When carrying out my Website SEO Audits, I find it imperative to be able to get insights into how key pages on a website perform in terms of site speed and core web vitals.
Why does website speed matter?
Website speed is a crucial factor in the success of any online business or website. A website that loads slowly can frustrate users and lead to a high bounce rate, resulting in lost opportunities for engagement and revenue.
This article from Think with Google cites research showing that 53% of mobile site visitors will leave a page that takes longer than three seconds to load, and that a one-second delay in mobile page load times can impact conversion rates by up to 20%.
Does site speed affect your SEO performance?
With the introduction of Google’s Core Web Vitals update, website speed has become even more important for search engine rankings. Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics that measure the user experience of a website, including loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability. Websites that perform poorly in these metrics may see a negative impact on their search engine rankings, which can result in a significant decrease in traffic and visibility.
How do you check the speed of a website?
There are many tools available to help website owners and developers test the speed performance of their websites. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best free website page speed as well as their features and benefits. By using these tools, you can identify areas for improvement and optimize your website’s speed and user experience for maximum impact.
What Is A Core Web Vitals Test?
A core web vitals test is a valuable tool that allows website owners and developers to assess the performance and user experience of their websites. It measures key metrics such as loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability, providing insights into how well a website performs across different devices and networks. This test is an essential resource for improving website functionality, as it helps identify and address performance issues that may hinder user engagement and satisfaction. With a free core web vitals test, website owners can optimize their sites to provide a seamless and enjoyable browsing experience for their visitors.
Are website speed tests accurate?
Website speed tests can provide a useful indication of a website’s performance, but it’s important to keep in mind that they are not always completely accurate.
There are several factors that can affect the results of a speed test, such as the location of the server running the test, the speed of the user’s internet connection, and the resources available on the server hosting the website. In addition, some tests may use different criteria or weighting factors when evaluating performance, which can lead to variations in results.
Despite these limitations, website speed tests can still be valuable tools for identifying potential performance issues and areas for improvement. By using a variety of different tests and comparing results over time, website owners and developers can gain a more comprehensive understanding of their website’s performance and make informed decisions about optimizations to improve speed and user experience.
It’s important to note that website speed tests should be used in conjunction with other metrics, such as Core Web Vitals, to get a complete picture of website performance. By analyzing multiple metrics and taking a holistic approach to website optimization, website owners and developers can ensure that their websites are performing optimally and providing the best possible user experience.
Personally, when carrying out my SEO audits, I take benchmarks from all the sites in this article in order to demonstrate improvements made across varying benchmarks and scenarios.
Which are the Best Free Website Page Speed Checker & Free Core Web Vitals Test Tools?
Google PageSpeed Insights
The Google Page Speed Checker is a tool developed by Google to help website owners analyze the loading speed and performance of their web pages. It evaluates various factors that affect page speed, such as server response time, browser caching, image optimization, and JavaScript and CSS delivery. By inputting a URL into the Google Page Speed Checker, users can obtain a detailed report that identifies areas for improvement and provides recommendations on how to optimize the page for faster loading times. This tool is widely used by web developers and SEO professionals to enhance website performance, improve user experience, and boost search engine rankings.
One of the best features is the clear and easy-to-understand report it provides. The report includes a summary of the website’s performance, along with detailed suggestions for improvement that are tailored to the specific website being analyzed. These suggestions can range from simple fixes, such as optimizing images or reducing server response time, to more complex optimizations that require changes to website code or configuration.
Another great aspect is that it provides scores out of 100 for each key area, allowing website owners and developers to track progress over time and measure the impact of optimizations. The tool also provides a comparison to other websites in the same industry, providing valuable context for how the website is performing relative to its peers.
Basically – it’s free, easy to use, and provides valuable insights and actionable recommendations that can make a significant impact on website performance and user experience.
Click here to view the test results on Google PageSpeed Insights for organicdigital.co
GTmetrix
My personal favourite GTMetrix analyzes a website’s performance on both desktop and mobile devices and provides a detailed report that includes a variety of metrics, such as page load time, total page size, and the number of requests made to the server.
One of the best features of is the way it breaks down performance metrics into easy-to-understand categories. This makes it easy for website owners and developers to identify specific areas where their website may be underperforming and take action to optimize those areas. If you an unsure on what a particular issue is, they provide links to more in-depth articles explaining the issue and give direction on how to resolve them.
Another great feature of is the level of detail provided in the report. The report includes a waterfall chart that shows the loading time of each individual element on the page, making it easy to identify specific elements that may be slowing down the page. The report also includes suggestions for improvement that are tailored to the specific website being analyzed, making it easy to take action on the recommendations.
Its comprehensive report and easy-to-understand metrics make it a valuable tool for website owners and developers of all skill levels, and its detailed recommendations make it easy to take action on the findings.
There are also paid account options which include features such as:
- Real-time monitoring – monitor your website’s speed and performance in real-time, receiving alerts when performance drops below a certain threshold. This can be useful for identifying performance issues quickly and taking action to resolve them.
