Load testing is a kind of Performance Testing that determines a system’s performance under real-life load conditions. This testing helps determine how the application behaves when multiple users access it simultaneously.
Performance testing is an important part of software testing processes. It ensures proper performance of software through various tests and gives valuable results. There are many performance testing tools which software testers can use while performing various tests on a software application or website. More than just finding and pointing out errors, these performance testing tools provide statistics like load and stress test, which helps in measuring the performance of software for endurance and also helps to tune it for better performance.
Load testing usually identifies:
- The maximum operating capacity of an application
- Determine whether the current infrastructure is sufficient to run the application
- Sustainability of application with respect to peak user load
- Number of concurrent users that an application can support, and scalability to allow more users to access it.
Load testing is a type of non-functional testing. A load test is a type of software testing which is conducted to understand the behavior of the application under a specific expected load. Load testing is performed to determine a system’s behavior under both normal and at peak conditions.
These tools help performance/load test a site or application.
This article will help you quickly compare and evaluate the best load testing tools and other performance testing tools.
These network testing tools can help with your load testing processes.
The Best Performance Testing Tools for Rest Api
Best Performance Testing Tools for Rest Api tools for automated testing:
- LoadNinja
- Wapt
- WebLOAD
- Neotys Neoload
- BlazeMeter
- Load Impact
- LoadFocus
- Parasoft Load Test
- Akamai CloudTest
- TestPlant eggPlant Performance
Load Testing Tools Comparison Criteria
What are we looking for when we select network stress test tools for review? Here’s a summary of my evaluation criteria:
- User Interface (UI): Is it clean and attractive?
- Usability: Is it easy to learn and master? Does the company offer good tech support, user support, tutorials, and training?
- Features & Functionality:
- Realistic user simulation – Does the tool accurately reflect real-life user and load actions?
- Scripting language – Does the tool work with different scripting languages?
- Device testing variety – Can the tool test both mobile- and web-based apps?
- Reporting and analytics – Are the reporting tools robust, customizable, flexible, and visually appealing? Can they be exported into different, popular file types for review?
- Integrations: Is it easy to connect with other tools? Any pre-built integrations?
- Value for $: How appropriate is the price for the features, capabilities, and use case? Is pricing clear, transparent and flexible?
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Overviews Of The Load Testing Software
Here’s a brief description of each of the website testing that is featured on this top 10 list.
1. LoadNinja – Best for load testing with real browsers at scale
LoadNinja helps users diagnose web and API performance issues. It is simpler to use than conventional load testing tools and uses real browsers, which delivers a more accurate representation of load.
Creating performance tests via record and playback enhanced with AI can save around 60% of time vs traditional tools, and also reduces time maintaining tests as the application changes. Using real browsers at scale to generate load gives you the most accurate representation of load. Test results reflect true end-user experience and allow you to quickly diagnose bottlenecks and performance issues. The tool was designed with ease of use in mind, and is accessible to users of all skill levels.
Tool costs starting from $239/month for 100 virtual users. They also offer a free 14-day trial.Visit Website
2. WAPT – Employs a universal performance test design approach by recording real-life web sessions from a browser or a mobile application
WAPT lets users design or run tests locally or in the cloud. Users are enabled to create tests using a browser or a mobile application; employ remote, distributed and cloud-based testing; launch server and database performance monitoring; and more.
Some of the most exemplary elements of the software are the usefulness of auto-parameterization of most dynamic values, the extensibility via Javascript, and point-and-click recording capabilities.
The WAPT interface, as seen from the associated screenshot, comes across quite dated in the color, look, feel, and even text orientation. For those used to modern tech UI, it may be a bit of an eyesore; thus, they lost a few points per the UX review criteria.
WAPT starts at $700 and has a free trial.Visit Website
3. WebLOAD – Test with powerful recording and scripting, correlation, drag-and-drop building blocks, parameterization, and response validation
WebLOAD generates a test script in JavaScript, with the flexibility to add a wide range of protocols and easily extend to additional protocols as needed. The recording is transparent and automatic with any web technology, including HTTP/HTTPS (SSL, TLS) and more.
This tool does particularly well with building any simulated load for load and performance testing in an intuitive and easy way. Additionally, the play and record features are useful for tracking results.
