{"id":41348,"date":"2022-04-21T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-21T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/?post_type=resource&#038;p=41348"},"modified":"2024-01-23T14:24:07","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T20:24:07","slug":"website-speed-test","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/resources\/website-speed-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Website Speed Test Tools For Your Site"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>You may have heard that site loading speeds over two seconds will likely result in lost traffic. This is obviously a serious issue. However, just finding out how long your site takes to load can be challenging enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, there are plenty of free tools available that can help you test your WordPress site\u2019s current performance. Many provide clear numbers that will tell you what (if anything) needs to be addressed. What\u2019s more, understanding those numbers is often just as easy as using the tool in question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this post, we\u2019ll look at a number of solutions for gauging your site\u2019s speeds, and also talk a little about how to understand the numbers you\u2019re seeing. However, let\u2019s first discuss what a  site speed test is and how it can benefit you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is a Website Speed Test?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For the uninitiated, let\u2019s clear up the basics of speed testing. As a website owner, you likely want to capture as much traffic as possible. One of the best ways to do this is to keep your WordPress website performance top-notch. As we mentioned earlier, a slow site will severely restrict your ability to win new traffic, and can even negatively affect your current audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A speed test will give you an overview of how fast your website loads. Usually, these tools have bots access your site (although there are various methods), and they report a time and other key metrics at the end of the short test. The lower the numbers are, the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How a Website Speed Test Can Help Your Site<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As we\u2019ve emphasized, the overall speed of your site (i.e. how quickly each page loads), has a significant impact on how much traffic you\u2019re able to capture. However, there\u2019s more to optimizing your site\u2019s performance than just understanding its speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, testing tools will often provide a breakdown of how your page loads, meaning you can hone in on specific elements that need to be improved. We\u2019ll talk more about these indicators later, but <a href=\"https:\/\/torquemag.io\/2015\/10\/wordpress-seo-image-optimization\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">image optimization<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/torquemag.io\/2016\/04\/enable-gzip-compression-wordpress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">code minification<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/resources\/wordpress-browser-caching\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">caching<\/a>, redirects, and much more all contribute to your overall page load speed times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Speed Test vs Load Test vs Stress Test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before we discuss specific website speed testing tool options, it\u2019s worth clarifying the difference between several terms you\u2019ll likely come across when you test website speed<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Speed test<\/strong>. This is often used as a catch-all term for testing, but it actually refers specifically to measuring how quickly your pages load, and nothing more.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Load test<\/strong>. On the other hand, load tests measure how your site performs when it has to load more resources and deal with heightened traffic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Stress test<\/strong>. Finally, this kind of test combines the first two. It begins by loading your site with minimal traffic and resources, and increases the load over a set period of time, giving you a real-world look at how your site fares under pressure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As you can see, while these terms are often used interchangeably, they actually mean very different things. With that in mind, let\u2019s focusing on exploring the best website speed test tool options available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Best Website Speed Tests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#speed-test-1\">Google PageSpeed Insights<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#speed-test-2\">Pingdom<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#speed-test-3\">GTmetrix<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#speed-test-4\">WebPagetest<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#speed-test-6\">KeyCDN<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#speed-test-7\">New Relic<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#speed-test-8\">WP Engine Speed Tool<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>While we\u2019ll introduce a number of testing tools in this section, they\u2019re not presented in any particular order. In fact, you may find that some offer metrics unique to that particular tool.<br><a name=\"speed-test-1\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As such, we encourage you to use multiple speed testing tools to help you gauge the true site performance. All of the following options will be excellent resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/speed\/pagespeed\/insights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google PageSpeed Insights<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1037\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource1.png\" alt=\"Google PageSpeed Insights\" class=\"wp-image-41350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource1.png 1600w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource1-300x194.png 300w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource1-768x498.png 768w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource1-1024x664.png 1024w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource1-1500x972.png 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Google is clearly king when it comes to online search, which means that heeding its advice when dealing with your page speeds is a smart idea. Fortunately, <a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/speed\/pagespeed\/insights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google PageSpeed Insights<\/a> is a standout and comprehensive tool, for both mobile and desktop sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, you can check out metrics such as page load distributions, which are color-coded based on their speeds. There\u2019s also a <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/resources\/optimize-site-high-score-google-pagespeed-insights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">slew of recommendations<\/a> on how to improve your WordPress site\u2019s performance. We\u2019d say that, since this is a Google-developed tool, you should definitely pay attention to (and act upon) those recommendations when possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pros<\/strong>: This could be considered an \u2018official\u2019 guide to better search rankings, as far as speed is concerned.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cons<\/strong>: There\u2019s no server location selection, which makes it hard to ascertain how your site loads globally.