The best load testing tools will produce the most comprehensive and realistic results and save you time. LoadView’s comprehensive load testing software allows you to test with striking accuracy and to generate actionable insights at affordable rates, so you can improve your websites and applications.
“Every 100ms decrease in homepage load speed worked out to a 1.11% increase in session-based conversion, yielding an average annual revenue increase of nearly $380,000. Additionally, a 100ms decrease in checkout page load speed amounted to a 1.55% increase in session-based conversion, which in turn yielded an average annual revenue increase of nearly $530,000.”
– Mobify
Types of Load Tests Available
There are both paid and free options to perform load tests. Free options can at first appear to be a cost saving option, but in reality free tools mean sacrifices to load testing quality and the level of support you can expect. The most effective strategy is to invest in a paid tool that will allow you to rest easy knowing your websites and applications are properly tested at every stage of development.
At LoadView we allow you to scale larger tests in real browsers from a wide variety of geographical locations. Multiple points of testing across the world gives perspective and helps you gain more defined results. With a free tool, you won’t be able to test for large loads and suffer when it comes to actionable insights across space and time.
A free tool often comes with layers of complexity that sometimes cripple more than they help. They may benefit those who already have a certain idea of how coding languages work or those who are willing to put in the effort to learn. With a tool like our own LoadView, the time spent learning how to code and then executing less satisfactory tests with a free tool can instead be used to improve your website’s interface for your users.
“In a recent study from Forrester Research, a well-designed user interface could raise your website’s conversion rate by up to a 200%, and a better UX design could yield conversion rates up to 400%. Put simply, the metrics speak for themselves.”
– Forbes
These conversion rates are often only possible when you devote time to your website’s interface and usability instead of spending time on creating difficult test scripts that may provide inadequate results. With a tool like LoadView, backed by our team of experts, you can be sure to get the best information possible from your load testing budget, which you and your development team can turn into action.
We’ve compiled a list of things you should look at when considering which tool provides the best value for your load testing budget: our own LoadView.
The Criteria for a Quality Load Testing Tool
Rising costs, heavy maintenance efforts, and lack of usability for some load testing tools prevents businesses from implementing a testing strategy. Here are some areas to consider when looking at load testing tools:
Ease of use
Simplicity and flow decide whether the user will have a good experience using a load testing tool. Some tools may deter the user from creating efficient test scripts because they use require coding or scripting to properly use, their interface isn’t intuitive, or they lack the power to apply heavy loads on websites.
Level of support
For a relatively new user, load testing can be confusing. Any good load testing platform anticipates this. Accordingly, they invest in creating a good level of support. This may not always reflect in open-source load testing tools that rely on online forums and communities to support their users.
Realistic simulations
Most open-source load testing tools don’t support real browser testing in favor of headless browsers that real users never use. This leads to results that are iffy at best. LoadView gives you the option to test with real browsers and so get the most accurate results available in the load testing space today. Accurate results lead to better insights so you and your development team can take action to create the best experience for your users.
Reusability and automation
A smoother process of creating test scripts allows for the efficient integration of load tests within the development process. LoadView provides a point and click scripting tool so simulating real user behavior can be accomplished in minutes without knowing a scripting language. No technical ability is required.
Maintainability
The more working parts there are in any load testing tool, the more heavily it will weigh on you in terms of maintenance. Some tools are notorious for appearing to be free up front with hidden maintenance costs to properly use over time. At LoadView, our cloud-based load testing platform is an all-in-one solution with no hidden costs.
How Load Testing Simulation Works
You can test the functionality of a certain aspect of your website with manual testing methods. However, when you think about putting large loads on your website that emulate real user behavior, manual tests don’t work. Automated load testing tools like ours at LoadView will test your website under current loads and anticipated future loads based on growth models. Manual tests are simplistic, whereas automated tests give robust and complex results.
The basic steps of a load test setup include the following:
- Calculate the load pattern
- Identify the relevant user interactions
- Create the testing scripts
- Configure the test scenario such as regular and peak load
- Assign the load injection machines
- Execute the tests
- Analyze the results
- Fix defects and repeat the test until issues have been fixed
LoadView: An Enterprise Level Load Testing Tool
Many of the load testing tools available on the market take a high level of skill to operate. Additionally, if you get stuck, there can be limited support available to you that can help you diagnose the issue and execute solutions. LoadView’s simplicity and industry-leading support will help you execute load tests within minutes of starting to use our service.
There’s no need to spend weeks learning code languages and writing complex test scripts. Rather, save that time and effort and apply those energies to auditing the professional testing results you’ll receive from LoadView, then take your insights and apply them to improve your websites and applications.
Realistic and actionable results for our users is our top priority at LoadView. We accomplish this through real browser testing, easy point and click scripting, and a suite of user friendly tools even non-technical users can benefit from.
Note also, load testing isn’t a one and done process. It’s crucial to regularly test your websites and applications both before launch but as part of regular maintenance and any time code is updated. At LoadView, we’re here to help you through every stage of your load testing workflow, from your first test through to regular testing and occasional tests in anticipation of big events.
LoadView’s comprehensive approach to load testing makes our tool the greatest blend of realistic user scenarios and affordability in the load testing space today. You can check out our free trial and start load testing in minutes. We’ll be happy to help you achieve your load testing goals.