Opensignal Internet Speed Test Reviews

by Doc_68W_

First the positive:
It works well providing you with a true internet speed test.

Now the bad:
The maps and “signal finder” are worthless. They don’t show many cell phone towers at all. I have a huge, multi-cell tower operated by my carrier a half mile from my house that’s been there for 15 years that they don’t recognize at all. When asked about that, their reply is “it’s not in our database.” As a result of that, rather than their signal pointer pointing towards that tower, it points to where there is no tower...
False positives and inaccurate locations are even worse than the towers they fail to recognize. I live near Lake Michigan and their map shows a dozen towers in the middle of the lake. You may ask why it even shows a dozen towers in a relatively small area, I’ll tell you- Say a single tower has 9 cell antennas on it, OpensignalInternetSpeedTest shows it as 9 separate towers, and because the geolocation is so awful, it shows them all spread out over a mile apart. The end result is a single tower in a single location is reported as 9 different towers spread over a couple square miles, and their “signal finder” points at all those non-existent towers. Worthless.

by PHWhite

I downloaded OpensignalInternetSpeedTest primarily because I wanted to be able to identify the location of cell towers and the carriers that they belong to. I recently changed cell carriers after 20+ years with the same one and trying to learn where my new carrier has true coverage and where they don’t. The “Find Signal” feature shows all towers as being my carrier’s towers even when I KNOW that I am roaming on another carrier. Also the arrow that you’re supposed to follow to locate the tower is not based on actual tower locations, it’s based on crowd-sourcing information which is no more accurate than my own anecdotal knowledge of the area. The speed test and data usage features are helpful but they aren’t what I downloaded OpensignalInternetSpeedTest for.

by Quoll71

Much of OpensignalInternetSpeedTest is tough to figure out.

The first screen says, “Follow the arrow” but there is no arrow. Pressing the icon for the cell provider takes me to a map of my current location. I can type an address and it takes me there, but it took me a while to zoom out far enough to see a tower location. These are just labeled, with no indication of signal coverage. (Update: after an hour, an arrow appeared! 5 minutes later it pointed in the opposite direction in each case it did not appear to point towards a tower)

WiFi didn’t make sense either until I zoomed much further out.

The coverage map is crowd sourced, so understandably sparse. I’d add to it if I could. I thought OpensignalInternetSpeedTest might be auto logging my data, since I allowed that, but I haven’t seen any updates to the map around me. Unfortunately, the different signal strengths are in colors that are difficult to distinguish for someone who is red/green colorblind (as I am).

Speed test and data usage work as expected, though these were not features I’m looking for.

by Wudwkr2

I downloaded OpensignalInternetSpeedTest based on the recommendation of a cell signal booster company. They clearly have had a different experience than mine. The most important feature, finding a cell tower, simply does not work. Sitting in an area that, by my own phone’s indication has a 2-bar ATT signal, OpensignalInternetSpeedTest says it cannot find ANY cell tower, This area is also well known to have a solid Verizon and T-Mobile signal. Location services on my phone are turned-on and functional, so I cannot fathom what value OpensignalInternetSpeedTest actually provides. Download it if you feel compelled to clutter your phone with another icon. Otherwise, do not waste your time.

by Mls12345

I downloaded OpensignalInternetSpeedTest after seeing is referenced and recommended by several fellow RVers I mainly wanted to use the tower locator/signal compass feature. Unfortunately I have yet to get it to work. I always get the same “No cell tower located” error. If I am doing something wrong, I certainly can’t figure it out. If I can get that feature to work reliably it would be an easy 5 star app. The other features (speed tests and coverage maps) earned the 2nd star but the most important feature to me just doesn’t work. Would happily take Dev suggestions.

by Ericheltzel

I used OpensignalInternetSpeedTest to find cell towers as we travel full time and I used it to point our cell phone booster. They removed the tower locator and arrow function. These were the most useful features to me. There are better options for a speed test app. Not sure why they took away a key differentiator. OpensignalInternetSpeedTest went from 5-star and exactly what I needed to 1-star with no features I need.

** Developer added back compass function to see direction to only closest tower. It’s better but being able to tap the compass and see the locations of all towers was most useful. Sometimes closest the tower is obstructed and it works better to point cell booster toward a different antenna. I’ll add one star back for bringing back an in-demand feature back. But OpensignalInternetSpeedTest still isn’t as useful to me as a cell tower map.

by Lowcountry Ronny

Nice idea here, but like others rating OpensignalInternetSpeedTest, I NEVER see any cell towers! I use VZW in the US like many, but regardless of where I go, I never see towers. Even if I allow “roaming” I still never see towers. That is originally why I was interested in OpensignalInternetSpeedTest ... to try to nail down why I have poor signal strength near home even though I see towers in my line of sight!

