How to Test Your Website Speed

Slow website got you down? ☹️ Are website visitors hitting the back button before your page can even finish loading? 🔙

Wondering what exactly is _making_ your website so sluggish? 🐌

Are you tired of me asking questions and eagerly anticipating me getting to 👉 the point 👈?

If you answered yes to all of the above, let me tell you something…

There is hope.

It’s actually relatively easy to determine what is causing poor website performance. All you need is a good site testing tool and a little know-how on what makes a website function.

So let’s get to it!

What is website speed testing?

Website speed testing is the process of measuring the loading speed and overall performance of a website from various points around the world to determine how quickly visitors can access it. Higher speeds lead to better user experiences and increased conversion rates. Or, in other words, more cha-ching. 🤑

Many things impact website loading time, such as:

• how the website was built

• file sizes

• server response time

• bandwidth availability

• hardware configurations

• content delivery networks (CDNs)

• browser type

• the microscopic cheetahs running through the undersea cables 🐆

That’s why it’s essential to conduct regular tests to ensure optimal website performance at all times.

I’m going to show you different methods of testing website speed and provide the best tools (free and paid) for analyzing website performance. This will help you get the most out of your online presence without sacrificing user experience or conversion rate optimization.

Different methods of testing website speed

There are two main ways to test your website loading speed:

1. manual testing

2. automated testing (or scripting)

_Manual_ testing involves using browser developer tools or third–party services to measure how quickly a page loads from various locations worldwide in real time.

A_utomated_ testing is more advanced. It involves running scripts (or “crawlers”) _continuously_ to monitor changes in website performance _over_ _time_. This can help identify potential issues before they become problems for your website visitors.

Let’s take a look at each method a bit more closely…

1) Manual Testing

Browser developer tools are built into most modern browsers like Chrome and Firefox, allowing you to easily see what elements are slowing down your page load times.

Third–party services offer more detailed reports, including specific recommendations on optimizing your site’s performance.

2) Automated Testing

There are several types of scripts available depending on your needs. Common ones include load testing tools like JMeter, which simulates user behaviors by sending requests at pre–defined intervals and monitoring response times.

These automated scripts also crawl through URLs looking for broken links, images, and code errors, which could negatively impact overall site performance.

Because automated testing is far more advanced (and likely not at _all_ why you’re here) we’re going to focus on using manual testing to test your website load speed.

And that involves third-party website speed testing tools… 👇

The best website speed test tools

Website speed test tools analyze a website’s performance and loading time to identify issues slowing down the site or damaging the user experience.

These tools can help detect problems before they become too severe or costly.

Let’s look at some of the best website speed testing tools available, both free and paid options, so that you can choose the right one for your needs and budget.

The best FREE website speed test tools

1) Google PageSpeed Insights

Google PageSpeed Insights is a free online tool that analyzes how your website loads on mobile devices and desktop computers. And it gives you tips on improving performance where necessary.

It also offers an API for developers who wish to integrate it into their applications, making it even more helpful for those who want deeper insights into their websites’ performance without needing to use multiple tools or services simultaneously.

2) GTmetrix (MY personal fav)

GTmetrix is another popular website speed-testing tool that is entirely free to use (unless you want the premium version, which I sometimes do).

It provides detailed reports about page load times and suggestions for optimizing your site’s performance based on best practices from across the industry.

It also has a premium version that offers additional features such as advanced diagnostics, historical trends, and mobile analysis. But honestly, most users should find the free version more than sufficient for their needs.

3) Pingdom

Pingdom is another popular choice among webmasters looking for a free website speed test tool.

It provides detailed reports about page load times and suggestions on optimizing them further if needed. Pingdom is ideal for those looking to accurately assess their site’s performance without spending any money upfront.

They have recently revamped into a more full-fledged performance monitoring software, but you can still use their free testing tool.

4) WebPageTest

WebPageTest is yet another great choice for a free website speed-testing tool.

It allows users to run tests from various locations worldwide, giving them a better understanding of how their sites perform in different environments.

It also offers advanced features such as video capturing, which can be used by developers who need more granular information about why certain pages may be loading slowly.

5) Dareboost

Dareboost allows you to analyze your web pages in real–time, so you can receive immediate feedback when changes are made or new content is added, which might impact page load times negatively.

They also have an extensive library of online resources, so you can learn more about optimizing your site’s performance quickly and easily.

The best PAID website speed test tools

QUICK NOTE: I have never personally used any of these premium website testing and monitoring tools. I have simply curated some of the most popular ones available right now.

1) Uptrends

Uptrends is one of the most comprehensive paid options for monitoring website speeds.

This service actively monitors page loading times and user experience metrics such as bounce and conversion rates, which can give valuable insight into whether changes impact user engagement levels.

2) Site24x7

Site24x7 gives users access to real–time data about page load times from actual visitors browsing your site instead of relying only on synthetic tests like many other services do.

This makes it especially helpful if you want an accurate picture of what end–users are experiencing while using your website in _real life_ scenarios rather than just _theoretical_ ones.

3) New Relic

New Relic Synthetics Performance Monitor gives users access to detailed reports about individual page loads over time to pinpoint areas where improvements could be made quickly and easily.

It also sends notifications whenever changes are detected in any given webpage, so you know exactly when something needs attention immediately.

Example of a website speed test (using GT Metrix)

The benefit of using website speed testing tools

Using one or more website speed test tools is critical if you want your site’s pages loading quickly and efficiently at all times.

With these tools, you’ll have no trouble keeping track of your website’s performance while ensuring that all visitors experience fast loading times. No matter what device they are using or where they are located.