As the only tool with no pricing information available, WebLOAD lost some points in cost transparency, meaning their review results for Value for Cost dropped a bit.
WebLOAD offers pricing upon request and has a free trial.Visit Website
4. Neotys Neoload – Design code-less load performance test scripts for large, complex applications using a graphical user interface
Neotys Neoload helps to 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. Easily set up testing resources as needed.
This tool has a clean, colorful, and strategically organized user interface that makes returning to the software for each task a pleasure. Thus, they scored well in the UX segment of the evaluation process.
One critique of this software to be wary of is that the charging mechanism on the cloud is not atomic in nature and has a dependency on a local machine. Additionally, the project gets harder to manage as the script grows.
Neotys Neoload starts at $6024/month and has a free 30-day trial.Visit Website
5. BlazeMeter – A shift-left testing platform for enterprises that need API, GUI functional & performance testing, mock services, and API monitoring
BlazeMeter allows for Selenium functional testing with no coding necessary. Simulate thousands or millions of virtual users from over 55 geo-locations, leveraging your favorite open source tools: Apache JMeter, Selenium, Gatling, Grinder, Locust and more.
This tool scores well in the Features – Reporting and Analytics segment of the evaluation criteria, as status report types and assertion types are very useful when creating test scripts. Reporting and graph features are very accurate, making them a key component of the software.
A downside of this tool is that Blazemeter does not integrate well or easily with Jmeter if you started with or intend to incorporate that tool at all.
BlazeMeter starts at $99/month and has a freemium version of the software.Visit Website
6. Load Impact – LoadImpact, soon to rebrand as k6 Cloud, is a cloud service used to load test the performance of websites, apps, and APIs
LoadImpact is a cloud service to load test the performance of websites, apps, and APIs that has specifically focused on API load testing in the new k6.io app, with a completely revamped Test Builder. Plus, they have an improved browser session recorder and an improved results page.
A standout component of this software is it’s easy to support of various ‘cl technologies’. Additionally, the reporting, graphs, and pictures are aesthetically pleasing and very readable.
This tool would benefit in some better help sections/training documents in order to outline the different components of the software and website. They lost a few marks in the evaluation for Usability but this certainly isn’t a deal-breaker, as many aspects of the tool are intuitive anyways.
Load Impact starts at $99/month and has a free trial.Visit Website
7. LoadFocus – No-code testing to find out how many users your website or API can handle; easily run tests within the browser from multiple locations
An easy and cost-effective way to test your websites, mobile and web applications, web services and APIs with features like load testing, website speed testing, mobile emulation, automated website testing, SEO/PWA/speed monitoring, and software consultancy services.
LoadFocus has a very reasonable price-per-month, scoring them favorably in the Value for Cost section of the evaluation review as far as paid load testing tools are concerned.
One weakness of the tool is that communication between the user and the LF team could be clearer and better implemented. For example, there have been some complaints about not receiving confirmation emails and other expected communication items.
LoadFocus starts at $22.60/month and has a free 14-day trial.Visit Website
8. Parasoft Load Test – Load testing module that enables users to take SOAtest functional test projects and leverage them for performance testing
Parasoft Load Test enables users to take SOAtest functional test projects and leverage them for performance testing. The Load Test Continuum (LTC) web-based reporting app makes performance testing a part of the CI/CD process and implements performance test automation.
One of the best parts of the software is that minimal experience/training is needed to get started. Users can easily pull from Excel or XML files, as well, and automating the APIs is intuitive.
With a rather hefty up-front cost, Parasoft Load Test lost a few marks in the Value for Cost section of the evaluation criteria, as the price tag may deter some. It is important to note that the cost listed below includes the enterprise edition, desktop licenses, and training for a team of 5.
Parasoft Load Test starts at $50,000 and has a free trial.Visit Website
9. Akamai CloudTest – Stress test the environment for your site or app and design your test at any scale or stage of production and interpret the results
CloudTest from Akamai allows you to safely simulate your largest events in production with precise control while producing a live analysis of what your site or app is capable of on your big day and helping you drill down to the source of any performance bottlenecks.
