PageSpeed Insights is Google's free tool for testing how fast a web page loads. Paste in any public URL and it tests the page on mobile and desktop, then shows what's slowing it down. It's for founders who want a quick, trusted read on their site's speed, or want to check a page after making changes. It's free with no plan to choose.
What it can do for you
Each test gives you two views. Lab data comes from a test Google runs there and then, with diagnostics pointing at what to fix. Field data shows how real visitors experienced the page, from Google's Chrome UX Report, and covers Core Web Vitals, the speed measures Google reports on. If a page doesn't have enough real-visitor data, it shows figures for your whole site instead.
Why it stands out
It's Google's own view of your speed, using the same Core Web Vitals measures shown in Search Console, and it's free.
The honest downsides
- Not monitoring. It tests one page when you ask, so it won't alert you if your site gets slower.
- Public pages only. Pages behind a login can't be tested.
- Field data needs traffic. New or quiet sites may show lab results only.
Skip it if
- you need alerts when speed drops, rather than one-off tests
- the pages you care about sit behind a login
Alternatives
- Better pick for ongoing trends: Google Search Console. Its free Core Web Vitals report tracks real-visitor speed across your whole site over time.
- We don't list a free tool that monitors page speed continuously. The ones we found offer trials only.
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