Gatling vs Xceptance LoadTest

Gatling8.7Visit Xceptance LoadTest7.4Visit

Higher score Gatling #8 in Performance Testing Software 8.7/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Gatling

vs

Xceptance LoadTest #20 in Performance Testing Software 7.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Xceptance

• Gatling fits best

  Teams needing broad, scalable protocol testing

• Xceptance LoadTest fits best

  Java teams wanting open-source browser testing

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Side by side

Feature	Gatling 8.7/10 Visit ↗	Xceptance LoadTest 7.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.7	7.4
Ranking	#8 in Performance Testing Software	#20 in Performance Testing Software
Best for	Teams needing broad, scalable protocol testing	Java teams wanting open-source browser testing
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free
Starting price	€89/mo	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	14 days	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Live chat, Community, Docs	Email, Docs
Integrations	20 integrations	6 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Gatling 4/5 · Xceptance LoadTest 4/5
Load testing	✓	✓
Stress testing	✓	✓
Browser-based testing	—	✓ (best)
Distributed load	✓	✓
API testing	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment model	Hybrid	Hybrid
Max virtual users	60000 users	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Supports HTTP, WebSocket, SSE, JMS, MQTT, and gRPC testing Distributed testing supports up to 60,000 virtual users on Basic Integrates with major CI/CD, observability, and collaboration tools	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
Cons	Browser sessions generate HTTP scenarios rather than executing JavaScript Basic limits testing to 1 hour and one load generator Advanced limits and support require higher-tier or custom plans	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
Our verdict	Gatling is a performance-testing platform for developers, QA teams, and enterprises testing web applications, APIs, microservices, and cloud infrastructure. Its open-source Community Edition runs code-based scenarios locally, while the… 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

• Gatling — where it wins

  • Supports HTTP, WebSocket, SSE, JMS, MQTT, and gRPC testing
  • Distributed testing supports up to 60,000 virtual users on Basic
  • Integrates with major CI/CD, observability, and collaboration tools

  Where it doesn't

  • Browser sessions generate HTTP scenarios rather than executing JavaScript
  • Basic limits testing to 1 hour and one load generator
  • Advanced limits and support require higher-tier or custom plans

• 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

• Gatling8.7/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

  A broad performance-testing platform with code, no-code, and distributed load options.

  Visit GatlingFull verdict →
• Xceptance LoadTest7.4/10 · Free plan

  A Java-focused open-source suite for browser, API, distributed, and CI performance testing.

  Visit XceptanceFull verdict →