BandBar
Menu Bar Speed Test
BandBar measures your internet connection from the macOS menu bar. Click the icon, press Start Test, and it reports download speed, upload speed and ping latency in a single pass. Download is one HTTP stream from Cloudflare's public speed test endpoint, upload posts to the same endpoint, and ping is the fastest of three HTTP HEAD round trips. Results stay in memory and are never written to disk.
Features
Download and Upload
Measures throughput in Mbps against Cloudflare's public speed test endpoint, timed from the first byte to the last.
Ping Latency
Sends an HTTP HEAD request to 1.1.1.1, 8.8.8.8 and Cloudflare, then reports the fastest of the three round trips.
Done in Seconds
The whole test finishes in seconds. A progress bar and a running figure show where it is while it works, and Cancel stops it mid-test.
Test History
Your ten most recent results with time, download, upload and ping. Held in memory and cleared when you quit.
Connection Details
Connection type, network interface, local IP address and external IP address, refreshed whenever you ask.
A Window That Stays Put
The popover is the same size in every state, so it never jumps or resizes while a test is running.
Screenshots
How It Works
Click
BandBar sits in the menu bar as a speedometer. Click it to open the popover.
Start Test
Press Start Test. Latency, download and upload run in sequence, and the whole thing is over in seconds.
Compare
The result joins your history so you can see it against earlier runs. Nothing runs until you ask for it again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is BandBar's number different from another speed test?
Method. BandBar times a single HTTP stream, while many tools open several connections in parallel and add the results together, which reads higher on a fast link. Neither figure is wrong, they measure different things. BandBar states its method so you know what you are comparing.
Where do the measurements come from?
Cloudflare's public speed test endpoint for download and upload. For latency, an HTTP HEAD request to 1.1.1.1, 8.8.8.8 and Cloudflare, reporting the fastest round trip.
Does BandBar keep a record of my tests?
Only while it is running. The last ten results sit in memory so you can compare them, and they are gone when you quit. Nothing you measure is written to disk.
Does it test continuously in the background?
No. A test runs only when you press Start Test. The connection details refresh on launch and when you press the refresh button.
What is the external IP address for?
It is shown to you as part of the connection details. It is read from 1.1.1.1/cdn-cgi/trace and is not sent anywhere or stored.
What macOS version is required?
BandBar requires macOS 13.0 (Ventura) or later. It runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel.
How do I quit BandBar?
Click the menu bar icon, then click the X in the top right corner of the popover.
Support & Resources
Support
Setup help, troubleshooting, and answers to common questions about BandBar.
Privacy Policy
Read the full policy on what data BandBar does and doesn't collect.
Contact
Questions, feedback, or press? Reach the Side Channel Studios team.
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