As for the speed tests... useless as they do not tell you where the other end is or how many hops, and you can’t choose test locations.

Sooooooo.... meh. Sorry. I will maybe keep it on my phone for a little while, but will likely just let it go quietly away someday when I need to purge unused apps. Nice try but not working or useful * AS ADVERTISED * .

by <nickname-shnickname>

[Updated, 8 June 2020]: Changed my rating to 3 stars now that the signal compass feature has been restored (as of app version 5.2.2). Would give it another star except that the upload part of the speed test feature consistently fails for me (starts, but fails with message “Error”). Of 24 speed tests, only 3 completed that part of the test.

——
Just updated OpensignalInternetSpeedTest (to version 5.0.3) only to discover that the most useful function has been removed: the cell tower signal direction indicator!!!

That feature has been used by many people over the years, like me, to determine in which direction to point the antenna of my cell signal booster in order to obtain the best connection.

It totally makes no sense at all why the developers would choose to remove that function, and also to not announce it in the version release notes.

Two thumbs down! OpensignalInternetSpeedTest is now mostly useless. The speedtest function hasn’t worked reliably or at all most of the time for over a year. And the cell signal mapping is mostly useless because of low participation outside of large metropolitan areas, and if you’re in such an area you’re likely to get a good signal anyway.

by Reavy

I especially like that Open Signal offers competition to Ookla‘a well-known speed test apps. OpensignalInternetSpeedTest gives good real-world performance insights into each of the networks you might connect to.

OpensignalInternetSpeedTest does not detect when switching Wi-Fi networks and needs to be force quit and relaunched to pick up the change. When switching from one Wi-Fi network to another, running a speed test will tag the result with the previous network name and often fail to compete the test at all.

The data usage feature is interesting but doesn’t seem work either. Usage results are not updated without force quitting and relaunching OpensignalInternetSpeedTest .

by Kentarno

While the testing is easy to use, the frustrating part is that I cannot get it to show me any cell towers. Keeps telling me that there seems to not be any towers here and I’m in the middle of a high density data area in a very populated city. I don’t understand the message just says that there are no cell towers. I’m suspecting that when I get out on the road and try to use it, I will be told that I cannot find any cell towers even though there may be some around me. That’s a portion that I would really like to see work. I’m on an iPhone.

by Tekpwr

Downloaded OpensignalInternetSpeedTest and it appears the directional arrow has been re-implemented. Don’t know if it was an update glitch or whatever, but OpensignalInternetSpeedTest is now useful!

OpensignalInternetSpeedTest worked at one time but no longer has the directional arrow indicating the direction of the cell tower.
This function was key when installing a directional cell signal booster antenna. Now that it no longer works, deleted OpensignalInternetSpeedTest .
Not recommended if you need to identify the source of your strongest signal.

by Mik In Montague

I like the open map that shows you where other users of OpensignalInternetSpeedTest have been and performed tests. However, in some cases it would not let me zoom in. Additionally, would be great to have more than just red and green. If the map could show at least yellow for medium signals, that would be awesome. Got a friend who wants to map his entire little town by driving every road and walking into the woods for the gaps. Also, option of showing tower locations would be great. Thanks for all your hard work.

by Kfatica

Currently using iOS 15.1 and not sure if it’s fully functional for cell tower location, but WiFi resources are solid. Unlike other apps I’ve tried, this is uncluttered, and it’s free. It helped me determine that I need a new, more efficient and powerful router at home, and it confirmed weak signal areas at work. I could not get any cell towers to show up and I know they’re nearby. Had hoped to use OpensignalInternetSpeedTest to help me with a live stream coming up soon, but not being amble to locate a cell tower is a problem.

by Mjbuzzy

That being said, the reason i only gave it 4 stars is because it lacks the ability to orient in any way beyond portrait mode. I use my iPad with a keyboard, putting it in landscape mode. Hard to understand why, in this day and age, apps are not written with the ability to change orientations per position of device. For my purposes, works better than Ookla, but would love developers to give it ability to orient appropriately.

