Skip to main content

Software Shortlist

Here are the top 10 performance testing tools I’d like to highlight out of the 24 I cover in this article:

  1. 1. WebLOAD — Best for unlimited user load tests
  2. 2. Tricentis NeoLoad — Best continuous performance testing platform
  3. 3. Kobiton — Best performance testing software for mobile apps
  4. 4. BrowserStack — Best real device app & browser testing
  5. 5. LambdaTest — Best cross-browser performance testing tool
  6. 6. Loadero — Best to run tests with thousands of users from global servers
  7. 7. Micro Focus LoadRunner — Best performance load testing with autocorrelation
  8. 8. Loadster — Best performance & load test platform for web applications
  9. 9. Test Modeller — Best to create & automate tests from flowcharts
  10. 10. ACCELQ — Best codeless test automation platform on the cloud

Performance testing software is an essential part of the software release process. Performance testing ensures your products and web applications not only work from a functional standpoint but also perform well under real load conditions. 

The best performance testing tools help simplify the testing process. They let you create scenarios and automate them across thousands of simultaneous users. If your product passes this strenuous evaluation, you know it’s ready for real-world use. 

In this article, I’ll introduce 10 of my favorite performance testing tools and highlight what makes each one so great. 

What Is Performance Testing Software?

Performance testing software is a type of software that is designed to simulate user traffic and measure the performance of a software application or system under varying conditions, such as high user loads, varying network conditions, or other stressors. The goal of performance testing is to identify any performance bottlenecks or issues and to ensure that the application performs optimally and meets user expectations.

Performance testing software can perform a variety of tests, including load testing, stress testing, endurance testing, and scalability testing. Load testing simulates user traffic to measure the application's response time and how it handles a specific number of users or transactions. Stress testing tests the application's ability to handle extreme traffic loads or unexpected events. Endurance testing measures how the application performs over a sustained period of time, while scalability testing tests the application's ability to handle growth and increased user traffic.

Performance testing software typically includes a range of tools and features to help developers and testers measure and analyze the performance of the application, including real-time monitoring, reporting, and analysis tools.

Overviews Of The 14 Best Performance Testing Software Solutions

Here’s a brief description of each best performance testing tool to showcase each tool’s best use case, some noteworthy features, and screenshots to give a snapshot of the user interface.

1

WebLOAD

Best for unlimited user load tests

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.5
27 reviews

30-day free trial

Pricing upon request

WebLOAD is a performance and load testing software that's designed to help QA teams measure and ensure the stability of their web applications under heavy load. It's a tool that's all about making sure your website or app doesn't buckle under pressure when a lot of users are accessing it at the same time.

Its end-to-end load testing process can help you build powerful scripts, simulate realistic load, and identify performance problems in one go. And if you are not too comfortable developing load scenarios by altering scripts, you will appreciate WebLOAD's drag-and-drop automated script builder. With this builder, you can quickly add and remove elements and let it do the heavy lifting. Its library includes load test commands, Web protocol actions, actions for database, mobile, multimedia, WebSockets, as well as validation points.

Once you are ready to test, the scheduler lets you control the load build up so you can accurately simulate real-life scenarios, including linear steps and increments. These tests can help you simulate up to millions of virtual users and distribute the load across the number of machines you wish. WebLOAD will distribute the scripts and parameters and collect all of the data on the client-side for you.

Finally, the data collected will reflect averages on the client side that give you meaningful load analytics and also individual user experience information so you get the full picture of what one user experiences. The analytics dashboards will provide you with over 80 configurable report templates for root cause analysis and let you share results across distributed teams.

Integrations for this software include APM tools like Dynatrace, AppDynamics and New Relic, open-source software like Selenium and Jenkins, and mobile testing platforms like Perfecto Mobile.

2

Tricentis NeoLoad

Best continuous performance testing platform

Free trial available

Plans start at $20,000/year for up to 300 virtual users

Tricentis NeoLoad is a tool for the continuous performance testing of everything from APIs to applications.

It’s built for enterprises with complex testing needs. It enables continuous performance testing within any pipeline. You can use the tool across different teams even when each one uses a different approach.

