at home.
List of Fastest internet providers
| Provider | Max advertised residential speed (approx.) | Connection type | Notable details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Fiber (GFiber) | Up to 8 Gbps symmetrical in select markets | Fiber | Frequently cited as the best overall high‑speed provider, with 1–8 Gbps plans, no data caps, and very low latency. |
| AT&T Fiber | Up to 5 Gbps symmetrical on multi‑gig plans. | Fiber | Named the fastest major fixed ISP in the US by Speedtest in 2025, with strong nationwide fiber expansion. |
| Frontier Fiber | Up to 5–7 Gbps symmetrical in some areas. | Fiber | Often highlighted for gaming‑friendly speeds and no data caps, with growing multi‑gig availability. |
| Xfinity (fiber / DOCSIS) | Up to 10 Gbps on limited fiber builds; up to 2 Gbps on cable/DOCSIS in many markets. | Fiber & cable | Very wide footprint; top‑tier plans deliver multi‑gig speeds where fiber or DOCSIS 4.0 upgrades exist. |
| Verizon Fios | Up to ~2.3 Gbps down / 1.5 Gbps up on select fiber tiers. | Fiber | Long‑standing fiber provider with strong reliability and symmetrical gigabit‑class plans in its footprint. |