A highpoint of the software is that the software requires low resource allocation for high-performance results, which can be vital if you are working on sub-optimal systems or hardware.
Akamai CloudTest definitely has a formidable learning curve and is not necessarily ideal for users who are new to load testing ecosystems. The tool lost a few points in the Usability segment of the evaluation criteria.
Akamai CloudTest starts at $1300/user/year and has a free 30-day trial. Visit Website
10. Eggplant – Performance and load testing to ensure responsive and scalable application experiences for your app
Eggplant Performance provides user-centric performance testing that’s simple to use with the unique ability to simulate virtual users at both the application UI and the network protocol levels, making it a solution that gives you an understanding of the UX impact at scale.
Usability is perhaps the most satisfying element of the eggplant experience, as it is relatively easy to pick up and run with as a new user. The software scored favorably in the Usability category of the review criteria outlined previously.
A few cons to note are 1) the tool, on occasion, reports false positives since it works based on the OCR engine, and 2) it works better on macOS than on Windows.
Eggplant starts at $3400 for one test stream and has a free demo. Visit Website
Other Web Testing Options
If you’re still looking for a PC stress test online, here’s a few more load tester tools that didn’t make the top list. If you need additional suggestions for handy ap testing tools, check these out.
- Apache JMeter – Open source software and a pure Java application designed to load test functional behavior and measure performance
- Micro Focus LoadRunner – On-premises, project-based application performance and load testing that identifies the most likely cause of performance issues.
- Silk Performer – Easily simulate any size peak-load and avoid costly investments in stress testing hardware and setup.
- IBM Rational Performance Tester – Validates the scalability of web and server applications and identifies the presence and cause of system performance bottlenecks.
- Pureload – test all or part of the Network Functions (NF) in the 5G RESTfuls service architecture and simulate traffic from one or several NFs.
- Loadster – Load test your web application with thousands of synthetic users to optimize performance, reduce costs, and help prevent downtime.
- Smartbear LoadUI Pro – Create and manage load testing for REST & SOAP APIs, databases, and microservices right inside your CI/CD pipeline.
- Tricentis Flood – Establish cloud-based performance labs at the fingertips of every developer and tester for on-demand load testing.
- Gatling – Use either an open-source or enterprise version of this load testing tool to help anticipate any slow response times or crashes.
- Web Performance – Their app can help with simple local tests with simulated users all the way to 1,000,000 cloud-generated users.
- Rigor – Continuous monitoring and alerting equip you to track common, mission-critical flows from the end-user perspective.
Load Testing Tools FAQ
Still, have questions about website load testing and other app performance monitoring? Start here.
What is load testing?
Load testing is the process of putting stress on a system (number of concurrent users, for example) and measuring the response. This type of performance testing is done in order to spot bottlenecks in the system that might inhibit performance after launch or during high-use periods.
What’s load testing vs stress testing?
A load test sets a certain level of performance weight on a tool in order to gauge the response under these controlled circumstances. A stress test is designed to push the system until it breaks, in order to figure out the maximum the system can handle.
What are load testing tools, and what do they do?
Load testing tools are software that simulates “real world” load environments to place upon apps or websites in a controlled, safe environment. Load testing tools will monitor and report on the performance of the app or website in these simulated use environments in order to identify slowdowns or issues.
What are the best open-source load testing tools?
There are plenty of options for open source load testing software; for example, Apache JMeter, Taurus, The Grinder, and Gatling.
Not looking for load testing tools? Check out our other lists of top QA software:
- Need some help with QA automation? Be sure to check out 10 QA Automation Tools You Should Be Using In 2022.
- Want to optimize your defect tracking processes? Try these 10 Defect Tracking Tools To Keep Your QA On Track.
- Server monitoring dragging you down? Read up on the Top 10 Server Monitoring Tools & Software of 2022.
CONCLUSION
Performance testing is an important part of software testing. When performance testing, a tester will be looking to find defects and problems within an application, as well as the underlying infrastructure that supports it. There are a number of different tools and techniques that can be used to test the performance of an application and other infrastructure that can go along with it too. This is a list of just some of them.
How do you know your web application meets its performance requirements? What about your mobile app? How can you be sure you’re delivering the level of performance expected by your customers?