Akamai CloudTest vs Locust

Akamai CloudTest9.0Visit Locust8.8Visit

Higher score Akamai CloudTest #4 in Performance Testing Software 9.0/10 Pricing on request ✓ 5 of 5 features Try Akamai CloudTest

vs

Locust #7 in Performance Testing Software 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Locust

• Akamai CloudTest fits best

  Mature enterprises needing global hybrid testing

• Locust fits best

  Python teams building flexible open-source tests

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Side by side

Feature	Akamai CloudTest 9.0/10 Visit ↗	Locust 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.0	8.8
Ranking	#4 in Performance Testing Software	#7 in Performance Testing Software
Best for	Mature enterprises needing global hybrid testing	Python teams building flexible open-source tests
Pricing model	Paid	Free
Starting price	Pricing on request	Free plan
Free plan	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Docs · 24/7	Docs
Built for	Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Akamai CloudTest 5/5 · Locust 5/5
Load testing	✓	✓
Stress testing	✓	✓
Browser-based testing	✓	✓
Distributed load	✓	✓
API testing	✓	✓
Specs
Deployment model	Hybrid	Hybrid
Max virtual users	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Globally distributed load generation across clouds and locations Browser, API, database, mobile app, and service testing Private environments, live controls, dashboards, and REST API	Define test scenarios in regular Python code Run real-time, headless, or distributed tests Extend workloads with protocols, clients, and integrations
Cons	Pricing requires a sales conversation Advanced capabilities may exceed smaller teams’ needs Managed testing involves engaging Akamai performance engineers	Self-hosted deployment places operations on your team Browser testing uses documented Playwright or Selenium extensions Core HTTP/HTTPS coverage may require extensions for other protocols
Our verdict	Akamai CloudTest is a performance and load-testing platform for enterprises evaluating websites, mobile applications, APIs, databases, online services, and streaming workflows. Its hybrid deployment model supports web, API, and self-hosted… Read the review →	Locust is an open-source performance and load testing tool for developers and test engineers who want to define simulated behavior in Python. It supports load, stress, browser, distributed-load, and API testing across web, Windows, macOS,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Akamai CloudTest — where it wins

  • Globally distributed load generation across clouds and locations
  • Browser, API, database, mobile app, and service testing
  • Private environments, live controls, dashboards, and REST API

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires a sales conversation
  • Advanced capabilities may exceed smaller teams’ needs
  • Managed testing involves engaging Akamai performance engineers

• Locust — where it wins

  • Define test scenarios in regular Python code
  • Run real-time, headless, or distributed tests
  • Extend workloads with protocols, clients, and integrations

  Where it doesn't

  • Self-hosted deployment places operations on your team
  • Browser testing uses documented Playwright or Selenium extensions
  • Core HTTP/HTTPS coverage may require extensions for other protocols

• Akamai CloudTest9.0/10 · Pricing on request

  A mature hybrid testing platform for global enterprise performance programs.

  Try Akamai CloudTestFull verdict →
• Locust8.8/10 · Free plan

  A flexible Python-based load testing tool for teams that want self-hosted control.

  Visit LocustFull verdict →