Got questions? We’ve got answers. Here are the most common things people ask about SpeedTest Pro.
Getting Started
What does SpeedTest Pro actually do?
SpeedTest Pro is a WordPress plugin that checks how well your website performs. It runs five types of tests:
- SSL Security – Is your site’s encryption properly configured?
- Page Speed – How fast do your pages load?
- Server Performance – How powerful is your hosting?
- Latency – How quickly does your server respond globally?
- Uptime Monitoring – Is your site staying online?
Think of it as a complete health check for your WordPress site.
Is SpeedTest Pro free?
Yes, the core plugin is free. Some features require free API keys from third-party services:
- Google PageSpeed API (free tier is generous)
- UptimeRobot (free for up to 50 monitors)
What are the minimum requirements?
- WordPress 6.2 or higher
- PHP 7.4 or higher
- Works with any properly configured hosting
Will SpeedTest Pro slow down my website?
No. Tests only run when you trigger them or schedule them. They don’t affect visitors or front-end performance in any way.
API Keys
Why do I need API keys?
Without API keys:
- PageSpeed tests hit rate limits quickly
- Uptime monitoring doesn’t work
The API keys are free to obtain and significantly improve what you can do with the plugin.
Where do I get a Google PageSpeed API key?
- Go to the Google Cloud Console
- Create a project
- Enable the PageSpeed Insights API
- Create an API key
Full walkthrough: How to Get Your Google PageSpeed API Key
Where do I get an UptimeRobot API key?
- Sign up at uptimerobot.com (free)
- Go to My Settings
- Find “Main API Key” and copy it
Full walkthrough: How to Get Your UptimeRobot API Key
Are my API keys secure?
API keys are stored in your WordPress database. They’re not shared with us or anyone else. Only users with admin access to your WordPress site can see them.
SSL Testing
How long does an SSL test take?
About 2-3 minutes. SSL Labs runs a thorough scan that checks many different aspects of your certificate configuration.
What’s a good SSL grade?
A or A+ is what you want. B is okay but could be improved. C or lower means you should talk to your host.
Why does my SSL test fail?
Common reasons:
- Certificate expired
- Certificate doesn’t match domain
- Supporting old, insecure protocols
- Missing intermediate certificates
Check the detailed results for specific issues.
How often should I run SSL tests?
Monthly for routine checks. Also run one after renewing your certificate or making server changes.
Page Speed Testing
Why are my mobile and desktop scores different?
Mobile tests simulate slower connections and weaker devices. This is intentional because that’s how many visitors actually experience your site. Mobile scores being lower is completely normal.
What’s a realistic performance score?
For most WordPress sites:
- Desktop: 70-90 is good
- Mobile: 50-80 is good
Hitting 90+ on mobile is difficult without significant optimization work.
Why do my scores change between tests?
Normal variation is 5-10 points due to:
- Network conditions
- Server load at the time
- Google’s testing infrastructure
If you see bigger swings, there might be actual performance issues.
Can I test pages that aren’t published?
No, only published pages can be tested. The test loads your page from external servers, so it needs to be publicly accessible.
How often should I run page speed tests?
Weekly is good for monitoring. After major changes (theme updates, new plugins), test immediately.
Server Performance
What do the benchmark numbers mean?
Lower is better for all timing results. The test shows:
- How fast your CPU processes calculations
- How quickly your database responds
- How well your server handles WordPress operations
How do I compare to other hosts?
The results show industry averages. If your numbers are higher (slower) than average, your hosting might be underperforming.
Will running benchmarks affect my site?
Briefly, yes. The tests put some load on your server. Run them during low-traffic periods and don’t run them constantly.
Why are my MySQL results slow?
Common causes:
- Shared hosting with busy neighbors
- Database not optimized
- Database server far from web server
- No object caching
Consider enabling Redis or Memcached if your host supports it.
Latency Testing
What is latency exactly?
Latency is the round-trip time for data to travel from your server to a location and back. It’s measured in milliseconds (ms).
Why does latency matter?
High latency means visitors wait longer before anything happens. Under 100ms feels instant. Over 500ms feels sluggish.
How can I improve latency?
- Use a CDN (content delivery network)
- Choose hosting located near your visitors
- Optimize your server response time
Which region should I pick in settings?
Choose the GCP region closest to where most of your visitors are located. Check your analytics to find out where your traffic comes from.
Uptime Monitoring
How often does it check my site?
Every 5 minutes on UptimeRobot’s free plan. Paid plans can check every minute.
Will I get false alerts?
Occasionally. UptimeRobot checks from multiple locations to reduce false positives. Very brief glitches might trigger an alert even if your site recovered quickly.
Why isn’t uptime monitoring working?
Check that:
- Your UptimeRobot API key is correct
- It’s a “Main API Key” (not read-only)
- You clicked “Set Up Monitors” after adding the key
- The monitors exist in your UptimeRobot dashboard
How do I configure alerts?
Alerts are configured in UptimeRobot, not in SpeedTest Pro. Log into uptimerobot.com and set up alert contacts there.
What’s a good uptime percentage?
- 99.9% or higher is good
- 99.5% – 99.9% is acceptable
- Below 99% is concerning
For reference: 99% uptime means about 7 hours of downtime per month.
Troubleshooting
The plugin isn’t showing up after installation
Try:
- Clearing your browser cache
- Logging out and back into WordPress
- Deactivating and reactivating the plugin
I’m getting “permission denied” errors
Your WordPress user needs administrator privileges. Check your user role in Users > Your Profile.
Tests time out and never complete
Your server might be:
- Under heavy load
- Blocking external API requests
- Having network issues
Try during off-peak hours or contact your host.
Settings won’t save
Check if:
- A security plugin is blocking requests
- File permissions are correct
- You have a working WordPress installation
I see a blank page after activating
This is usually a PHP error. Check your server error logs or enable WordPress debug mode to see the specific error.
Data and Privacy
What data does SpeedTest Pro collect?
The plugin collects:
- Test results (stored in your database)
- Anonymous usage statistics (optional, can be disabled)
Personal visitor data is never collected.
Where is my data stored?
Test results are stored in your WordPress database. Nothing is stored on our servers unless you opt into anonymous data collection.
Can I export my test data?
Test results are stored in your WordPress database. You can access them through database tools or export your entire WordPress database.
How do I delete all my data?
Uninstalling the plugin gives you the option to delete all associated data. You can also delete test results individually through the plugin interface.
General
Can I use SpeedTest Pro on multiple sites?
Yes, install it on as many sites as you want. Each site needs its own API keys.
How do I update SpeedTest Pro?
Updates appear in your WordPress dashboard like any other plugin. Go to Plugins > look for SpeedTest Pro > click “Update Now.”
Where can I get help?
- Check this FAQ first
- Read the documentation
- Post on the WordPress.org support forum
- For bugs, use the built-in bug reporter
I have a feature suggestion
We love hearing ideas. Post them on the support forum or GitHub with the tag “feature request.”