GTmetrix Alternatives

GTmetrix switched to Lighthouse scoring and limited free tests. Here are six alternatives worth knowing about.

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GTmetrix Alternatives overview

GTmetrix was the go-to speed testing tool for years. Then they switched to Lighthouse scoring (same engine as PageSpeed Insights), limited free users to one test location, and gated features behind paid plans. Many users started asking: why not just use PageSpeed Insights directly?

Fair question. GTmetrix still has advantages — waterfall charts, video playback, historical comparisons. But the free tier isn’t what it used to be, and the competition has gotten better.

One important note: roast.page isn’t a page speed tool. We include Google PageSpeed data as one of 8 dimensions in our conversion analysis. If you need deep performance diagnostics, the tools below are purpose-built for that. If you want to understand how speed affects your conversions alongside messaging, CTAs, and design — that’s where we come in.

Google PageSpeed Insights

The source. Runs Lighthouse and shows both lab data (simulated) and field data (real Chrome users via CrUX). Free, unlimited, no signup. The UI is basic but the data is authoritative — it’s what Google actually uses for ranking signals.

Best for: The authoritative, free speed test — start here

Free, unlimited

roast.page

By us

Not a speed testing tool per se — includes real PageSpeed data as part of an 8-dimension conversion analysis. Shows Core Web Vitals alongside messaging, CTA, trust signal, and design analysis. Useful when you want to understand how speed fits into the bigger conversion picture.

Best for: Understanding how speed impacts conversions alongside other factors

Free (3 analyses) · Packs from $40

WebPageTest

Open-source, insanely detailed. Waterfall charts, filmstrip views, connection throttling, multi-step scripts. 40+ test locations. Overwhelming for beginners but unmatched for serious performance debugging. The gold standard for web performance engineers.

Best for: Performance engineers who need deep diagnostic data

Free (open source) · Pro plans available

DebugBear

Combines one-time testing with continuous monitoring. Tracks Core Web Vitals over time, alerts on regressions, and shows historical trends. The free grader is solid; paid plans add the monitoring that GTmetrix charges for.

Best for: Teams who need ongoing performance monitoring with alerts

Free grader · Monitoring from $12/mo

SpeedVitals

35 test locations worldwide with batch testing support. Shows real CrUX data alongside lab tests. Clean interface with a focus on Core Web Vitals. A modern GTmetrix alternative without the legacy baggage.

Best for: Testing from multiple global locations with batch support

Free tier · Pro from $10/mo

Pingdom

Speed testing plus uptime monitoring in one platform. The speed test is straightforward — load time, page size, number of requests, performance grade. Less detailed than WebPageTest but simpler. The uptime monitoring integration is the real draw.

Best for: Teams who want speed testing and uptime monitoring in one tool

Free speed test · Monitoring from $10/mo

How to choose

Lab data vs. field data

Lab tests (Lighthouse) simulate a connection. Field data (CrUX) comes from real Chrome users. Google uses field data for ranking. Make sure your tool shows both.

One-time test vs. monitoring

GTmetrix, PageSpeed Insights, and WebPageTest are snapshot tools. DebugBear and SpeedVitals add monitoring over time. If speed regressions matter, you need monitoring.

Test locations

If your audience is global, testing from one location isn’t enough. SpeedVitals offers 35 locations. WebPageTest has 40+. GTmetrix free is locked to one.

Speed vs. conversion context

Pure speed tools won’t tell you if your fast-loading page is losing conversions to bad messaging. If you need both speed data and conversion analysis, pair a speed tool with a CRO-focused analyzer.

Common questions

Is GTmetrix still worth using?

The paid version still has value — waterfall charts, video playback, historical tracking. But the free tier is limited to one test location and basic reports. For free testing, PageSpeed Insights gives you the same Lighthouse data without restrictions.

Which tool uses the same data Google uses for ranking?

Google uses CrUX (Chrome User Experience Report) field data for ranking signals. PageSpeed Insights, DebugBear, and SpeedVitals show CrUX data. Lab-only tools don’t reflect what Google actually measures.

Does page speed really affect conversions?

Yes, significantly. Research consistently shows that each additional second of load time reduces conversions by 7-20%. But speed is one factor — a fast page with bad messaging still won’t convert.

Should I test on mobile or desktop?

Mobile first. Google uses mobile-first indexing, and mobile users are less patient with slow pages. Most speed tools default to mobile (simulated Moto G4 on 4G). Always check mobile performance.

How do I fix a slow page?

Start with the biggest offenders: unoptimized images (use WebP/AVIF), render-blocking scripts (defer or async), excessive third-party scripts (audit with WebPageTest), and missing CDN. Our blog post on page speed and conversions covers the specific fixes.

See how your page scores

Free analysis. 8 conversion dimensions. Specific fixes. About 1 minute.

GTmetrix Alternatives