gtmetrix.com Review, Pricing & Features

GTmetrix tests website speed using Lighthouse, showing scores, waterfall charts, and fixes. Free tier available; PRO plans start at $5/month.

Category
DevOps
Pricing
Freemium, from Free (PRO plans from $5/month)
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 20, 2026
Founded
2010
Headquarters
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Free PlanWeb AppAPIFreemium

What Is GTmetrix?

GTmetrix is a web-based tool that measures how fast a webpage loads and renders, then explains what is slowing it down. Users enter a URL and GTmetrix runs the page through Google Lighthouse from a real browser in one of several global test locations, returning a performance score, Core Web Vitals results, and a detailed waterfall chart of every request the page makes.

The tool was launched in 2010 by GT.net, a company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, and was acquired by group.one in January 2025. It has become one of the standard reference tools that developers, agencies, and SEO teams use alongside Google PageSpeed Insights to benchmark and monitor page speed.

Key Features

GTmetrix combines one-off performance testing with ongoing monitoring. Beyond a single test report, PRO users can schedule recurring tests, track performance history over time, and set alerts when a page's score drops below a threshold.

Reports include a full waterfall breakdown of requests, a filmstrip or video of the page loading, and structured recommendations tied to specific Lighthouse audits, so teams can see exactly which asset or script is adding to load time.

GTmetrix Pricing

GTmetrix offers a free plan that lets anyone run on-demand performance tests with limited test locations and browsers. Paid GTmetrix PRO plans unlock more test locations, private/authenticated page testing, monitoring, video capture, and API access.

PRO individual plans start at Micro ($5/month) and scale up through Solo ($13/month), Starter ($25/month), and Growth ($50/month), with larger custom Enterprise plans available for teams that need higher test volume, white-label reports, or priority support. Annual billing saves 15% versus paying monthly.

Key Features

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Detailed waterfall and Lighthouse reports go deeper than a simple speed score
  • Free tier is genuinely useful for one-off checks, no account required for basic tests
  • PRO plans add real monitoring and alerting, not just repeated manual tests
  • Multiple test locations help diagnose region-specific performance issues
  • Well established and widely referenced tool that most web professionals already know

Cons

  • Free tier limits test locations, browsers, and how often you can retest a page
  • Lighthouse scoring can differ from what real users experience, especially on mobile networks
  • PRO pricing can add up quickly for agencies monitoring many client sites
  • No built-in way to automatically apply the fixes it recommends

Pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GTmetrix free to use?

Yes, GTmetrix offers a free plan that lets anyone run on-demand performance tests with a basic set of test locations and browsers. Paid GTmetrix PRO plans add monitoring, more locations, and other advanced features.

What does GTmetrix measure?

GTmetrix runs Google Lighthouse against a webpage and reports a performance score, Core Web Vitals, a waterfall of every network request, and prioritized recommendations for reducing load time.

How much does GTmetrix PRO cost?

GTmetrix PRO individual plans start at $5/month for Micro and go up to $50/month for Growth, with custom Enterprise pricing for larger teams. Annual billing saves 15% compared to monthly billing.

Who owns GTmetrix?

GTmetrix was originally built by GT.net in Vancouver, Canada, in 2010 and was acquired by group.one in January 2025.

Does GTmetrix replace Google PageSpeed Insights?

GTmetrix uses the same underlying Lighthouse engine as PageSpeed Insights but adds features like scheduled monitoring, waterfall charts, video capture, and multiple test locations that PageSpeed Insights does not offer.

Related Tools