Quick answer: Run one test close to your router or provider gateway, then repeat it in the room where the internet feels slow. If possible, also test with an Ethernet cable. This three-test comparison is much more useful than a single speed result.
Run an Internet Speed Test
Use either test below. FAST.com gives you a quick download result and shows upload speed and latency when you select Show more info. CIRA’s Canadian Internet Performance Test also reports latency, jitter and packet loss, which can be helpful when calls freeze or games lag even though the download speed looks fine.
A speed test measures the connection reaching the device you are using at that moment. It does not automatically tell you whether the problem is your internet provider, plan, router, Wi-Fi coverage or device. The testing order below will help you narrow that down before you upgrade your plan or buy new equipment.
Before you press start
- Pause large downloads, cloud backups and streaming on other devices.
- Turn off a VPN for the baseline test. You can test again with the VPN connected afterward.
- Use the same device and the same test service when comparing rooms or times.
- Write down the date, time, device, connection type and location for each result.
- Run two or three tests instead of judging the connection from one number.
Want help after the test? The Router Speed Troubleshooter uses your wired, close-range and problem-room results to identify the most likely bottleneck.
Test in the Right Order
A single test from a phone in a back bedroom mixes together the provider connection, router, walls, distance, interference and the phone’s own Wi-Fi limits. Use this order to separate them.
| Step | What to do | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Check the plan | Find the advertised download and upload speed in your provider account or bill. | This gives you a reference point. Check whether it is a maximum or a promised minimum. |
| 2. Test beside the gateway | Use a newer phone or laptop close to the main router or provider gateway. | This reduces distance and wall problems. |
| 3. Test with Ethernet | Connect a compatible computer directly to the router or gateway when possible. | This is the best way to separate the provider connection from Wi-Fi. |
| 4. Test the problem room | Repeat the same test on the same device where service feels slow. | A large room-to-room drop points to Wi-Fi coverage or interference. |
| 5. Repeat later | Test in the morning, evening and during the time the problem normally happens. | A time-based pattern can reveal congestion or heavy household use. |
How we use speed tests
InternetAdvice.ca does not treat one browser result as proof that a provider is good or bad. We compare a close-range test, an Ethernet test when possible and a test in the problem room. We then repeat the test when the slowdown normally occurs. This is the same approach used in our Wi-Fi, router and Starlink troubleshooting tools.
What Your Speed-Test Results Mean
Download speed
Download speed measures how quickly information reaches your device. It affects streaming, websites, app updates and file downloads. It is shown in megabits per second, or Mbps.
Upload speed
Upload speed measures how quickly information leaves your device. It matters for video calls, cloud backups, security cameras, livestreaming and sending large files.
Latency or ping
Latency is the delay between your device and the test server, measured in milliseconds. Lower and steadier is better. Calls and games can feel poor even when the download speed is high if latency changes sharply.
Jitter and packet loss
Jitter is the variation in latency. Packet loss means some data did not arrive. Both can cause frozen calls, robotic audio, game lag and brief disconnections. CIRA’s test reports these extra quality measures.
Use the pattern, not one percentage
| What you see | Most likely place to investigate first |
|---|---|
| Ethernet and close-range Wi-Fi are both much slower than the plan | Provider connection, outage, modem or gateway, cable, port or plan |
| Ethernet is strong, but Wi-Fi is slow beside the router | Router or gateway, Wi-Fi band, interference or test device |
| Wi-Fi is strong beside the router but weak in another room | Router placement, walls, distance or whole-home coverage |
| Only one phone, computer or TV is slow | That device, its Wi-Fi hardware, settings or background activity |
| Results fall mainly in the evening | Neighbourhood congestion, wireless or satellite capacity, or busy household traffic |
| Speed looks fine, but calls or games break up | Latency, jitter, packet loss, Wi-Fi interference or brief connection drops |
There is no honest universal rule that every Wi-Fi test must reach a fixed percentage of the advertised plan. The device, router, Wi-Fi band, distance, connection type and provider wording all matter. A large and repeatable gap on Ethernet is more useful evidence than one low Wi-Fi result.
