Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

speedtest-cli VS packetbeat

Compare speedtest-cli VS packetbeat and see what are their differences

speedtest-cli logo speedtest-cli

Test your download speed using SpeedTest on the command-line

packetbeat logo packetbeat

Packetbeat is an Open Source Application Monitoring and Packet Tracing (Packet Sniffer) system.
  • speedtest-cli Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-01
Not present

speedtest-cli features and specs

  • Open Source
    Speedtest-cli is open-source, meaning the source code is freely available for anyone to inspect, modify, and enhance.
  • Command Line Interface
    Allows users to run internet speed tests from the command line, which can be useful for automation, scripting, and use on headless servers.
  • Platform Independent
    Runs on multiple systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it versatile for use across different environments.
  • Integration Capabilities
    Can be easily integrated with other applications and monitoring systems for automated performance tracking and reporting.
  • No Ads
    Unlike web-based speed test services, speedtest-cli does not display any advertisements, offering a cleaner user experience.

Possible disadvantages of speedtest-cli

  • Requires Terminal Knowledge
    Users need to be familiar with the command line interface, which might be a barrier for those who are accustomed to graphical user interfaces.
  • No Graphical Output
    Lacks a visual representation of the speed test results, which can be a disadvantage for users who prefer graphical data.
  • Limited Server Selection
    Automated server selection might not always choose the best server for testing, potentially affecting the accuracy of results.
  • Dependencies
    Speedtest-cli relies on Python and the 'pip' package manager, which may require additional setup steps for some users.
  • Feature Limitations
    Not all features of the web-based Speedtest service (like detailed historical data) are available in the CLI version.

packetbeat features and specs

  • Real-Time Monitoring
    Packetbeat provides real-time monitoring of network traffic, allowing users to analyze protocols and detect bottlenecks, latency issues, and other network problems as they occur.
  • Integration with Elastic Stack
    As part of the Elastic Stack, Packetbeat integrates seamlessly with Elasticsearch, Kibana, and Logstash, enabling users to visualize and analyze network data alongside other system metrics and logs.
  • Protocol Analysis
    It supports the analysis of various protocols such as HTTP, DNS, MySQL, and more, which helps in understanding network interactions at the application level.
  • Open Source
    Packetbeat is open-source, which means it's free to use and can be modified to meet specific needs, with a supportive community contributing to its development and support.

Possible disadvantages of packetbeat

  • Resource Intensive
    The real-time packet capturing and analysis can be resource-intensive, potentially affecting system performance on high-traffic networks if not configured appropriately.
  • Complex Configuration
    Setting up and configuring Packetbeat can be complex, especially for users not familiar with network monitoring and the Elastic Stack.
  • Limited to Supported Protocols
    While Packetbeat supports many protocols, it is limited to those specifically supported. Custom or less-common protocols may not be monitored effectively.
  • Network Overhead
    Capturing and sending data continuously can add network overhead, particularly in environments with limited bandwidth or where the monitoring infrastructure is not optimally configured.

Analysis of speedtest-cli

Overall verdict

  • Speedtest-cli is a reliable and effective tool for quickly assessing internet speed from the command line. It is well-regarded in the tech community for personal use, troubleshooting, and integration into network monitoring solutions.

Why this product is good

  • Speedtest-cli is a popular command-line tool that allows users to measure Internet bandwidth performance by using the Speedtest.net infrastructure. It is favored for its simplicity, ease of use, and ability to function on systems without a graphical user interface. It supports automated testing through scripts, making it suitable for batch processing and integration into monitoring systems.

Recommended for

  • System administrators who need a tool to monitor bandwidth performance across different machines.
  • Developers who require automation of speed tests in scripts.
  • Users who prefer command-line interfaces instead of graphical user interfaces.
  • Individuals seeking a lightweight and straightforward way to test internet speed without additional software installations.

speedtest-cli videos

Testing Internet Bandwidth From The Terminal Using Speedtest-cli

More videos:

  • Review - Test internet bandwidth using speedtest-cli

packetbeat videos

Using Kibana and Packetbeat to map DNS queries

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to speedtest-cli and packetbeat)
Developer Tools
89 89%
11% 11
Monitoring Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Speed Test
100 100%
0% 0
Internet
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using speedtest-cli and packetbeat. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, speedtest-cli seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 13 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.

speedtest-cli mentions (13)

  • CLI Tools every Developer should know
    Or, you can follow the installation instructions on the official GitHub repository: SpeedTest-CLI Installation Guide. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • Routing table confusion, or did Kirkland move to Kansas?
    That's a community cli client https://github.com/sivel/speedtest-cli rather than the official cli client https://www.speedtest.net/apps/cli. Source: about 3 years ago
  • running script via cron does not provide full output
    If you read the docs for Speedtest-CLI you will see that the program timeouts after 10 seconds. Try using this for default timeout of 1 minute and also redirect errors to the same file. Speedtest-cli --timeout 60 >> /bin/speedtestoutput.txt 2>&1. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Press 'Enter' to Run a SpeedTest (Update v2.5.4) - Self-Hosted SpeedTest - Docker
    Already exists https://github.com/sivel/speedtest-cli/, mature, stable, packaged in major distributions. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Can I accept license agreements for my end-users?
    I have an open-source software, which can show some stats about your PC/Server. One of those stats is internet speed. I have been using speedtest-cli for now, since it is open-source and runs without having to accept any license agreements. Source: about 4 years ago
View more

packetbeat mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing speedtest-cli and packetbeat, you can also consider the following products

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

Beats - Beats is the platform for single-purpose data shippers that is installed as lightweight agents and send data to machines to Logstash or Elasticsearch.

LibreSpeed - Self-hosted Speedtest for HTML5. Easy setup, examples, configurable, mobile friendly.

Riemann - Container Monitoring

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

Clerk - Clerk.io, the artificial intelligence for e-commerce that knows your customers interests.