Top Load Testing Tools: 50 Useful Tools for Load Testing Websites, Apps, and More
By: Alexandra
| April 7, 2017
As every developer knows, what works in the ideal scenario (a.k.a. your production environment) won’t necessarily work in the real world. That’s why you need tools like Retrace to help you quickly track down bugs and performance issues to keep things running smoothly.
Load testing, just one of many valuable testing methods you can use before release to ensure that your application is bug-free and runs seamlessly, is the process of testing whether an application can withstand the load of concurrent users, requests, and data volumes when in use. In other words, load testing is a must for determining if your applications can stand up to real-world use conditions.
There are many load testing tools available today for all kinds of applications and organization. In this article, we’ll look at 50 different load testing tools and highlight the key features of each of them.
Note: The following 50 load testing tools are not ranked or rated in any particular order of importance, but are listed in random order below.
Apache JMeter is a 100% pure Java, Open Source application that can be used to test performance on both static and dynamic resources, simulating heavy loads on individual servers, groups of servers, networks, or objects to test strength and analyze performance under different load types. Check out the getting started documentation here.
Key Features:
JMeter is a Java application for load and performance testing
Used to test web apps, SOAP & REST web services, FTP, databases, and more
The most mature, and widely used open source load testing tool available
A desktop tool for load, stress, and scalability testing for both websites and web apps, LoadComplete by SmartBear doesn’t require advanced coding skills – meaning you can focus on the more important tasks. Check out LoadComplete’s documentation here.
Key Features:
Load testing for .NET and Java apps
Generates various levels of traffic without requiring code inputs
Test options available for IE, Chrome and Firefox
Provides checks for both, secure and non-secure traffic
Cost: Plans start at $230 – $1,625 per month, based on a 1-year subscription
NeoLoad is an automated performance testing platform for enterprise organizations continuously testing applications and APIs. The platform provides testers and developers automatic test design and maintenance, realistic simulation of user behavior, fast root cause analysis and built-in integrations with the entire SDLC toolchain. NeoLoad lets you reuse and share test assets and results from functional testing tools to analytics and metrics from APM tools. It supports the full range of mobile, web and packaged applications, like SAP, to continuously schedule, manage and share test resources and results across the organization to ensure application performance. Check out the overview page here.
Key Features:
Automated API Tests: Design, maintain and run performance tests as code and analyze results within continuous integration pipelines using pre-packaged plugins for CI/CD tools and the NeoLoad API.
Code-less Test Design: Create test scripts quickly for large, complex applications using a graphical user interface and skip the complexity of hand coding new and updated tests.
Dynamic Infrastructure: Easily set up testing resources as needed and automatically free up resources as tests complete. Use test infrastructure efficiently and improve TCO.
Resource Reservation: Reserve load testing infrastructure (licenses, load generators, VUs) by date and duration and guarantee resources are available and dedicated.
Locust is an Open Source load testing tool that enables you to define user behavior using Python to test your system’s performance under millions of simulated, simultaneous users. Full Locust documentation is available here.
Key Features:
Allows you to write expressive scenarios in plain-old Python
Enables testing on any system, and multiple systems at the same time
Load Multiplier is a testing framework to test IT products across domains such as telecommunication, banking, web, proprietary protocols. Additionally given a client library, it can generate millions of such client instances so as to generate real field traffic. It comes with a web based front end, and powerful C/C++ based back end engine.
Key Features:
It provides stable uninterrupted long hour load testing solution for products based on:
A load and stress testing tool for easily analyzing website performance, WAPT creates tests in minutes for mobile applications, web services or customized ERP systems. The full WAPT documentation is available here.
Key Features:
Sends reports to mobile device and desktop device for convenience
Provides extensions to work with ASP.net, Adobe Flash and Silverlight
Test results are shown in 20 different detailed reports
Provides detailed graphs even during the runtime, to help track the performance
A complete test automation solution for GUI, performance, load, and API testing, Test Studio from Telerik is a useful tool for testing desktop, web, and mobile applications. The full documentation is available here.
