Why is my internet slow?
Find the bottleneck before changing your plan. A slow video call, a weak Wi-Fi room and a slow wired connection point to different fixes.
Start here: three checks
- Test the wired connection. If you can, connect a capable computer to the router by Ethernet, pause backups and downloads, and run the speed test.
- Test your usual Wi-Fi spot. Use the same device in the room where the problem happens. A large drop from the wired result points toward Wi-Fi or your device.
- Repeat when the problem returns. Note the time, device, connection type, subscribed download and upload tier, and whether a VPN was on. One test is a clue, not a diagnosis.
Wi-Fi is slower than Ethernet
Move closer to the router and test again with the same device. If the result improves, signal strength, interference or router placement is likely involved. Put the router in an open, central spot, away from thick walls and cabinets. Check whether the device is connected to a suitable band: 5 GHz can offer more capacity at shorter range, while 2.4 GHz can reach farther but may face more interference. Actual performance depends on your home, router and device.
If only one device is slow, compare it with another device in the same spot. The first device may have an older Wi-Fi radio, a background upload, power-saving mode or a VPN. A faster plan cannot overcome a weak radio link. If all devices are slow in one room, investigate coverage before replacing the internet plan.
Ethernet is slow too
Check the subscribed tier on your bill or account portal, including upload. A 100 Mbps Ethernet port, a damaged cable or an older adapter can limit a faster plan. Try a different Ethernet cable or port when available. Pause cloud backups, game downloads and other heavy traffic. Reboot the modem or router once, then retest after the connection stabilizes. Avoid factory-resetting equipment without your provider's setup instructions.
Compare several results from the same device and connection method over more than one period. A browser test measures your path to this site's hosting endpoint at that moment. A second reputable test may use a different server, route, transfer method and duration; disagreement does not automatically prove either test is broken. Read why speed tests can disagree before treating one result as a plan-speed verdict.
Download looks fine, but calls or games stutter
Look at upload, ping and jitter alongside download. Upload affects sending your camera feed, files and backups. Ping measures the round-trip response time to the test route; jitter describes variation in that timing. An upload saturating your connection can make a call unstable even when the download number looks healthy. Pause backups or large file uploads, then repeat the call and the test. For games, check whether the problem occurs on all games and devices or only with one remote server; a local speed test cannot measure every game's route.
The site's quality score is calculated from measured download, upload, ping and jitter on your device. It is a starting point for investigation, not a trained AI diagnosis or a promise that an app will perform well.
Slow only in the evening
Keep a short record: date, time, wired or Wi-Fi, subscribed tier and both download and upload. Repeat at a quieter time with the same device and settings. Household devices may be using the connection at busy hours, and congestion can occur elsewhere on the route. Your observations can narrow the possibilities, but a browser measurement alone cannot identify the exact network segment at fault. If the pattern persists over a wired connection, share the dated readings with your provider.
When to contact your provider
Contact support when repeatable wired tests remain well below your subscribed tier after you have checked the device, cable and background traffic, or when the modem reports a persistent connection fault. Provide the exact plan tier, equipment model, dates and measured results. Ask what speed the provider expects at the modem or optical terminal, whether an outage or line issue is known, and which next diagnostic step they can perform. Save the case number and follow-up date.
If you are comparing service at a Canadian address, verify the exact address and unit with the provider. The National Broadband Map ↗ is a starting point; it does not guarantee service at a specific home. The CRTC's 50 Mbps download / 10 Mbps upload objective ↗ is an availability goal with an unlimited data option, not a guarantee that an individual browser test must always read 50/10.
Choose your next step
Method and sources
This guide explains how to compare your own repeatable tests. It does not claim that any provider is fastest, publish unsourced city averages or locate a fault inside a provider's network. The CRTC describes the national access objective, while Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's broadband map describes reported availability. For a plan dispute, consult your provider's current terms and technical support.