When you talk about software performance testing tools, you’re talking about a group of software applications that are used to measure and improve the performance capabilities of software. Software performance testing is one of the most important quality assurance methods in modern software development. This is why it’s important to choose the right software performance testing tools for your project.
If you have ever worked as an SME (Subject Matter Expert) in a software performance testing project, you would know the importance of software performance testing tools. If you haven’t, here’s where I come in.
Performance testing is a non-functional type of testing that is conducted to determine how an application will perform under load. The tests are conducted on metrics including speed, stability, and scalability. The right performance testing services can conduct a wide range of tests. Find out what the different types of performance tests are and the best 9 performance testing tools that are currently trending in 2021.
Types of Performance Tests
The different types of performance tests conducted by performance testing services include:
- Load Testing: This tests the workload that is produced in normal conditions and measures the application’s response time. It also helps in identifying any bottlenecks.
- Stress Testing: Extreme workload is applied to find out the load point at which the app will crash.
- Spike Testing: This involves changing the workload rapidly and monitoring the application’s response.
- Endurance Testing: This involves exposing the application to the expected workload for a prolonged period of time to check how well it can handle it.
- Scalability Testing: This test involves a gradual increase in workload to find out how efficiently the software can scale up.
- Volume Testing: Volume testing involves the performance testing services feeding the software’s database with large volumes of data to check its data processing capabilities and efficiency.
Best Performance Testing Tools
The top 9 performance testing tools which are used widely by performance testing services in 2021 and their key features are as follows:
1. WebLOAD
This is an enterprise-scale load testing tool that can generate real-life and reliable load scenarios, even in most complex systems. Its smart analytics provide in-depth performance insights. The tool comes with built-in support for hundreds of technologies. It also integrates with several tools to support simpler monitoring.
The key features of this performance testing tool are as follows:
- It is available on the Cloud or as an on-premise deployment
- Readily extensible and supports all the major web technologies
- Creates a flexible test environment
- Native JavaScript based on smart scripting with validation engines, parameterization, and powerful correlation
- Detects bottlenecks automatically
WebLOAD is widely used by performance testing services with complex and heavy user load requirements. You can conduct stress and load testing on any web-based software by creating load from on-premise systems and the Cloud. It supports technologies including enterprise applications to web protocols. It supports integration with tools like Selenium, Jenkins, and many others to allow continuous load testing for DevOps.
2. LoadNinja
LoadNinja allows you to build scriptless load tests. It is preferred by performance testing services because it helps reduce testing times by half. Other advantages include replacing load emulators with real browsers and generating actionable metrics.
This tool allows you to debug in the real-time, record client-side interactions, identify performance issues instantly, and do much more. LoadNinja allows you to boost your testing coverage without compromising on quality. It removes cumbersome, repetitive tasks involved in script translation, dynamic correlation, and script scrubbing. It allows you to spend more time in developing scalable applications and less time on creating load testing scripts.
The key features of LoadNinja are as follows:
- Real browser load testing at scale
- Create a scriptless load test and playback feature
- Real-time management of virtual user activity
- Real-time test debugging
- Advanced browser-based metrics with reporting and analytics features
- Cloud-based hosting eliminates maintenance of the server
LoadNinja supports the following protocols:
- HTTPS
- HTTP
- Java-based protocol
- SAP GUI Web
- Google Web Toolkit
- WebSocket
- Oracle Forms
3. LoadView
LoadView is also widely popular with performance testing services. This is an on-demand and fully-managed load testing and stress testing tool. It is different from most other load testing tools in that testing is conducted in real browsers. The result is close emulation of real users and highly accurate data. It is fully cloud-based and is readily deployed in minutes. It allows creating multi-step scripts simulating user interaction with your application or website.
Some of the key features of LoadView are as follows:
- Supports advanced load testing features like global Cloud-based infrastructure, point and click scripting, and real browser testing
- Allows instant and easy creation of test scripts without the need for coding
- Supports Rich Internet Applications including Java, Flash, HTML5, Ruby, Silverlight, and PHMP among others
- Over a dozen global Cloud locations supported by Google Cloud Platform and Amazon Web Services
- Test compatibility with dozens of desktop and mobile devices and browsers
- Easy to share performance metrics and reports
- Identifies bottlenecks and supports scalability
4. StresStimulus
StresStimulus is popular with performance testing services because it is capable of handling scenarios that may be difficult to test using other tools. It works by automatically fixing playback errors using its unique autocorrelation feature. The tool records user actions before replaying them to emulate changing usage patterns. It also keeps track of load impact on the responsiveness of the software and the server infrastructure. It can also detect hidden concurrency errors and provides in-depth performance metrics.
