Speedtest by Ookla
Focus: utility and connection test. Shares internet speed and network with Kilobat. A website, not a Mac app. Free (Kilobat: Freemium). Adds Web, iOS and Android. Rated 4.6 (Kilobat: 4.4).
WebsiteFreeWeb, iOS
4.6Visit
Mac App
Kilobat
A Mac menu bar app that tells you if café or hotspot Wi-Fi can handle your calls.
Rating
4.4 / 5
Pricing
Freemium
Difficulty
Beginner
Works on
macOS
Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com
What is Kilobat?
Kilobat sits in your Mac's menu bar and checks the network you're on, whether that's a café, coworking space, hotel or phone hotspot. It measures speed, latency under load and short stutters so you know if a call will hold up, spots Wi-Fi sign-in pages, keeps backups and updates off metered hotspot data and shows whether your VPN carries all your traffic. You can also share a report of measured outages and speed tests with a host. The free tier covers speed and stutter tests, sign-in page detection and provider reports, and Pro is a one-time $19 for two Macs with a 7-day trial.
Pros: what Kilobat does well
- Tests whether a connection can handle a call, not just raw speed
- Keeps backups and updates off hotspot data
- One-time Pro price instead of a subscription
Cons: where it falls short
- Mac only, needs macOS 14 or later
- Some features need Pro
Who Kilobat is for
Remote workers and digital nomads who work from cafés, coworking spaces and hotspots.
Who can skip it
People who always work on the same reliable home or office connection.
Kilobat alternatives
Not sold on Kilobat? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.
Fathom
Focus: meeting notes, transcription and summaries. Also in Meetings and Remote Work, like Kilobat. An AI tool, not a Mac app. Adds Web and Windows. Rated 4.7 (Kilobat: 4.4).
AI ToolFree planWeb, macOS
4.7Visit
World Time Buddy
Focus: time zones, world clock and meeting planner. Also in Meetings and Remote Work, like Kilobat. A web app, not a Mac app. Adds Web, iOS and Android. Rated 4.6 (Kilobat: 4.4).
Web AppFree planWeb, iOS
4.6Visit
Google Meet
Focus: video calls, video conferencing and zoom alternative. Also in Meetings and Remote Work, like Kilobat. A web app, not a Mac app. Adds Web, Android and iOS. Rated 4.5 (Kilobat: 4.4).
Web AppFree planWeb, Android
4.5Visit
Loom
Focus: async, screen recording and video. Also in Remote Work and Meetings, like Kilobat. A web app, not a Mac app. Adds Web, Windows and Chrome. Rated 4.5 (Kilobat: 4.4).
Web AppFree planWeb, macOS
4.5Visit
Savvy Time
Focus: time zones, world clock and converter. Also in Remote Work and Meetings, like Kilobat. A website, not a Mac app. Free (Kilobat: Freemium). Adds Web. Rated 4.5 (Kilobat: 4.4).
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.5Visit
Free alternatives to Kilobat
Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.
Online Mic Test
Focus: microphone, audio and troubleshooting. Also in Meetings and Remote Work, like Kilobat. A website, not a Mac app. Free (Kilobat: Freemium). Adds Web. Same 4.4 rating.
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.4Visit
WebcamTests
Focus: webcam, camera test and troubleshooting. Also in Meetings and Remote Work, like Kilobat. A website, not a Mac app. Free (Kilobat: Freemium). Adds Web. Same 4.4 rating.
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.4Visit
Jitsi Meet
Focus: video calls, open source and self-hosted. Also in Meetings and Remote Work, like Kilobat. A web app, not a Mac app. Free (Kilobat: Freemium). Adds Web, Android and iOS. Rated 4.3 (Kilobat: 4.4).
Web AppFreeWeb, Android
4.3Visit
Fast.com
Focus: speed test, internet and wifi. Shares network with Kilobat. A website, not a Mac app. Free (Kilobat: Freemium). Adds Web, iOS and Android. Rated 4.6 (Kilobat: 4.4).
WebsiteFreeWeb, iOS
4.6Visit
MeetingBar
Focus: meeting links, menu bar app and calendar. Also in Meetings, like Kilobat. Free (Kilobat: Freemium). Rated 4.7 (Kilobat: 4.4).
Mac AppFreemacOS
4.7Visit
Shhepit
Focus: calm, sound and meetings. Also in Meetings, like Kilobat. Free (Kilobat: Freemium). Rated 4.1 (Kilobat: 4.4).
Mac AppFreemacOS
4.1Visit
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