Orb: A New App by Ookla’s Ex-CEO Offers a Comprehensive Internet Health Check
Doug Suttles, the founder and former CEO of Ookla, the company behind the widely used Speedtest.net, has launched a new app called Orb. Unlike traditional speed tests, Orb provides a holistic view of your internet connection by measuring latency, packet loss, jitter, and speed.
“Speed tests are like the dipstick in your car, which will tell you that you ran out of oil once your car breaks down. We wanted to build a dashboard to tell you that you are low on oil, so you can fix that problem,” Suttles explained in an interview with TechCrunch.
Orb evaluates three key metrics: responsiveness (lag, jitter, latency, and packet loss), reliability (consistency over time), and speed (download/upload rates). These are combined into a single Orb score, where 80+ indicates a good connection, 70-80 is acceptable, and below 70 suggests noticeable issues. The app also offers AI-driven suggestions to improve performance.
Available on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux, Orb even supports niche platforms like Raspberry Pi and Steam Deck. A future feature will allow users to share their Orb setup with others for remote monitoring.
Currently free to use, Orb plans to monetize by licensing its technology to enterprises and ISPs. The startup has raised $3.8 million from investors, including executives from Netflix, Fastly, and Oculus.
