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15 Best Performance Testing Software Reviewed For 2024-1

15 Best Performance Testing Software Reviewed For 2024

Performance testing is like checking how well a computer system or app works. We look at things like how fast it is, how much it can handle, if it stays stable, and how quickly it responds when lots of people are using it. By doing these tests, companies can find and fix problems, figure out how much the system can handle, and make it work better for users.

 

In this article, we’ll talk about why performance testing is important and look at some of the best tools your QA team can use in 2024.

Table of contents

Top 10 Performance Testing Tools in 2024

Here is a list of the top 10 performance testing software based on your shortlist:

 

  1. Tricentis NeoLoad: Recognized as the best continuous performance testing platform.
  2. WebLOAD: Stands out as the best choice for conducting unlimited user load tests.
  3. Kobiton: Touted as the top-performing software for mobile app performance testing.
  4. BrowserStack: Acknowledged for its excellence in real device app and browser testing.
  5. Loadster: Regarded as the best platform for conducting performance and load tests, especially for web applications.
  6. TestDevLab: Highlighted as the best software testing service and outsourcing solution.
  7. Test Modeller: Recognized for its capabilities in creating and automating tests directly from flowcharts.
  8. Micro Focus LoadRunner: Distinguished for its expertise in performance load testing with autocorrelation.
  9. Sofy: Identified as the best no-code test automation tool for mobile apps.
  10. ACCELQ: Praised as the best codeless test automation platform available on the cloud.

What is performance testing?

Performance testing is a type of testing that looks at how well a system, software application, or website performs. The main goal is to find any problems or issues that might slow down the system or make it work poorly. Performance testing checks how the system behaves under normal, busy, and very stressful situations.

 

During performance testing, various things are measured, like how quickly the system responds, how much work it can handle, how resources are used, and if it can grow when needed. The testing creates scenarios that imitate real user interactions and system usage. This could involve pretending there are many people using it at the same time, sending lots of requests, or putting the system under heavy pressure.

 

By doing performance testing, organizations can understand how well their system performs and figure out areas that need improvement. It can be done at different stages of development to catch performance issues early on. Fixing these issues early saves time, effort, and money compared to dealing with problems later in the process.

Overviews Of The 10 Best Performance Testing Software Solutions

Tricentis NeoLoad

Tricentis NeoLoad

Tricentis NeoLoad is recognized as the best continuous performance testing platform. It is designed for enterprises with complex testing needs, offering continuous performance testing within any development pipeline. The tool supports a variety of testing needs, from APIs to applications.

 

Key Features

  • Ease of Use: NeoLoad offers a user-friendly experience with drag-and-drop controls for designing tests without coding. This accessibility allows more people within your business to run tests.

 

  • Global Testing: Users can run tests from over 70 locations, ensuring that products are tested for global functionality and performance.

 

  • Real-time Tracking: The tool allows real-time tracking of tests, enabling prompt issue identification and resolution as soon as they arise. Detailed data is also available post-test completion for more in-depth analysis.

 

  • Integration: Tricentis NeoLoad seamlessly integrates with a wide range of tools used by development teams, including CI, testing, version control, performance monitoring, and SAP testing tools. It also provides access to an open API for connecting with other business tools.

 

  • Extensive Integrations: The tool boasts a multitude of integrations, making it versatile and compatible with various tools used in the development process.

 

Pricing Information

  • Free Trial: Tricentis NeoLoad offers a free trial for users to explore its features.
  • Starting Price: The starting cost is $20,000 per year for up to 300 virtual users.

WebLOAD

Web load

WebLOAD is recognized as the best choice for unlimited user load tests. Here are the key details about the software:

 

Key Features

  • Performance and Load Testing: WebLOAD is specifically designed for QA teams to measure and ensure the stability of web applications under heavy loads. It focuses on preventing websites or apps from experiencing issues when accessed by a large number of users simultaneously.

 

  • End-to-End Load Testing Process: The software facilitates an end-to-end load testing process, allowing users to build powerful scripts, simulate realistic load scenarios, and identify performance problems in a single run.

