Open-source Performance Testing tools are freely available and do not need any commercial license. These tools are easy to set-up rather than a commercial licensed tool but certain limitations are also associated with freeware PT tools. Refer to pros and cons for detailed information:
Pros:
- No licensing cost
- Mostly tools are platform independent. Run on any operating system.
- Light weight and easy to install
- Easy to upgrade
- No explicit hardware is required, unless user load is high
- Unlimited users load generation capability (depending on LG machine configuration)
- User friendly and simple GUI
- Mostly tools support script recording
- All basic features are available
- Migration from one open-source tool to another tool is easy (not in all cases)
Cons:
- Limited protocol support
- No dedicated support team
- Scripting challenges for complex scenario
- Limited plugin support
- Lack of advanced functionalities
- Integration with specific monitoring tool only
- Dependency on language like Beanshell, Groovy for complex logic
- Lack of reporting feature
- Limitation of in-depth analysis
Top Open Source Performance Testing Tools:
- Apache JMeter
- Rich in protocol support like Web/http, WebServices, Databases, SOAP, etc
- Support distributed framework
- Provides HTML report
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- Gatling
- Designed for continuous load testing
- Can be integrated with commercial tool Gatling Frontline
- Good reporting features
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- The Grinder
- Support Jython and Clojure language
- Support distributed framework
- Automatic management of client connections and cookies
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- Locust
- Scripting code is in Python
- Support distributed framework
- Good in testing API
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- k6
- Specially made for developer for quick load test
- Test back-end infrastructure like APIs, microservices, serverless, containers etc.
- Convert postman and JMeter script to k6
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- Artillery
- Easy to install and use
- Support HTTP, Socket.io, WebSockets etc.
- Support distributed framework
- Read More >>
Day-by-day open source performance testing tools are becoming more powerful and advanced. That is the reason for many clients to switch from paid tools to open source tools. There is a huge jump in the demand for Open Source Performance Testing Tool in the last couple of years. So it is better to grab the knowledge of any of the open-source performance testing tools and make the skill set strong.