To check your internet speed, connect your computer to the router with a cable, close everything that downloads or uploads data, open a test (Speedtest, Fast.com or the NKEK test) and click Start. Repeat the measurement several times at different times of day, and compare the result with your plan in megabits per second (Mbps), not megabytes: 1 MB/s is 8 Mbps.
Below you’ll find how to prepare for a test, how the popular speed tests differ, what download, upload, ping and jitter mean, why speeds can fall below the plan, and what data to bring to your provider. The information has been checked against help pages from Ookla, NKEK, M-Lab and Microsoft, and against the text of NKEK’s resolution as of October 15, 2026.
Prepare your connection
- Connect your computer to the router with a cable. If there is no port, test over Wi-Fi next to the router, but remember that the result will also reflect the quality of your wireless network.
- Close downloads, video calls, cloud sync and video streaming. Before contacting your provider, Ookla advises checking whether other programs are using the connection, and closing them.
- Turn off your VPN: otherwise the test will measure the path through the VPN server, not your line.
- Make sure other devices at home (TV, phones, console) aren’t downloading anything.
Result: The test isn't disturbed by other downloads and devices.
Run the test
Any service from the table will do. Their results may differ, because the tests measure against different servers using different methods.
| Service | What it shows | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Speedtest by Ookla (speedtest.net, apps for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android) | Download, upload, ping, jitter | Picks a nearby server itself, and you can change the server; Ookla advises trying different ones |
| Fast.com (Netflix) | Download; after “Show more info”: upload and latency without load and under load | Measures against Netflix servers; in the settings you can change the number of connections and the test duration |
| NKEK test (nkek.gov.ua, the service quality section) | Download, upload, ping, jitter | Built by NKEK together with Ookla; results are sent to the regulator automatically |
| Google search for “speed test” (M-Lab NDT) | Download, upload, latency | A single data stream, about 10 seconds in each direction; on fast lines it may show lower results than multi-stream tests |
To make measurements comparable, use the same service and the same device every time. For talking to your provider, the NKEK test or Speedtest will do: NKEK advises collecting the results and sending them to the operator.
Result: Download, upload, ping and jitter appear on the screen.
Read the result
- Download is how fast data reaches you: websites, videos, files. It is measured in Mbps. Most connections are built for faster downloads than uploads.
- Upload is how fast you send data: files, video in calls. It is measured in Mbps.
- Ping, or latency, is the connection’s response time in milliseconds. It matters for gaming and calls. Ookla’s benchmark for online games: up to 60 ms is comfortable, 60–129 ms is playable, 130–199 ms is difficult, and 200 ms or more is practically unplayable.
- Jitter is the variation in latency over time. You won’t notice it when reading text, but high jitter causes stutters in games and streaming video.
- Packet loss is the share of data that doesn’t arrive. Ookla says a poor signal or line is a common cause.
How many Mbps you need: Netflix recommends at least 3 Mbps for HD (720p), 5 for Full HD (1080p) and 15 for 4K. Ookla adds that a single person who mostly reads websites needs far less than a large family streaming 4K on several devices.
Result: You understand what each figure means.
Repeat the measurements
- Run several measurements in a row and at different times of day. According to Ookla, tests a few minutes apart can differ slightly because of network congestion.
- Change the server. Usually the speed is higher to nearby servers, and Ookla recommends comparing results across different servers.
- If the problem is Wi-Fi, repeat the measurement in several rooms: Ookla advises checking the network where you actually use it.
- If you’re preparing for a conversation with your provider, take at least 10 measurements over the course of a day: at peak hours and off-peak. That’s Ookla’s advice.
Result: There are several results, not just one.
Compare the result with your plan
Compare like with like. Plans and tests are measured in megabits per second (Mbps), while file-download programs show megabytes per second (MB/s). A byte is 8 bits, so 100 Mbps is about 12.5 MB/s.
“Up to X Mbps” in a plan means the maximum. In Ukraine, under NKEK’s order (resolution No. 481 of September 11, 2024, in force since January 1, 2025), fixed-internet providers publish their minimum, average and maximum download and upload speeds, and mobile operators publish a forecast maximum speed. Compare your measurements not only with the maximum but also with these values and with the terms of your contract.
Result: You can see what share of the plan you're getting.
