NetSpeedMonitor 2.5.4.0 for Windows

NetSpeedMonitor 2.5.4.0 is a free Windows tool by Florian Gilles that shows how fast data is moving through your network connection, right in the taskbar. Two small numbers, one for upload and one for download, tell you at a glance whether something is using your bandwidth. You can download NetSpeedMonitor for Windows via the developer's website.

Overview

Windows has detailed network statistics in Task Manager, but you have to open it to see them. NetSpeedMonitor keeps the key numbers visible all the time. That turns out to be surprisingly useful. When a video call starts stuttering, you can see immediately whether a background download or a cloud sync is hogging the connection. When a large file transfer seems stuck, the numbers show whether data is still flowing. Gamers watch it for unexpected traffic, and people on metered mobile connections use it to notice apps that download updates without asking. It is a monitoring tool only: it does not limit or block traffic, and it does not show which program is responsible. For that, a per-application tool is needed.

Installation

1. Download the installer through the developer's site, floriangilles.com.
2. Install it and enable the toolbar in the taskbar if it does not appear automatically.
3. Select the network adapter you want to watch; a PC with Wi-Fi, cable and virtual adapters may list several.
4. Adjust the display units and the font to taste.

The download is about 3.48 MB according to catalogue data.

Compatibility tips

Taskbar tools depend on how Windows lets programs add elements to the taskbar, and that has changed over the years. If the toolbar does not show up on your version of Windows, check the developer's site for notes on your system, try running the installer in compatibility mode, or use one of the alternatives below. If the numbers stay at zero, you are probably watching the wrong adapter, for example a virtual one created by a VPN.

Reading the numbers

Network speeds are usually shown in bits or bytes per second, and eight bits make one byte. Your internet plan is advertised in megabits, while file downloads in a browser show megabytes, so the figures differ by a factor of eight. Pick the unit you find easier to compare with your plan.

Is it safe?

NetSpeedMonitor only reads traffic counters from Windows; it does not inspect the content of your connections. Download it from the developer's site rather than from aggregators that wrap small freeware tools in their own installers.

Pros and cons

• Pro: live upload and download speed always visible.
• Pro: helps spot hidden background downloads.
• Pro: free and light.
• Con: does not show which program uses the bandwidth.
• Con: taskbar integration may not work on every Windows version.

Alternatives

To see and limit traffic per program, our listings include NetLimiter. Speedtest by Ookla measures the maximum speed of your connection, WinMTR helps find where a connection slows down, and Wireshark shows traffic in full technical detail.