 

  • Automated Script Builder: WebLOAD offers a drag-and-drop automated script builder for users who may not be comfortable altering scripts manually. This feature allows for quick addition and removal of elements, streamlining the load scenario development process.

 

  • Script Library: The library includes a variety of load test commands, web protocol actions, database actions, mobile, multimedia, WebSockets, and validation points, providing flexibility in script creation.

 

  • Load Control Scheduler: Users can control the load buildup using the scheduler, accurately simulating real-life scenarios with linear steps and increments. This enables the simulation of millions of virtual users, with the ability to distribute the load across desired machines.

 

  • Data Collection and Analytics: WebLOAD collects data on the client-side, offering meaningful load analytics and individual user experience information. Over 80 configurable report templates are provided for root cause analysis, and results can be shared across distributed teams through analytics dashboards.

 

Integrations

  • APM Tools: Dynatrace, AppDynamics, New Relic
  • Open-Source Software: Selenium, Jenkins
  • Mobile Testing Platforms: Perfecto Mobile

 

Pricing Information

  • Free Trial: WebLOAD offers a 30-day free trial for users to explore its features.
  • Pricing: Detailed pricing information is available upon request through the WebLOAD website.

Kobiton

Kobiton

Kobiton is recognized as the best performance testing software for mobile apps. Here are the key details about the software:

 

Key Features

  • Real and Automated Testing: Kobiton offers both real and automated testing features for mobile apps. Real testing involves using a vast cloud library of Android and iOS devices. Users can choose specific devices and run their apps on each one to identify and address any bugs through manual testing.

 

  • Automated Tests at Scale: After manual testing, Kobiton allows users to conduct automated tests at scale. Users can create scripts by converting manual sessions into tests without the need for coding.

 

  • Error Data and Reporting: When automated tests uncover errors, Kobiton provides comprehensive data to facilitate quick issue resolution. This includes screenshots and information about the device on which the issue occurred.

 

 

Pricing Information

  • Free Trial: Kobiton offers a 14-day free trial for users to explore its features.
  • Starting Price: Pricing starts at $75 per month, and the startup plan, which includes 500 testing minutes, begins at $50 per month.

BrowserStack

BrowserStack

BrowserStack is acknowledged as the best tool for real device app and browser testing. Here are the key details about the software:

 

Key Features

  • Cross-Platform Testing: BrowserStack allows testing of both the UI and API of web and mobile applications across various operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. It supports comprehensive cross-browser testing to ensure compatibility.

 

  • Real Device Testing: The tool provides the capability to test on real devices, offering full test coverage for mobile apps. This enables users to simulate real-world scenarios and ensure the application performs optimally across different devices.

 

  • Operating System Compatibility: BrowserStack supports testing on multiple operating systems, enhancing flexibility and coverage during the testing process.

 

  • Live Testing with Screenshots: Users can take screenshots during live testing, helping in-depth analysis of the application’s performance at different stages.

 

  • Parallel Executions: BrowserStack allows the deployment of parallel executions without delays, optimizing testing efficiency.

 

  • Device Availability: The tool offers access to a vast pool of 1500+ real devices and simulators, enabling users to execute workflows across a wide range of devices.

 

  • Integrations: BrowserStack integrates seamlessly with popular testing tools such as Selenium, Appium, and Jenkins, enhancing the testing workflow.

 

Pricing Information

  • Free Trial: BrowserStack provides a free trial for users to explore its features.
  • Starting Price: The cost starts at $29 per month for the Desktop package, offering affordability for users with varying needs.

Loadster

Loadster

Loadster is recognized as the best performance and load test platform for web applications. Here are the key details about the software:

 

Key Features

 

  • Web Application Testing: Loadster is a performance testing tool specifically designed for web applications. It allows users to deploy bots that simulate real users, enabling comprehensive testing of how the application performs under varying loads.

 

  • Versatility: The tool offers versions tailored for APIs, static websites, web apps, and more complex websites, ensuring flexibility in testing different types of applications.

