Frequently Asked Questions

SpeedTestAU provides highly accurate results by testing your connection to servers located in Australia. However, results can vary based on:

• Your device's performance and available resources
• Number of devices connected to your network
• Background applications using bandwidth
• Time of day and network congestion (peak hours 7-11 PM)
• WiFi signal strength (if using wireless connection)
• Your NBN technology type (FTTP is faster than FTTN)

For best results, close other applications, connect via ethernet cable, and run multiple tests at different times.

Our test servers are located in Sydney, Australia - ensuring accurate measurements for Australian users with low latency and reliable infrastructure.

This location ensures:

• Accurate download and upload speed measurements for all Australian states
• Consistent, professional-grade service quality
• Low latency (5-100ms depending on your location in Australia)
• Reliable infrastructure with 99.9% uptime

Your download and upload speeds accurately reflect your NBN or broadband connection's capacity.

The latency (ping) shown in your technical details is the round-trip time to our test server in Sydney. This varies based on your location within Australia.

Typical latency ranges:

• Sydney area: 5-20ms
• Melbourne/Canberra: 15-35ms
• Brisbane/Gold Coast: 20-40ms
• Adelaide: 25-45ms
• Perth: 50-80ms
• Regional areas: 30-100ms (varies by distance and NBN technology)

Important: Latency to the test server doesn't significantly affect the accuracy of your download and upload speed measurements. These speeds reflect your connection's true capacity.

After your speed test completes, we assign a quality grade based on your download speed, upload speed, and overall connection quality:

Grade A+ / A (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): Excellent connection - perfect for 4K streaming, gaming, HD video calls, and all online activities

Grade B (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Good connection - great for HD streaming, video calls, casual gaming, and general use

Grade C (⭐⭐⭐): Fair connection - suitable for SD streaming, browsing, and email. Video calls may experience some lag

Grade D (⭐⭐): Slow connection - basic browsing works, but streaming will buffer. Consider upgrading your NBN plan

The grade helps you quickly understand if your connection is performing well for your needs.

Download Speed (Mbps): How fast you receive data from the internet. This is the speed most people care about. NBN plans range from 12 Mbps (NBN 12) to 1000 Mbps (NBN 1000).

Upload Speed (Mbps): How fast you send data to the internet. Important for video calls, uploading files, and streaming. Varies by NBN tier - NBN 50 typically offers 20 Mbps upload, NBN 100 offers 20-40 Mbps.

Latency (shown in technical details): Response time to test server. Download and upload speeds are the most important metrics for understanding your NBN connection quality.

Several factors can cause slower-than-expected speeds on NBN:

• WiFi vs Ethernet: WiFi is typically 30-50% slower than wired connections
• Peak hours: Evening congestion (7-11 PM) can significantly reduce speeds, especially on budget NBN plans with lower CVC allocation
• NBN technology: FTTN and Fixed Wireless have lower maximum speeds than FTTP/HFC
• Line quality: For FTTN, your distance from the node affects maximum speed
• RSP capacity: Your provider's network capacity during peak times
• Router quality: Old routers may not support your full NBN speed
• Network congestion: Multiple devices sharing your connection

If speeds are consistently 50% below your plan's speed tier, contact your RSP. They're required by NBN to investigate significant speed issues.

We recommend testing:

• Once a month to ensure you're getting expected NBN speeds
• When experiencing slow internet or connection issues
• After changing NBN plans or RSPs
• Before and after router/modem changes
• At different times of day to identify peak congestion (especially 7-11 PM)
• When your RSP makes network upgrades or changes

Avoid excessive testing (more than 10 times per day) as it consumes your data allowance.

Yes, speed tests consume data from your internet plan. Each test typically uses:

• Download test: ~10-50 MB
• Upload test: ~5-25 MB
• Total per test: ~15-75 MB depending on your speed

If you have a limited data cap on your NBN plan, be mindful of frequent testing. Most modern NBN plans include unlimited data, but older ADSL plans or satellite NBN may have caps.

SpeedTestAU works with ALL internet service providers in Australia, including:

• NBN (National Broadband Network) - all RSPs
• Telstra (NBN and 4G/5G Home Wireless)
• Optus (NBN and 5G Home Wireless)
• TPG
• iiNet
• Aussie Broadband
• Vodafone
• Belong
• Dodo
• Exetel
• Superloop
• Tangerine

And any other RSP or ISP operating in Australia!

Different speed test sites use different servers, testing methods, and locations. Results can vary because:

• Server location matters - testing to different cities shows different results
• Different sites use different testing methodologies
• Network routing varies between services
• Time of test affects results due to network conditions
• Some sites may have better or worse peering with your RSP

SpeedTestAU uses servers in Australia for accurate local measurements. Your download and upload speeds accurately reflect your connection's capacity.

Based on current NBN speed tiers:

• NBN 12 (12/1 Mbps): Basic browsing, email, 1 user
• NBN 25 (25/5-10 Mbps): HD streaming, 1-2 users
• NBN 50 (50/20 Mbps): Multiple users, HD streaming, standard use
• NBN 100 (100/20-40 Mbps): Families, 4K streaming, gaming, work from home
• NBN 250 (250/25 Mbps): Heavy users, multiple 4K streams (FTTP/HFC only)
• NBN 1000 (1000/50 Mbps): Power users, content creators (FTTP only)

Choose based on your household size and usage patterns. Most Australian households do well on NBN 50 or NBN 100.

Yes! SpeedTestAU is completely free to use. We're supported by advertisements which allow us to provide this service at no cost to you. There are no hidden fees, subscriptions, or premium tiers.

Yes, we store your test results along with your IP address to show you your testing history. This helps you track your NBN performance over time. We do not share your personal information with third parties. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

Absolutely! SpeedTestAU works on mobile devices and can test:

• Mobile data (4G/5G) speeds from Telstra, Optus, Vodafone
• WiFi speeds on mobile devices
• Tethered/hotspot connections
• 5G Home Wireless connections

Simply visit speedtestau.com on your mobile browser and run the test. Note that mobile data tests will consume your mobile data allowance.

Yes! Our test results can be used as evidence when contacting your RSP about slow NBN speeds. We recommend:

• Taking multiple tests at different times (especially during peak 7-11 PM)
• Testing both WiFi and wired connections
• Taking screenshots of results
• Documenting dates and times
• Comparing results to your subscribed NBN speed tier

Under NBN rules, RSPs must investigate if your speeds are significantly below your plan's speed tier. Most RSPs will investigate if speeds are consistently below 75% of your plan during peak hours.

Basic Browsing & Email: 5-10 Mbps (NBN 12-25)

HD Video Streaming (1080p): 10-25 Mbps (NBN 25-50)

4K Streaming: 25-50 Mbps (NBN 50-100)

Online Gaming: 25+ Mbps with low ping (NBN 50+)

Video Conferencing (Zoom, Teams): 10-25 Mbps up/down (NBN 50+)

Working from Home: 50+ Mbps (NBN 50-100)

Large File Downloads: 100+ Mbps (NBN 100+)

Multiple Users (4+ people): 100-250 Mbps (NBN 100-250)