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iPerf2

iperf2.sourceforge.io

Free plan Open source WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidSelf-hosted
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Spec score 8.8 #1 of 33 in Network Testing Software

What it is

iPerf2 measures network traffic performance, including throughput, latency, link capacity, and responsiveness. Testing uses a client to send traffic to a server. It can generate TCP and UDP traffic in one-way, bidirectional, full-duplex, and simultaneous multi-stream configurations. Measurements include one-way delay, round-trip time, jitter, packet loss, and throughput. It supports IPv4, IPv6, and multicast, including source-specific multicast joins, and reports can include enhanced metrics or use CSV format. The project manual describes an Android client with live meters for throughput, latency, and congestion signals. The manual also describes permit-key HMAC authentication using a timestamped HMAC-SHA256 value, with replay limited by a configurable time window. Its Professional feature set includes server access gating and remotely enabled server-side latency histograms. Measurements happen at socket-level reads and writes, so lower-level protocol-header overhead is excluded. iPerf2 and iPerf3 are separate implementations and do not interoperate. It runs on Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows, and can be self-hosted. Both listed editions are free.

Spec sheet

What it does
Iperf 2 generates and receives TCP or UDP traffic between client and server instances to measure network throughput, latency, jitter, packet loss and related metrics.Read 14 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Purpose
iPerf2 measures network traffic performance, including throughput, latency, link capacity, and responsiveness.Read 7 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Platforms
The project lists portable builds for Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, embedded systems, and set-top boxes.Read 7 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Support
The project provides ticket and discussion pages on SourceForge.Read 7 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Android app
The project manual describes an Android client with live meters for throughput, latency, and congestion signals.Read 7 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Bounceback testing
The bounceback mode measures request/reply responsiveness and responses per second.Read 14 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Company association
Umber Networks identifies Bob McMahon as its founder and says he created and maintains iperf2; the company lists Saratoga, California.Read 14 Oct 2026 · umbernetworks.com
Current release
The project page identifies version 2.2.2 as the current release dated September 29, 2026.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Documentation depth
The manual includes installation, configure flags, general/server/client options, examples, diagnostics, troubleshooting notes and an Android appendix.Read 14 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Download formats
SourceForge provides source archives, Windows executables, Android APKs and SHA-256 checksums for the 2.2.2 release.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Homebrew packaging
Homebrew distributes iperf 2.2.1 with BSD-3-Clause metadata and binary bottles for macOS Intel, Apple Silicon and Linux ARM64 or x86_64.Read 14 Oct 2026 · formulae.brew.sh
Installation
Source builds use GNU Autotools with configure, make and make install; packaged builds are commonly named iperf.Read 14 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Integration limits
iPerf2 and iPerf3 are independent implementations and do not interoperate.Read 7 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Interoperability limit
Iperf 2 and iperf3 are separate implementations and cannot interoperate during tests.Read 14 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Jitter and loss
UDP tests report jitter and total or lost packets, with enhanced reporting options.Read 14 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
L4S and ECN
The tool supports UDP L4S testing, ECN marking statistics and near-congestion measurements.Read 14 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Latency metrics
It reports round-trip time, one-way delay, packet latency and latency histograms.Read 14 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Licence
The core iperf2 source is distributed under the BSD 3-Clause licence, with some ancillary files using other open-source licences.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sources.debian.org
Limit: Android usability
Google Play reviewers complain about a weak interface, difficult command entry and failures when changing options without restarting.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Limit: command line
Softpedia says the lack of a standard graphical interface makes the program more suitable for experienced users.Read 14 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
Limit: iOS interface
Apple App Store reviews describe a cryptic interface aimed at experienced users and request easier parameter entry.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Limit: paid app workflow
Reviews of the Banana Studio app complain that users must type options manually and ask for a command builder or saved presets.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Limit: two-endpoint setup
Softpedia notes that testing requires both a client and a server, adding setup work.Read 14 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
Maker identity
The SourceForge project is maintained under the rjmcmahon account and was registered on February 6, 2014.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Measurements
Supported measurements include one-way delay, round-trip time, jitter, packet loss, and throughput.Read 7 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Multicast
