Since 2007, the Ookla Speedtest has been the most famous speed test in the history of speed testing.
This was partly due to the impressive Flash interface that was used, but mainly because Ookla's Speedtest® was approved by most of the major ISPs in the US.
The Ookla Speedtest quickly became the gold standard for speed testing.
This while it was already noted in 2011 that Ookla calculates the speed in a very strange way by taking 90% of the maximum speed.
Realistic versus mainstream speed tests
Realistic
SpeedOf.Me was completely rebuilt in 2011 and based on new internet standards.
SpeedOf.Me has made no concessions to the calculation method and is now one of
the few speed tests that measures your true internet speed.
That is why SpeedOf.Me is a
realistic speed test.
Mainstream
When Ookla permanently replaced the Flash speed test with the current speed test
in 2018, the 90% rule remained in effect.
Almost all other speed tests use Ookla's calculation method and assume that it should take at least the same amount of time to complete a speed test. These type of speed tests are mainstream speed tests.
Consequences
Copying Speedtest has the following consequences:
- Most speed tests are mainstream speed tests, they take 90% of the actual measured internet speed
- Most speed tests are as slow (or slower) as Speedtest (Why?)
- All ISPs deliver a 12% higher speed than advertised
- Confusion over hardware specifications is lurking. What does a hardware manufacturer mean by 1Gbps? Is it 1 or is it 1.12?