The tool has several features that make it easy to use. You can use drag and drop controls to design tests without coding, allowing more people in your business to run tests. You can also choose to run tests from over 70 locations to ensure your products work globally.

It’s possible to track tests in real-time to start fixing issues as soon as you see them. More in-depth data is available once the test is complete.

The tool has a huge number of integrations. It works with CI, testing, version control, performance monitoring, and SAP testing tools. You can also access the open API to connect to other business tools.

Trecentis doesn’t advertise pricing, but you can request a demo or a free trial via the website.

3

Kobiton

Best performance testing software for mobile apps

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.2
15 reviews

14-day free trial

From $75/month

Kobiton is performance testing software for mobile apps. The tool has both real and automated testing features.

Real testing is in the form of a huge cloud library of Android and iOS devices. Choose the devices you want to use, then run your app on each one.

Once you’ve ironed out any bugs with manual testing, you can run automated tests at scale. Just create scripts by converting one of your manual sessions into a test, which you can do without using code.

When the automated tests discover errors, the tool provides all the data you need to fix them. For example, it will provide screenshots and information about the device the issue occurred on.

Kobiton integrates with various tools, including IDEs like Jetbrains and Visual Studio, and project management platforms like Jira. Pricing starts at $50 per month for the startup plan, which includes 500 testing minutes. You can sign up for a free trial on the website.

4

BrowserStack

Best real device app & browser testing

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.5
863 reviews

Free trial available

Starts at $29/month

Browserstack is a performance testing tool that allows you to test the UI and API of your web and mobile applications. The tool allows you to test across all operating systems such as Windows, Mac and Linux, as well as providing the ability to execute cross browser testing. Browserstack also provides the ability to test on real devices, allowing you full test coverage of your mobile apps. Browserstack provides an abundance of features to assist you in the testing of your web and mobile applications. The tool allows you to take screenshots of your current screen as you carry out live testing, as well as helping to deploy parallel executions without delays. Browserstack also offers 1500+ real devices and simulators so you can execute your workflows accordingly. Browserstack provides integrations with Selenium, Appium and Jenkins. The cost of Browserstack starts at $29/per month for the Desktop package. The tool also offers a free trial.

5

LambdaTest

Best cross-browser performance testing tool

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.5
756 reviews

Free trial available

From $15/month

LambdaTest helps teams perform cross-browser testing on Selenium, Cypress, Appium, Hyperexecute, Playwright, and Puppeteer. It promises fast testing speeds so you can test earlier and more often, ensuring you find issues as soon as possible.

The tool has 3,000 real browsers and operating systems you can use to test apps. These run across Windows, Mac, and mobile operating systems. And you can run tests from different locations to ensure all users get a good experience.

The tool has integrated developer tools that help you fix issues in testing. It also has an extensive integration library with plenty of tools developers use, including Jira, Slack, Jenkins, and Travis CI.

The tool also has mobile app features; you can test apps across iOS and Android devices.

Users get 60 minutes of live testing every month for free. Web automation testing starts at $99 per month.

6

Loadero

Best to run tests with thousands of users from global servers

$5 per month for 45-minute tests with up to 20,000 concurrent participants.

Loadero is cloud-based performance and load testing software. It helps ensure your product or app will work under a higher than normal load.

You can create performance tests to simulate user behavior and see how your system handles this. Then run these tests with thousands of users from servers globally and on various browser versions. You can also turn your existing performance tests into load tests.

A cool feature is that when configuring your test you can include different network issues. This is useful because it’s unlikely that all your users will connect to your app with perfectly running networks, which could affect performance.

Once you’ve run tests, it will create reports and summaries that include session recordings, screenshots, and user statistics. You can view deep logs, which help you understand exactly why your app performed as it did.

Loadero lets you run up to 100 small-scale tests for free. There is pay-as-you-go pricing that starts at $5 per month for 45-minute tests with up to 20,000 concurrent participants. The tool also offers a service where its team of engineers will create tests for you based on your needs.

7

Micro Focus LoadRunner

Best performance load testing with autocorrelation

Free Trial

Pricing is available upon request.