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a name=\"speed-test-2\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Google PageSpeed Insights is \u2013 much like many of the other tools on this list \u2013 completely free. That means there\u2019s no reason not to try it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tools.pingdom.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pingdom<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource2.png\" alt=\"Pingdom\" class=\"wp-image-41355\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource2.png 1600w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource2-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource2-768x480.png 768w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource2-1024x640.png 1024w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource2-1500x938.png 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/tools.pingdom.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pingdom\u2019s speed testing tool<\/a> is another stellar offering that is just as useful as Google\u2019s. In fact, its scores are powered by PageSpeed Insights. However, Pingdom takes the functionality a step further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, this tool lets you select a server from various locations around the world, and provides arguably the most comprehensive set of metrics available in this kind of solution. You\u2019ll also get a general set of rated insights, framed as suggestions (such as <em>Leverage browser caching<\/em> and <em>Minimize redirects<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pros<\/strong>: This tool is arguably more comprehensive than Google PageSpeed Insights, especially if you want to select a server location.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cons<\/strong>: The metrics presented could be overwhelming for those with less technical knowledge.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a name=\"speed-test-3\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pingdom is free to use, and we\u2019d argue that it can be more useful than Google\u2019s default solution. It should certainly be on your list of go-to testing tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gtmetrix.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GTmetrix<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1045\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource3.png\" alt=\"gtmetrix\" class=\"wp-image-41356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource3.png 1600w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource3-300x196.png 300w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource3-768x502.png 768w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource3-1024x669.png 1024w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource3-1500x980.png 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Whenever PageSpeed Insights and Pingdom are mentioned, <a href=\"https:\/\/gtmetrix.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GTmetrix<\/a> isn\u2019t far behind. This is because it\u2019s an excellent page speed test that\u2019s powered by both Google and <a href=\"http:\/\/yslow.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YSlow<\/a> (which is based on Yahoo\u2019s recommendations for high-performing websites).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll find many of the same metrics here as you\u2019ll get from other tools, such as graded recommendations and global at-a-glance scores for your site. However, you\u2019ll get to see how your site fares for both sets of metrics individually, which is great for collecting very detailed information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pros<\/strong>: The results pages are easy to read, and having multiple scores for Google and YSlow gives you comprehensive insight into your page speeds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cons<\/strong>: Some features found in other tools for free are locked behind a paywall\u2014such as the option to use multiple server locations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a name=\"speed-test-4\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GTmetrix is largely free, but there are <a href=\"https:\/\/gtmetrix.com\/pro\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">several premium options<\/a> that provide a more robust feature set if required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webpagetest.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WebPagetest<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"866\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource4.png\" alt=\"WebPagetest\" class=\"wp-image-41357\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource4.png 1600w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource4-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource4-768x416.png 768w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource4-1024x554.png 1024w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource4-1500x812.png 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that we\u2019ve looked at the \u2018big three\u2019, we\u2019re going to introduce a few lesser-known site speed testing tools. However, that doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re of a lower quality. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.webpagetest.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WebPagetest<\/a> is a prime example, especially as it can carry out multiple \u201cruns\u201d automatically, and report back on each one individually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You could argue that this tool offers practically every metric you\u2019d ever require. It also breaks them down using a waterfall display, which is handy for seeing exactly how your site loads. There are also a number of pie charts to provide a visual representation of your results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pros<\/strong>: You\u2019ll get access to a wealth of metrics, each presented in an easy-to-understand format.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cons<\/strong>: Users looking for something more simple may struggle with the amount of data provided. Plus, the site is graphically not as pleasant to look at as similar solutions.<a name=\"speed-test-5\"><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>WebPagetest is free to use, which is astounding given its feature set. If you\u2019re looking for an incredibly detailed server selection feature (including a choice of browsers), you\u2019ll love this tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tools.keycdn.com\/speed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">KeyCDN<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource6.png\" alt=\"key cdn website speed test\" class=\"wp-image-41359\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource6.png 1600w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource6-300x192.png 300w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource6-768x492.png 768w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource6-1024x655.png 1024w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource6-1500x960.png 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/tools.keycdn.com\/speed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">KeyCDN<\/a> is better known for being a leading Content Delivery Network (hence the \u201cCDN\u201d part of its name). However, given the focus on delivery speed, it\u2019s understandable that it would also offer a performance testing tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The KeyCDN speed test tool is very similar to Monitis in appearance\u2014it\u2019s essentially a huge waterfall layout, albeit slightly better to look at. However, here you\u2019ll just get an overview of your site\u2019s loading times. Compared to tools like Pingdom, this is useful for getting a broad look at performance, but it will likely need to be supplemented with other solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pros<\/strong>: The results page is pleasing to look at, and there are a lot of server choices. In addition, you can choose to make your results private for free.