Ping, also known as latency, is a networking command used to measure how long it takes for a packet of data to travel from a device to a server and back to the original device.

Paying attention to the ping rate, which is measured in milliseconds (ms), is important for real-time internet applications like gaming or video calls. A high ping rate corresponds to a laggy connection and a low ping rate means you have a smooth, responsive gaming experience.

Why it’s important to have a low ping rate:

• Lag-free online games: There are no hit marker delays, rubber-banding, or stuttering with your characters and positions in an online game e.g. first-person shooters, battle royale games, and MMORPGs
• Synchronized video calls: You have uninterrupted FaceTime calls, VoIP calls, and Zoom meetings when working from home.
• Accurate booking: You can select and book the good-but-affordable seats for a flight or concert as soon as the booking window opens.

Ping is often used interchangeably with latency and the two terms can be used to describe the same process. But there are slight differences:

• Latency is a broader term that refers to the delay or time it takes for something to communicate between a sender and receiver.
• Ping refers to the specific command that measures the time it takes to send a packet of data to a server and back.

A good ping rate or latency is 1–50ms, although a ping rate below 20ms is the best. This range best supports real-time activities that need a responsive connection.

Yes, 20ms latency is good. Getting a ping rate as low as 20ms means you have a smooth connection when you play games, livestream on Twitch, or take video conference calls.

Below is a latency chart that shows how different ranges of latency affect your experience:

Your choice of internet plan impacts your ping rate, with fiber providers typically offering the lowest ping rates you can get. After analyzing results from over 1.5 million broadband internet speed tests, we found that the lowest average ping rates were between 18–29ms.

Surprisingly, some of the slower plans offered by cable providers like Xfinity and Cox fare very well when it comes to latency. According to the providers’ broadband facts labels, Xfinity’s cheapest plan, Connect, gets a typical latency of 20ms, whereas Cox’s 100Mbps plan gets a typical latency of 14ms.

Our ping test measures your latency (ping) as well as download speed and upload speed. Here’s how the test works and how to analyze the results.

To test the roundtrip latency (or ping) for your internet connection, we run a ping test that measures how long it takes for a packet to travel from your computer to a nearby server and back. This test runs several times and then we calculate an average latency rate in milliseconds (ms).

A good rule of thumb for latency is the lower the ping rate, the smoother and more responsive your internet connection is for real-time applications. The higher the ping rate/latency, the slower and laggier your internet connection is.

To test your internet download speed, our speed test connects to a server close to your location and uses the server to download a file. The test then measures the speed it takes for the file to be downloaded in megabits per second (Mbps).

You don’t need the fastest download speeds for a reliable experience, but most regular internet activities do involve download speed. This includes streaming Netflix shows, scrolling through social media, and browsing the web.

To test your internet upload speed, our speed test connects to a server close to your location and uses your device to upload a file to that server. The test then measures how quickly that file is uploaded to the server in megabits per second (Mbps).

A fast internet upload speed means you can upload videos quickly, live-stream your games, or experience smooth video calls.

Even if you sign up for a plan with low latency, multiple factors can affect your latency test results:

Your router makes a huge impact on your home Wi-Fi connection. You need to regularly update your router’s firmware to have the best possible ping rate.

You can get the lowest ping rates on your plan if you connect your device directly to the router via an Ethernet cable. A Wi-Fi connection is prone to slowdowns and interference compared to a wired connection, similar to how a wireless charger is slower at charging your phone than a wired charger.

All the phones, laptops, TVs, tablets, watches, and even smart home devices throughout your home compete for bandwidth on your home network. While you aren’t going to lose a game because of a smart light bulb, your network gets busier as you connect more Wi-Fi devices, which can result in a higher ping.

Background applications consume your device’s central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU) resources, which can result in slower speeds and higher ping.

There are a few things you can do to fix low latency and get the most out of your internet plan:

1. Update your router firmware. You can also move your gaming set up or workspace closer to the router to get better performance.
2. Use a wired Ethernet cable. Wi-Fi works for browsing the net and streaming, real-time online activities are best over a wired connection.
3. Minimize the number of devices on your network. We call these “Wi-Fi leeches” because they compete for your bandwidth.
4. Get fiber or cable internet. The best fiber internet providers typically offer the lowest latency rates, followed by top-performing cable providers.
5. Look for a different internet provider. If your provider doesn’t offer lower latency rates, you may be able to find a better one in your area.