You click the button. The little digital needle swings wildly toward the right. Maybe it hits 400. Maybe it barely crawls to 20. Either way, you’re staring at that number wondering why your Netflix still looks like a Lego movie or why your Zoom calls keep freezing right when you’re trying to look professional.
Knowing what is my internet speed isn't just about a single number. It’s a snapshot. Honestly, most of us treat speed tests like a medical diagnosis, but they’re more like a weather report—things change the second you look away.
The Big Lie of the "Advertised" Speed
We’ve all seen the flyers. "Gigabit speeds!" "Blazing fast 500 Mbps!"
Here is the thing: your ISP (Internet Service Provider) is selling you the theoretical maximum. They are essentially saying, "In a perfect world, with a brand-new cable and nobody else in your neighborhood using the internet, you might hit this number."
In reality, your actual speed is a fraction of that. If you’re on cable internet, you’re sharing a "pipe" with your neighbors. When everyone gets home at 6:00 PM and starts streaming The Last of Us, your speed tanks. It’s basically digital traffic.
Bits vs. Bytes: The Math They Don't Explain
This is where it gets sneaky. ISPs measure speed in megabits (Mbps), but your computer measures file sizes in megabytes (MB).
There are 8 bits in a byte.
So, if you’re seeing a speed test result of 100 Mbps, you aren't actually downloading 100 megabytes of data every second. You’re downloading about 12.5 MB. If you’re trying to grab a 50GB game update, that 100 "speed" suddenly feels a lot smaller.
Why Your Speed Test Results Vary Every Time
Ever noticed how you can run a test on Ookla’s Speedtest, then immediately run one on Fast.com, and get totally different numbers?
It’s not because one is broken. It’s because they’re measuring different paths.
- Fast.com is owned by Netflix. It connects directly to Netflix’s servers. It’s great for knowing if you can stream video, but it doesn't tell the whole story.
- Ookla usually finds the server physically closest to you. It shows your raw "pipe" capacity.
- Google’s Speed Test (the one that pops up in search) is powered by M-Lab. It’s generally considered the "neutral" middle ground.
If you’re testing over Wi-Fi, you’re already losing. Walls, microwaves, and even your neighbor’s baby monitor can mess with the signal. If you really want to know "what is my internet speed" with 100% accuracy, you have to plug in a physical Ethernet cable. Wireless is convenient, but it’s messy.
Is Your Speed Actually "Good"?
People ask me this all the time. "Is 100 Mbps enough?"
The answer is: it depends on how many people are under your roof.
In 2026, the FCC officially bumped the definition of "broadband" to 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. Anything less than that isn't technically high-speed anymore.
Working from Home: You need more upload than you think. A 4K Zoom call eats about 4-6 Mbps of upload speed. If you have 25 Mbps download but only 2 Mbps upload, you’re going to look like a blurry mess to your boss.
Gaming: Speed actually doesn't matter as much as Ping. Ping is the "lag" or the time it takes for your button press to reach the game server. You could have 1,000 Mbps speed, but if your ping is 150ms, you’re going to lose every shootout in Call of Duty. You want a ping under 30ms for competitive play.
Streaming 4K: Netflix says you need 15-25 Mbps. In the real world, aim for 50 Mbps per person. If you’ve got two kids on iPads and you’re trying to watch a movie in the living room, a 100 Mbps plan is going to be sweating.
👉 See also: What Swiping Means: The Gesture That Changed How We Live
Quick Fixes for a Slow Connection
Before you call your ISP to complain (and spend an hour on hold), try these:
- The 30-Second Reset: Unplug your router. Count to 30. Plug it back in. It sounds like a cliché, but routers are just tiny computers. They get "tired" and their memory gets clogged. A reboot clears the junk.
- Move the Router: If it's in a closet or behind the TV, you’re killing your signal. Put it out in the open, preferably high up.
- Check for "Vampire" Devices: That old tablet in the drawer might still be connected and downloading updates in the background. If you aren't using it, turn off the Wi-Fi.
- Update Firmware: Most people never update their router software. Log into your router’s settings (usually by typing 192.168.1.1 into your browser) and check for updates. It can literally double your speed sometimes.
What to Do Next
Stop relying on just one test. Run a speed test at three different times today: once in the morning, once at lunch, and once during the "prime time" evening hours.
If your evening speed is more than 50% lower than your morning speed, your neighborhood is congested. That’s a sign you might need to switch to a Fiber connection if it's available in your area. Fiber doesn't suffer from "neighborhood slowdowns" the way cable does because you have a dedicated line.
If you’re consistently getting less than 80% of what you pay for, call your provider. Demand a "signal refresh" or ask for a newer modem. Most ISPs won't give you the new hardware unless you specifically ask for it.