How to Use the Netflix Internet Speed Test
You can run the stream test from Netflix with the FAST Speed Test app or through the Fast.com website. They both work exactly same way.
What Is Fast.com?
Planning on streaming 4K Netflix videos to your 4K Ultra HD TV? Fast.com is the official Netflix speed test website that you can use to test your internet speed to see if your connection is fast enough to stream Netflix. The Netflix speed test is different from other speed test sites because instead of testing your connection against a random server somewhere around the world that you might never actually connect to, it uses Netflix’s content delivery system. That said, you can still use it as a general speed test solution even if you’re not a Netflix subscriber. Fast.com is also useful if you’re planning on subscribing to one of the lower-quality Netflix streaming plans. You’ll know if your network is fast enough to handle Netflix videos or if you’ll need to upgrade your internet plan.
Internet Speed for Streaming Netflix
Now that you’ve determined the speed you can achieve between your device and the Netflix servers, knowing whether it’s fast enough to stream Netflix is important, especially if you plan to watch Ultra HD/4K videos. Netflix has a list of recommended internet speeds for various video qualities. Compare your speed with their list to see if your network is suitable for streaming those kinds of videos:
3 Mbps is recommended for SD quality 5 Mbps is recommended for HD quality 25 Mbps is recommended for Ultra HD/4K quality
While those are the recommended speeds, you might be able to get by with minimum Netflix streaming speeds.
Can You Make Your Internet Faster?
If the Netflix speed test shows you a number that isn’t as fast as what Netflix recommends, it could mean that your internet is too slow for Netflix. But don’t be too quick to downgrade your Netflix plan or avoid subscribing; there are two ways to understand the internet speed. The first thing you should consider is that you might be paying for a speed that’s fully capable of streaming 4K or other quality videos but other factors are at play that are limiting your speed to Netflix’s servers. See what you can do to speed up your internet for some ideas, such as limiting bandwidth-demanding applications on the network. If you’re still getting too slow of speeds after reviewing those solutions, you might be in a situation where the speed you’re paying for is just too slow to stream Netflix. Your only option in this case is to upgrade your internet plan by contacting your ISP.
