Free online test
Audio Reaction Time Test
React to a beep instead of a colour. Sound on, wait for the beep, then click, tap or press Space. 5 attempts with average, best and worst.
About accuracy: your browser, screen and mouse or touch screen add some milliseconds between the real moment and what the page can measure (a 60 Hz screen only redraws every 16.7 ms, and input devices add delay of their own). Your result is not a clinical measurement. It is best used to compare your own results on the same device. Details and sources
Private by design. No cookies, no account, no server. Nothing is stored unless you finish a test: then your best result is saved in this browser only (localStorage) and you can clear it above. Privacy
Audio vs visual reaction time
In a small study with 14 participants, mean reaction time to a sound was about 284 ms and to a visual signal about 331 ms, with the spacebar as the response key (Shelton and Kumar, 2010). The authors conclude that auditory reaction time was faster. Because the group was small, and set-ups differ, your own gap may be different. Try both tests on the same device: this page and the visual test.
Tips for a fair test
- Use the same device, volume and output (speakers or headphones) every time.
- Do not guess: if you click before the beep, the attempt is repeated.
- Do 5 attempts, then look at the average, not only at the best.
Frequently asked questions
How does the audio reaction test work?
Turn your sound on. Click, tap or press Space to start an attempt, then wait 1.5 to 5 seconds. When you hear the beep, click as fast as you can. Nothing on the screen changes at the beep. Clicking before it counts as too early. 5 attempts give you average, best and worst.
Is audio reaction time faster than visual?
One small study (14 participants) found auditory simple reaction time of about 284 ms against about 331 ms for a visual signal, using the spacebar for both (Shelton and Kumar, 2010). That is a small sample, so treat it as an indication, not a rule. We did not find a larger source we could verify.
Why is my audio result slower or odd?
Sound has its own delays: the browser’s audio system, your sound card and especially wireless headphones can add delay before you hear the beep. Wired headphones or speakers are the safest choice. As with the visual test, compare results on the same set-up.
I hear nothing.
Check the volume and that the tab is not muted. Some browsers only allow sound after you click: pressing the pad does that. If it still stays silent, try the visual reaction test.
Is anything recorded?
No. The beep is generated in your browser. The page does not use your microphone and does not send anything anywhere.
Sources
- Shelton J, Kumar GP (2010). Comparison between Auditory and Visual Simple Reaction Times. Neuroscience and Medicine 1:30-32. doi:10.4236/nm.2010.11004. https://www.scirp.org/html/4-2400003_2689.htm
- Woods DL, Wyma JM, Yund EW, Herron TJ, Reed B (2015). Factors influencing the latency of simple reaction time. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 9:131 (Table 1, Table 2 and abstract). doi:10.3389/fnhum.2015.00131. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4374455/
Read and checked: October 10, 2026. Found a mistake? Email info@reactiontimetest.dev.