by NewWaveEraMCMLXXX

Been using OpensignalInternetSpeedTest for over a year now and it seems to really gives you the best average speed test rather than maximum speed. I have Ookla SpeedTest and I use it to compare the differences of its performance and Ookla (and other speed test app) does only give you what your cell signal/Wi-Fi maximum speed is and Open Signal gives you the real speed that you’re always averaging. OpensignalInternetSpeedTest would be perfect if the developer can make it for you to delete your old test records (you can but it comes back after resetting OpensignalInternetSpeedTest ) and needs to add location to where you test your signal and Wi-Fi so you can keep track of where you had already test the signal. There seems to be a problem with the find cellular signal. I’m standing right next to my cellular sever (T-Mobile) and it’s pointing away from it?. Other then that this is a great speed test app. 3 stars for now.

by Jslu511

1. After the iOS 13 update, the signal readings on the map became almost translucent, they’re pretty hard to see, especially in dark mode. Ok, fine. I get it’s difficult transitioning to a whole new iOS platform.

BUT....

2. The the maps keep loading slower and slower. Utterly terrible. It’s almost unusable, even on strong solid WiFi connections.

by MikeFCutler

OpenSignal is the best, most important cellular testing tool I have as a professional in the Security & Fire Alarm industry. This free, amazingly easy to use, comprehensive testing & tower locator tool insures that the cellular communicators that we install are using the best carrier available based on signal strength, data latency upload/download speed testing that I perform myself at every location I go to. For me and those in my industry, OpenSignal insures top performance when seconds means the difference in life or death. Having a tool in your hand that tests cellular performance from the exact location you are at, is a dream come true for those who’s job is to secure property, protect jobs, and save lives.
No matter where you are, you know whether you can use the cellular communicators internal antenna or if you will need an outdoor antenna because of the distance you are from a tower or the buildings size or the structures building material blocks the cellular signal. In those areas that a long-range directional antenna is required, OpenSignal shows me exactly where to point my antenna. As a 33 year veteran of the Security & Fire Alarm Industry. I recommend everyone that uses cellular communications to get OpensignalInternetSpeedTest, it’s a Life Saver figuratively and Literally.

by JenO

The only use I had for OpensignalInternetSpeedTest was to find where the nearest strongest cell signal was coming from..... it would point its arrow I. The direction I would need to point my booster antenna ...... now when I travel.... I have NO CLUE where to point it! Thanks for getting rid of the only use I had for you.

UPDATE
They listened and they care.... the arrow is now back. Once again.... happy with OpensignalInternetSpeedTest !!!
Thanks for fixing it!

by Ellenoc

I didn’t get OpensignalInternetSpeedTest at first. I had no signal at all at home. I knew there was a tower nearby because I had 65 plus mbs just 5/miles away. Turns out, the tower is even closer. I took the phone to the south east part of my house where the tower is. I couldn’t believe it. Sitting in my cupboard, my iPhone got 2 bars LTE. It still has no signal anywhere else even outside.. I connected my laptop. Updated the iOS. Now, I am getting 11-12mbs consistently. Kind of strange, but I never would have located that tower without OpensignalInternetSpeedTest.

by SilverXrider

I have been using OpensignalInternetSpeedTest to find towers while boondocking in the desert, it helps me point my Yagi antenna at the nearest tower. Well the latest update removed that function so OpensignalInternetSpeedTest is now just about useless as i normally only have one tower in range, I just need to know where it is, OpensignalInternetSpeedTest used to do that, no more so will have to find another way. Why you removed the best feature is beyond me.

*UPDATE* I have updated my review two 4 stars as the developers have brought back the compass, which was to me the most important feature, redesigned, might want to add a direction marker at the top of the screen as it is not readily apparent which direction is the alignment point.

by MikeC Tyco I.S. Tech

OpenSignal is the best, most important cellular testing tool I have as a professional in the Security & Fire Alarm industry. This free, amazingly easy to use, comprehensive testing & tower locator tool insures that the cellular communicators that we install are using the best carrier available based on signal strength, data latency upload/download speed testing that I perform myself at every location I go to. For me and those in my industry, OpenSignal insures top performance when seconds means the difference in life or death. Having a tool in your hand that tests cellular performance from the exact location you are at, is a dream come true for those who’s job is to secure property, protect jobs, and save lives.
No matter where you are, you know whether you can use the cellular communicators internal antenna or if you will need an outdoor antenna because of the distance you are from a tower or the buildings size or the structures building material blocks the cellular signal. In those areas that a long-range directional antenna is required, OpenSignal shows me exactly where to point my antenna. As a 33 year veteran of the Security & Fire Alarm Industry. I recommend everyone that uses cellular communications to get OpensignalInternetSpeedTest, it’s a Life Saver figuratively and Literally.