It supports multicast and source-specific multicast traffic over IPv4 and IPv6.Read 14 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Network support
It supports multicast, including source-specific multicast joins, and IPv4 and IPv6.Read 7 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Notable limitation
The manual says its metrics are measured at socket-level reads and writes and do not include lower-level protocol-header overhead.Read 7 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Output formats
Iperf 2 provides human-readable output and basic CSV output but does not provide JSON output.Read 14 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Paid third-party app
The Banana Studio Android app bundles iperf2 and iperf3 and is listed at $1.99.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Parallel streams
Its multithreaded design supports parallel tests and scaling to thousands of streams.Read 14 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Praise: Android compatibility
Google Play reviewers report that the Android client works with existing iperf2 clients and servers and can run full-duplex tests.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Praise: configurable testing
Softpedia highlights configurable ports, intervals, buffers, multiple streams, multicast and bidirectional or full-duplex testing.Read 14 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
Praise: high-capacity links
A SourceForge reviewer said it worked well for checking path bandwidth on high-capacity links.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Praise: multicast
A SourceForge reviewer called it a must-have tool for multicast testing.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Professional features
The professional feature set includes server access gating and remotely enabled server-side latency histograms; the manual says its source is freely available to inspect and build.Read 7 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Protocols
It can test TCP and UDP traffic, including unidirectional, bidirectional, full-duplex, and simultaneous multi-stream traffic.Read 7 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Python extensibility
The comparison documentation lists a Python asyncio framework for flows.Read 14 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Rating on Apple App Store
3.5 out of 5 from 6 reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Rating on Google Play
3.8 out of 5 from 43 reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Rating on Softpedia
4.0 out of 5 from 1 editorial reviewRead 14 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
Rating on SourceForge
5.0 out of 5 from 4 reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Reported issues
The SourceForge discussion forum contains user reports involving Ubuntu 24.04 problems, QNX porting requests, UDP slowdowns and segmentation faults; these are individual reports rather than confirmed systemic defects.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Reporting
Reports can include enhanced metrics and can be written in CSV format.Read 7 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Security feature
The 2.2.2 notes add optional timestamped HMAC-SHA256 permit-key authentication while retaining a legacy plaintext path for compatibility.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Security option
The manual describes permit-key HMAC authentication using a timestamped HMAC-SHA256 value, with replay bounded by a configurable time window.Read 7 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Self-hosting
A test runs with one locally controlled server process and one client process, so deployments can be self-hosted.Read 14 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Supported systems
Official project material lists Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, embedded systems and set-top boxes.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
TCP and UDP
Iperf 2 supports TCP and UDP traffic, including bidirectional and full-duplex modes.Read 14 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Test setup
A test requires a server to receive traffic and a client to generate and send traffic.Read 7 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Throughput testing
The project supports network throughput testing, including high-capacity links.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Traffic controls
Available controls include rate limiting, bursts, simulated send delay, port ranges and congestion-control selection.Read 14 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io

Plans and prices

Community edition Free TCP and UDP testing · throughput and latency metrics · multicast and IPv4/IPv6 support Read 7 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Iperf 2 open-source edition Free Requires separate client and server instances · command-line operation · socket-level measurements exclude protocol-header overhead Read 14 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io
Professional edition Free Compile-time feature set · permit-key access gating · server-side latency histograms · UDP L4S support Read 7 Oct 2026 · iperf2.sourceforge.io

Every iPerf2 plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Tests TCP and UDP traffic in multiple configurations
  • Measures delay, jitter, packet loss, and throughput
  • Supports IPv4, IPv6, and multicast
  • Reports can use CSV format

Limits

  • Does not interoperate with iPerf3
  • Socket-level metrics exclude protocol-header overhead

Who it suits

iPerf2 suits people who need active TCP or UDP network measurements across supported platforms, including teams that can set up a client and server. Its self-hosted option and CSV reporting may suit users who want to run and retain their own test reports.

Verdict

iPerf2 covers a broad set of active network measurements and traffic patterns, with both listed editions free. Plan for a server-and-client setup and note that its measurements exclude lower-level protocol-header overhead.

Where Specifiction places it

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