Ever wondered how fast your Wi-Fi really is? Whether it’s lag during a video call or buffering in the middle of a movie, a weak Wi-Fi signal can make even the fastest NBN plan feel sluggish.
Good news? You don’t always need to upgrade your plan to get faster Wi-Fi. Often, it’s about knowing where the bottleneck is, and fixing it.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to test your Wi-Fi speed, understand the results, and give you practical ways to improve your Wi-Fi performance.
Ready to put your Wi-Fi to the test? Here’s how to run a Wi-Fi speed test online.
Before you change anything, it’s important to know what kind of speeds you’re actually getting over Wi-Fi.
- Open any browser on your device – be sure that you’re connected to the network you want to test. For best results, remain stationary.
- Visit speed.swoopbroadband.com.au click Go and wait for the test to finish. This is completely free, and you can run as many tests as you need!
- Finally, view your results. The results will show your “download speed,” “upload speed,” “ping,” and “jitter.”
Tip: Test from different spots in your home (e.g. kitchen, bedroom, backyard) and different times of day. You might notice performance varies based on distance from your modem or network congestion.
For the most accurate results, plug your computer directly into your modem via Ethernet. Wi-Fi results are useful — but they’re also affected by walls, interference, and even furniture.
If the problem seems to be with your Wi-Fi range, check out our guide to extending your Wi-Fi range or find out why your Wi-Fi keeps dropping out.
What do the results mean?
So, you have your results… but what do they mean?
What is download speed?
Your download speed is how fast your device receives data from the internet, which is measured in megabits per second (Mbps).
Faster download speeds mean browsing the internet will feel smoother, you will have a more reliable connection and you can stream higher-quality videos without buffering.
What is a good Wi-Fi download speed?
It depends on the way you use the internet! Good download speeds for most households can be as low as 25 Mbps – which will allow one person to browse the web, stream videos and check emails on a few devices.
- 25 Mbps – Fine for one person browsing and streaming
- 50–100 Mbps – Great for families, smart homes, remote work
- 250+ Mbps – Ideal for 4K streaming, online gaming, large households
Compare your test results to the speed listed on your NBN plan. If you’re consistently getting much lower speeds than promised, it may be time to troubleshoot your setup or contact your provider.
If your household is bigger and has lots of devices connected, you may need speeds of 100 Mbps or more. These speeds are more suitable for those that run smart homes or enjoy regular streaming, gaming or video calls (especially on multiple devices at once).
Here’s a generic guide:
Tip: if you have the right plan but your speeds aren’t cutting it, check out our guide to speeding up your Wi-Fi.
What is upload speed?
How fast you send data, like uploading photos or making video calls.
- 3–5 Mbps – Fine for emails and video calls
- 10+ Mbps – Better for live-streaming or uploading large files
- Most NBN plans offer asymmetrical speeds, with lower upload than download.
Upload speed is measured in megabits per second (Mbps). You’ll need a good upload speed for sending large files, video calling, using smart devices and live streaming.
It is usual for your upload speed to be much lower than your download speed unless you specifically ask for a “symmetrical internet plan.”
What is a good upload speed?
For most households, a good upload speed is 10 Mbps – which is enough for most activities online, including smart devices, gaming, video calling, even with multiple connected devices.
However, if you want to do a lot of live streaming, you may need a higher upload speed than this.
What is ping?
Ping (or latency) basically shows you the reaction time of your connection. How quickly your device gets a response from the server, important for gaming and video calls.
It’s measured in milliseconds (ms).
- Under 50 ms – Great
- 50–100 ms – Acceptable
- 150+ ms—You’ll likely notice lag
The lower your ping, the more responsive your connection, which is especially important for online gaming.
If you’re struggling with high latency, it can often be resolved by upgrading your router, modem, cables, or internet plan.
What is a good ping?
For most households, good ping would be anything below 50 ms. If your ping is higher than 50, you may experience intermittent delays – and if it’s higher than 150, you’ll experience significant lag, especially while gaming.
What is jitter?
Jitter measures the stability of your connection. High jitter means your connection fluctuates. It is measured in milliseconds (ms).
Knowing this number will help you understand the variability in how fast your device can send and receive data. The lower the jitter, the more consistent your latency!
What is a good jitter?
- Under 20 ms – Good
- Over 30 ms – May cause buffering and call dropouts
For most households, anything under 20ms would be considered good jitter. If it’s above 30ms, you are likely to see an impact on the quality of your audio and video – especially when video chatting or streaming.
WiFi test FAQs
Why is my Wi-Fi slow even with a fast nbn® plan?
Your Wi-Fi speed depends on more than your nbn® plan. Slowdowns can be caused by your router, interference, distance from the modem, or network congestion. Try testing speed with Ethernet to isolate the problem.
How do I test my internet speed on Wi-Fi?
Use a speed test website like speed.swoopbroadband.com.au. Make sure you’re connected to your Wi-Fi network, not mobile data. Repeat tests from multiple locations and times of day.
What is a good Wi-Fi speed?
A good Wi-Fi speed depends on usage.
- 25–50 Mbps: Browsing and HD streaming
- 100+ Mbps: Multiple users or devices
- 250+ Mbps: Gaming, 4K streaming, work-from-home setups
How can I boost my Wi-Fi signal?
- Reposition your router
- Upgrade to a newer modem/router
- Install a Wi-Fi extender or mesh system
- Limit the number of connected devices
- Reduce interference from electronics or appliances nearby
Does the time of day affect Wi-Fi speed?
Yes — your internet may be slower during evening peak hours (typically 7–11pm) when more people are online. This is common across all providers and can also depend on your nbn® connection type.
Planning a move? Check out our nbn® Moving Home Guide to stay connected without the stress.
Slow Internet Connection?
Let Swoop get you connected FAST! Check if your address can get fast and reliable internet.
Enter your AddressGot a slow connection that just won’t budge?
It might be time to upgrade your router, extend your signal, or switch plans altogether. Either way, testing your Wi-Fi is the first step, and now you know exactly how to do it.
Need help choosing the right plan for your setup? Check out our NBN plans for the latest availability and fibre options.
Check out our nbn® plans
Typical evening speed (7pm-11pm)
Mbps
Download
Mbps
Upload
per
month
Typical evening speed (7pm-11pm)
Mbps
Download
Mbps
Upload
per
month
Typical evening speed (7pm-11pm)
Mbps
Download
Mbps
Upload
per
month
Typical evening speed (7pm-11pm)
Mbps
Download
Mbps
Upload
per
month
Typical evening speed (7pm-11pm)
Mbps
Download
Mbps
Upload
per
month
