Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Charles Proxy VS Speedtest.net

Compare Charles Proxy VS Speedtest.net and see what are their differences

Charles Proxy logo Charles Proxy

HTTP proxy / HTTP monitor / Reverse Proxy

Speedtest.net logo Speedtest.net

Test your Internet connection bandwidth to locations around the world with this interactive broadband speed test from Ookla
  • Charles Proxy Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-20
  • Speedtest.net Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-12

Charles Proxy features and specs

  • Comprehensive HTTP/HTTPS Debugging
    Charles Proxy offers robust capabilities to inspect HTTP and HTTPS traffic, making it easier for developers to debug and optimize network requests.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The tool has an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, which makes it accessible for both novice and experienced users.
  • Support for Various Platforms
    Charles Proxy is available on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, enhancing its accessibility to a wide range of users.
  • Throttling Feature
    It allows users to simulate different internet speeds, latency, and bandwidth conditions, which is useful for testing applications under various network scenarios.
  • SSL Proxying
    Charles can decrypt SSL traffic, which is crucial for developers to inspect secure web traffic in development and testing phases.
  • Session Recording and Exporting
    It allows users to record network sessions and export them to share or analyze later, facilitating team collaboration and troubleshooting.

Possible disadvantages of Charles Proxy

  • Cost
    Charles Proxy is a paid tool. While it offers a trial version, a license must be purchased for continued use, which could be a limitation for some users or small teams with restricted budgets.
  • Steep Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    Although the interface is user-friendly, some advanced functionalities have a steep learning curve, especially for users who are not familiar with network debugging.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running Charles Proxy can be resource-intensive on your system, potentially slowing down performance, especially when monitoring large amounts of traffic.
  • Manual Configuration
    Users need to manually configure their devices or browsers to route through Charles Proxy, which can be cumbersome and time-consuming.
  • Limited Automation Capabilities
    Charles Proxy has limited support for automation compared to other modern debugging tools, which may affect its suitability for automated testing workflows.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There may be compatibility issues with certain applications or devices, particularly those with strict security measures against proxying, which can impede testing efforts.

Speedtest.net features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Speedtest.net offers a straightforward, visually appealing interface that makes it easy for users of all technical skill levels to measure their internet speed quickly.
  • Global Server Network
    The platform has a vast network of test servers around the world, ensuring accurate results by connecting to the closest server to minimize latency and other external factors.
  • Detailed Results
    Provides comprehensive details including download, upload speeds, and ping, giving users a full picture of their internet performance.
  • Mobile App Availability
    Speedtest.net offers mobile applications for both iOS and Android, allowing users to test their internet speed on various devices.
  • Graphical Data Representation
    The service includes visual representations of speed test data over time, aiding users in understanding their internet performance history.
  • Comparative Data
    Users can compare their results with average speeds for their ISP, city, or country, providing context for their performance.

Possible disadvantages of Speedtest.net

  • Advertisements
    The free version of Speedtest.net includes ads, which can be distracting and potentially slow down the webpage.
  • Limited Free Features
    Advanced features, such as detailed analysis and tracking, are only available in the premium version.
  • Potential Bias Toward ISPs
    Some critics argue that Speedtest.net may show favorable results for certain ISPs due to partnerships and server locations.
  • Data Privacy
    As a third-party service, there are concerns about how user data is collected, stored, and potentially shared with advertisers or partners.
  • Single-Purpose
    Speedtest.net focuses purely on speed testing and doesn't offer broader network diagnostics tools, limiting its utility for more in-depth troubleshooting.
  • Requires Strong Internet for Accurate Results
    In cases of very poor connectivity, the results may not be accurate or the test might fail to complete, leaving users without valuable insights.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Charles Proxy and Speedtest.net)
Developer Tools
10 10%
90% 90
Speed Test
0 0%
100% 100
Proxy
100 100%
0% 0
Security
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Charles Proxy and Speedtest.net

Charles Proxy Reviews

Top 10 HTTP Client and Web Debugging Proxy Tools (2023)
Charles Proxy is another tool that has a good popularity. It is a web proxy i.e., HTTP proxy or HTTP monitor that runs on your computer. Compared to Paw which works on only macOS, Charles proxy if configured or run correctly is agreeable with all OS, web browsers, any smart devices, personal computers, and internet applications.
12 HTTP Client and Web Debugging Proxy Tools
As the name says, Charles proxy is an HTTP and reverse proxy. It works by routing local traffic through it.
Source: geekflare.com
Comparing Charles Proxy, Fiddler, Wireshark, and Requestly
Although thousands of developers around the globe use Wireshark and Charles Proxy, they fail to occupy the top side in the design aspect. Wireshark’s interface is robust and detailed but can be intimidating for beginners. While Charles Proxy has a more approachable interface compared to Wireshark, it might seem cluttered to some users. Fiddler’s UI is information-rich and...
Source: dev.to

Speedtest.net Reviews

We have no reviews of Speedtest.net yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Speedtest.net seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2937 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Charles Proxy mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Charles Proxy yet. Tracking of Charles Proxy recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Speedtest.net mentions (2937)

  • Frustrated due to low speeds. Usually 300mbps in the day.
    For starters, disconnect all wireless devices (or just your wireless router if it’s separate from your modem). Hardwire your modem to a computer and use Ookla Speedtest instead of Spectrum’s. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Is this good speed?
    Websites like speedtest.net, fast.com and etc do provide measurement in megabits, and even with that, speedtest.net provides it between you and your ISP(mostly) only. So if you want to download something from lets say, YouTube, the speed will be slightly different because now you're connecting to Google's server, not your ISP's server. This is because speedtest.net has partnership with ISPs so that speedtest.net... Source: over 1 year ago
  • Help!!! FPS AND downloading games speeds.
    If fast.com and speedtest.net are fast, then it's not the computer or your internet. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Still trouble shooting
    Hi there. I definitely understand the frustration with slow download speeds. Are you able to run a speed test on speedtest.net to see what results you are getting on that computer? Are you having slow speeds on all devices or just this computer particularly? ^David. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Monitor Internet speed / stability over time
    What about the speedtest.net cli version in combination with a little script? Source: over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Charles Proxy and Speedtest.net, you can also consider the following products

Fiddler - Fiddler is a debugging program for websites.

Fast.com - Quickly test your internet speed with this fast-loading speed test powered by Netflix.

Proxyman.io - Proxyman is a high-performance macOS app, which enables developers to view HTTP/HTTPS requests from apps and domains.

Testmy.net - Accurately test your Internet connection speed with this powerful broadband speed test. Improve your bandwidth speed with the truth.

HTTP Toolkit - Beautiful, cross-platform & open-source tools to debug, test & build with HTTP(S). One-click setup for browsers, servers, Android, CLI tools, scripts and more.

SpeedOf.Me - SpeedOf.Me is an HTML5 Internet speed test. No Flash or Java needed!