Key Features:
Provides testing for HTML5, AJAX, Android, WPF
Allows users to share and pick references from Element Explorer
Developers can use any language they are used to
Users can test any NativeScript app over 500+ devices
Cost:
DevCraft: $1,499/developer (perpetual license)
Telerik Platform: Starts at $39 per month per developer
Loader.io offers simple cloud-based load testing for stress testing your web apps and APIs with thousands of concurrent connections. Check out the documentation here.
Key Features:
Runs tests for you anytime and from anywhere
Allows monitoring of the test and performance from any place
Provides stress test result in descriptive graphs which will be sent to all users
An SaaS-delivered cloud load and performance testing solution, StormRunner Load makes it simple to plan, run, and scale testing for both web and mobile apps.
Key Features:
Takes 10 minutes to design and create web load or mobile test
Tests can be managed from anywhere using a cloud based testing function
Can quickly scale from 1 to 1,000,000 geographically distributed web and mobile user
A Java load testing framework, The Grinder makes running distributed tests simple using many load injector machines. The Grinder is maintained by Philip Aston, who took over the code (originally developed for the book Professional Java 2 Enterprise Edition with BEA WebLogic Server by Paco Gómez and Peter Zadrozny) and reworked it to create The Grinder 2 and subsequently The Grinder 3. The full documentation can be found here.
Key Features:
Test scripts can be written in Clojure and Jython
Any Java API can be loaded as a test, be it from HTTP web servers, SOAP and REST services, etc
Pre-built Java libraries with large variety of systems and protocols is available
An Open Source, multi-protocol, distributed load testing tool, Tsung helps you test the performance and scalability of IP-based client/server applications. Check out the full documentation here.
Key Features:
Multiple IP addresses can be opened on one machine using their OS IP Aliasing
Response time can be measured during the load by generating HTML reports
HTTP, WebDAV, MySQL and LDAP servers can stressed using this software
An Open Source load and performance testing tool for web applications, Gatling helps you improve time-to-market by identifying bottlenecks, errors, and performance issues prior to release. Gatling documentation is available here.
Key Features:
Can forecast performance issues in the web application you make
Errors and bottlenecks will be detected in the early part of the development cycle
Drastically reduces the debugging phase time
Provides the best digital experience to customers and users
Because automating repetitive tasks just makes sense, Taurus provides an automation-friendly framework for continuous testing. You can read the full documentation here.
Key Features:
Provides smooth automation and integration of JMeter and other systems
Creating, running and analyzing performance tests are made simple
Has a different approach and system than The Grinder and Gatling
New tests can be made from scratch using control friendly and unified DSL
Httperf is an Open Source HTTP load generator for measuring web server performance that facilitates the construction of both macro- and micro-level benchmarks.
Key Features:
This is a simple open source tool for measuring web server performance
It is solely made to test standard http payload of the application you test
High performance and robust tool that helps create micro and macro benchmarks
Micro Focus Silk Performer understands that the biggest and most complicated issues happen at the most inconvenient times, so Silk Performer is designed to provide a consistent user experience anywhere, anytime, on any device. Check out the documentation here.
Key Features:
Load tests reflect real world user behavior with their different constraints
Provides unlimited cloud support for load testing on mobile devices and systems
A tool designed for benchmarking an Apache Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server, ApacheBench gives you an accurate picture of how your current Apache installation performs. The documentation is available here.
Key Features:
Provides better support for asynchronous read and write
Keepalivetimeout can be specified in a millisecond
Helps you understand how your current Apache installation performs
Offering powerful tools and flexible options, ZebraTester enables you to easily create and run tests of nearly unlimited scale with incredible visibility into your results.
Key Features:
Includes performance testing for CI/CD process using LoadTest Portal
Apica team helps design, execute and manage the project
Security policies have been given equal importance, and subsidiary software is available
Free 500VU are provided on their global network and LoadTest Portal
Experitest offers several testing tools for mobile apps, including a mobile add-on for HP LoadRunner, which makes it possible to perform mobile load testing by connecting real devices and testing your applications under simulated loads. Read the full documentation here.
Key Features:
This is specially made to test your mobile applications load taking capacity
Runs the same tests as systems on the mobile devices
Create and edit mobile tests inside LoadRunner
Creates report screenshots and videos of the application
Optimize your load and performance testing costs with AgileLoad, which provides distributed and cloud-based testing on-demand and server and database monitoring in a single package.