 

  • Easy Test Script Creation: Loadster simplifies the creation of test scripts. Users can record sessions in their browser using the Loadster Chrome plugin, edit sessions as needed, and launch tests with ease.

 

  • Load Control Features: Users have control over test features, including the ability to increase or decrease load and choose traffic from different geographical regions. Loadster operates from data centers in 24 locations worldwide.

 

  • Real-time Metrics: Loadster provides real-time metrics on critical data such as response times and errors during testing. This allows users to monitor performance as tests are ongoing.

 

  • Detailed Reporting: After completing tests, users can download detailed reports to share within their organization. These reports include information on requests, responses at each step, and other valuable insights to identify issues or bottlenecks.

 

Pricing Information

Loadster offers two pricing options:

 

  • Pay-as-You-Go: Starting at $119 for 1,000 bot hours.
  • Monthly Plans: Starting at $399 per month.

TestDevLab

TestDevLab is acknowledged as the best software testing service and outsourcing provider. Here are the key details about the service:

 

Key Features

  • Experienced Testing Team: TestDevLab provides access to a team of experienced testers capable of testing products on all major platforms and devices.

 

  • Mobile Testing Services: The company specializes in mobile testing services, offering manual testing on real devices. With access to over 3,000 devices from various manufacturers running different operating systems, TestDevLab ensures comprehensive testing coverage.

 

  • Automated Testing: TestDevLab offers large-scale automated testing services to assess how products perform under stress. This applies not only to mobile apps but also extends to web apps, desktop applications, backend systems, and API testing.

 

  • Expertise and Consultation: Beyond running tests, TestDevLab provides expertise on the types of tests that should be performed and offers industry benchmarking. The service can assist in setting up different types of tests based on project requirements.

 

  • Flexible Hiring Options: Clients can hire the service in two ways – either by engaging a remote team to test products from TestDevLab’s offices or by opting for an on-site team to conduct testing at the client’s offices.

 

Pricing Information

  • TestDevLab does not advertise pricing openly. Clients are encouraged to contact the team via the website for customized pricing based on their specific testing requirements.
  • TestDevLab’s flexible approach, experienced testing team, and comprehensive testing services make it an ideal choice for those seeking software testing services and outsourcing solutions.

Test Modeller

TestDevLab

Test Modeller is recognized as the best tool for creating and automating tests from flowcharts. Here are the key details about the software:

 

Key Features

  • Collaboration and Requirements Management: Test Modeller offers collaboration tools and requirements management software, allowing teams to work together on prioritization, change management, and QA/testing processes. This collaborative approach enhances team organization and capacity management.

 

  • Parallel Execution: The tool supports parallel execution, streamlining processes and improving overall team efficiency.

 

  • Hierarchical View Feature: Test Modeller provides a hierarchical view feature, enabling teams to break down complex applications into more manageable models for better understanding and organization.

 

  • Visual Test Scenario Generation: The tool allows the generation of test scenarios using a visual interface. This feature facilitates parameterized testing, offering customization options for testing requirements.

 

  • Modeling by Testers and Stakeholders: Testers and stakeholders can actively participate in modeling, leaving developers to handle automation and data elements. This approach enhances maintenance capabilities in a more sophisticated manner.

 

  • Integration with DevOps Tools: Test Modeller seamlessly integrates with various DevOps tools, including Jenkins, Sauce Labs, and Azure DevOps. It also supports integration with web platforms such as EggPlant and Tricentris.

 

Pricing Information

  • Customized Pricing: Test Modeller offers customized pricing based on specific requirements. Users can request a quote from the Test Modeller team.
  • Free Trial: Test Modeller provides a free trial for users to explore its features.

 

Test Modeller’s rich feature set, collaborative capabilities, and integration with DevOps tools make it an excellent choice for teams looking to create and automate tests from flowcharts. Users can tailor their experience with customized pricing based on their unique testing needs.