How Much Internet Speed Do You Need?
The CRTC’s universal service objective uses at least 50 Mbps download, 10 Mbps upload and an unlimited-data option as a Canadian broadband target. That is a national access objective, not a promise that 50/10 is ideal for every household.
| Household | Practical starting range | Pay attention to |
|---|---|---|
| One or two light users | 50 to 100 Mbps | Stable Wi-Fi, enough upload and any data limit |
| Typical home with streaming and video calls | 100 to 300 Mbps | Router coverage and simultaneous users |
| Busy family, several streams or large downloads | 300 to 500 Mbps | Wi-Fi capacity, upload speed and device limits |
| Creators, heavy cloud use or many power users | 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps or fibre based on need | Upload speed, wired networking and whether devices support the tier |
These are starting points, not minimum requirements for every activity. One 4K Netflix stream, for example, has a much lower connection requirement than a gigabit plan. The extra headroom is for several people, devices and activities happening at once.
Use our full Canadian internet speed guide for a household-by-household recommendation. Before changing plans, compare the ongoing cost with the Home Internet Cost Calculator and the dated offers in our Canadian Internet Price Tracker.
Do not upgrade only because one room is slow. If the speed is good beside the router but poor in a bedroom, office or basement, a faster plan may deliver a bigger number to the same bad router location. Use the Router Placement Checker before paying more.
Why Speed-Test Results Change
Wi-Fi distance and obstacles
Walls, floors, cabinets, metal, appliances and distance weaken Wi-Fi. A basement gateway may receive a fast provider connection but deliver a poor result upstairs. Test close to the gateway before blaming the plan.
The device and Wi-Fi band
An older laptop, phone, smart TV, Ethernet adapter or cable can become the limit. The 2.4 GHz band reaches farther but is usually slower. The 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands can be faster at shorter range but weaken more through walls. Our Wi-Fi 6, 6E and 7 guide explains the differences without assuming everyone needs a new router.
Other activity in the home
Cloud backups, game updates, security-camera uploads and other streams share the same connection. A test run while the household is busy measures what was available to that device, not the full unused capacity of the plan.
The test server and route
Speed tests use different servers, locations and methods. FAST.com tests against Netflix servers. CIRA uses vendor-neutral Canadian test infrastructure and reports more quality metrics. Small differences are normal. Compare like with like when tracking a problem.
Time of day and connection type
Cable, fixed wireless, mobile and satellite connections can slow when shared local capacity is busy. Fibre can also have outages or routing problems, but it is usually less sensitive to local radio conditions. Compare the technologies in our guide to fibre, cable, DSL, 5G and satellite internet.
A VPN is connected
A VPN adds another server and route between you and the destination, so some speed loss and extra latency are normal. Test once with the VPN off to establish a baseline, then reconnect and test the same server again. If privacy or travel use is your reason for considering one, see our Canadian VPN guide.
What to Do If the Result Is Slow
- Check for an outage. Use the provider’s app, status page or support line before changing equipment.
- Restart the gateway once. Follow the provider’s instructions. Give fibre, cable, fixed-wireless or satellite equipment time to reconnect fully.
- Repeat the close-range and Ethernet tests. Try a second device and another Ethernet cable if available.
- Compare rooms. If only distant rooms are slow, use the Router Placement Checker and compare mesh Wi-Fi, an extender and a better router.
- Check the equipment. Learn whether you have a modem, ONT, router or combined gateway in our modem vs router vs gateway guide.
- Use the full troubleshooting guide. Follow the steps in Why Is My Internet So Slow? before buying a faster plan.
- Contact the provider with evidence. Give the plan speed, dates, times, Ethernet result, close-range Wi-Fi result, problem-room result and affected devices.
What to say to support
My plan is advertised at [download/upload speed]. I tested on [device] at [times and dates]. The Ethernet result was [result], the Wi-Fi result beside the gateway was [result], and the result in the problem room was [result]. I also restarted the equipment and checked for an outage. Can you check the line, signal levels, gateway, provisioning and local network status?
