The team behind widely used tools like Speedtest and Down Detector has introduced a new application called Orb, designed to provide users with a far more comprehensive look at their internet connection. Rather than focusing solely on raw speed, Orb measures the less visible — but often more impactful — aspects of connectivity, such as responsiveness and reliability.
Created by Doug Suttles and Jamie Steven, former leaders at Ookla, Orb is built on the idea that traditional bandwidth tests no longer capture the full picture of how an internet connection performs. In today’s environment, issues like latency spikes, jitter, and packet loss often affect real-world experiences more than raw megabits per second. Orb tackles these problems head-on by continuously monitoring connection quality and displaying a health score from 1 to 100 across three key categories: speed, responsiveness, and reliability.
The app works by aggregating performance data over periods ranging from a single minute to an entire day, allowing users to observe fluctuations and patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed. If the overall connection rating dips too low, the app provides detailed feedback — supported by a built-in AI assistant — to help users understand what’s going wrong.
Unlike many tech tools that go through a beta period, Orb was released to the public right away and is free for personal use. The developers are betting on large-scale enterprise adoption for future revenue, positioning the consumer version as both a testbed and a promotional channel. Notably, the app is designed for broad compatibility. It runs on Android, Windows, Linux, and even embedded systems like smart doorbells or IoT devices. That flexibility aligns with the team’s goal of enabling users to assess connection health on virtually any connected device.
One future feature already teased involves shareable, time-limited links that would let users grant real-time access to their connection data. This could simplify troubleshooting with internet service providers or IT professionals, reducing back-and-forth guesswork and potentially resolving issues faster.
Orb’s launch comes at a time when more users are demanding transparency about their network performance, not just raw speed numbers. As online services grow more sensitive to even minor disruptions — particularly video conferencing, gaming, and streaming — tools like Orb may prove essential for diagnosing problems that traditional speed tests often miss.
The app is available now across a wide range of platforms. While still in its early stages, its ambitious scope and practical utility suggest it could become a staple for both everyday users and tech professionals looking to make sense of modern connectivity.
