Side by side
Gatling vs Locust
Both stand on testing and qa. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APILinuxMac+3
Choose Gatling if you need load, stress, API, or distributed testing and want code, no-code, or Postman-based test authoring. Enterprise is the option for teams seeking real-time dashboards, CI/CD integration, advanced permissions, or hybrid and cloud deployment. Look elsewhere if browser-based testing is a requirement.
Visit Gatling Free plan APILinuxMac+3
Locust combines Python-authored tests with live reporting, adjustable load, and distributed execution. Its automatic OpenTelemetry instrumentation is currently limited to the requests library.
Visit LocustThe facts
| Gatling | Locust | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Basic (annual): €1,068 a year | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 6 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | gatling.io | locust.io |
| On testing and qa | #5 of 33 | #10 of 33 |
Gatling: what it does well
- Create tests with code, a no-code generator, or Postman imports.
- Define scenarios in Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, Scala, or Kotlin.
- HTTP and JMS are supported by the load engine.
- Supports API testing, stress testing, and distributed load.
- Gatling Studio runs locally on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
What to know first
- Browser-based testing is not supported.
- Basic is limited to 60,000 VUs, one hour, one Load Generator, and two seats.
- Enterprise pricing is available on request.
Locust: what it does well
- Free software under the MIT license
- Write scenarios using Python libraries
- View throughput, response times, and errors live
- Adjust load while a test runs
- Distributed tests across multiple machines
What to know first
- Automatic instrumentation covers only the requests library
- Remote hosted testing is described through Azure Load Testing
Alternatives to Gatling Alternatives to Locust The whole list