iperf3 vs OpenSpeedTest
iperf3
software.es.netOpenSpeedTest
openspeedtest.comSide by side
| Figure | iperf3 | OpenSpeedTest |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Network Testing Software | 8.1 (#10) | 7.9 (#14) |
| Founded | 2010 | 2011 |
| Integrations | iperf3 was developed initially as the bandwidth tester for the perfSONAR measurement suite, which the project identifies as its primary user base. | The maker documents an embeddable iframe widget and Docker deployment; it does not list named third-party integrations on the pages opened. |
| Security | The project directs reports of potential security issues to [email protected]. | The maker describes the self-hosted Docker application as static HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files and provides instructions for enabling Let's Encrypt SSL. |
| Support | The project provides a developer mailing list and GitHub issue tracker for questions and bug reports. | The site provides a contact form and links to FAQs for support inquiries. |
Plans
In their own words
iperf3
iperf3 is a free command-line network measurement tool that reports achievable IP-network bandwidth, throughput, loss, and related results. It includes client and server functions for TCP, UDP, and SCTP tests, with adjustable timing, protocol, and buffer settings. Client or server output can be emitted as JSON, including line-delimited JSON for real-time parsing, and a library version can be embedded in other programs. The project uses a three-clause BSD license and lists Ubuntu Linux, FreeBSD, and macOS as its officially supported platforms. Windows is not officially supported; its FAQ points users with Windows problems toward iperf2. ESnet supplies source distributions rather than binary packages and recommends checking SHA256 checksums. iperf3 began as a perfSONAR bandwidth tester, its primary user base. It is not backwards compatible with the original iperf. Version 3.22 was released September 29, 2026.
OpenSpeedTest
OpenSpeedTest is a free, browser-based HTML5 tool for measuring internet and network performance. It measures sustained download and upload speeds, latency, jitter, and connection stability; the maker says its adaptive test supports connections from 1 Mbps to 10 Gbps and beyond. The browser test runs without an app, plugin, Flash, or Java installation. A responsive widget can be embedded in a website or app. URL parameters can launch a test automatically, run continuous stress tests, choose download, upload, or ping measurements, and set ping samples or parallel connections. For self-hosting, Docker images and source code are available for home, office, cloud, and enterprise environments. The setup guide calls for a public IPv4 or IPv6 address, a domain that resolves to the server, and an email address for Let's Encrypt setup. OpenSpeedTest supports HTTP/1.1, HTTP/2, and HTTP/3. The maker says Firefox is not recommended for stress tests longer than 10 minutes or speeds above 2.5 Gbps. The tool has been available since 2011 and is described for home networks, small offices, enterprise deployments, and infrastructure testing.