Test Your Network Speed On a Mac

You can test your network speed on a Mac using speed test websites or a simple Terminal command in macOS Monterey. You can also easily put that Terminal command inside a Shortcut and then easily run a speed test from the Menu Bar any time you wish.

Comments: 16 Responses to “Test Your Network Speed On a Mac”

    Andy
    2 years ago

    Many thanks, Gary.
    This was very timely since my house has just been connected to our new city (municipal) fiber network called Connexion (1 Gig upload&download for $60/p/mo). In the past I've avoided Terminal for fear I'll screw something up--and not know how to undo the damage--but I'll try this because it will be interesting to track network speed (which should be way faster than what I've been getting from Comcast).

    Kay Fisher
    2 years ago

    I loved it but... What I really would want is a graph I could see at any time that showed my network speeds over time. That is if there was a background task that captured this data at regular intervals while I am logged in and a simple GUI or short cut that could display it. Also it would be nice if it could be set to run at user determined intervals even when logged out. Results in a Numbers spread sheet. I should be capable of doing this, but it would be a stretch for me.

    2 years ago

    Kay: That would take a lot of work to build. No easy way. Some WiFi routers do this so you may want to check if yours does.

    Mark Scola
    2 years ago

    Hi Gary, I tried this in my Terminal but I keep getting "zsh: command not found" .... what do you make of that?

    Rich
    2 years ago

    Gary, did I just see your internet speed showing both download and upload near the same? 89 and 56? How does one get that? Mine is currently 138 and 20. Always 5=8 times faster on download for me

    Rich
    2 years ago

    Whoops I meant 89 and 86 ⇧⬆︎

    Rick Grossman
    2 years ago

    This is data, that can be good to diagnose, but without a reference point it means little. When you get a medical test, it shows you the value, and the normal range. I know if my blood sugar is too high/low/normal. Also, where might the problem be? When streaming a video is it at the source, the internet, my router, my mac, my wifi, or the tv?

    2 years ago

    Mark: Are you using macOS Monterey, or something older?

    2 years ago

    Rich: I think this is common with DLS, but not with Cable. Which do you have?

    2 years ago

    Rick: What most people use this for is to compare it to what they pay for. So if you are paying for 100 Mbps from your provider, and you test it over and over at different times and never get above 50 Mpbs, then you'd want to call them and have them troubleshoot.

    Art Caldara
    2 years ago

    Hi Gary, I tried this in my Terminal but I keep getting "zsh: command not found" .... what do you make of that?

    2 years ago

    Art: Are you perhaps using an older version of macOS?

    Bob Earp
    2 years ago

    Doesn't work on Big Sur v11.6.5 Gary.
    As a side note, I'm using cable in a rural area and often have a sloooow connection that mysteriously speeds up to my contract agreement speed after I run a speed test ;-)

    2 years ago

    Bob: Do you mean the Terminal command. No, it is new in Monterey. Use the website test if you haven't updated yet.

    Mick
    2 years ago

    Brilliant tutorial Gary. Thank you. I'm a newbie to Shortcuts and Terminal so the content was perfect. This is exactly why I'm Patreon supporter :-) Regards Mick

    Bruce
    2 years ago

    Great to learn the terminal command. Thanks. I'm amazed how many people do not understand the difference between the speed of their WiFi system vs. the speed provided by the ISP. People constantly complain to me about having slow "internet speed" when what they really have is slow WiFi.

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