The key features of this performance testing tool are as follows:
- Cloud or on-premise testing using multiple load generators
- End-to-end Test Wizard reduces the learning curve by covering all steps
- Option of manual scripting is available, but not required. The tool supports upto 3 scripting languages.
- Allows script export to Visual Studio test format
- Can be used as a Fiddler add-on or an independent tool
5. Apache JMeter
JMeter is a popular open source performance testing tool that is designed for load and performance testing. It can be used to analyze and measure the performance of a wide range of software, covering services including networks and servers. It is mostly used as a website load testing tool for different types of web service applications.
JMeter is a Java platform application that can be integrated with the test plan. It also allows you to create a function test plan besides a load test plan. Some of the key features are as follows:
- Supports multiple load injectors that can be managed using a single controller
- Doesn’t require advanced infrastructure for load testing
- Requires lesser scripting efforts relative to other API performance testing tools, as it has a user-friendly interface
- Supports all Java-based applications
- Easy analysis of key load based stats and resource usage monitors by presenting simple graphs and charts
JMeter supports the following protocols – HTTPS, HTTP, XML, Java-based protocols, SOAP, and FTP among others.
6. SmartMeter.io
SmartMeter.io is the preferred option for performance testing services who want to address the drawbacks of JMeter. The tool supports the creation of a simple scriptless test environment with its Recorder. It provides test reports and has features like automatic test criteria assessment and test runs trend and comparison analysis. The tool offers full support for CI/CD integration. Its key features are as follows:
- Create a scriptless test environment
- Advanced response body extractor
- Real-time results and GUI test runs
- Comprehensive reporting, automatic assessment, and test execution comparisons
- Supports CI/CD integration
The SmartMeter.io supports the following protocols – HTTP, FTP, LDAP, JDBC, JMS, and SOAP. There is no need for browser plugin or proxy setup. It has excellent capabilities in CI integration, distributed testing, and provides unmatched performance testing support when it comes to validating apps.
7. Rational Performance Tester
Rational Performance Tester from IBM is designed to create and run performance tests. It is also a powerful analysis tool. The tool allows you to verify the stability and scalability of web-based applications before they are deployed. This is an automated performance testing tool that develops a demo of the transaction process between the web service and the user.
It is capable of gathering all the information and analyses them to help improve efficiency. It makes it easy to detect and rectify any leakage in the application or server. Rational Performance Tester is widely used by performance testing services to develop error-free and effective cloud computing service. Some of the key features of this tool are as follows:
- Supports event-based and scheduled testing
- Supports scriptless testing
- Runs with large tests involving multiple users
- Supports real-time reporting that allows instant performance issue identification
- Supports automatic detection and identification of dynamic server response
- Supports automated test data variation
- Runs website load tests with HTML version of web pages opened during test recordings
The performance testing tool supports the following protocols – Web HTTP, Citrix, XML, SOA, Weblogic, Websphere, SOA, and Socket Recording.
8. Silk Performer
Silk Performer is an enterprise class stress and load testing tool. It is capable of testing application environments along with hundreds and thousands concurrent users. It comes with CloudBurst feature that enables QA teams to efficiently launch any kind of peak load performance test without worrying about complex infrastructure. You can execute tests from over 50 locations globally. It supports Google, AWS, Azure.
Here are the key features of Silk Performer:
- Components -> Workbench, Performance Explorer, and True Log Explorer
- Minimal hardware is required for virtual user simulation
- Simulates modifiable virtual users
- It supports integrated server monitoring
- Supports six models of workloads
- Stress test website with server side diagnostics
Silk Performer supports the following protocols: HTTP/HTML, HTTPS/HTML, HTTP/HTTPS, Flash, Email (SMTP/ POP), FTP, TCP/IP, LDAP, XML/SOAP, .NET and many more.
9. Gatling
Gatling is a relatively new open-source load testing tool that was created in 2012. It enables you to execute load simulation of concurrent users against the system via JMS, HTTP/S, or JDBC protocols. You can use this tool to simulate web users of a system to identify bottlenecks and optimize them.
