2024's Latest List: Top 8 Free SD Card Speed Test Tools

Updated by

Tracy King 

Written by

Sherly 

Last updated on May 11, 2024

SD and microSD cards are used for storage in many devices, such as Android phones, Windows PCs, and cameras. Unfortunately, the internet is filled with many fake SD and microSD cards. Even reputable online markets like Amazon aren't immune to pushing these fake SD cards onto unsuspecting consumers.

This is why you need a free SD card speed test tool. But what is an SD card speed test, and how can it help you? Read on from this article to find out more.

Overview of Free SD Card Speed Test Tools

If you bought a high-capacity, branded SD card for a low price, it's probably fake. A fake SD card is a bad and risky investment. They often bear convincing logos of reputable SD card manufacturers like SanDisk, Samsung, Huawei, and Kingston. An SD card speed testing tool can help you run an SD card speed test to check if it's a fake SD or microSD card by testing its speed and capacity.

To write this article, we spent a month testing the eight most popular free SD card speed test tools on the market on Windows, Mac, and even Android devices. Pick the one that suits you if you're having issues with your SD card's speed.

Free SD Card Speed Test Tools [Top 8 Picks for 2023]

In this part, we will introduce the 8 SD card speed test tools one by one. In this way, you can know more details like pros, cons, and compatibility. Let's start with the first one.

1. Tool: Partition Master Free Edition

After several rounds of research, we decide to put Tool Partition Master Free in the first place. It has a clear interface, making it a good choice for those who have no computer experience. In addition, it has great compatibility and works with almost all Windows systems, including Windows XP and Windows Vista. Moreover, it can display detailed results of an SD card's speed test, including read and write speed, I/O, latency, and so on. You can get all the detailed data for free.

Please refer to the following table for more detailed information about the Partition Master tool:

Here are some editorial reviews about the Partition Master tool. Reading them can help you learn more:

In addition, the Partition Master tool can do much to help you test the speed of your storage devices:

• Test SSD Read and Write Speed
• Run Micro SD Card Speed Test
• Check SD Card Health on Windows

Now, you can download Partition Master and use it to test the speed of your SD card.

2. Fake Flash Testing

FakeFlashTest runs speed tests on SD cards by offering a “Quick Capacity Test.” This function writes and reads 512 bytes of data to random sectors on the card, resulting in faster test results, especially for high-capacity cards. However, it only tests the real-time write and read speeds, not the peak speeds.

Please refer to the table below for more features of this SD Card Speed Test app:

To avoid data loss, use the Partition Master tool.

And we've selected a review of FakeFlashTest for you:

3. "H2testw" translates to "H2testw software" in Chinese. It's a tool used to test and verify the reliability of storage devices like flash drives and SD cards, and it can also detect bad blocks.

H2testw is a powerful free tool for testing USB flash drives and hard disks for problems, and for detecting fake SD cards and USB drives. The problem is that it was developed in 2008, when SD cards were smaller. On newer high-capacity drives, a scan with H2testw can take hours or even days, especially if they write data slowly. But it's generally safe and reliable.

h2testw Interface

Please refer to the features of H2testw below:

To test the SD card speed more effectively, you can use the tool Partition Master.

Read reviews to gain a better understanding of this tool:

4. Blackmagic Disk Speed Test

Blackmagic Disk Speed Test uses standard methods to measure and verify disk performance. It fills the available space on your disk with data samples, then tests its read and write speeds. It's the perfect tool for checking disk performance for high quality video work.

For more information about Blackmagic Disk Speed Test, refer to the following table:

For a full-featured, high-performance SD card speed testing tool, try Partition Master.

Please refer to the following review for a better understanding of the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test:

5. USBDeview

USBDeview is a portable utility by NirSoft that lets you detect USB devices or SD/microSD cards and test their real speed. It does this by performing sequential read/write operations on a 100MB file to give you an accurate performance rating. This way, you can determine if your SD card is fake and avoid unnecessary financial loss.

This table contains more detailed information about USBDeview. Check them for additional details:

For a cleaner interface during speed testing, use Partition Master.

Please find below an authentic user review:

6. Speeding Out

SpeedOut measures the continuous read and write speed of your flash drive/SD card quickly. The rating is not affected by the drive's file system. To start the test, you first need to select your USB drive from the drop-down list. Then, SpeedOut will run four read/write tests and display the average of each. The SpeedOut test does not overwrite any files, nor does it require you to format your SD card/flash drive to run the test.

The table below can help you learn more:

For a more compatible SD card speed testing tool, you can use Partition Master.

For more information, check out the tool's review on AlternativeTo:

ChipGenius is a hardware identification tool used for detecting the chip information of USB devices. In Chinese, it can be translated as "Chip Genius" or "Chip Identification Expert."

ChipGenius doesn't write any data to the SD card. It scans your target SD card for manufacturer and capacity information, then compares it with a database. When it's done, it'll report back to you. For example, if you bought a 64 GB SanDisk Class 10 SD card but ChipGenius reads it as an 8 GB Emtec Class 6 card, you know you've been scammed. The main advantage of this tool is that it's faster at detecting fakes. However, many dishonest sellers know how to cover their tracks, so ChipGenius might not catch all the fake cards out there.

The table below can help you learn more:

Here's an observation from TrishTeck:

8. AJA System Test

AJA System Test is a free tool you can use to check SD card speeds on both Windows and Mac. The app is easy to use and provides detailed graphs to see the performance of your SD card. If there are huge inconsistencies, it could be a sign that the SD card has issues. Of course, if you're testing an older card, this could also be a sign that it's starting to fail.

Read the chart for more features on AJA System Test:

To make the process of testing the speed safer and easier, use the Partition Master tool.

Please refer to pcmaccstore's reviews for more information.

Conclusions

These fake SD cards can come from no-name brands or impersonate ones we know and trust. It's important to verify their authenticity and whether they meet speed or capacity claims. We've rounded up eight free SD card benchmarking apps and detailed their features, including compatibility, pros, and cons, so you can choose the right tool for your needs. Be aware that some tools require formatting your SD card or may damage it. If you want a smoother, safer, and faster benchmarking experience, Partition Master is your best bet.

Frequently Asked Questions About Free SD Card Speed Test Tools

In this article, did you find the ideal SD card speed testing tool for you? Check out the questions below for more on today's topic:

1. How do I check the speed of an SD card on Windows 10?

Windows includes a disk speed testing tool called Task Manager. To use it, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Task Manager by searching for its name in the search box.

Step 2: Under “Performance,” find and tap your SD card.

Step 3: You can view the real-time transfer speed of your SD card in the window.

2. How do I test the speed of an SD card on Android?

You can download “SD Card Test” to help test the speed of your SD card and verify its authenticity on your Android device. Download and install the app from the Play Store. Once launched, check “Removable SD Card,” and select “All” in the categories next to “Read” and “Write.” Tap “Start” to run the speed test.

How do I test the speed of an SD card on a Mac?

You can also use software like Blackmagic Disk Speed Test to check the speed of an SD card on a Mac. Follow the on-screen instructions to get the speed results for your SD card. Blackmagic Disk Speed Test is a free disk testing app for macOS that's easy to use and provides fast results. Alternatively, NovaBench is another free SD card speed testing tool for Mac OS that measures disk read and write speeds, as well as RAM transfer rates, GPU, and CPU speeds.