ISPs love to make grand claims about the speed of their Internet services to entice you sign up. But what you often receive falls far short of what was once advertised, what you need is an Internet speed test to find out by how much.

Oftentimes it’s very difficult to get your hands on ‘real’ hard data to justify your feeling of a less than speedy Internet connection. But, thankfully, some helpful websites and apps provide a means for you to display just how sluggish your connection speed actually is.

1. SpeedSmart Speed Test

SpeedSmart is a great little app that offers a handy HTML5 option for you to test your Internet speed. It doesn’t, therefore rely on Flash.

Once you connect to the site it will determine your IP location instantly. You can then have it analyze your Internet latency, download and upload speeds, as you’d expect.

2. Speed Check & WiFi Finder

Speed Check is a great option for your mobile phone whilst out and about. Brought to you from SpeedSpot, this lovingly designed application will give you all the basic information you really need.

It’ll show you your upload and download speeds, of course, but also let you save it for later reference.

3. Internet Health Test

Internet Health Test is a great tool for finding out your Internet speed, and it's very simple to use. Once on the site, a pop-up will ask you if you’d like to begin.

Once authorized, Internet Health Test will start its five-step process and scrutinize your Internet connection. It does take a little longer than others but it makes five different tests and it's ad-free.

4. Xfinity Speed Test

Xfinity Speed Test is a great little tool to help you check your Internet speed. This is another browser-based one but it’ll let you quickly find out your download and upload speeds.

SEE ALSO: BROWSE THE INTERNET AT SPEEDS OVER 200 GBPS USING LIGHT

But a word of warning: It is a product produced by the Internet service provider Comcast.

5. Fast.com

Owned by none other than Netflix, Fast.com does exactly what it says on the tin. It doesn’t mess around either, loads quickly and begins analyzing your Internet speed before you know it.

6. Verizon Speed Test

Verizon Speed Test is another very simple, yet effective Internet speed test site. You won’t be bothered by ads and you’ll just need to hit the play button to get the info you need.

7. Network Analyzer App

Here’s a great little app for checking your Internet speed on your smart device. Network Analyzer App will let you test your iPhone’s Internet connection.

It will also scan VPNs, Wake-on-LAN for corporate use and a lot more.

8. Ookla Speedtest

Ookla Speedtest is one of the more popular Internet speed tests on the net. This app is available as both an app for your smart device and your desktop.

Just click the “Go!” button and you’re off.

9. DSLReports

DSLReports provides a more in-depth speed test than others on this list. Of course, you’ll get the usual upload and download speeds, but it will ask you other information, like your connection type, to give you solid and actionable information when it's complete.

10. Cox Internet Speed Test

Cox Internet Speed Test is not just for Cox users, as you might expect. This speed checker comes with the usual stuff like upload and download speeds but it can be slower than others on this list.

The speed test page is also a little content-rich that some might find off-putting.

11. SpeedOf.Me

SpeedOf.Me is another web-based Internet speed checker that dispenses with Flash and works with HTML5. Despite this is not the best looking of sites.

Despite this, it makes up for its subpar aesthetics with a glut of useful information on your Internet connection.

12. AT&T High-Speed Internet Speed Test

AT&T offer their very own Internet speed test. Despite products from its competitors like Xfinity, AT&T’s app overloads the user with information crammed around the usual speedometer tool.

You should note that this one relies on DSLReports for a lot of its content.

13. Bandwidth Place

Bandwidth Place is a well-designed and easy-to-use Internet speed test website. It offers a lovely uncluttered page that has been around for around 15 years now.

It is also another example of a site that is HTML5 based.

14. TestMy.net

TestMy.net is a simple, yet effective, Internet speed test site. You can independently test upload and download speeds and benchmark them to your city’s average.

Getting started is very self-explanatory and it provides a progress bar for the test, which is always appreciated.

15. Which?

Which? is a UK based Internet speed test site that, like others on the list, provides independent scrutiny of your Internet speed.

It's very easy to use and gives you plenty of useful information to make sense of it.

16. Meteor

And last but by no means least, Meteor is a very popular Internet speed test app for Android. It has overwhelmingly positive reviews.

The app will let you check the quality and speed of uploads and downloads but will also check if video streaming speeds are acceptable or not.

So, there you go, 16 great Internet speed test apps for your desktop and phone. Have we missed any great ones?