Best Tools to Test eCommerce Website Performance
1. Pingdom
Pingdom is a Free online tool that can be used to test website load time. And not just eCommerce, it checks and scans through every website you want to check for as well. Pingdom comes highly recommended because it offers a wide array of results that could help you make the tweaks needed in order to keep your website performing to the max everytime you or a customer visits.
One of the most unique features about Pingdom is that it shows you a detailed graphical representation of your website performance in comparison to others in the same league. Once you go through the graph, it has an expandable analysis tab too.
Analyze the load speed of your website and learn how to make it faster. Pingdom lets you identify what's fast, slow, too big, and the best practices you're not following. See how your website conforms to performance best practices from Google PageSpeed Insights. All tests are done with real web browsers, so results match the end-user experience. Basic tool is free. Premium version is $14.95 per month.2. GTmetrix
GTmetrix is a simple online tool that can be used to test website load time. You do however need to sign up, like almost every other speed testing website out there. It is reasonable and offers a bunch of nifty features that provide lots of details about specific aspects of your website. You can also take advantage of the "instant replay" option which shows how your page is rendered by slowing it down 4 times.
GTmetrix also offers details on which specific aspect of your website takes the most time to load which can be helpful in knowing where tweaks need to be made.
3. Google – PageSpeed Insight
We didn't forget Google and its ease of use USP that helps with gauging your website's potential against the industry standards. You can check your eCommerce website's integrity, including landing page insights, compressions, resources, content, plugins and lots more with Google's PageSpeed Insight.
What's more is that Google offers a very intuitive, easy to navigate and friendly interface for you to test website load time against a variety of criteria used for other eCommerce websites.
One of the coolest things about Google's PageSpeed Insight is that it is mobile friendly, meaning you can check your website on the go wherever you are. Want to know what exactly to change or fix? Google tells you.
4. Web Page Test
Web Page Test is a great option for those who want to test website load time. Not at all restricted to just page loading times, Web Page Test offers you test servers in America, Europe, and Asia, so around the globe, you're able to see where your eCommerce website ranks against others. Since you're free to use any browser, Web Page Test will also help you understand which browser is best suited to browse your website and where tweaks need to be made.
Put in your own scripts if you want to see more in-depth results, check your CPU's performance and the bandwidth and of course, the page load times.
Still, being a great resource, it does lack in providing the intricate details that GTmetrix does, which is not a bad thing at all, it is, in fact, great for those who just want to know where their website stands and make amendments.
5. YSlow
The innovative name of this online speed testing tool is synonymous with its purpose. Wondering why is your website slow? YSlow can help you with just that. Being a Yahoo! Website, you'd expect it to be accurate, to the point and reliable, you'd be right. The website tells you how fast your website is and rates it so you'd know where you stand in the digital stratosphere. What's more is that the website offers a very clean, easy to navigate interface which helps pinpoint the exact segments that need attention. You can also choose how your website should be gauged.
In addition, you have reports that are quite detailed. While it may lack some of the extensive details provided by sites like GTMetrix, it is still a great option.
ConclusionSpeed is a critical element of running a successful website and should always be a priority for owner store. In addition to providing a responsive user experience, a fast loading website also has a direct impact on the overall performance of the website. Faster loading websites benefit from better user engagement, higher conversion rates, higher SEO rankings and much more.
There are many website speed test tools available for testing your eCommerce website, but if you are looking for a tool that is easy to use and produces a comprehensive report, we recommend starting with one of the five tools on this list.
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