LoadRunner

Loadrunner

LoadRunner is recognized as the best performance load testing software with autocorrelation. Here are the key details about the software:

 

Key Features

 

  • Wide Technology Support: LoadRunner supports testing in over 50 technologies and application environments, covering various protocols such as MQTT, WebSockets, Java, and SAP.

 

  • Script Creation: The Virtual User Generator in LoadRunner allows users to easily create, record, and correlate scripts for testing purposes, supporting each protocol.

 

  • Auto-correlation Engine: LoadRunner features an auto-correlation engine, helping identify issues quickly and enabling prompt action to address performance issues.

 

  • Emulation Features: The tool provides emulation features, allowing users to deploy thousands of virtual users to test how their applications perform under significant loads.

 

  • Built-in Integrations: LoadRunner comes with several built-in integrations, enabling connectivity with Integrated Collaboration Environments (ICEs), monitoring tools, and source code management software.

 

Pricing Information

 

  • Free Trial: LoadRunner offers a free trial for users to explore its features.
  • Pricing: Detailed pricing information is available upon request. Users can contact the LoadRunner team to inquire about pricing based on their specific needs.

 

LoadRunner’s extensive protocol support, auto-correlation engine, and emulation features make it a robust choice for organizations looking to conduct comprehensive performance load testing. The availability of a free community edition allows users to experience the full capabilities of the tool before making a commitment.

Sofy

Sofy

Sofy is recognized as the best no-code test automation platform for mobile apps. Here are the key details about the platform:

 

Key Features

  • No-Code Test Automation: Sofy is a no-code test automation platform designed for mobile apps, allowing users to run tests on real devices without the need for manual coding.

 

  • Easy Test Creation: Creating tests is simple with Sofy. Users can choose one of the platform’s virtual devices and manually run through the target process to define the test. This manual test can then be easily converted into an automated one for testing across hundreds of other devices.

 

  • Device Lab: Sofy’s device lab provides a wide selection of devices from various manufacturers, including both iOS and Android smartphones. This diversity ensures thorough testing of apps on different screen sizes, orientations, and operating system versions.

 

  • Insightful Reporting: After tests are completed, Sofy provides insights to identify issues in the code. It tracks all interactions during testing and offers detailed data for each interaction, including screenshots and videos.

 

  • Flexible Testing Options: Sofy allows users to run tests from within the platform’s dashboard or by integrating with CI/CD pipelines. It also integrates seamlessly with popular tools such as Jira, Microsoft Teams, Jenkins, and Bitrise.

 

Pricing Information

 

  • Free Trial/Demo: Sofy offers a free trial or demo for users to explore its features.
  • Pricing: Detailed pricing information is not promoted openly. Interested users can sign up for a free trial or demo and inquire about pricing via the Sofy website.

 

Sofy’s no-code approach to test automation, diverse device lab, and integration capabilities make it an ideal choice for teams looking to simplify mobile app testing processes. Users can experience the platform’s features through a free trial or demo before making a decision.

ACCELQ

ACCELQ

ACCELQ is recognized as the best codeless test automation platform on the cloud. Here are the key details about the platform:

 

Key Features

 

  • Codeless Test Automation: ACCELQ is a codeless test automation and management platform that leverages AI. It supports multiple channels, including web, mobile, API, and backend, providing versatility in testing.

 

  • Cloud-Based Platform: Being a cloud-based platform, ACCELQ simplifies setup as users don’t need to install an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). This cloud-based approach enhances accessibility and flexibility.

 

  • Guided Test Creation: Test creation is made easy with ACCELQ, as the tool guides users through scenario creation by providing prompts at each step. The platform also incorporates automation features, including AI-powered test generation.

 

  • Dashboard Execution: Users can run test scenarios directly from the ACCELQ dashboard. The platform offers settings customization, allowing users to choose specific operating systems and browsers for testing.

 

  • Clear Result Display: After test execution, results are clearly displayed within the dashboard. ACCELQ goes a step further by capturing screenshots to visually represent what end-users would see.

 

Pricing Information

 

  • Free Trial: ACCELQ offers a 14-day free trial without requiring credit card details, allowing users to explore its features.
  • Pricing: The starting price is $440 per user per month when paid annually. Users can contact the company for more detailed pricing information, which may vary based on specific requirements.