Microfocus LoadRunner is performance load testing software. The tool supports testing in over 50 technologies and application environments, including MQTT, WebSockets, Java, and SAP. You can easily create scripts using each protocol, and the tool’s Virtual User Generator lets you create, record, and correlate scripts.

One of the key features is the auto-correlation engine. This helps you identify issues faster so you can start taking action. The tool also has emulation features that let you deploy thousands of virtual users to test how your tool performs under more significant loads.

The tool has several built-in integrations. You can connect with ICEs, monitoring tools, and source code management software. A free community edition of LoadRunner provides access to the full product capabilities. You can sign up for this on the website.

8

Loadster

Best performance & load test platform for web applications

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.4
4 reviews

Loadster is a test performance tool for web applications. It lets you deploy bots that simulate real users so you can test how your tool performs under load. The tool has versions for APIs, static websites, web apps, and more complex websites.

Creating test scripts is easy. Just record sessions in your browser using the Loadster Chrome plugin, then edit the session where necessary and launch the tests.

You can easily control test features such as increasing or decreasing load or choosing traffic from different geographical regions. The tool has data centers in 24 locations across the world.

Loadster provides real-time metrics on data such as response times and errors. Once the test is finished you can download it into reports to share with others in your organization. At this point, you can view requests and responses at each individual step to help identify issues or bottlenecks.

Loadster has two pricing options. The pay-as-you-go option starts at $119 for 1,000 bot hours. Monthly plans start at $399 per month.

9

Test Modeller

Best to create & automate tests from flowcharts

Free Trial

Test Modeller is a performance testing tool that boasts an abundance of features, including collaboration tools and requirements management software. The tool allows teams to collaborate on prioritization and management of change and QA/testing, as well as parallel execution, allowing you to streamline your processes and better organize your team’s capacity. Test Modeller also provides a hierarchical view feature which allows you to break down complex applications into more manageable models. Test Modeller offers the ability to generate test scenarios with a visual interface that allows you to execute parameterized testing, allowing you to customize your testing requirements. The tool also provides the ability for testers and stakeholders to carry out modeling, leaving the developers to overlay the automation and data elements, allowing your team to handle maintenance in a more sophisticated way. Test Modeller provides many integrations with DevOps tools such as Jenkins, Sauce Labs and Azure DevOps, as well as web platforms such as EggPlant and Tricentris. Test Modeller offers customized pricing upon request. The tool also offers a free trial.

10

ACCELQ

Best codeless test automation platform on the cloud

14-day free trial available (no CC required)

$440/user/month

AccelQ is a codeless test automation and management platform powered by AI. It works across multiple channels, including web, mobile, API, and backend.

The tool is cloud-based which simplifies setup as you don’t have to install an IDE. Test creation is also easy, as the tool guides you through scenario creation by providing prompts at each step. There are also automation features such as AI-powered test generation.

You can run test scenarios from within the dashboard. Choose from settings such as which OS or browsers you want to use. Once finished, the results are clearly displayed, and the tool even takes screenshots to show exactly what the users would see.

AccelQ pricing starts at $440 per user per month when paid annually for access to web and API automation. You can contact the company for more information.

Need expert help selecting the right Testing Software?

We’ve joined up with the software comparison platform Crozdesk.com to assist you in finding the right software. Crozdesk’s Testing Software advisors can create a personalized shortlist of software solutions with unbiased recommendations to help you identify the solutions that best suit your business’s needs. Through our partnership you get free access to their bespoke software selection advice, removing both time and hassle from the research process.

