Upload speed test

Measure only your upload speed — no download or ping step. Useful for checking video call, live streaming, and cloud backup performance in seconds.

Understanding upload speed

Upload speed measures how fast your device can send data to the internet. It matters whenever you transmit — video calls, live streaming, cloud backups, and even basic web requests. This page tests only upload — no download or ping step.

What is upload speed?

Upload speed is the rate at which data flows from your device to a server, measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Every time you send a message, post a photo, join a video call, or back up to the cloud, you're using upload bandwidth. ISPs often de-emphasize this number, but it determines what you can contribute online, not just consume.

What is a good upload speed?

For most people, 5–10 Mbps upload is enough — covering HD video calls, sending large emails, and basic cloud sync. 15–25 Mbps is comfortable for 1080p live streaming and frequent large uploads. Content creators, remote workers doing 4K video calls, or anyone uploading hundreds of GB of footage want 50+ Mbps, typically on fiber.

Upload speed for live streaming

Live streaming on Twitch, YouTube, or Kick depends almost entirely on upload speed. 720p needs about 4 Mbps, 1080p needs 6 Mbps, 1080p 60fps wants 8 Mbps, and 4K live needs 25+ Mbps. The standard advice is to keep your bitrate under 75% of your available upload, leaving headroom for everything else on your network.

Why is upload slower than download?

Most cable, DSL, and 5G plans give you much faster download than upload. A 1 Gbps download plan often comes with just 20–50 Mbps upload. This is fine for browsing but limits what you can do as a creator. Fiber connections typically offer symmetric upload and download speeds — useful if you live-stream, host servers, or back up large files often.

Wi-Fi vs wired upload speed

Wi-Fi affects upload the same way it affects download — distance, interference, and band (2.4 vs 5 GHz) all reduce throughput. Some Wi-Fi setups also prioritize download traffic by default, making the upload gap larger. Run this test once on Wi-Fi and once on Ethernet to see the real ceiling of your line.

Test your download speed
Check how fast you can pull data from the internet — useful for streaming and downloads.
Open download test
What is a good internet speed?
Recommended upload speeds for video calls, live streaming, cloud backups, and remote work.
Read the guide

When upload speed matters most

Frequently asked questions about upload speed

Upload speed is how quickly your device sends data to the internet, measured in Mbps. It controls what you can send — video calls, live streams, cloud backups, and large file shares.
5 Mbps is the rough minimum for most users — fine for HD video calls and casual cloud sync. 10–25 Mbps is comfortable for live streamers and frequent uploaders. 50+ Mbps (usually fiber) is best for creators who upload long 4K videos or run multiple uploads at once.
Yes, but it depends on quality. 720p live streaming needs about 4 Mbps, 1080p needs 6 Mbps, and 1080p 60fps needs 8 Mbps. Streamers usually run their bitrate below 75% of their available upload to leave headroom and avoid dropped frames.
Good for one person, marginal for live streaming. 11 Mbps handles 720p and 1080p streaming, video calls, and most uploads. It struggles with 1080p 60fps live streaming combined with other activity on the network.
Solid for most users. 20 Mbps comfortably handles 1080p 60fps streaming, simultaneous cloud backup, and large file uploads. It's only limiting if you stream in 4K or run multiple parallel uploads.
Decent — 15 Mbps is enough for 1080p live streaming, video calls, and routine cloud uploads. It's not enough for 4K live streaming or very heavy cloud workflows.
Most home internet plans are asymmetric — designed for users who consume more than they create. ISPs reserve more bandwidth for download because that's what most users notice. Symmetric speeds typically come only with fiber.
This test sends data to multiple Cloudflare R2 storage endpoints in parallel using HTTP PUT requests. Speed is computed from total bytes sent over time. Everything happens in your browser — no app or plugin needed.
Yes — most gaming traffic is small (1–3 Mbps upload). Where it matters is live streaming your gameplay on top: add 4–8 Mbps for 1080p streaming, plus a bit for voice chat. Cloud gaming also relies on upload for sending your inputs.
It usually does. Wi-Fi adds latency and reduces effective throughput, especially for sustained uploads. A 100 Mbps upload line might only deliver 40–70 Mbps on Wi-Fi. For accurate measurement and reliable streaming, use Ethernet.