If the problem stays unresolved, keep the ticket numbers and results. The Internet Bill Complaint Letter Generator can help you create a clear written record.
If the speed is fine but the bill is high
A good result does not mean you need to keep an expensive plan. Check whether a lower tier would still cover the household, then read How to Lower Your Internet Bill in Canada. Compare the regular price, promotion end date, equipment and contract, not only the first advertised price.
How Connection Type Changes the Result
| Connection | What to watch during testing |
|---|---|
| Fibre to the home | Often strong upload and low latency. Confirm that the computer, Ethernet port and cable can handle a gigabit or multi-gigabit plan. |
| Cable | Download can be fast while upload is much lower. Compare morning and evening results if slowdowns follow a pattern. |
| DSL | Speed depends partly on the copper line and distance from provider equipment. Older home wiring can also matter. |
| Fixed wireless or 5G home internet | Signal, tower capacity, weather, terrain and indoor receiver placement can change results. |
| Satellite or Starlink | Check plan limits, sky obstructions, weather, congestion and the difference between the satellite link and indoor Wi-Fi. |
If wired service is not available, use our Canadian alternatives to Starlink guide to compare fibre, fixed wireless, 5G home internet, traditional satellite and future Canadian satellite options. Current Starlink users should use the Starlink Problem Finder because the app’s advanced test can separate the dish-to-router connection from router-to-device Wi-Fi.
Internet Speed Test Questions
How accurate are internet speed tests?
A browser speed test is useful, but it is a snapshot rather than a permanent score. The result can change with the device, Wi-Fi conditions, other household traffic, test server, route and time of day. Repeat the same test under controlled conditions and compare the pattern.
Should I test on Wi-Fi or Ethernet?
Use both when possible. Ethernet is the better test of the provider connection reaching your router or gateway. Wi-Fi tests show the experience on wireless devices around the home. If Ethernet is good but Wi-Fi is poor, focus on the home network before changing plans.
Why do FAST.com and CIRA show different speeds?
They use different servers, network routes and testing methods. Small differences are normal. FAST.com is a quick test using Netflix servers. CIRA uses Canadian test infrastructure and also reports jitter and packet loss. Use the same service when comparing one room or time against another.
What is a good ping?
As a rough guide, under 20 milliseconds is excellent, under 50 ms is comfortable for most calls and games, 50 to 100 ms may be noticeable, and more than 100 ms can feel laggy. Stability matters too. A steady 40 ms connection may feel better than one jumping between 15 and 150 ms.
Why is my upload speed lower than my download speed?
Many cable, DSL, fixed-wireless and satellite plans are designed with much more download capacity than upload capacity. True fibre plans are more likely to offer similar speeds in both directions, although the exact plan still matters. Check the upload speed listed in your account instead of assuming it matches the download speed.
Can a VPN slow down a speed test?
Yes. Encryption and the extra route through the VPN server can reduce speed and add latency. Test with the VPN off first, then connect it and repeat the same test. That comparison shows the effect of the VPN more clearly.
How many tests should I save before contacting my provider?
Save at least a few repeatable results, including one Ethernet test if possible, one close-range Wi-Fi test and one test where the problem occurs. Include dates, times, device names and whether other household traffic was paused. If the problem is time-specific, test during that period on two or three days.
The Bottom Line
The best speed test is a comparison, not a single number. Test beside the router, over Ethernet when possible and in the room where the problem happens. Repeat the test at the time the slowdown normally appears. That pattern will tell you whether to contact the provider, move the router, fix Wi-Fi coverage, replace a limiting cable or device, or reconsider the plan.
Sources and Method
We checked the testing instructions and definitions against CIRA’s explanation of its Internet Performance Test, the CRTC universal service objective, FAST.com’s testing notes and Netflix’s current streaming recommendations. Our household speed ranges are practical starting points, not provider guarantees or minimum requirements for every app.
Editorial note: Written and reviewed by Michael Latymer for InternetAdvice.ca. Provider speeds, plan terms, equipment and local performance vary by address. Confirm plan details with the provider before changing service or buying equipment.