How To Test Mac Internet Speed In Terminal (macOS Monterey)

Network Speed Test in Terminal

networkQuality Tool For Mac

This new tool allows you to measure your computer’s Internet connectivity quality. When used, it provides a real time test of the MacBook’s data transport layer metrics.

To get the available options open Terminal (Launchpad -> Terminal), in macOS Monterey, and type the following command. Press return key:

networkQuality -h

You should get the following reply:

USAGE: networkQuality [-C ] [-c] [-h] [-I ] [-s] [-v]
-C: override Configuration URL
-c: Produce computer-readable output
-h: Show help (this message)
-I: Bind test to interface (e.g., en0, pdp_ip0,…)
-s: Run tests sequentially instead of parallel upload/download
-v: Verbose output

How To Test Mac Internet Speed In Terminal

To perform a live test of your network bandwidth run the following command in Terminal:

networkQuality -v

You should get an execution that looks like this:

==== SUMMARY ====
Upload capacity: 87.967 Mbps
Download capacity: 49.617 Mbps
Upload flows: 20
Download flows: 12
Responsiveness: Medium (669 RPM)
Base RTT: 31
Start: 20.11.2021, 12:56:39 PM
End: 20.11.2021, 12:56:53 PM
OS Version: Version 12.0.1 (Build 21A559)

Where:

• and Download capacity shows your network’s Tx/Rx bandwidth.
• and Download flows represents the number of test packets that have been used during the test to determine the network’s responsiveness.
• Responsiveness is measured in RPM (Roundtrips Per Minute). It represents the number of transactions that the network can perform in one minute in normal working conditions.

  Fact: Depending on your network’s score the responsiveness can be labeled as Low, Medium or High. A higher number of RPM, means a better result.

Sequential Mac Internet Speed In Terminal

The above test replicates normal working conditions when your MacBook performs both downloads and uploads in the same time.

If you want to test the network bandwidth in an ideal case scenario, you can use the sequential command:

networkQuality -s

My results look like this:

==== SUMMARY ====
Upload capacity: 87.722 Mbps
Download capacity: 82.323 Mbps
Upload flows: 16
Download flows: 16
Upload Responsiveness: Medium (960 RPM)
Download Responsiveness: High (1635 RPM)

Fact: As expected the values are better in this scenario.

MacBook Internet Speed Test by Ookla

For comparison, I used the speed test tool available at Speedtest.net!

Download: 88.52 Mbps
Upload: 89.54 Mbps
Ping: 8 ms

This is done is also done sequential, in turns, which means that the download speed is test first, followed by the upload bandwidth. The results have been the similar with the sequential network bandwidth test run in Terminal!

Does Private Relay Influence MacBook Internet Speed?

Let’s perform one more set of tests, this time after disabling Private Relay in System Preferences -> Apple ID -> iCloud -> Private Relay (Options -> Turn Off)

1. Network Bandwidth Test in Terminal (Sequential)

Upload capacity: 87.712 Mbps
Download capacity: 84.628 Mbps
Upload flows: 16
Download flows: 20
Upload Responsiveness: Medium (877 RPM)
Download Responsiveness: High (1735 RPM)

2. Internet Speed Test with Ookla (Sequential)

Download: 91.50 Mbps
Upload: 93.57 Mbps
Ping: 7 ms

Conclusion: Yes, Private Relay does seem to slow down Internet on Mac, iPhone and iPad, but the decrease is not significant.

What do you think about the new macOS Monterey network bandwidth speed test tool? Do you have any questions or suggestions? Use the comments section to share your feedback.

Related: You might be also interested in:
– how to share Mac screen during FaceTime calls
– Low Power Mode shortcut for MacBook menu bar.

Credits: This article was inspired by this Reddit topic.