No. 11 of 39 ·Network Diagnostic Software

iperf3

Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API

Freedom report

Two barsScore 6.4

Free tierA free tier is on its own pricing page
Open codeNo open-source code on record
Runs widely2 of 6 device platforms
DocumentedPlans, terms and facts published

iperf3 is ranked #11 of 39 in network diagnostic software on Freedom251. It runs on API, Linux, macOS, Self-hosted. There is a free plan.

iperf3 plans and pricing

All plans

iperf3 Free Three-clause BSD license · source distributions; ESnet does not distribute binary packages software.es.net · 2 Oct 2026

Compared on network diagnostic software

Free plan: Yes
Deployment: desktop
Path visualization: No
DNS diagnostics: No
Packet-loss analysis: Yes
Command-line interface: Yes
Supported platforms: Ubuntu Linux, FreeBSD, macOS

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The record

Purpose: iperf3 measures achievable bandwidth on IP networks and reports throughput, loss, and other test results.
Protocols: It measures TCP, UDP, or SCTP throughput and includes both client and server functionality.
Test options: Users can tune test parameters related to timing, protocols, and buffers.
Output: Client or server output can be emitted as JSON, including line-delimited JSON for real-time parsing.
Library: iperf3 includes a library version of its functionality that can be used in other programs.
License: iperf3 is released under a three-clause BSD license.
Windows support: iperf3 is not officially supported on Windows, and the FAQ recommends iperf2 for Windows users having trouble.
Distribution: ESnet does not distribute binary packages; the project lists third-party packages and provides source distributions.
Integrity: The project recommends verifying SHA256 checksums for source distributions before use.
Security: The project directs reports of potential security issues to [email protected].
Integrations: iperf3 was developed initially as the bandwidth tester for the perfSONAR measurement suite, which the project identifies as its primary user base.
Support: The project provides a developer mailing list and GitHub issue tracker for questions and bug reports.
Compatibility limit: iperf3 is not backwards compatible with the original iperf.
Latest release: The project news page lists iperf-3.22 as released on 2026-09-29, with security and minor bug fixes.
Price from: Free

Where it ranks on Freedom251

Best Network Diagnostic Software in 2026#11 of 39
Best Network Testing Software in 2026#8 of 31

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Sources

software.es.net/iperf/· checked 2 Oct 2026
software.es.net/iperf/invoking.html· checked 2 Oct 2026
software.es.net/iperf/faq.html· checked 2 Oct 2026
software.es.net/iperf/obtaining.html· checked 2 Oct 2026
software.es.net/iperf/dev.html· checked 2 Oct 2026
software.es.net/iperf/news.html· checked 2 Oct 2026