Head-to-head · Performance Testing Software
Artillery vs Xceptance LoadTest
Artillery leads on 0 checks, Xceptance LoadTest on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreArtillery · 7.8/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresArtillery · 5 of 5
Artillery scores higher on our rubric for performance testing software: 7.8 against 7.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #16 and #20.
Artillery is the better fit for teams testing APIs, browsers, and WebSockets. Xceptance LoadTest is the better fit for java teams wanting open-source browser testing.
- Artillery fits best
Teams testing APIs, browsers, and WebSockets
- Xceptance LoadTest fits best
Java teams wanting open-source browser testing
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Side by side
| Feature | Artillery 7.8/10 Visit ↗ | Xceptance LoadTest 7.4/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 7.8 | 7.4 |
| Ranking | #16 in Performance Testing Software | #20 in Performance Testing Software |
| Best for | Teams testing APIs, browsers, and WebSockets | Java teams wanting open-source browser testing |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Free |
| Starting price | $199/mo | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs | Email, Docs |
| Integrations | 19 integrations | 6 integrations |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Artillery 5/5 · Xceptance LoadTest 4/5 | ||
| Load testing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stress testing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Browser-based testing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Distributed load | ✓ | ✓ |
| API testing | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Deployment model | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Max virtual users | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Artillery is a performance testing platform for developers, QA engineers, and SRE teams. Its CLI supports load and stress testing for APIs, web applications, and network services across HTTP, WebSocket, and Socket.IO. Playwright-based… Read the review → |
Xceptance LoadTest (XLT) is an open-source load and performance testing tool for software development teams, with a particular fit for Java-based engineering groups. Tests can be written in Java and JUnit, then run locally, across… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Artillery — where it wins
- Tests HTTP, WebSocket, Socket.IO, and Playwright browser workloads
- Runs distributed tests through AWS Lambda, AWS Fargate, and Azure
- Connects with CI/CD, observability tools, dashboards, and cloud reports
Where it doesn't
- Free plan limits teams to 30 reports and 30-minute tests monthly
- Paid plans start at $199 per month
- The broad feature set may exceed the needs of basic API testing
Xceptance LoadTest — where it wins
- Supports real-browser tests with WebDriver, Chrome, and Firefox
- Runs distributed load generation across machines and cloud environments
- Combines reports, diagnostics, monitoring, and Jenkins integration
Where it doesn't
- Test scripting is centered on Java and JUnit
- Requires a supported JDK across supported deployment environments
- No paid tiers are available for teams seeking packaged plans
- Artillery7.8/10 · Free plan
A flexible performance testing platform spanning APIs, browsers, WebSockets, and distributed execution.
Visit ArtilleryFull verdict → - Xceptance LoadTest7.4/10 · Free plan
A Java-focused open-source suite for browser, API, distributed, and CI performance testing.
Visit XceptanceFull verdict →
All performance testing software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update