Xceptance LoadTest

What Xceptance LoadTest is

Xceptance LoadTest (XLT) is a free, open-source load and performance testing tool for software development. Test scripts are written in Java and can run as JUnit tests in an IDE of choice. Load models include user counts and arrival rates, with scenarios that can be configured for ramps and traffic peaks. XLT can distribute tests across machines and locations; the maker says tests can scale to any number of machines and users. It can also run real-browser load tests through WebDriver. Reports cover individual load tests, comparisons, and trends, with totals, averages, percentiles, SLAs, and errors. XLT lists Java, JUnit, WebDriver, HttpClient, Maven, Gradle, command-line tools, and CI/CD pipelines among its integrations and tooling. The maker says result data is open and documented, no data is dropped, and results use open formats. It supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and FreeBSD, and requires JDK 21. The software is licensed under Apache License v2.0. It can deploy to clouds supporting Java 21 or later; free Amazon EC2 images are available, although AWS charges separately for infrastructure use. Controller-agent communication is secured through authenticated HTTPS. Xceptance offers training, projects, and support services for XLT and load testing.

Who it suits

XLT suits software development teams that write Java tests and need to evaluate load, stress, or browser-based behavior. It is also relevant to testing professionals who want distributed runs, detailed comparison and trend reports, and open result formats.

Limits

XLT requires JDK 21, and its software package is about 100 MB. Amazon EC2 images are free, but AWS infrastructure use is charged separately.

Getting started

1. Visit https://www.xceptance.com/en/products/xlt/.
2. Install or use a system with JDK 21.
3. Obtain the software package, which is about 100 MB.
4. Write test scripts in Java and run them as JUnit tests in an IDE.
5. For cloud deployment, use a cloud supporting Java 21 or later; AWS infrastructure is charged separately.

Verdict

Choose XLT if your team needs a free, open-source Java-based load testing tool with distributed execution and browser testing. Its reporting and open result formats suit teams that want to inspect comparisons and trends. Account for the JDK 21 requirement and separate AWS infrastructure charges when planning cloud deployments.