Find the cause if the speed is lower
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| On a cable the speed is close to the plan, but over Wi-Fi it’s noticeably lower | Wi-Fi: distance, walls, a congested channel or band | Move closer to the router, try the 5 GHz band, change the channel |
| Low speed on a cable too | The router, the cable or the provider’s line | Restart the modem and the router, turn off QoS on the router, connect your computer by cable directly to the provider’s equipment |
| The speed hits a ceiling below the plan | An old router or a 100 Mbps port | Check the specs of the router and the network card |
| Speed drops in the evening | Network congestion | Compare measurements by time of day and save them for your provider |
| One site or service is slow, but the test is fine | The service’s server is far away, or the service has a fault | Check the service separately, for example at a different time |
| Different devices show different results | Different Wi-Fi module and browser capabilities | Compare on the same device |
If the problem is Wi-Fi, keep in mind a few points from the Microsoft and Ookla help pages. The 2.4 GHz band passes through walls better and reaches farther, but it is slower; 5 GHz is faster and less congested, but its range is shorter; 6 GHz requires a router and a device with Wi-Fi 6E. In the 2.4 GHz band, Microsoft recommends channels 1, 6 or 11. Microwave ovens, cordless phones, Bluetooth and neighbors’ networks cause interference, and metal and concrete in walls weaken the signal. Ookla reminds that a router supporting up to 100 Mbps won’t deliver the full speed of a 500 Mbps plan. If your router is outdated, our roundup of Wi-Fi routers for home can help you choose a new one.
Result: You can see where the speed is lost: in Wi-Fi, in the router or at the provider.
Contact your provider with the data
NKEK advises: if the results don’t match your plan and contract, contact your provider. The provider will most likely ask you to restart the router and check the speed directly over a cable. Ookla suggests preparing in advance and having two devices at hand: one to contact support and another to check the network.
What to include with your request:
- the date and time of each measurement;
- the connection method (cable or Wi-Fi), the device and the service you measured with;
- download, upload, ping and jitter, plus the server you chose;
- the speed and the terms from your contract or the provider’s website.
If the problem is confirmed and the provider can’t or won’t fix it, consider switching operators.
Result: You have measurements and a description of the conditions for talking to your provider.
If it didn’t work
- The test won’t start or there are no servers. Ookla explains that a firewall or proxy server may block port 8080 and limit the server list. Turn off the VPN and the proxy and try again.
- The results jump around. For measurements a few minutes apart, that’s normal. Make several attempts and focus on the typical result.
- Mobile internet is slower than expected. Speed depends on coverage, the phone and network load, and operators publish a forecast maximum speed. Test the mobile network separately and don’t compare it with Wi-Fi: they are different connections. If you need a backup channel, see our 4G Wi-Fi router review.
- The test is fine, but the service is sluggish. Ookla explains that many websites and streaming services host content on distant servers, so speed and latency to them are worse than to the test server.
Sources and methodology
Analysis of public sourcesChecked 15 October 2026
- Ookla — Speedtest: Questions and Glossary speedtest.net
- NKEK — QoS Tool – Speedtest in cooperation with Ookla nkek.gov.ua
- M-Lab — NDT (Network Diagnostic Tool) measurementlab.net
- Microsoft — Wi-Fi and your home layout support.microsoft.com
- NKEK — Procedure for publishing information on service quality (resolution No. 481) zakon.rada.gov.ua
Frequently asked questions
How many Mbps do I need at home?
It depends on what you do. Netflix recommends at least 3 Mbps for HD, 5 for Full HD and 15 for 4K, and Ookla notes that a family with several 4K streams needs far more than one person who reads websites.
Why does a file download at 12 MB/s on a 100 Mbps plan?
That’s normal: plans are measured in megabits, while programs show megabytes. A byte is 8 bits, so 100 Mbps is about 12.5 MB/s.
Which speed test is more accurate?
There is no single correct one: services measure against different servers using different methods. Ookla notes that other services’ servers are in different locations, so discrepancies are not unusual; M-Lab uses a single data stream, while multi-stream tests on fast lines usually show more. Compare measurements from the same service.
What is a good ping?
By Ookla’s benchmark for online games: up to 60 ms is comfortable, 60–129 ms is playable, 130–199 ms is difficult, and 200 ms or more is practically unplayable. For browsing websites, latency is barely noticeable: it matters mostly for gaming and calls.
Can I test mobile internet speed?
Yes, with the same services: Speedtest has apps for iOS and Android. The result depends on coverage and your phone, and Wi-Fi and mobile networks can’t be compared, since they are different connections.
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