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cons<\/strong>: You\u2019re only going to find loading speeds presented here, although other performance-related tools are available elsewhere on the site.<a name=\"speed-test-7\"><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Given that it\u2019s a complementary tool, it\u2019s no surprise that KeyCDN is free to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newrelic.com\/products\/synthetics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New Relic<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"644\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource7.png\" alt=\"New relic website speed test\" class=\"wp-image-41395\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource7.png 1600w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource7-300x121.png 300w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource7-768x309.png 768w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource7-1024x412.png 1024w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource7-1500x604.png 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Our penultimate speed testing tool is <a href=\"https:\/\/newrelic.com\/products\/synthetics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New Relic<\/a>. This is the only exclusively premium solution on our list, and it offers very comprehensive options for monitoring your site\u2014including regular, constant testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your results can be found within a dedicated dashboard, and are displayed using a variety of charts. It can be a little difficult to find exactly what you\u2019re looking for at first. However, this tool can be of immense value for those willing to take the time to become comfortable with the interface and workflow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pros<\/strong>: This tool provides arguably the most comprehensive options for speed testing, meaning that it\u2019s ideal if you need your site\u2019s performance to be top-notch.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cons<\/strong>: None of New Relic\u2019s offerings are free, meaning that the tool isn\u2019t as accessible.<a name=\"speed-test-8\"><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>New Relic may not be suitable for everyone, so it&#8217;s best to contact the team to discuss <a href=\"https:\/\/newrelic.com\/products\/synthetics\/pricing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pricing<\/a>. If you\u2019re a business with a fixation on website speed, New Relic could be ideal for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/speed-tool\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WP Engine Speed Tool<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"824\" src=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource8.png\" alt=\"Wp engine speed tool\" class=\"wp-image-41396\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource8.png 1600w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource8-300x155.png 300w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource8-768x396.png 768w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource8-1024x527.png 1024w, https:\/\/wpengine.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/website-speed-test-resource8-1500x773.png 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, we\u2019d be remiss if we didn\u2019t mention our <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/speed-tool\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">own Speed Test tool<\/a>. To use this one, you\u2019ll need to fill out a few details about you and your site. Then, we\u2019ll do our thing! When your results are ready, you\u2019ll get an email with a permanent link to an overview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll see both a page <em>Load Time<\/em> (which is useful for determining how users experience your site when it\u2019s loading), and a <em>Render Time<\/em>. The latter provides a more accurate representation of how quickly your site loads. You\u2019ll also get recommendations for improving your site\u2019s performance further down the page, with the raw data on hand if you need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pros<\/strong>: You\u2019ll get a wealth of handy metrics not found elsewhere, such as information on the \u2018cacheability\u2019 of your site.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cons<\/strong>: The speed test takes a little longer to conduct than other solutions, but we think this is a price worth paying!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Our speed testing tool is free, and because the results are permanently stored, it\u2019s perfect for sharing with others on your team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Understanding Your Website Speed Test Results<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While the tools listed above help you figure out whether or not your site is running slowly, deciding how to fix it is another matter. Here are a few of the metrics you\u2019ll uncover using speed testing tools, along with some <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/resources\/improve-wordpress-site-speed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">further reading<\/a> on how to improve them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/resources\/remove-render-blocking-javascript-css-wordpress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Render-blocking JavaScript and CSS<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/resources\/how-to-improve-a-wordpress-sites-performance-with-minification\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Resource minification<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/support\/troubleshooting-high-time-first-byte-ttfb\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Time to First Byte (TTFB)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>HTTP Requests<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, there are plenty more elements of your site that can be tweaked. However, we think that these are the most important to look at first, given that they could impact your site\u2019s performance the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Improve Your Site Speed With WP Engine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As we\u2019ve discussed, testing your site\u2019s speed is about more than simple curiosity. In fact, using a solution such as <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/speed-tool\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WP Engine\u2019s Speed Tool<\/a> can give you the data you need to carve out an edge over your competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want truly excellent performance, our <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wordpress-hosting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WordPress hosting<\/a> platform is a fast and feature-rich option. For more information, check out its <a href=\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/small-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">features and plans<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You may have heard that site loading speeds over two seconds will likely result in lost traffic. This is obviously a serious issue. However, just finding out how long your site takes to load can be challenging enough. Fortunately, there are plenty of free tools available that can help you test your WordPress site\u2019s current<span class=\"tile__ellipses\">&hellip;<\/span><span class=\"tile__ellipses--animated\"><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41397,"template":"","resource-topic":[913,912,910,915],"resource-role":[895,896,906,897,903,899],"resource-type":[916],"class_list":["post-41348","resource","type-resource","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Best Website Speed Tests For Your Site<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When if comes to site speed, fractions of a second make a difference. 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