Why Fast.com and Ookla Speedtest Give Different Results
Uncovering the methodology differences between the two most popular speed testing tools and why ISP throttling changes the outcome.
Different Servers, Different Results
It is incredibly common for users to run a test on Ookla's Speedtest.net, see a result of 500 Mbps, and then immediately run a test on Netflix's Fast.com and see a result of 150 Mbps. This discrepancy is entirely expected due to the fundamental differences in how the two platforms operate.
Ookla partners with local ISPs and hosting companies to deploy testing servers inside the ISP's own network. When you test with Ookla, you are essentially testing the speed from your router to the ISP's local data center. This proves that your ISP is delivering the advertised speed to your door.
The Netflix Factor
Fast.com operates entirely differently. Because it is owned by Netflix, the test connects directly to Netflix's actual video streaming servers. When you run Fast.com, your ISP cannot tell the difference between the speed test and a user genuinely trying to stream a 4K movie.
Ookla Test: Your Router <---> ISP Local Server Fast.com Test: Your Router <---> Netflix Video Server
Why This Affects Your Speed Test
Many ISPs artificially throttle (slow down) video streaming traffic to reduce the massive load on their networks. If your mobile carrier limits video streaming to 480p resolution, they will actively throttle any connection to Netflix down to roughly 2 Mbps.
Consequently, if your Ookla test shows 100 Mbps but your Fast.com test shows 2 Mbps, you have definitively proven that your ISP is actively throttling video traffic on your connection. Our independent speed test aims to provide a neutral, unthrottled benchmark using generalized data transfers to reveal your true capacity.