CROMagnet vs GTmetrix: speed testing and store audits compared
Based on public information as of October 2026
In short
GTmetrix tests page speed with Lighthouse and shows waterfall charts, test locations and scheduled monitoring. CROMagnet audits a whole store for speed, conversion, trust, tracking and discovery and ranks what to fix. Use GTmetrix to diagnose how a page loads and the audit to find what costs sales.
GTmetrix and CROMagnet, side by side
| GTmetrix | CROMagnet | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Page performance | Store performance, conversion, trust, tracking and discovery |
| Test detail | Waterfall charts, video and filmstrip views, many test locations and simulated devices | Request log, third-party weight and screenshots at desktop and phone sizes |
| Monitoring | Scheduled tests with alerts | Scheduled audits on paid plans, with fixed, new and regressed findings |
| Real-visitor data | Chrome UX Report data shown in reports | Chrome UX Report data through PageSpeed Insights |
| Platform fixes | Generic recommendations | Steps written for Shopify and WooCommerce |
| Price | Free to start, paid plans for more tests and monitoring | Free first audit, plans from $19 a month |
What GTmetrix does well
- The waterfall is the clearest view of what loads, in what order and how slowly
- Test from many locations and on many simulated devices to see regional differences
- Built around monitoring and alerts for performance changes
- Good for a developer tuning one page
What CROMagnet adds
- One score across five areas, so speed is seen in context
- Findings come with the evidence and the fix for your platform
- Reports you can send to a client under your own brand
- Benchmarks from real stores to show what is normal
Use GTmetrix when
- You are debugging how one page loads
- You need to test from a specific region or device
- You want continuous performance alerts
Use CROMagnet when
- You want the whole store checked, not one page
- You need to explain results to an owner or client
- You want fixes written for your platform
Using them together. Many teams use both: the audit to find which template or app is the problem, and a waterfall tool to confirm how it loads before and after a fix.
Common questions
001Is GTmetrix more accurate?
Both use Lighthouse underneath. They differ in test location, device and conditions, so scores will not match exactly. Use one tool consistently when comparing changes.
002Does the audit have a waterfall?
No. It lists requests, third parties and their weight, which answers what loads and who owns it, but it is not a waterfall visualisation.
See the difference on your own store.
Free, and every finding shows its evidence.