Apache JMeter vs SmartBear LoadNinja comparison

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7,770 views|6,334 comparisons
87% willing to recommend
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883 views|438 comparisons
100% willing to recommend
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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Apache JMeter and SmartBear LoadNinja based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Performance Testing Tools solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed Apache JMeter vs. SmartBear LoadNinja Report (Updated: May 2024).
769,789 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"The features that I appreciate are quite basic. It is easy to ramp up the threads and start calling the application. A lot of connectors can already be found within Apache JMeter, but we are not using the entire set because the integration between the customers and platform is based on HTTP. We are just going to produce lots of HTTP sequences.""The solution helps by detecting bottlenecks.""This solution is easier to use than any other tool in the market; there is not even a requirement to learn a lot of scripting in order to use it.""I use all the tools, but one feature that stands out is JMeter's ability to test when services are sending a particular kind of request. We are using specific ports to send queries, and assess the performance based on the time it takes these queries to respond. You can use it with stuff other than the web performance.""It is cost-effective and simple to use.""JMeter is a free tool with a large user population, which comes in handy because we have a vast knowledge base to tap into when needed. It's also easier to hire consultants who know JMeter.""The reports and analysis tools are very good. They are the solution's most valuable features.""It is easy to set up."

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"It's a very simple tool for performance testing.""SmartBear LoadNinja is easy to use and implement.""We are happy with the technical support."

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Cons
"You really need a technical team in order to really utilize the product.""Both scalability and stability could be improved in Apache JMeter.""The UI could be better.""The solution needs more metrics for reporting.""JMeter should be more stable. Every time there is a new release coming up, a lot of its older functionalities or the new functionalities that are brought in are not very well-documented. It should be documented properly, and there should be proper use cases.""It should start supporting the presentation layer. It currently provides performance testing specifically at the application and API level. It can be extended to the presentation layer, which includes mainly Angular and React frameworks. It should also be easy to use and easy to train people.""The tool needs to have a better Graphical User Interface. Many of the solution's features are difficult to understand due to the complex user interface and user experience. The product needs to add plugins. It should also work on the integration with external partners like IDE and API gateways.""Given that Apache JMeter is a free and open-source tool, documentation improvement may not be a major concern, as it is mostly contributed on a voluntary basis. The essential information is already available. However, in terms of the interface, there are occasional bugs, and the tool may not address them as quickly as some users would like. Fixing defects and bugs might take a considerable amount of time, with users sometimes having to wait for several months or even a year for the next release to address specific issues."

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"As we ran the test, we couldn't see the real-time results of how the solution behaved for 200 to 400 virtual users.""It needs time to mature.""On a smaller scale, there will be no budget issues, but as we expand to a larger user base, I believe we will face some pricing challenges."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "Free"
  • "I switched to Apache because it is free. Other tools are much too expensive and can cost up to $50,000 a year if you are looking at commercial options."
  • "This is an open-source solution, and there are no fees."
  • "This is an open-source product."
  • "I was using the free version of the software."
  • "In terms of open-source adoption, it is completely free."
  • "We are using the free version, and if required, we can easily switch to the other version."
  • "When comparing the price with Load Runner, and if the cost is an issue then JMeter is a better choice"
  • More Apache JMeter Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "Certainly, the cost could be reduced."
  • More SmartBear LoadNinja Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:Postman lets you easily define variables, which then get updated automatically. This is a huge time-saver and makes processes very efficient. We can also export the test cases we create and share them… more »
    Top Answer:Blazemeter is a continuous testing platform that provides scriptless test automation. It unifies functional and performance testing, enabling users to monitor and test public and private APIs We… more »
    Top Answer: I appreciate JMeter's simplicity and power for performance testing.
    Top Answer:SmartBear LoadNinja is easy to use and implement.
    Top Answer:There are different plans, including monthly, half-yearly, annually, and so on. If you require more bandwidth or you want to do more testing, then there are some premium plans also. We have around 100… more »
    Top Answer:SmartBear LoadNinja presented issues around some use cases that we wanted to do. We were using the solution to simulate using a browser and to give some browser access to our use case for multiple… more »
    Ranking
    Views
    7,770
    Comparisons
    6,334
    Reviews
    43
    Average Words per Review
    480
    Rating
    7.7
    14th
    Views
    883
    Comparisons
    438
    Reviews
    2
    Average Words per Review
    629
    Rating
    7.5
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    JMeter
    SmartBear LoadComplete
    Learn More
    Overview

    Apache JMeter is an open-source Java application that tests load and functional behavior and performance in applications. Created initially to test web applications, it has expanded its functionality to test other functions. For instance, you can test a server to see how efficiently it works and how many user requests can be handled simultaneously.

