LibreSpeed

Overview

LibreSpeed is a lightweight way to measure connection speed and latency in a browser or on infrastructure you control. It suits technically minded users and operators who want an open-source test they can host and configure; the trade-off is that self-hosting involves server setup rather than simply adopting a managed service.

Its value is broader than a one-off download-speed figure: a separate stability test can show how latency and jitter vary over time, while optional telemetry and result storage let operators decide whether to retain results.

Key features

The core test measures download, upload, ping, and jitter. When several test points are configured, it can pick the one with the lowest ping, which avoids requiring users to choose a server manually. The project says it supports IE11, current Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and mobile browser versions.

The standalone stability test reports current, average, minimum, and maximum latency, jitter, failed-request percentage, and threshold alerts, and can export results as CSV. It can target the local backend, configured test points, or Google, Cloudflare, and Apple. That gives network troubleshooters a more useful view of connection consistency than a single speed result, though its reported measures are focused on latency and request stability.

Telemetry and sharing are optional. The official demo says telemetry may store a test ID, time, results, IP address, ISP, approximate location, user agent, browser locale, and test log. Its privacy policy says collected data is not disclosed to third parties and can be deleted if the test ID or IP address is provided. Those controls make the data practices more explicit, but users who do not want that data collected should leave telemetry off.

Operators can install LibreSpeed on Apache, nginx, or IIS with PHP 5.4 or newer, or use another supported backend. Optional result storage integrates with MariaDB, MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and SQLite. Go and Rust backends are available; the Node.js implementation is partial and not recommended. A Docker image is built weekly with updated ipinfo data and current PHP security patches, and the project recommends using the latest image.

Beyond browser use, the project provides an Android client template, a command-line client, and a .NET client library through NuGet. API access is available; the listed test methods are active and protocol support includes HTTP, HTTPS, and ICMP.

Pricing

LibreSpeed's Free and Open Source plan costs nothing. It is self-hosted, and there are no paid plans listed. That is a strong fit for people who want to run their own test without a subscription, but the price does not remove the work of providing a web server or supported backend. There are no stated seat or usage caps to weigh against a paid tier.

Platforms

LibreSpeed supports Android, Linux, macOS, Windows, web, and self-hosted use. Its browser support spans major desktop and mobile browsers, while the Android template, command-line client, and .NET library offer additional ways to use or integrate it. The broad platform list is useful for mixed environments, but self-hosting still requires suitable server infrastructure.

Who it's for

Choose LibreSpeed if you want a free, open-source speed test that you can host, configure with multiple test points, and use for both transfer measurements and connection stability. It is particularly suited to administrators and technically confident users who value control over backend and result storage choices. It is a weaker fit for someone seeking a turnkey hosted service with no server setup.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Measures download, upload, ping, and jitter, with automatic selection among configured test points by lowest ping.
• Pros: The separate stability test adds latency ranges, jitter, failed-request percentage, threshold alerts, and CSV export.
• Pros: Free and open source, with multiple backend and database options plus optional telemetry and result storage.
• Cons: Installation requires a web server and supported backend, making it less convenient than a ready-to-use hosted test.
• Cons: The Node.js backend is partial and not recommended, so it is not an equally suitable choice for every backend preference.

Alternatives

For a different network-testing focus, consider these options:

• PingPlotter may suit readers who want freemium monitoring with a free tier capped at one connection, no remote collection, and 10-minute monitoring history. Its Professional Edition is $29 a month, billed on the stated monthly term.
• EVE-NG is another freemium, self-hosted option; its free plan allows 7 nodes per instance and 63 nodes per lab, with Admin role only.
• TRex is a free, open-source Linux application to consider when hardware and NIC requirements are acceptable.
• GNS3 is free and open source for users looking for a downloadable network tool.
• iperf3 is free under a three-clause BSD license; ESnet distributes source distributions rather than binary packages.
• Netpicker offers a free Foundation plan with unlimited network devices, a single user, and Professional features for 10 devices.
• Cisco pyATS is a free-of-charge option under the Apache 2.0 license.
• OpenSpeedTest is another free option with web, desktop, and mobile platforms.
• Browse Network Testing Software for more tools in the category.

Verdict

LibreSpeed is a good choice for users who want a no-cost, configurable speed test they can host themselves, especially when connection stability matters as much as headline transfer speed. Its multiple measurement modes and backend choices are compelling; look elsewhere if you need a managed test that avoids server setup.