APM Test
The most complete browser APM lab. Measure raw APM, effective APM (eAPM), peak burst speed, and action consistency across 4 test modes. Track your improvement over time with session history and a live APM chart.
Recent Sessions
Last 8 runs| Mode | Raw APM | eAPM | Peak Burst | Accuracy | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No sessions yet. Complete your first test to see history. | |||||
What Is APM (Actions Per Minute)?
APM is the total number of keyboard and mouse inputs you perform per minute. It is the primary competitive metric in Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games like StarCraft 2, Age of Empires II, and Brood War. High APM lets you macro (build and manage your economy) and micro (control individual units in combat) simultaneously without losing efficiency in either.
Raw APM vs. Effective APM (eAPM)
- Raw APM counts every single input — including spam clicks, camera moves, and repeated commands with no in-game effect.
- Effective APM (eAPM) filters out redundant inputs and only counts actions that produced a meaningful game command. eAPM is a truer measure of skill — a player with 250 raw APM but 180 eAPM is playing cleaner than a player with 320 raw APM but only 140 eAPM.
- This tool separates both metrics so you can see how much of your speed is actually productive.
About the 4 Test Modes
- Guided Grid: Click highlighted squares (mouse) or press the prompted key (keyboard). Measures your mixed-input reaction speed and dual-device coordination.
- Free Input: Any click or keypress counts. Spam freely to measure your absolute peak raw APM. Only the correct inputs are counted toward eAPM.
- StarCraft Drill: Complete a sequence of macro tasks (build, select, rally, cycle) using hotkeys in order. Measures your gameplay-realistic APM rhythm.
- Burst Speed: Measures your maximum APM over any 5-second window. This isolates your physical peak speed without the fatigue of a full session.
How to Improve Your APM
- Develop a camera cycling habit. Professional RTS players constantly alternate between their production buildings and the front lines using control groups. This alone adds 40–80 APM of useful actions.
- Bind everything to hotkeys. If you are clicking a menu option with your mouse, you are wasting time. Every production building, unit, and ability should have a key binding.
- Spam on down time. Between commands, spam-select your units or check the minimap. This keeps your hands warm and your rhythm up.
- Train burst then sustain. Work on peak speed first, then build consistency. Burst Mode in this test isolates your ceiling; the 60-second and 2-minute sessions test your floor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good APM for a beginner?
60–120 APM is typical for players just learning RTS games. Getting to 150+ eAPM is a meaningful milestone that puts you in the Intermediate bracket and means your hands are no longer a bottleneck in most engagements.
What APM do pro StarCraft players have?
Top professional StarCraft 2 players like Maru, Serral, and Clem operate at 300–500+ raw APM in high-intensity fights, with eAPM often above 250. Brood War legends regularly exceed 400+ eAPM.
Does APM matter in games other than RTS?
Yes, but less directly. In MOBAs like League of Legends, high APM helps with CS, kiting, and ability combos. In FPS games, APM is less relevant — aim speed and reaction time matter more. In card games like Hearthstone, there is almost no benefit to high APM.
Why is eAPM sometimes lower than I expect?
eAPM filters out actions that are redundant — selecting the same unit twice, right-clicking to move to the same location, or pressing a hotkey with no valid target. In Guided Grid mode, only correctly executed prompts count toward eAPM. In Free mode, any repeated keypress within 50ms is counted as spam and excluded from eAPM.
Can I improve APM with practice?
Yes. Daily 15–20 minute APM drills over 2–4 weeks typically produce a 20–40% improvement in sustained APM. The gains are from habit formation — learning to fill dead time with productive inputs — not from raw finger speed, which changes little for most people.