iPerf2
iPerf2: A free, self-hosted toolkit for detailed TCP and UDP network testing. Ranked #20 of 33 in Network Testing Software by our editors (7.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free general-purpose throughput testing.
At a glance
- Editor score7.2 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree general-purpose throughput testing
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- DeploymentSelf_hosted
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Measures throughput, latency, jitter, packet loss, and responsiveness
- Supports TCP, UDP, IPv4, IPv6, multicast, and UDP L4S
- Includes bidirectional, full-duplex, parallel-stream, and CSV testing
Where it doesn't
- No scheduling for recurring tests
- No built-in visualization
- No integrations or broader monitoring workflows
Our verdict on iPerf2
iPerf2 is open-source network performance measurement software for engineers and administrators. It runs locally as client and server instances on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, generating and receiving TCP or UDP traffic to measure network behavior. The published feature set covers throughput, latency, jitter, packet loss, one-way delay, round-trip time, responsiveness, and socket-level metrics. It supports Wi-Fi environments through high-speed links, with unidirectional, bidirectional, and full-duplex testing options.
The main strength is breadth within active network testing. iPerf2 supports parallel traffic streams, multicast and source-specific multicast, IPv4 and IPv6, UDP L4S, and CSV reporting. Bounceback responsiveness testing adds another way to examine network behavior. These capabilities make it suitable for engineers who need direct measurements across different protocols and traffic patterns rather than a narrow throughput check. Its open-source model and self-hosted deployment also fit teams that want to run tests within their own environments.
The trade-off is that iPerf2 focuses on test generation and measurement rather than an end-to-end monitoring workflow. It does not provide scheduling, visualization, integrations, or broader monitoring workflows, so teams seeking recurring test automation, dashboards, or connected operational tooling should look elsewhere. The project documents a professional feature set enabled at compile time, while the source is free to read and build. Choose iPerf2 when free, general-purpose TCP and UDP testing is the priority; choose an alternative when scheduled testing, visual analysis, integrations, or wider monitoring workflows matter more.
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iPerf2 pricing
iPerf2 fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Deployment | Self_hosted |
| Test methods | Active |
| Protocol support | TCP, UDP, UDP L4S, IPv4, IPv6, multicast |
| Distributed agents | Not verified |
| Scheduled tests | Not verified |
| API access | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | iperf2.sourceforge.io |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to iPerf2
- Cisco ThousandEyesBroad enterprise coverage for testing networks, applications, traffic, routes, DNS, and topology.9.4
- NetBeezA wide-ranging platform for continuous, scheduled, and Wi-Fi network monitoring.9.2
- Forward EnterpriseA strong choice for modeling network behavior, testing changes, and tracing dependencies.9.0
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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