Pagespeed Insights vs WebPageTest

Updated on Oct 17, 2024

Quick Summary

Pagespeed Insights offers quick insights, while WebPageTest provides detailed metrics.
Pagespeed Insights is user-friendly; WebPageTest offers more granular data.
Use Pagespeed Insights for quick fixes and WebPageTest for in-depth analysis.

Two of the most popular web performance measurement tools are PageSpeed Insights and WebPageTest and they dominate the landscape for analyzing and improving site performance.

In this web performance comparison, we dive into the strengths and weaknesses of each tool, exploring their features, usability, and reliability. Here is an overview:

	Price	Mobile	Locations	Customisable	RUM Data	Web Vitals	History
Page Speed Insights	Free	✅	❌	❌	✅	✅	❌
Web Page Test	Free	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅

As you can see Page Speed Insights has less features so is better for quick tests. Web Page Test has more on offer and is better for deeper debugging.

Keep reading to for a more detailed break down!

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What Are Pagespeed Insights and WebPageTest?
Pagespeed Insights Review
WebPageTest Features
Comparing Accuracy and Usability
Performance and Reliability
Which Website Performance Tool Should You Choose?
Pagespeed Insights vs. WebPageTest - The Verdict

What Are Pagespeed Insights and WebPageTest?

Pagespeed Insights and WebPageTest are two widely used tools for analyzing website performance. Both provide valuable insights but cater to different needs and expertise levels. Let's define what each tool does.

Pagespeed Insights
Pagespeed Insights is a free tool by Google that analyzes web page content and offers recommendations to make the page faster. It analyzes both desktop and mobile versions of your website.

WebPageTest
WebPageTest is an open-source tool originally developed by AOL and now maintained by Catchpoint. It allows you to:

Run tests from various global locations
Analyze the time to the first byte (TTFB)
Simulate different browsers or devices

Both tools provide insights into how fast or slow a website is. However, their website speed analysis approaches differ, which we will explore in the following sections.

Pagespeed Insights Review

Google's Pagespeed Insights has become a household name for developers and SEO agencies. It's more than a speed-testing tool—it provides a comprehensive look at your site's web performance and offers actionable recommendations.

Key features include:

Core Web Vitals: Pagespeed Insights uses Core Web Vitals metrics—First Input Delay (FID), Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS), and Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)—to gauge a site's overall health.
Real World Data: Data from the Chrome User Experience Report shows the performance that real users of your site see when they visit.
Mobile and Desktop Insights: One major advantage of Pagespeed Insights is its ability to assess both mobile and desktop versions, giving developers a well-rounded look at performance.
Suggestions for Improvement: After analyzing your page, the tool generates recommendations, such as optimizing images or reducing render-blocking resources.
Integration with Lighthouse: The tool incorporates Lighthouse metrics, which offer deeper insights into how a page performs in real-world conditions.

With its easy-to-read interface and focus on user experience, Pagespeed Insights is ideal for those who want a quick, effective overview of a website's performance.

WebPageTest Features: A Deeper Dive

While Pagespeed Insights is more of a one-stop shop, WebPageTest offers advanced capabilities, making it the tool of choice for developers who want more in-depth performance metrics.

Here are some of the standout features:

Global Testing Locations: One of the main advantages of WebPageTest is the ability to run tests from a variety of locations worldwide, which is essential for websites that target global audiences. This also lets you see how a page looks from multiple countries
Time to First Byte (TTFB): WebPageTest excels in measuring server response time, a critical factor in website speed.
Customizable Test Scenarios: Users can set up test parameters to simulate different browser types, connection speeds, or device settings.

wpt-settings (1).png

Waterfall Charts: The tool generates waterfall charts that visually represent how each element on your page loads over time, which is useful for pinpointing bottlenecks in performance. This is one of the standout benefits as it allows precise debugging of performance issues.

Though WebPageTest has a steeper learning curve, its robust feature set makes it perfect for website speed analysis and optimization.

Comparing Accuracy and Usability

Website speed is critical for user experience and search engine rankings. When comparing Pagespeed Insights vs WebPageTest, one of the most critical factors is their insights' accuracy and usability.

Accuracy
Both tools offer reliable performance data, but WebPageTest allows more detailed insights. For instance, its ability to test from different locations provides a more nuanced view of site performance across various regions.

Usability
Pagespeed Insights is more user-friendly, especially for beginners. It delivers clear, actionable recommendations without overwhelming users. In contrast, WebPageTest offers a wealth of data, but you may need more technical knowledge to interpret it.

If you're looking for a more straightforward tool with easy-to-understand suggestions, Pagespeed Insights is the better choice. For detailed performance testing and advanced features, WebPageTest is the tool to use.

Performance and Reliability: Which Tool Is Best?

When choosing between Pagespeed Insights vs. WebPageTest, understanding their performance and reliability is essential. Both tools offer exceptional insights, but their performance and reliability depend on the user's specific needs.

Pagespeed Insights
Reliable for getting a quick snapshot of how your website performs across mobile and desktop platforms. It's perfect for developers who need actionable suggestions and are focused on Core Web Vitals improvements.

WebPageTest
More robust in terms of testing parameters. It is highly reliable for developers who need to see performance on a granular level. Its tests from multiple global locations and different network conditions make it invaluable for global websites.

Which Website Performance Tool Should You Choose?

So, should you go with Pagespeed Insights or WebPageTest? The choice ultimately depends on your needs.

For agencies or developers focused on user experience and Core Web Vitals, Pagespeed Insights offers a more streamlined experience.
For those who require advanced website performance tools with deep insights into load times, server responses, and global testing, WebPageTest is a superior choice.

Whether you need website speed analysis at a basic level or more comprehensive insights, both tools offer unique strengths. If you're a technical SEO agency or developer working on complex web projects, you may even benefit from using both tools to get a full picture of a site's performance.