The 6 Best Load Testing Tools for 2022

Load testing ensures your application can handle the amount of traffic it expects. But with all the top-performing testing tools, which one should you use? 

Rounded up in this blog are the six best load testing tools for 2022 to help make your decision easier. Discover what each tool does, how it works, and who it’s best suited for. 

Also, learn how these tools can help you improve your load testing process!

Load Testing Tools FAQ: Free vs. Paid

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a load testing tool. One important consideration is whether to use a free or paid tool.

Here’s a comparison between free and paid load testing tools.

Type	Free load testing tools	Paid load testing tools
Support	Free testing tools have limited support options. And they are often not as comprehensive as what you would get with a paid tool.	With a paid tool, you will typically have access to customer support in case you run into any problems.
Price	Free tools often have limited features and support, but they cost nothing.	It can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, depending on your needs.
Features	Often open-source Customizable to meet your specific needs More user-friendly	Can simulate different types of traffic or customize your load test Include built-in reporting, collaboration tools, and integrations with other software

Top Performance Testing Tools

Various tools help ensure your website is up to the task on performance tests. 

Here’s a brief overview of some of the most popular options:

1) LoadNinja

LoadNinja helps businesses test the performance of their websites and web applications. It does load tests by simulating real-world user traffic and measures responses. 

Some key features include:

• Support various protocols (e.g., HTTP, WebSocket, SPDY, etc.)
• Integrated with popular development frameworks (e.g., Laravel, Ruby on Rails, etc.)
• A user-friendly interface makes creating and managing load test scenarios easy
• Supports distributed testing across multiple dispersed servers
• Detailed reports that provide insights into application performance
• Simulate different network speeds
• Scriptless load test creation

2) JMeter

This open-source load testing tool simulates a heavy load on a server, network, or object. After that, it analyzes your app performance under different load types. 

You can also use this tool to make a graphical analysis of performance.

JMeter features include:

• The ability to create and run tests from a single interface
• Supports multiple protocols, including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and JDBC
• A customizable user interface
• Can generate reports showing performance data
• Full multithreading framework
• Caches performance test results for future reference
• Highly extensible

3) Locust

Locust is a user load testing tool simulating users hitting your system simultaneously. In other words, it gauges how your system handles traffic by emulating virtual users. 

People love these great things about Locust:

• Runs tests in parallel for increased efficiency
• Easy integration with existing monitoring tools
• Tests web applications and websites
• Simulates user behavior with user scenarios

4) LoadRunner

This is a load testing tool from Micro Focus. You can use it to test applications by simulating users or transactions. 

Also, this tool simulates concurrent users on a single machine.

Some features of the LoadRunner testing tool include:

• Simulates user traffic from multiple locations
• Contains tools for analyzing and reporting on test results
• Tests applications under different user loads
• Mimics user activity, tracks response times, and measures throughput
• Can generate load testing scripts of various sizes, and speeds
• Can identify bottlenecks and optimize performance

5) HeadSpin

HeadSpin provides users with comprehensive insights into the performance of their mobile apps. 

The tool’s advanced performance testing capabilities include:

• Tests apps under different network speeds and different levels of device performance
• Supports automated performance testing
• Captures performance data from devices in real-time and replay user sessions
• Integrates with other tools and services, such as Jira, Slack, and Zephyr

6) Fiddler

Fiddler lets you track traffic between your computer and the internet. You can also use it to troubleshoot problems or track down performance issues. 

Also, this tool allows developers to test web applications during development.

Some of the features of Fiddler include:

• HTTP/HTTPS traffic recording. Fiddler can record HTTP and HTTPS traffic. This feature helps track down performance bottlenecks.
• Traffic filtering. Fiddler lets you filter traffic from specific URLs or IP addresses. This feature is handy for focusing on a particular problem from the recording.
• Request and response editing. Fiddler lets you edit requests and responses. You can also use it to test different scenarios or simulate error conditions.
• Automatic HTTPS certificates. It generates HTTPS certificates for sites that do not have one. With that, you can use Fiddler to debug HTTPS traffic even if the site does not have a valid certificate.

There is no one-size-fits-all software load testing tool. Every company has different needs, and the right tool for you may not be the right tool for someone else. 

Take a close look at each option and select the one that meets your needs.