Best Performance Testing Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Artillery is ranked #1 of 34 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Locust and Taurus. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Locust. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Gatling at €7.42/mo.
To understand how an application handles demand, compare performance testing software by the kinds and scale of tests it supports. Load testing, stress testing, and distributed load indicate different dimensions to consider, while maximum virtual users offers another comparison point. API testing and browser-based testing can help you assess fit for your targets, and the deployment model may matter for your environment. Artillery, Locust, and Taurus are among the entries. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing round out the comparison, helping you weigh costs against the listed testing capabilities.
34 performance testing software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
9 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ArtilleryWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $199/mo | 6.6 | |
| 2 | LocustWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 3 | TaurusWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 4 | Apache JMeterWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 5 | Grafana k6Linux | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $19/mo | 6.4 | |
| 6 | LoadFocusWeb · API · Extension | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $15.80/mo | 6.4 | |
| 7 | OctoPerfWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | €649/mo | 6.4 | |
| 8 | GatlingWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | €7.42/mo | 5.7 |
| 9 | Blackfire.ioWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · API · Extension | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | €33.25/mo | 5.6 |
| 10 | BlazeMeterWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API · Extension | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $8.25/mo | 5.5 |
| 11 | Keysight Eggplant TestWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · API | Two bars | — | — | 6 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 12 | OpenText Core Performance EngineeringWeb · Self-hosted | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 13 | OpenText Enterprise Performance EngineeringWeb · Windows · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 14 | SpeedscaleWeb · Windows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 15 | TsungWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 16 | Xceptance LoadTestWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 17 | FortioWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 5.3 | |
| 18 | HammerDBWeb · Windows · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 19 | Tricentis TestimWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 20 | VegetaWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 21 | Apica LoadTestWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 22 | Cavisson NetStormNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 23 | Loader.ioWeb · API | One bar | — | 1 of 6 | $99.95/mo | 5.2 | |
| 24 | LoadStrikeNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 25 | StresStimulusWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which performance testing software is ranked first on Freedom251?
Artillery is ranked #1 of 34 with a score of 6.6. Locust is second and Taurus third.
How many of these have a free plan?
9 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Gatling has the lowest first paid tier we found: €7.42/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.