It is compatible for all operating systems as it works on Java. Gatling has two executables: one is to record tests and the other one is used to execute them. All the tests are recorded in Scala. After the execution is completed, an immersive and graphical report of the test is generated.
Here are the key features of Gatling:
- It supports any operating system or browser
- Scripting language is Scala and has its own DSL
- Can execute tests in multiple test clouds
- Capable of scaling through Taurus with BlazeMeter or flood.io
Gatling supports the following protocols: HTTP/S, JMS, and JDBC.
Why do we need Performance Testing?
- Performance testing informs the stakeholders about the speed, scalability, and stability of their application.
- It reveals the necessary improvements needed before the product is released in the market.
- Performance Testing also ensures that the software is not running slow while several users are using it simultaneously.
- It also checks the inconsistency across different operating systems.
These were just a few out of the many reasons why we need performance testing. Now let’s move ahead with our “Performance Testing Tools” article and have a look at the different advantages of it.
Advantages of Performance Testing
Validate Features – Performance testing validates the fundamental features of the software. A solid software foundation is a key principle of generating software success. Measuring the performance of basic software functions allows business leaders to make key decisions about the setup of the software.
Measure the speed, accuracy, and stability – Measuring performance speed, accuracy and stability is a vital aspect of software performance testing. It helps you in monitoring the crucial components of your software under duress. This can give you vital information on how the software will be able to handle scalability.
Keep your users happy – Measuring application performance allows you to observe how your customers respond to your software. The advantage is that you can pinpoint critical issues before your customers.
Identify discrepancies – Measuring performance provides a buffer for developers before release. Any issues are likely to be magnified once they are released. Performance testing allows any issues to be ironed out.
Improve optimization and load capability – Another benefit of performance testing is the ability to improve optimization and load capacity. Measuring performance can help your organization deal with volume so your software can cope when you hit high levels of users.
Types of Performance Testing
The different types of performance testing are:
- Load testing – It checks the application’s ability to perform under anticipated user loads. The objective is to identify performance bottlenecks before the software application goes live.
- Stress testing – This involves testing an application under extreme workloads to see how it handles high traffic or data processing. The objective is to identify the breaking point of an application.
- Endurance testing – It is done to make sure the software can handle the expected load over a long period of time.
- Spike testing – This tests the software’s reaction to sudden large spikes in the load generated by users.
- Volume testing – Under Volume Testing large no. of. Data is populated in a database and the overall software system’s behavior is monitored. The objective is to check the software application’s performance under varying database volumes.
- Scalability testing – The objective of scalability testing is to determine the software application’s effectiveness in scaling up to support an increase in user load. It helps plan capacity addition to your software system.
Top 10 Performance Testing Tools
The market is full of a number of tools for test management, performance testing, GUI testing, functional testing, etc. I would suggest you opt for a tool which is on-demand, easy to learn as per your skills, generic and effective for the required type of testing. Let’s have a look at the top 10 performance testing tools:
1. 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 & playback Real browser load test execution at scale VU Debugger debug tests in real time VU Inspector manages virtual user activity in real time It is hosted on the cloud Browser-based metrics with analytics and reporting features | HTTP HTTPS SAP GUI Web WebSocket Java-based protocol Google Web Toolkit Oracle forms |
2. Apache JMeter
JMeter is an open source tool that can be used for performance and load testing for analyzing and measuring the performance of a variety of services. This tool is mainly used for web and web service applications.
| Features | Protocols |
| It supports multiple load injectors managed by a single controller Highly portable and supports all the Java-based apps Less scripting efforts as compared to other tools Simple charts and graphs for analyzing key load related statistics and resource usage monitors. Supports Integrated real-time, Tomcat collectors for Monitoring | HTTP HTTPS XML SOAP Java-based protocols FTP |
3. WebLOAD
WebLOAD is an enterprise-scale load testing tool. It features a comprehensive IDE, Load Generation Console, and a sophisticated Analytics Dashboard. This is a web and mobile load testing and analysis tool from RadView Software.
| Features | Protocols |
| Flexible test scenario creation Supports every major web technology Powerful correlation engine Automatic bottleneck detection Generate load on-premise or in the cloud Native JavaScript scripting | HTTP HTTPS XML Enterprise applications Network Technology Server Technologies |
4. LoadUI Pro
LoadUI Pro allows you to quickly create scriptless sophisticated load tests, distribute them on cloud using load agents and monitor the performance of your servers as you increase the load on them. You can access detailed reports and quickly automate your load tests.