 

ACCELQ’s codeless approach, cloud-based platform, and AI-powered features make it a robust choice for teams looking to streamline test automation processes. The 14-day free trial provides an opportunity for users to experience the platform’s capabilities before making a commitment.

List of Additional Testing Tools

Here are a few additional performance testing tools that didn’t make the top list:

 

  1. Loadero : Best for running tests with thousands of users from global servers.
  2. LambdaTest : Best cross-browser performance testing tool.
  3. TestRail : Best performance testing software for managing multiple test scenarios.
  4. LoadNinja : Best performance testing software with script recording features.
  5. Microfocus : Simulates authentic user actions across various applications.

What is a performance testing tool, and what should it be like?

A performance testing tool is a specialized set of software designed to check how well computer applications perform under specific conditions. These tools simulate real user actions and different loads to measure important factors like response time, throughput, and system resource usage.

Key Performance Testing Tools

Here are the key features of performance testing tools:

 

  • Test script creation: They allow users to create scripts that imitate various user actions. Some tools even have easy-to-use modes without requiring coding.

 

  • Performance metrics collection: These tools capture important metrics like how fast the system responds, how much work it can handle, error rates, and how it uses server resources.

 

  • Real-time monitoring: They monitor the application’s performance in real-time, helping testers identify issues as they happen.

 

  • Scalability: The ability to simulate different levels of load, from a few users to thousands, to understand how well a system can handle increasing demands.

 

  • Distributed testing: Simulating users from different locations to assess how the system performs globally.

 

  • Integration with other tools: Many performance testing tools work seamlessly with other tools in the development process, such as continuous integration/deployment and monitoring tools.

 

  • Load generation: They can simulate virtual users or requests to replicate the desired load on the system.

 

  • Reporting and analysis: These tools provide detailed reports after tests, helping analyze bottlenecks, slow response times, and other performance issues.

 

  • Support for different protocols: They can test applications that use various communication protocols, such as HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, WebSocket, etc.

 

  • Reusability: Performance testing tools allow the reuse of test scripts or scenarios across different testing phases and environments.

How does a performance testing tool work?

A performance testing tool operates by mimicking real-world scenarios of stress and load on software, applications, or websites. Its purpose is to assess how well the system performs in terms of responsiveness, stability, scalability, and resource usage across different conditions. Here’s how these tools typically work:

 

  • Virtual Users: The tool generates virtual users that simulate the actions of real users. These virtual users interact with the software or application in a way that imitates actual user behavior.

 

  • Traffic Generation: The tool creates artificial traffic by simulating multiple users accessing the software simultaneously. This is done to replicate the conditions of a busy system.

 

  • Load Variation: Performance testing tools can simulate different levels of load, ranging from a few users to thousands, to test the system’s scalability and performance under varying workloads.

 

  • Monitoring Metrics: While the simulated users are interacting with the system, the tool monitors key performance metrics such as response time, throughput, error rates, and resource utilization. This data helps assess the system’s behavior under different scenarios.

 

  • Identifying Bottlenecks: By analyzing the collected metrics, the tool identifies bottlenecks or areas where the system may struggle under certain conditions. This information is crucial for optimizing performance.

 

  • Scalability Testing: The tool assesses how well the system scales by increasing the load gradually. This helps determine the system’s capacity to handle growing user numbers.

 

  • Resource Utilization: Performance testing tools track how the system utilizes resources such as CPU, memory, and network bandwidth. This information aids in optimizing resource usage for better efficiency.

 

  • Analysis and Reporting: After the testing is complete, the tool generates detailed reports and analysis, highlighting performance issues, areas for improvement, and insights into the system’s overall behavior.

Types of Performance Testing tools

There are various types of performance testing tools, each designed to address specific aspects of how software or applications perform. Here are the main categories:

 

  • Load Testing Tools: These tools evaluate how well an application performs under expected user loads. They simulate a realistic number of users accessing the application simultaneously to assess its responsiveness and efficiency.