    You can use JMeter to test functional performance and regression tests on different technologies. This Java desktop application has an easy-to-use graphical interface which uses the Swing graphical API. You can run JMeter on any environment that accepts a Java virtual machine, such as Windows, Linux, and Mac.

    What protocols does JMeter support?

    • Web - HTTP, HTTPS
    • Web services - SOAP/XML-RPC
    • Email service - POP3, IMAP, SMTP
    • FTP service
    • Database via JDBC drivers
    • LDAP
    • Native commands or shell scripts
    • TCP
    • Java objects

    How does JMeter work?

    JMeter sends requests to a target server by simulating a group of user requests. Then it collects and calculates statistics on the performance of the target. This target can be a server or an application.

    You can test the performance of static resources, such as JavaScript or HTML, and dynamic resources, such as JSP, Servlets, and AJAX. It is also helpful to determine how many concurrent users your website can handle.

    There are two main tests you can carry out with JMeter: load test and stress test. The load test models expected usage of a server by simulating multiple users accessing the web server simultaneously. The stress testing aims to find the maximum load capacity of the server or application.

    Apache JMeter Key Features

    • JMeter enables fast test plan recording, building, and debugging via a featured test IDE (integrated development environment).
    • Command-line mode allows carrying out load tests from any OS compatible with Java.
    • JMeter can extract data from most popular response formats, such as HTML, JSON, XML.
    • JMeter is entirely portable.
    • A multithreading framework allows you to simultaneously test multiple samplings and separate thread groups.
    • Thanks to the caching feature, you can conduct offline analysis or replay test results.

    Apache JMeter Benefits

    • As open-source software, it is freely available and continuously improved.
    • The setup is user-friendly, and no installation is needed.
    • The GUI (graphic user interface) is intuitive and easy to use.
    • You can write your own tests and use the visualization plugins to extend the testing.
    • It is a platform-agnostic tool. For example, JMeter can work with Linux by clicking on the JMeter shell script. On Windows, you can call up JMeter by starting the jmeter.bat file.
    • Since the test plans are stored in XML format, you can generate a test plan using any text editor.
    • You can simulate a heavy load on a server, a group of servers, a network, or an object. Use JMeter to test an application or server's strength and performance under different load types.

    The JMeter extensible core has numerous benefits:

    • Unlimited testing capabilities via pluggable samplers.
    • You can choose multiple load statistics with pluggable timers.
    • Visualization plugins and data analysis enable customization.
    • Continuous integration via third-party open-source libraries (Maven, Gradle, and Jenkins).

    Reviews from Real Users

    Stephen B., I.T. Architect, Analyst, and Developer at an educational organization, says, "The scripting ability is most valuable. It is easy to use. There is a UI, and you can go in there and figure those things out. After you've got a good set of tests, you basically have a scripted document that you can grab and execute in a pipeline. It is pretty quick to set up, and you can scale it and version control it."

    "I like the fact that JMeter integrates well with other tools," adds the Founder and Principal Consultant at a tech services company.

    A Quality Engineering Delivery Leader at a financial services firm says, “The performance of the solution is excellent. They have designed the product so that it is very easy to configure. You can basically do anything you like with the product. It's not very restrictive. We like the fact that the technology is open-source.”

    SmartBear LoadNinja is a cloud-based next-generation tool designed to develop and implement automated load tests for web services and web applications. LoadNinja helps organizations test their web server’s performance during tremendous load and will determine scalability and define overall dynamics.

    Load testing is integral in today's aggressive marketplace so that organizations can quickly and easily determine how their web servers will operate during extreme load (requests). LoadNinja intuitively creates load tests using automation developed by documenting past interactions over web pages and reproduces these interactions with hundreds of virtual users (VUs) simultaneously. These tests help organizations fully comprehend what load their websites, pages, etc, can successfully sustain without interruption or downtime.