Key Features:
Helps you create complicated scenarios in minutes using their Web 2.0 technology
Allows you to simulate your load from any location, through the Cloud
Gives you an accurate end to end picture of your application’s performance
Lets you correlate different load test by combining them in one graph
An easy and cost-effective way to load test both web and mobile apps, LoadStorm helps you find the breaking point of your applications and other weaknesses before your customers do.
Key Features:
Provide full project management, where they do all the test work for you
Cloud servers are able to run load tests up to 1,000,000 VUsers
Allows logins from any location around the world
Provides control of spreading the traffic to any geographic location
A full-featured testing solution for websites, web apps, and web services, Loadster is built for real web applications and can handle cookies, user sessions, custom headers, and more with ease.
Key Features:
Gives a hybrid solution for load testing with ground server and cloud system
Provides two options for generating concurrent user, from their server and your own
Concurrent users are generated from 5 different continents
Loads multiple tests at once and generates users for all tests
LoadView provides flexible load testing from the cloud for websites, web apps, mobile, and APIs. With a 100% managed cloud, there’s no need to set up your own third-party cloud accounts.
A modern, powerful, and easy-to-use load testing toolkit, Artillery empowers developers to make scalable, performant, and resilient applications that can stand up to high load. The documentation is available here.
Key Features:
Supports multiple protocols- HTTP(S), WEbSockets and Socket.io
Software prefered by ecommerce backends, loT bankends and transactional APIs
Supports Statsd, Datadog, InfluxDB and Librato
Use npm modules and customize load tests with Java Script
Ensure that your cloud and server-based applications will continue to work, perform flawlessly, and provide a consistent user experience with eggPlant. Check out eggPlant’s documentation here.
Key Features:
Technology support includes client-side .NET, client-side Java, Citrix and TCP/UDP
Load test creating tools are easy, which helps new and experienced users design
C# and Java are fully integrated to help faster script authoring
Provides live monitoring to help control tests while they run
Offering a range of load testing services, Applause helps you ensure that your apps and websites can handle the biggest loads on your most successful days. Check out the documentation here.
Key Features:
Pre-built custom load scripts to reduce scripting time and money
Provide expert help to interpret load test results for better insights
Give access to experts who craft custom Apache JMeter load testing scripts
Provides cloud-based infrastructure for flexible scaling
LoadUI provides load testing for REST and SOAP APIs to ensure your APIs never let you down. You can rapidly create API load tests either against a single web service endpoint or an existing functional API test.
Key Features:
Allows reuse of existing SoapUI Pro functional tests
Can run several load test scenarios continuously with one another
See the interaction of each scenario and the impact they have
Shows how your server reacts to traffic and diagnose the bottlenecks
JCrawler is an Open Source stress testing tool for web apps with a crawling/exploratory feature enabling you to define a set of starting URLs for JCrawler to begin crawling and generating loads. Check out the documentation here.
Key Features:
Can be used through little bandwidth, doesn’t require high internet speeds
Uses XML file to configure, which makes it easier to create load tests
Can be run on any type of system
JCrawler tools specially made for developers and QAs
A load testing tool for both web and mobile applications, StresStimulus measures web performance and scalability under heavy traffic loads. The full StresStimulus documentation can be found here.
Key Features:
Records traffic for mobile devices like Apple, Android, Windows and Blackberry
Works smoothly with all main web platforms- Java, PHP and ASP.NET
Supports many Enterprise applications CRM, SharePoint, Silverlight and more
The only software that can be used as an add-on for
Cost: $1,040 – $3,950 per month (Perpetual 250 VUs License)
A distributed software testing architecture designed around CORBA, OpenSTA performs scripted HTTP and HTTPS heavy load tests with performance measurements from Win32 platforms. The documentation can be found here.
Key Features:
Made for experienced and proficient testing users
Records can be played by different users’ perspectives for better understanding
Open Source tools licensed under GNU General Public License
Was made to be free for user and will always remain free
An AWS Lambda powered, distributed load testing tool, GOAD enables you to launch HTTP loads from up to four AWS regions simultaneously. Check out GOAD’s documentation here.