| Features | Protocols |
| Scriptless Load test creation Preconfigured load test templates like spike, baseline, stress, smoke Drag and drop load tests on distribution agents on cloud Sophisticated analytics and statists features for reporting Quick conversion of functional tests | HTTP REST SOAP JSON API Blueprint JSON Schema XML Schema |
5. LoadView
LoadView utilizes real browser-based load testing for websites, web applications, and APIs. It creates multi-step scripts that simulate users interacting with your website or application. With LoadView by Dotcom-Monitor, you can show the actual performance of your applications under load.
| Features | Protocols |
| Cloud-based load testing in real browsers Supports Rich Internet Applications Quickly and easily build test scripts without touching a line of code Test compatibility on mobile browsers and devices Identify bottlenecks and ensure scalability Performance metrics and reports that can be shared with various internal stakeholders | Flash Silverlight Java HTML5 PHP Ruby |
6. NeoLoad
NeoLoad is an innovative performance testing platform designed to automate test design, maintenance, and analysis for Agile and DevOps teams. It integrates with continuous delivery pipelines to support performance testing.
| Features | Protocols |
| Automated test design enabling faster test creation Integration with CI servers for automated test runtime It consists of Shared test scripts and reports Hybrid on-premise and cloud load generation from over 70 global localizations | HTTP HTTPS SOAP REST Flex Push AJAX Push |
7. LoadRunner
LoadRunner is a software testing tool from Micro Focus. It is used to test applications, measuring system behavior, and performance under load. It can simulate thousands of users concurrently using application software.
| Features | Protocols |
| Lower hardware and software costs by accurately predicting system capacity It Pinpoints the root cause of application performance problems quickly and accurately It has Effective tool utilization tracking Browser-based access to global test resources and optimal usage of load generator farm | All protocols are supported by Load Runner |
8. Silk Performer
Silk Performer tool is an enterprise class load and stress testing tool and has the ability to test multiple application environments with the thousands of concurrent users. It also supports the widest range of protocols.
| Features | Protocols |
| It requires minimum hardware resources Simulates modifiable virtual users Supports integrated server monitoring This has Customer friendly licensing Correlation and Parameterization is user-friendly No License requirement for Controllers This Handles Load Test in the project approach | HTTP/HTML HTTPS/HTML HTTP/HTTPS, Flash Email (SMTP/ POP) FTP, TCP/IP, LDAP XML/SOAP |
9. AppLoader
AppLoader is a load testing solution designed for business applications. It allows you to test any application by reproducing the same user experience from all your access points.
| Features | Protocols |
| AppLoader allows you to test the entire business flow This replicates the users’ interactions with your application Scripts are created automatically when you use your application | Citrix XenApp XenDesktop Cloud-based Infrastructure EHR Systems Customer Applications |
10. SmartMeter.io
SmartMeter.io is an alternative to JMeter and aims to fix its drawbacks. It allows for easy scriptless test scenario creation using the so-called Recorder, yet still lets you make advanced edits of the test. It also excels in test reporting and makes use of functions.
| Features | Protocols |
| • Scriptless test scenario creation • Comprehensive reporting with automatic evaluation • The GUI test run with real-time results • State of the art response body extractor • It is CI/CD ready | HTTP JDBC LDAP SOAP JMS FTP |
With this, we have come to the end of the top 10 performance testing tools list. I hope you guys enjoyed this article and got an idea about the best tools available for performance testing.
Now that you know about the different performance testing tools, check out the Performance Testing Using JMeter Course by Edureka, a trusted online learning company with a network of more than 250,000 satisfied learners spread across the globe. This course provides you insights into software behavior during workload. In this course, you will learn how to check the response time and latency of software and test if a software package is efficient for scaling. The course will help you check the strength and analyze the overall performance of an application under different load types. Got a question for us? Please mention it in the comments section of “Performance Testing Tools” and we will get back to you.
CONCLUSION
The above are the best tools that are currently used for performance testing services. When it comes to choosing from these tools, you should consider a number of factors. This includes the protocol support you require and licensing cost. You should also consider the hardware and software requirements of the tool. It is also important to consider the tool vendor support. It will also be required to consider the cost of training your teams.
It is important to realize that there is no single tool that can meet all your testing requirements. You will be required to use multiple tools to ensure that your products are tested more comprehensively. So, it is recommended to select the top performance testing tools from the above that can address all your testing needs.