Is Speedtest by Ookla free?

Yes, with ads on the free tier. A one-time $0.99 in-app purchase removes ads permanently.

Does PingKit's speed test cost anything?

No. PingKit's Speed Test is free with no ads, as part of PingKit's full set of 19 network tools.

Which speed test is more accurate, PingKit or Speedtest?

Neither is more 'accurate' in an absolute sense - they use different methodologies. Speedtest offers a huge global server network with manual server selection. PingKit uses 6 parallel connections against nearby servers, closer to how a connection performs with real multi-device usage. Different numbers reflect different measurement conditions, not one app being wrong.

Should I use Speedtest or PingKit?

If speed testing is the only thing you need, Speedtest's brand trust, server network, and cheap $0.99 ad removal make it a solid, simple choice. If you want a speed test result to lead somewhere - checking whether a slow result is your WiFi, your ISP, or bufferbloat - PingKit bundles the speed test with the diagnostic tools to answer that, for free.

PingKit vs Speedtest by Ookla

Speedtest is the most recognized name in this category, and deservedly so. This isn't really an apples-to-apples fight - it's one excellent specialist tool against a broader free kit that happens to include a speed test.

Speedtest by Ookla is, by most measures, the default speed test app: roughly 4.5 stars across 28,000+ ratings, a huge global network of test servers, and a straightforward $0.99 one-time purchase to remove ads. We cover Speedtest more broadly, alongside Fast.com, in our best speed test apps roundup - this page is a narrower, deeper look at Speedtest specifically against PingKit.

Feature-by-Feature

Capability	PingKit	Speedtest by Ookla
Download / upload speed test	Yes, free	Yes, free
Ping / jitter in the speed test	Yes, free	Yes, free (3-stage ping)
Global test-server network	Nearby servers, 6 parallel connections	Very large, manual server choice
Historical results / maps	Not offered	Yes (Speedtest Maps)
Device discovery / security scan	Yes, free	Not offered
Port scanner / SSL inspector / DNS / Whois	Yes, free (19 tools)	Not offered
Ping / traceroute / MTR for diagnosis	Yes, free	Not offered
24/7 monitoring + alerts	Free Mac Agent + Guardian $2.99/mo	Not offered
Ads	None	Free tier only
Ad-free price	Always free	$0.99 one-time

Where Speedtest Wins

Scale and focus. Ookla operates one of the largest speed-test server networks in the world, lets you pick a specific server manually, tracks results over time with Speedtest Maps, and its $0.99 ad-removal is cheap enough that price barely factors into the decision. If speed testing is genuinely the only thing you need from an app, Speedtest is a well-built, trustworthy default - our full breakdown of its methodology is in the speed test apps roundup.

Where PingKit Wins

What happens after the number. PingKit's Speed Test uses 6 parallel connections against nearby servers - our deep dive on that design choice explains why - and it's free with no ads by default, no $0.99 required. More importantly, it's one of 19 tools: if a result looks slow, you can immediately run ping, traceroute, or check for bufferbloat in the same app, without switching to something else to figure out why. Speedtest tells you a number; PingKit helps you understand it.

The "why is it slow" problem: A speed test number alone rarely tells you what's wrong. Low download but fine ping usually points to your ISP or WiFi band; high ping with fine download usually points to routing or a busy network. Speedtest stops at the number - PingKit's other tools are built to answer the next question.

Which Should You Choose?

You only need a speed test, want maximum server choice, and don't mind $0.99 for ad-free: Speedtest.
You want a free speed test with no ads, plus the tools to diagnose a bad result: PingKit.
You want 24/7 monitoring that alerts you to outages and slowdowns automatically: PingKit Guardian + the free Mac app.

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