Key Features:
Allows HTTP load launch from four different AWS at the same time
A single lambda is able to handle hundreds of concurrent connections
A library injection technique that employs the concept of reflective programming, Reflective DLL injection performs the loading of a library from memory into a host process. Check out the documentation on GitHub.
Key Features:
This follows the concept where reflective programming is employed
The library loads itself by using minimal portable execution
It interacts with the minimal interaction with the host system
Injection works on Windows NT$ and up including Windows 8
A user-friendly tool for web application load testing and performance testing, LoadTracer works like many other load testing tools, recording scripts and playback with hundreds of virtual users.
Key Features:
It helps with web application load testing, monitoring and performance testing
Uses various techniques to record and find bottlenecks and latency issues
Bees with Machine Guns is a nifty little utility that sends swarms of “bees” to attack (a.k.a. load test) your web applications. Check out the documentation here.
Key Features:
Helps create micro EC2 instances called bees to load test web applications
The first unified test automation platform that completely transforms the software QA process, Appvance eliminates silos and helps you see your app’s performance through your users’ eyes.
Key Features:
Tests your applications and shows how a user would see it
Finds bugs the user would find on their browsers and mobile applications
Data-drive is available for any language you use
Brings in a new level of smoothness in their record and play script creation
nGrinder is an enterprise-level performance testing solution based on The Grinder, allowing you to execute script creation, test execution, monitoring, and the result report generator simultaneously. Check out the documentation here.
Key Features:
Uses Jython and Groovy to design scenarios and create stress in JVM
Tests can be extended to limitless customs, using their unlimited library
Library consists Jar, Python, Maven dependencies
Allows you to monitor the agents creating stress and the targeted machines
Test earlier and more often with Rational Performance Tester, which validates web and web server applications for scalability, identifies bottlenecks, and more. Check out the documentation here.
Key Features:
Allows early and frequent tests of DevOps approach
It helps see the extent of the web and server scalability
Identifies the presence and cause of the performance bottlenecks and system issues
Provides root cause analysis feature to find and diagnose the issue
An Open Source Java-based framework that you can incorporate into your applications for performance testing, J-hawk generates performance reports to help you identify bottlenecks. Check out the documentation here.
Key Features:
An Open Source Java based framework to test the performance of the application
Uses its own scripting language called $hawk scripting
Provides two ways to use j-Hawk- Property Mode, Script Mode
Selenium isn’t actually a load testing tool itself, although its powerful browser automation features enable various load testing scenarios for low-scale browser loads. Check out Selenium’s documentation here.
Key Features:
Though not a load testing tool itself, its powerful browser automation features enable various load testing scenarios
Provides two types of applications for user, based on the kind of work they want to execute
Selenium WebDriver creates robust browser tests and automation suites
Selenium IDE designs scripts to help Automation exploratory test
With Performance Center from HP, you can plan and execute tests across multiple global projects. With software testing tools and consistent processes, you can create a world-class testing center with ease.
Key Features:
Is updated to be compatible to all sorts of hardware
Creates a common testing infrastructure for engineers located around the globe
Use tests stored in the Cloud or in your premise behind a firewall
Reduces cost by creating a shared tests report infrastructure for engineers
A web site coverage, HTTP load generator, HTTP benchmarking, and stress testing tool, Hammerhead is designed to emulate several users from different IP addresses at maximum speeds to push your apps to the limit.
Key Features:
It is a HTTP load generator and benchmarking tools
Provides web site coverage and website stress testing tools
Load Xen, by Testcollab, enables you to simulate millions of requests to help you more effectively scale your applications. You can create interactions that seem just like real users to your application, randomize requests, run concurrent tests, and more with Load Xen.
Key Features:
Simulate hundreds to millions of virtual users
Create interactions that mimic real use
Flexible scripting
Real-time reporting
Concurrent tests
Cost:
Free: 100 VUs, max test time 2 hours
Paid plans: $50 to $500 per month
It is important to test any software’s performance and load handling capabilities before it is released. There are many options available ranging from open source to enterprise-ready tools to perform load testing. We hope this list will help you choose the right load testing tool for your project depending on the kind of software you are building and your budget.
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