    LoadNinja provides various metrics, such as CPU usage and traffic generated during each test run. LoadNinja integrates well with many of today’s popular browsers and web servers.

    LoadNinja Testing - How it works:

    • Develop a UI or API test scenario: These are single-instance tests. Each test is representative of an actual application usage process, such as updating client information, making or tracking an order, etc. A UI test replicates the actions of one user on the tested website. An API test replicates the behavior of one client application. Organizations will run these tests numerous times to replicate tremendous load on the specified web application being tested.
    • Load testing scenario: This is the example of an organization’s load test. The scenario will integrate one of many single-instance tests, designate the number of virtual users (VUs), advance load parameters, and other specific metrics.
    • Work the scenario: LoadNinja processes the load tests in the cloud and provides cloud machines automatically for the entirety of the test. During a UI test, each VU utilizes a real browser to conduct a test action to interact with the organization's web applications appropriately mimicking real user responses, including “think times” and experiencing client-side scripts. Throughout the entire process, LoadNinja will create real-time charts so that organizations are able to best monitor test metrics and the overall wellbeing of the application.
    • Study the results: Once the test is finished, LoadNinja will create a report detailing all the critical performance metrics gathered during the test. This report will give a good determination of an organization’s server capabilities and if it meets the established SLA.

    Top Features:

    • Real-life load tests, simulated real user actions: LoadNinja will document real user actions on the site to be tested, then replicate those actions with the assistance of hundreds or even thousands of virtual users. This ensures load tests are as close to real-life processes as possible. LoadNinja does not just test one URL of a website; it replicates the entire user experience. This is one feature that differentiates LoadNinja from most other solutions in the marketplace.
    • Real browsers, real user replication: LoadNInja replays the documented traffic from real browsers. Every VU utilizes its own browser; there is no overlapping. LoadNinja precisely replicates each user action. Whatever code or script is used, it will be completely tested for every page.
    • Develop tests quickly and easily: Organizations are able to quickly develop UI tests by documenting user actions in the embedded browser. API tests can be developed using the embedded request editor. There is no coding, downloading, or installation of browser plugins necessary.
    • Scales easily: LoadNinja is a cloud solution; there is no need to designate drive space or add extra “agent” devices to save recorded scripts or test results. LoadNinja does it all intuitively and automatically in the cloud. Organizations simply choose the determined amount of VUs desired to replicate, and begin. It’s that simple!

    Sample Customers
    AOL, Orbitz, Innopath Software, PrepMe, Sapient, Corporate Express Australia, CSIRO, Ephibian, Talis, DATACOM, ALALOOP, eFusion, Panter, Sourcepole, University of Western Cape
    Falafel Software
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company38%
    Financial Services Firm30%
    Educational Organization4%
    Renewables & Environment Company4%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Financial Services Firm18%
    Computer Software Company17%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    Government6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company15%
    Financial Services Firm11%
    Retailer9%
    Energy/Utilities Company8%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business25%
    Midsize Enterprise24%
    Large Enterprise52%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business16%
    Midsize Enterprise13%
    Large Enterprise70%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business32%
    Midsize Enterprise10%
    Large Enterprise58%
    Buyer's Guide
    Apache JMeter vs. SmartBear LoadNinja
    May 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Apache JMeter vs. SmartBear LoadNinja and other solutions. Updated: May 2024.
    769,789 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Apache JMeter is ranked 1st in Performance Testing Tools with 82 reviews while SmartBear LoadNinja is ranked 14th in Performance Testing Tools with 3 reviews. Apache JMeter is rated 7.8, while SmartBear LoadNinja is rated 7.4. The top reviewer of Apache JMeter writes "It's a free tool with a vast knowledge base, but the reporting is lackluster, and it has a steep learning curve". On the other hand, the top reviewer of SmartBear LoadNinja writes "Easy to use with good documentation and helpful support". Apache JMeter is most compared with BlazeMeter, Postman, Tricentis NeoLoad, Katalon Studio and OpenText LoadRunner Enterprise, whereas SmartBear LoadNinja is most compared with ReadyAPI Performance, OpenText LoadRunner Professional, BlazeMeter, Tricentis NeoLoad and Selenium HQ. See our Apache JMeter vs. SmartBear LoadNinja report.

    See our list of best Performance Testing Tools vendors and best Load Testing Tools vendors.

    We monitor all Performance Testing Tools reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.