It only takes a minute to submit your requirements and they will give you a quick call at no cost or commitment. Based on your needs you’ll receive customized software shortlists listing the best-fitting solutions from their team of software advisors (via phone or email). They can even connect you with your selected vendor choices along with community negotiated discounts. To get started, please complete the form below:

The Best Performance Testing Software Solutions Summary

Tool Free Option Price
1
WebLOAD

Best for unlimited user load tests

30-day free trial

Pricing upon request Visit Website
2
Tricentis NeoLoad

Best continuous performance testing platform

Free trial available

Plans start at $20,000/year for up to 300 virtual users Visit Website
3
Kobiton

Best performance testing software for mobile apps

14-day free trial

From $75/month Visit Website
4
BrowserStack

Best real device app & browser testing

Free trial available

Starts at $29/month Visit Website
5
LambdaTest

Best cross-browser performance testing tool

Free trial available

From $15/month Visit Website
6
Loadero

Best to run tests with thousands of users from global servers

Not available

$5 per month for 45-minute tests with up to 20,000 concurrent participants. Visit Website
7
Micro Focus LoadRunner

Best performance load testing with autocorrelation

Free Trial

Pricing is available upon request. Visit Website
8
Loadster

Best performance & load test platform for web applications

Not available

Visit Website
9
Test Modeller

Best to create & automate tests from flowcharts

Free Trial

Visit Website
10
ACCELQ

Best codeless test automation platform on the cloud

14-day free trial available (no CC required)

$440/user/month Visit Website

Other Options

Here are a few more that didn’t make the top performance testing tools list.

  1. Sofy

    Best no-code test automation for mobile apps

  2. TestDevLab

    Best software testing service/outsourcing

  3. TestRail

    Best performance testing software for managing multiple test scenarios

  4. LoadNinja

    Best performance testing software with script recording features

How I Selected The Best Performance Testing Software

If you're wondering how I selected the best performance testing software, here's where I'll break it all down for you. First of all, I started with performance testing tools that have high user review and satisfaction ratings. Then, using my experience in tools for QA testing, I discerned what key criteria were most important for performance testing software and compared how each of them stacked up against the rest.

I empathize with how much time it takes to source the right software for a job. I do this work so that you don't have to. I've been using and reviewing tools for QA testing for years so you can trust me to do the heavy lifting and compile all the facts you need to make your final decision.

Selection Criteria

In this performance testing tools comparison, I've determined that these are the most important criteria when selecting the best performance testing software. Here's a brief list outlining the whats and whys of my selection.

User Interface (UI):

User interface is an important factor to consider when selecting performance testing software because it can affect the efficiency and accuracy of the testing process. A well-designed user interface can make it easier for testers to create, execute and analyze tests, reducing the learning curve and the potential for errors.

Usability:

Usability is a critical factor to consider when selecting performance testing software because it can significantly impact the effectiveness and efficiency of the testing process. A user-friendly and intuitive interface can enable testers to quickly and easily create and execute tests, reducing the time and effort required and increasing the accuracy of the results.

Integrations:

Software integrations are a crucial consideration when selecting performance testing software because they can impact the ability of the testing tool to work seamlessly with other software in the testing environment. A tool that integrates well with other software, such as development, IDEs, CI/CD, and project management tools, can streamline the testing process and provide greater visibility into the overall performance of the software being tested.

Pricing:

Pricing is an important factor to consider when selecting performance testing software because it can impact the overall cost of the testing process and the organization's budget. While it is essential to choose a tool that meets the testing requirements, it is also crucial to select one that is cost-effective and provides good value for money. Some performance testing tools charge per user, per project, or per hour, while others have a fixed pricing model.

People Also Ask

Here are a few questions I thought of while I was writing this performance testing tools list. This is a great place for newbies to performance testing software or folks ready to find further resources for their work.

Performance Testing For Optimal Product Release

This list includes 10 of the best performance testing tools on the market. The best for you will depend on your exact needs. Some testing tools are built for specific types of software, like mobile apps or web apps, and simplify testing on these devices. Others have more complex functionality and allow you to run complex tests on multiple product types. 

For more information, check out our article on the overall best software testing tools. Or if you want more insight into the world of quality assurance, sign up for The QA Lead newsletter. Every week we send out expert insight from industry leaders.

By Paulo Gardini Miguel

Paulo brings +12 years of experience in software development and team building, creating products for the Media and Advertising industries. With a track record of building high-performance lean teams, he specializes in handling large volumes of data and empowering his team to own their projects and products. When he’s not working, he’s a frustrated musician with a passion for football and technology.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.