Speed up performance tests and reduce testing time with enterprise-level load generation and Web-based performance analysis tools. Loadrunner for Performance Testing is the only solution that enables you to model and simulate website functionality at interactive speeds – enabling fast and accurate pre-release evaluation.
You’ve got better things to do with your time. If you spend all day preparing, scripting, and running LoadRunner tests, you’re not spending time on designing software that performs better, scales effectively, and meets your business needs. Worse still if you’re dealing with repetitive manual testing tasks. With LoadRunner for Performance Testing you can automate away costly performance testing or achieve faster results through fully automated tests—either way, making the best use of your time so your team can focus on what really matters.
Apache JMeter
Apache JMeter is simply one of the best free load testing tools for developers. It is the most popular tool, too, so we’re giving it the first place, and it is beyond dispute. It supports a 100% Java-scripted desktop application and tests functional performance of web applications, as well.
Since Apache JMeter is available in an open-source format, it is highly accessible to software businesses of all sizes. The testing tool is extremely versatile, despite being open-source. It is compatible with several web and networking protocols such as HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, LDAP, SOAP, and TCP. Since the application has a Java-oriented system, it also offers compliance with JDBC and Message-oriented middleware (MOM) through JMS.
The option of using shell scripts and native commands for testing procedures makes it easier to implement.
Lastly, you can use JMeter to test applications for both dynamic and static resources. Therefore, users can utilize resources such as servers, logs, queries, scripts, and files during testing. At the same time, testers can also inspect applications under heavy load and evaluate their robustness and performance against different load types.
Pros
- GUI Design and interface
- Result analysis and caches
- Highly extensible core
- 100% Java-scripted
- Easy-to-use plugin manager
- Multithreading framework
- Data analysis and visualization
- Dynamic input
Cons
- Doesn’t support JavaScript, so it doesn’t support AJAX requests by extension
- After a certain limit, high memory consumption causes errors for a large number of users
- Can be difficult to test complex applications using JavaScript or dynamic content such as CSRF tokens
Protocols
- HTTP
- HTTPS
- XML
- SOAP
- Java-based protocols
- FTP
- JDBC
- LDAP
- POP3, IMAP, SMTP
Pricing
Free or Open Source
Best For
Apache JMeter is one of the best open-source load testing tools for businesses of all sizes. The tool gives its users various useful testing features for free and users can customize it according to their needs.
LoadRunner
Micro Focus LoadRunner, previously known as HP LoadRunner, is a highly sophisticated software load testing tool that detects performance issues in web applications. Nevertheless, it is not limited to testing web applications or services. It is also optimized for testing ERP software and legacy system applications, as well as Web 2.0 technologies.
Moreover, Load Runner is the tool to test old-fashioned proprietary protocols, so we believe that the second place in this list is nothing but fair for it.
LoadRunner enables software testers to have complete visibility over their system’s end-to-end performance. It is specialized in detecting bottlenecks before the application enters the implementation phase. Thus, users can evaluate each component individually before it goes live.
Similarly, LoadRunner is helpful when detecting performance gaps before implementation or an upgrade of a new system. At the same time, it provides users with highly advanced predictive features to forecast expenses for up-scaling application capacity. Due to accurate predictions of expenses related to hardware and software, it is easier to improve the capacity and scalability of your application.
Pros
- Accurate detection of system, end-user, and code-level bottlenecks
- Discovers root cause of application performance issues
- Reduces cost of application downtime stemmed from performance issues
- Allows performance testing of existing legacy applications with new technologies
- Enables testers to test mobile applications
- Reduces software and hardware costs by forecasting software capacity and scalability
- Enables software teams to configure intelligent service-level agreements before their product goes live
- Gives users shorter test cycles to expedite application delivery
- Offers effective tool utilization tracking
- Browser-based access to global test resources
- Optimal usage of load generator farm
Cons
- Extremely expensive (see our comparison article Jmeter vs Loadrunner)
- Uses a lot of memory and crashes if the system cannot meet its computing requirements
- May have compatibility issues
- Usage license is based on the number of virtual users
Protocols
LoadRunner supports all kinds of protocols related to its services.
Pricing
| Community Edition | Virtual user days | Volume Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Get 50 virtual user licenses for life | Gives you the option to add more virtual users | Contact vendor for quotation |
| Free | Starts at $1.40 per virtual user day | |
Best For
Micro Focus LoadRunner is a highly sophisticated and versatile load testing tool optimized for testing various platforms. However, due to its price the tool is more suitable for medium- to large-sized organizations.
LoadNinja
It allows you to create scriptless sophisticated load tests and reduces testing time by half. It also replaces load emulators with real browsers and gets actionable, browser-based metrics at ninja speed. LoadNinja empowers teams to increase their test coverage without giving up on the quality by removing the tedious efforts of dynamic correlation, script translation, and script scrubbing.
| Features | Protocols |
| Scriptless load test creation & playbackReal browser load test execution at scaleVU Debugger debug tests in real timeVU Inspector manages virtual user activity in real timeIt is hosted on the cloudBrowser-based metrics with analytics and reporting features | HTTPHTTPSSAP GUI WebWebSocketJava-based protocolGoogle Web ToolkitOracle forms |
Tricentis Neoload
NeoLoad is a continuous performance testing platform that automates performance testing from APIs to End-to-End applications. NeoLoad enables teams to automate and accelerate performance testing in Enterprise organizations. NeoLoad provides testers and developers automatic test design and maintenance, the most realistic simulation of user behavior, fast root cause analysis and built-in integrations with the entire SDLC toolchain. Learn more about how you can performance test with NeoLoad and: – Automate API testing within CI pipelines – Accelerate end-to-end application testing – Find performance bottlenecks faster – Manage testing assets and resources across the Enterprise
Conclusion
With LoadRunner, you get the most complete Web and Service performance testing solution. Using graphical modeling to set up tests, run them in an integrated environment, and visually analyze results, LoadRunner makes it easy to simulate real-world interactions with your applications. The fully integrated solution provides functionality for all development phases: capture real user scenarios; record and replay scripts; and automatically test performance under load or at scale.