Running a Lightweight Command Line Speed Test on Windows, Mac, and Linux
Often, internet speed testing websites are overwhelmed with advertisements, which can impede your system's performance. Luckily, Ookla provides a lightweight Command Line Interface (CLI) version of its speed test, allowing you to check your internet speed without the burden of a web browser. Below are instructions for using it on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Performing a Speed Test on Mac Using Terminal
To do this on a Mac, we'll utilize Homebrew, a widely-used package manager for macOS. If you haven't yet installed Homebrew or are uncertain about it, open Terminal (located in Applications > Utilities) and input the following command:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"By executing this command, Homebrew will be downloaded and installed. After the installation is complete, you can conveniently install the speed test CLI by typing:
brew install speedtest-cli
Once the installation is finished, you can initiate the speed test by merely entering:
speedtest-cli
Executing this command will prompt a rapid assessment of your internet connection's speed directly within the Terminal. This approach conserves system resources and avoids the distraction of advertising-ridden websites.
To conduct a Speed Test on Windows using the Command Prompt,
obtaining the speed test CLI on your Windows PC is an easy process. Begin by going to the Speedtest CLI download page and scroll down to locate the download option specifically for Windows. Keep in mind that this CLI tool is exclusively compatible with 64-bit versions of Windows.
Once you have downloaded the installer, extract the contents of the file to locate "speedtest.exe." It is advisable to save this file in a directory such as C:\Program Files\speedtest.exe, as this will make it easy to find and ensures accessibility for all user accounts on your computer. For further ease of use, you might want to create a shortcut on your desktop or pin the executable to your taskbar.
To initiate the speed test via Command Prompt (press Start, enter "command," and select "Command Prompt" from the list), simply input the complete path to the executable within quotation marks to avoid issues caused by spaces, and then press enter:
"C:\Program Files\speedtest.exe"
The syntax has been slightly modified for use in PowerShell (Terminal). To perform operations on the specified file path, you must prefix the ampersand as follows:
& "C:\Program Files\speedtest.exe"
These instructions guide the application through the network, giving you a quick overview of the current Internet speed and related parameters.
Running a Speed Test on Linux with Terminal
Linux users have different installation methods, the steps may vary depending on the distribution. Here we will look at the installation process of one of the most used ones: Debian/Ubuntu.
First, open a Terminal window. Before setting up the speed test CLI, you may need to install curl, a web-based tool for sending data and URLs. If you are not sure whether curl is installed or not, you can install it using the following:
sudo apt-get install curl
Then add the Ookla store to your shopping list. This will ensure you get the latest version of the Quick Test CLI. To do this, use the following command:
curl -s https:
Once the repository is added, you can create a quick test CLI with:
sudo apt-get install speedtest
Once installed, you can test your internet speed by typing "fast" into Terminal and pressing Enter. This command runs the test and displays the results in a window.
Using Ookla's CLI Speed Test is a great way to test your internet speed without the distractions and slowdowns caused by browser-based tools. No matter what operating system you're using, this simple tool provides accurate and fast results. It's especially useful if you want to avoid ads or integrate speed tests into operating systems or documents.
With a few instructions or a quick action, you have a reliable tool to monitor and evaluate the performance of your network, allowing you to run a network test in a snap or with a keyboard shortcut.