 

  • Stress Testing Tools: Stress testing tools assess the stability of an application under extreme conditions. They simulate situations where the application is subjected to high levels of stress, pushing its limits to identify potential weaknesses.

 

  • Endurance Testing Tools: Endurance testing tools evaluate how well an application performs over an extended period. They assess the software’s ability to maintain stability and efficiency over prolonged usage, helping identify any issues related to long-term operation.

 

  • Spike Testing Tools: These tools test how well an application responds to sudden and significant spikes in traffic. They simulate scenarios where there is a sudden increase in the number of users or requests to evaluate the system’s ability to handle such abrupt surges.

 

  • Volume Testing Tools: Volume testing tools examine how well an application can handle a large volume of data. They assess the software’s performance when dealing with a substantial amount of information, helping identify any limitations or bottlenecks related to data processing.

 

  • Scalability Testing Tools: Scalability testing tools assess an application’s capacity to scale up or down based on user demand. They simulate varying levels of load to determine how well the application adapts to changes in user numbers.

5 Reasons why performance Testing is essential

Here are the top 5 reasons why performance testing is essential:

 

  • User Satisfaction: Performance testing ensures that a system meets user expectations by identifying and fixing issues that could disrupt user experience. This contributes to a smooth and seamless interaction, helping organizations retain customers, build a positive reputation, and stay competitive.

 

  • System Reliability: By subjecting a system to different workloads, performance testing pinpoints potential bottlenecks, scalability limits, or failures. Proactively addressing these issues ensures that systems are stable, reliable, and capable of handling expected loads without crashing or experiencing downtime.

 

  • Scalability Assessment: As systems and applications need to adapt to increasing workloads, performance testing helps identify scalability limits. This information allows organizations to optimize their systems, ensuring they can handle future growth and evolving user demands.

 

  • Performance Optimization: Measuring metrics like response time, throughput, and resource utilization during performance testing enables organizations to identify bottlenecks, allocate resources more efficiently, and enhance overall system performance. This optimization ensures systems run at their best capacity.

 

  • Risk Mitigation: Performance issues can lead to severe consequences, including financial loss, customer dissatisfaction, and damage to reputation. Proactive performance testing helps organizations address potential problems before they reach production, reducing the risk of critical failures and their associated negative impacts.

Conclusion

For unparalleled excellence in software testing, look no further than MentorSol. Our comprehensive suite of tools and expert services ensures that your applications undergo rigorous testing, guaranteeing optimal performance and user satisfaction. Trust MentorSol to elevate your software quality assurance to the next level. For access to the top 1% of software quality assurance engineers, MentorSol is your strategic partner in achieving software perfection. Don’t settle for less; choose MentorSol for your software testing needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Performance testing can indeed be automated using specialized tools like JMeter or LoadRunner. Automation ensures efficiency, consistency, and accuracy in testing procedures, allowing for rapid execution of tests, scalability, and easy verification of performance improvements or regressions.

Performance testing is typically performed using dedicated software tools such as JMeter, LoadRunner, Gatling, and Apache Bench. These tools offer features to simulate user behavior, generate load on the system, measure response times, and analyze performance metrics. By utilizing these tools, testers can ensure that software applications perform well under expected loads and identify any bottlenecks or areas for improvement.

In performance testing, various metrics are monitored to assess the system’s behavior and performance. These metrics include response time, throughput, concurrency, CPU and memory utilization, error rates, and network latency. Additionally, other specific metrics may be relevant depending on the nature of the application, such as transactions per second, database performance, and resource utilization of individual components. Monitoring these metrics helps identify performance bottlenecks, optimize system performance, and ensure that the application meets the required performance criteria.

The Performance Testing life cycle typically involves planning, design, execution, analysis, optimization, reporting, and iterative improvement. It begins with defining objectives and requirements, creating test scenarios, executing tests, analyzing results for bottlenecks, optimizing, and reporting findings. This iterative process ensures that applications meet performance goals and continually improve performance over time.