- API access – access to GTmetrix’s API, which can be used to integrate website speed testing and monitoring into other tools and workflows.
- Test scheduling – schedule website speed tests to run at regular intervals, making it easy to track performance over time and identify trends.
- Simulated device testing – vthe ability to test website performance on a range of simulated devices, including mobile phones and tablets, allowing you to optimize for different screen sizes and resolutions
- Custom branding – add your own branding to the GTmetrix reports, making it easy to share performance data with clients or stakeholders.
Click here to view the test results on GTMetrix for organicdigital.co
Pingdom
Pingdom allows you to test website speed from different locations around the world, providing valuable insights into how website performance may vary for users in different regions.
A plus point is the clear and easy-to-understand report it provides. The report includes a summary of the website’s performance, along with detailed information about individual elements on the page and how long they take to load. This information can be incredibly useful for identifying specific elements that may be slowing down the page and taking action to optimize them.
Another great feature is the ability to set up alerts for performance issues. With Pingdom, you can set up alerts to notify you when website performance drops below a certain threshold, allowing you to take action quickly to resolve any issues.
Pingdom also provides a variety of other useful features, such as the ability to test website speed from different browsers and the ability to simulate user behaviour on the website. These features can be useful for identifying performance issues that may only occur under certain conditions or for certain user groups.
All in all the comprehensive report, useful features, and ability to monitor website performance in real-time make it a valuable tool for website owners and developers of all skill levels.
Pingdom also offers several paid plans with additional features that can be useful for more advanced users. Here are some of the paid features:
- Real user monitoring – track website performance metrics based on actual user behaviour, providing a more accurate and detailed picture of website performance.
- Transaction monitoring – monitor specific transactions on your website, such as adding a product to a shopping cart or completing a checkout process. This can be useful for identifying performance issues that may only occur during specific actions.
- Advanced reporting – features, such as the ability to create custom reports and dashboards, allowing you to analyse website performance data in more detail.
- Team collaboration – allow multiple users to collaborate on website monitoring and reporting, making it easier to share information and insights across a team.
- Multi-step website testing – up multi-step website tests that simulate user behaviour on your website, providing a more accurate picture of website performance under real-world conditions.
Overall, the paid features of Pingdom can be useful for more advanced users who need more granular control over their website’s performance monitoring and reporting. However, for most website owners and developers, the free version of Pingdom is more than sufficient for identifying performance issues and taking action to improve website speed and user experience.
Click here to view the test results on Pingdom for organicdigital.co
WebPageTest
WebPageTest allows you to test website speed from different browsers and locations around the world, providing valuable insights into how website performance may vary for users in different regions and on different devices.
One of the best features is the detailed report it provides. The report includes a waterfall chart that shows the loading time of each individual element on the page, making it easy to identify specific elements that may be slowing down the page. The report also includes information about DNS lookup time, connection time, and other metrics that can affect website performance.
Another great feature of is the ability to customize the testing parameters. With WebPageTest, you can specify the browser to use, the location to test from, and the device type to test on, allowing you to test website performance under a variety of different conditions.
It also provides a variety of other useful features, such as the ability to test website speed over a slow or throttled connection, and the ability to repeat tests automatically to track performance over time.
Its detailed report, customizable testing parameters, and ability to track performance over time make it a valuable tool for website owners and developers of all skill levels.
WebPageTest is primarily a free tool and does not offer a traditional paid plan. However, it does offer several advanced features that can be unlocked with a sponsorship package. Here are some of the advanced features that are available:
- Private instances – set up a private instance of WebPageTest, which allows you to test website speed and performance in a controlled environment. This can be useful for organizations that require additional security or control over their testing.
- Custom scripting create custom scripts to test website performance in a more detailed and specific manner. This can be useful for testing complex workflows or transactions on a website.
- API access – access the WebPageTest API, allowing you to integrate website speed testing into other tools and workflows.
Click here to view the test results on WebPageTest for organicdigital.co
Other Site Performance Tools
To be perfectly honest, the reason I cite those 4 as the best tools is because they are the only ones I use and having been doing so for year.
There are other tools out there, I just don’t know if they are any good or not, such as:
In Summary
Each tool has its own unique features and benefits. By using a variety of different tools and comparing results over time, website owners and developers can gain a comprehensive understanding of their website’s performance and identify areas for improvement.
With the right tools and optimization strategies in place, website owners and developers can ensure that their websites are performing optimally and providing the best possible user experience.
If you need any further assistance with any of the tools listed, or with resolving any items that are flagged on your website, do not hesitate to get in touch, am always happy to help.
About The Author - Dave Ashworth
I would describe myself as an SEO Expert and a specialist in technical optimisation with a professional approach to making websites better for people and better for search engines.
When I'm not blogging, I deliver website optimisation consultancy and organic SEO solutions by addressing a website's technical issues and identifying opportunities for growth