Sites such as speedtest.net or fast.com provide an estimate of your home broadband speed at a particular point in time. Read our tips and take a look at the video below to learn about doing a speed test at your place.

When you’re ready to give it a go at home, here’s our suggestions on how to get the most accurate result:

• Make sure nobody else is online
• Use an Ethernet cable to plug a computer into your modem (you can purchase them from most electronics retailers)
• Choose a speed test server that is hosted by your broadband provider in the nearest city to you (you can select your preferred server in the settings tab of speedtest.net)
• Try different speed test providers or servers as results can vary depending on how the test is carried out.

The Internet is an ecosystem so there are a number of factors that can affect your browsing speed at any one time. Take a look here to see what some of them are. The same speed test can tell you how fast your home WiFi is going too. Just do the test from a WiFi connected device instead.

If you’re not sure what connection you have, take a look at our broadband checker to find out what connection you’re on now and what options are available at your place. Getting better broadband is always a great way to start improving your online experience.