Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Performance Testing Software

Grafana k6 vs Gatling

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Grafana k6 #1 in Performance Testing Software 9.3/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Grafana k6
Gatling #8 in Performance Testing Software 8.7/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Gatling

Grafana k6 leads on 1 check, Gatling on 0, and 5 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 scoreGrafana k6 · 9.3/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialboth
  • Most featuresGrafana k6 · 5 of 5

Grafana k6 scores higher on our rubric for performance testing software: 9.3 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #8.

Grafana k6 offers browser-based testing; Gatling doesn't.

Grafana k6 is the better fit for open-source teams building scripted test suites. Gatling is the better fit for teams needing broad, scalable protocol testing.

  • Grafana k6 fits best

    Open-source teams building scripted test suites

  • Gatling fits best

    Teams needing broad, scalable protocol testing

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Grafana k6 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Gatling 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 8.7
Ranking #1 in Performance Testing Software #8 in Performance Testing Software
Best for Open-source teams building scripted test suites Teams needing broad, scalable protocol testing
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $19/mo €89/mo
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial 14 days 14 days
Free trial length 14 days 14 days · no card needed
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Email, Community, Docs Live chat, Community, Docs
Integrations 6 integrations 20 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Grafana k6 5/5 · Gatling 4/5
Load testing ✓ ✓
Stress testing ✓ ✓
Browser-based testing ✓ (best) —
Distributed load ✓ ✓
API testing ✓ ✓
Specs
Deployment model Hybrid Hybrid
Max virtual users Not checked yet 60000 users
Our review
Pros
  • JavaScript and TypeScript authoring with local execution
  • HTTP, API, browser, distributed, and Kubernetes testing
  • Integrations with Prometheus, Datadog, Grafana Cloud, and others
  • 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
Cons
  • Cloud Enterprise requires a minimum $25,000 annual commitment
  • Browser testing relies on Chromium automation
  • Cloud Pro includes 500 virtual user hours per month
  • 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
Our verdict

Grafana k6 is an open-source load and performance testing tool for developers, SREs, and QA teams. Tests are scripted in JavaScript or TypeScript and can run locally, across distributed machines, on Kubernetes, or through Grafana Cloud k6.…

Read the review →

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 →
  1. Grafana k6Performance Testing Software 9.3Free plan · 14-day trial
  2. GatlingPerformance Testing Software 8.7Free plan · 14-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Grafana k6 — where it wins

    • JavaScript and TypeScript authoring with local execution
    • HTTP, API, browser, distributed, and Kubernetes testing
    • Integrations with Prometheus, Datadog, Grafana Cloud, and others

    Where it doesn't

    • Cloud Enterprise requires a minimum $25,000 annual commitment
    • Browser testing relies on Chromium automation
    • Cloud Pro includes 500 virtual user hours per month

  • 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
  • Grafana k69.3/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

    A scriptable performance testing tool with local, distributed, browser, and hosted execution.

    Visit Grafana k6Full verdict →
  • Gatling8.7/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

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

    Visit GatlingFull verdict →

More comparisons

All performance testing software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update