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Running the basic command

To run a speed test, simply execute the command without any flags: 
unispeedtest
The tool will automatically:
  1. Initialize the Cloudflare Speed Test connection
  2. Fetch network metadata (ISP, server location, IP address)
  3. Measure unloaded latency and jitter
  4. Run download tests across multiple file sizes
  5. Run upload tests across multiple file sizes
  6. Perform a packet loss test with 1000 requests
  7. Display a comprehensive human-readable report

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Progress output explanation

During the test, you’ll see real-time progress output: 
Initializing Cloudflare Speed Test...

[ Download Measurements ]
    101kB    test (10/10): 45.23 Mbps
    1001kB   test (8/8): 89.67 Mbps
    10MB     test (6/6): 123.45 Mbps
    25MB     test (4/4): 145.89 Mbps

[ Upload Measurements ]
    101kB    test (8/8): 32.11 Mbps
    1001kB   test (6/6): 67.43 Mbps
    10MB     test (4/4): 89.22 Mbps
    25MB     test (4/4): 95.67 Mbps

[ Packet Loss Test ] Running 1000 requests...

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Understanding the progress output

  • Test sizes: The tool runs tests with progressively larger file sizes (101kB, 1001kB, 10MB, 25MB)
  • Repetition counts: Each size is tested multiple times for accuracy
    • Download: 10, 8, 6, 4 repetitions
    • Upload: 8, 6, 4, 4 repetitions
  • Median speed: The displayed speed for each size is the median of all repetitions
  • Packet loss: Runs 1000 concurrent lightweight requests to detect network reliability issues

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Human-readable report format

After the test completes, you’ll see a detailed report: 
======================================================
         YOUR INTERNET SPEED REPORT
======================================================

Overall Download: 145.89 Mbps
Overall Upload:   95.67 Mbps

Latency & Jitter:
  Unloaded Latency: 12.34 ms (Jitter: 2.15 ms)
  Down-Loaded Latency: 45.67 ms
  Up-Loaded Latency: 38.21 ms

Packet Loss:
  0.3% (Received 997 / 1000)

Network Quality Score:
  Video Streaming: Good  |  Online Gaming: Good  |  Video Chatting: Good

Server & Connection:
  Server Location: San Francisco
  Your Network:    Example ISP (AS12345)
  Your IP address: 203.0.113.42
======================================================

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Report sections explained

  • Overall Download: 90th percentile of all download speed samples
  • Overall Upload: 90th percentile of all upload speed samples
The tool uses the 90th percentile (not average) to provide a more realistic representation of sustained throughput.
  • Unloaded Latency: Round-trip time measured before speed tests begin (median of 20 samples)
  • Jitter: Variation in latency measurements, calculated as average absolute difference between consecutive samples
  • Down-Loaded Latency: Latency measured during download tests (shows bufferbloat)
  • Up-Loaded Latency: Latency measured during upload tests (shows bufferbloat)
High loaded latency compared to unloaded latency indicates bufferbloat issues.
Percentage of failed requests out of 1000 concurrent attempts. Even 1-2% packet loss can significantly impact real-time applications.
Evaluates your connection suitability for common activities:
  • Video Streaming: Good if download > 5 Mbps, latency < 100ms, packet loss < 2%
  • Online Gaming: Good if latency < 50ms, jitter < 20ms, packet loss < 1%
  • Video Chatting: Good if download > 2 Mbps, upload > 2 Mbps, latency < 100ms, jitter < 30ms, packet loss < 1%
  • Server Location: Cloudflare data center city used for testing
  • Your Network: ISP name and Autonomous System Number (ASN)
  • Your IP address: Public IP address detected by Cloudflare

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Common use cases

Troubleshooting slow internet

Run the test during periods of slow performance to identify whether the issue is with download speed, upload speed, latency, or packet loss.

Verifying ISP speeds

Compare the results with your ISP’s advertised speeds. Run multiple tests at different times to get an average.

Testing after network changes

Run tests before and after making network changes (router upgrade, QoS settings, etc.) to measure the impact.

Identifying bufferbloat

Check if loaded latency is significantly higher than unloaded latency. A large difference indicates bufferbloat.

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Interrupting a test

You can safely interrupt a running test by pressing Ctrl+C. The tool will exit immediately with code 130.
The test typically takes 30-60 seconds to complete, depending on your connection speed and network conditions.

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