Overview

The core test measures download and upload speeds, ping, and jitter, covering both transfer rates and basic latency. If several test points are configured, LibreSpeed can automatically select the one with the lowest ping, which is useful when users should not have to choose a server themselves.

LibreSpeed’s separate stability test adds a time-oriented view: it reports current, average, minimum, and maximum latency, jitter, failed-request percentage, and threshold alerts, with CSV export. It can check the local backend, configured test points, or Google, Cloudflare, and Apple. That makes it more useful than a one-off speed result for spotting inconsistent latency or failed requests, though it is not a broad network-monitoring suite.

Key features

Browser testing and server choice

The project supports IE11, current Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and mobile browser versions. Automatic selection among configured points favors the lowest-ping option; operators still need multiple test points in place to benefit from that choice.

Self-hosting and integrations

Installation uses a web server such as Apache, nginx, or IIS, with PHP 5.4 or newer; Go and Rust backend implementations are also available. The Node.js implementation is partial and not recommended. Optional result storage supports MariaDB, MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and SQLite. This flexibility suits operators who want to control deployment and storage, but it asks more of them than a ready-made hosted test.

Beyond the browser, the project provides an Android client template, a command-line client, and a .NET client library distributed through NuGet. Its Docker image is built weekly with updated ipinfo data and the latest PHP security patches, and the project recommends using the latest image.

Pricing

Free and Open Source: 0.00 USD per free. This is a self-hosted plan, with no paid plans listed. It suits individuals and operators willing to provide and maintain their own deployment; the free price does not remove the web-server and backend requirements.

Platforms

LibreSpeed supports web, Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows, as well as self-hosted use. Its stated browser support spans major desktop browsers, IE11, and mobile browser versions. The separate Android template, command-line client, and .NET library provide additional ways to use the project beyond a browser page.

Who it's for

Choose LibreSpeed if you need a free speed test that can be hosted under your control, want download and upload readings alongside ping and jitter, or need the stability test’s latency ranges, failure percentage, alerts, and CSV export. It is less suitable if you want to avoid server administration or need monitoring beyond these connection and stability measures.

Privacy-conscious operators can leave telemetry and results sharing off, since both are optional. On the official demo, telemetry may store a test ID, time, results, IP address, ISP, approximate location, user agent, browser locale, and a test log. The privacy policy says collected data is not disclosed to third parties and can be deleted when the test ID or IP address is provided. Anyone using the demo should weigh that collection against the convenience of a hosted test.

Pros and cons

Pro: Download, upload, ping, and jitter measurements make the basic test more informative than a download-only result.
Pro: The standalone stability test tracks latency variation and failed requests, and supports threshold alerts and CSV export.
Pro: Optional telemetry and result storage let operators choose whether to share or retain test results.
Con: Self-hosting requires a web server and PHP 5.4 or newer, or an alternative backend, so it is not a zero-setup option.
Con: The Node.js backend is partial and not recommended, narrowing the practical backend choices for some deployments.

Alternatives

Network Testing Software is the broader category to browse if LibreSpeed’s focused speed and stability checks are not enough.

PingPlotter is worth considering if you need connection monitoring; its Free plan is limited to one connection, no remote collection, and 10-minute monitoring history, while Professional Edition costs 29.00 USD per month.
EVE-NG may suit readers seeking a network emulation environment: its Freemium plan allows 7 nodes per EVE instance and 63 nodes per lab, with Admin role only.
GNS3 is an open-source option to consider for network simulation rather than connection speed and stability testing.
OpenSpeedTest is another free speed-test option across web, desktop, and mobile platforms.
TRex may fit Linux-based traffic-generation needs; its hardware and NIC requirements matter before choosing it.
iperf3 is a free, three-clause BSD-licensed option for readers comfortable using source distributions, since ESnet does not distribute binary packages.
Netpicker is an alternative for network-device workflows: its Foundation plan is free for life, supports unlimited network devices, and is limited to a single user, with Professional features for 10 devices.
Cisco pyATS is a free Apache 2.0-licensed option for Linux, macOS, and self-hosted use.

Verdict

LibreSpeed is a compelling choice for people who want a free, self-hostable speed test with a distinct stability check and control over telemetry and result storage. Choose it for connection measurements and deployment flexibility; look elsewhere if you need a managed setup or a broader network-monitoring tool.

	LibreSpeed	Shadow
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	Free	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, Web, Windows	Linux
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Deployment	self_hosted	—
Test methods	active	—
Protocol support	HTTP, HTTPS, ICMP	—
API access	Yes	—

LibreSpeed vs Shadow

LibreSpeed

Shadow