Alternatives to LoadStorm PRO:
LoadView: On-demand Load Testing from the Cloud

View performance of your websites and applications
in real browsers

Are you a current LoadStorm PRO user? Or just searching for an alternative performance testing tool and wondering how these platforms stack up to one another? LoadView is a cloud-based load/stress testing platform for DevOps teams, engineers, and performance testers. Below, we’ll cover the features and benefits of LoadView and LoadStorm and what makes LoadView a more powerful testing platform.

LoadView versus LoadStorm PRO – A Quick Summary

LoadView and LoadStorm share many similarities. Both platforms are cloud-based, meaning there is no additional software or infrastructure to purchase or manage. All you essentially need is computer, and Internet connection, and a browser, so there is no need for expensive servers or testing labs. Additionally, both platforms utilize cloud load injectors to generate user load from multiple points around the world, so you can scale your load tests from a few hundred users to into the hundreds of thousands. Where the major differences lie is within the script recorders. LoadView utilizes a web-based script recorder in a full browser. On the other hand, LoadStorm PRO is not a full browser, nor is it a browser emulator. Instead, users create HAR files and XML files from the developer tools in their respective browsers, building scripts from HTTP requests. This limits the types of protocols supported. Another major difference is the type of load tests that can be executed within each platform. We’ll dive more into these features further in the article.

LoadView versus LoadStorm PRO – Recording Scripts

Depending on the type of browser you are using, LoadStorm utilizes HTTP Archive (HAR) files and/or XML recordings to create scripts. In the case of Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer, LoadStorm users capture and record website interactions via the developer tools menu in a private/incognito browser session. Here’s a quick breakdown of what the LoadStorm PRO scripting process looks like, technologies supported, and any conditions/limitations.

• Websites
  • • • Chrome

  One item to note about using Chrome. If interacting with forms/form data, LoadStorm recommends using Firefox instead, as the latest versions of Chrome to not save form data when recording scripts.

  • • • Firefox

  Using Firefox used to require a couple of additional add-ons to preserve data between pages and to export HAR files, but this is no longer needed with the current version of Firefox.

  • • • Internet Explorer

  Internet Explorer is unable to export HAR files, but users can save as a HAR-style XML file, which LoadStorm can read.

• APIs
  • • • Postman

  To create scripts for API testing, you must install a separate app from the Chrome Web Store called Postman.

• Mobile
  • • • Android and iOS

  LoadStorm advises against using the packet capturing method for mobile devices. Instead, using API calls is the preferred method.

Along with the LoadView solution, the EveryStep Web Recorder provides an easy way to script user journeys and scenarious by simply pointing and clicking your way through web pages and web application like your average user would.

These scripts are then uploaded into the LoadView platform for load testing. Utilizing this recorder, users have support for more protocols, devices, and options. The EveryStep Web Recorder supports over 40 popular desktop/mobile browsers and devices.

LoadView also has support for WebSockets, a protocol that LoadStorm PRO doesn’t support, plus many of the other popular protocols and programming languages, including the following:

Within both the LoadStorm and LoadView platforms, once a script has been created, but before uploading the script and running a load test, users can review the script details, customize their scripts, and add custom parameters and change default settings, such as delays/think time and page load time thresholds. This is beneficial in case there are any errors that may have to be fixed before moving forward with a load test. However, the LoadView platform goes one step further and allows users to watch the playback of the recorded script. This insures all the steps are accounted for and no errors are present.

LoadView versus LoadStorm PRO – Setting Up and Running a Load Test

Unlike many of the open-source testing tools which only run protocol-based user simulations, LoadView allows users to choose from protocol-based (HTTP/S) and real browser-based simulations. For some applications, stressing the server might be enough, but for testing critical multi-step scripts, you’re going to want to know the end-to-end response time and client-side performance and behavior under load.

LoadStorm Pro does not give users these options. Once the script is ready, LoadStorm users can select the script, or multiple scripts, that will be included in the test. If multiple scripts are used, users must determine the weight for each script. The weight represents the percentage of virtual users you want for each particular script. The numbers must be whole integers that add up to 100. From there users can select from two types of test patterns, Linear and Step. The differences between these two options is that the Linear pattern increase virtual users over time, whereas the Step pattern increases virtual users at more frequent intervals. Once those parameters have been finalized, LoadStorm users have the option to schedule the test for a specific day/time, run the test immediately, or repeat the test, if necessary.

It’s at this point during the test execution setup that LoadView really sets itself apart from LoadStorm. After determining which load simulation you’re going to run, users can also choose from multiple test scenarios or load curves – Load Step, Goal-based, and Dynamic Adjustable curves for added configurabilty to meet the requirements for your specific load testing goals.This type of flexibility allows users to pick and choose the scenario that is right for your test.

The last item to confirm is where the virtual users are coming from. LoadStorm offers various locations across the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America, however, the ability to select from multiple locations is only available to accounts that have a minimum of 100 available virtual users.  Additionally, because each load generator supports up to 200 virtual users executing scripts, tests with less than 2,500 peak virtual users may not use all selected regions. LoadView allows users to select from 15+ global load injector servers from around the world.

LoadView versus LoadStorm PRO – Results Analysis and Reporting

Once the test is started LoadStorm users can view the results during, or after, the test. The results will show you where any errors occurred, how fast the pages loaded, and which resource took the most time. Additionally, similar to LoadView, test results from LoadStorm can be shared with stakeholders via a unique link.

LoadView also allows users to monitor the progress of tests in real-time, however once the test is completed, a Stress Test Report is automatically created. Both platforms offer comprehensive summaries, reports, metrics, and graphs to review the performance of your tests. The LoadView Stress Test Report includes the following information:

• Summary

Outlines the basic stress test properties with line charts showing changes in the number of simulated users and load level, response times, the number of sessions and errors detected at different time points, as well as a diagram of the load injector CPU usage.

• Session Report

Allows you to how successful your execution plan was, by comparing planned user load versus actual user load. This report also includes a list of all user sessions, along with drill-down information showing errors, transaction details, response times, descriptions for failed sessions, waterfall chart, and more.

• Device Info

Includes details for any device and task(s) configured

LoadView Free Trial and Plans

Our free trial includes up to 5 load tests at no cost. LoadView has subscription-based plans, starting at $199 per month.  With our subscription-based plans, unused virtual user minutes and load injector hours roll over from one month to the next as long as your subscription plan remains valid. Alternatively, you can also select from a pay-as-you-go plan. Pricing is calculated and displayed before you begin new test, so you know exactly what you’re paying for. If your specific needs require more than what is listed above, please contact us for Enterprise-level plans.

LoadView Professional Services 

Additionally, if you’re looking to use LoadView, but don’t have the team or resources to carry out specific elements of your tests, we offer Professional Services to assist you through whatever your exact need and requirementes are.  Just let us know what you need and our team of performance engineers will help you out and guide you through all the steps.

LoadStorm Pricing and Plans

LoadStorm offers a free trial, along with subscription-based and pay-as-you-go plans, however, no pricing is publicly available on their site. If you’re looking to

Free Trial

• Account doesn’t expire
• Full version of LoadStorm PRO cloud load testing platform
• Run an immediate, smaller test of 10 virtual users
• Run a full test for up to 50 concurrent virtual users

Concurrent VUsers

• VUsers never expire
• Consumption is based on the Peak User setting for each test run
• Spend VUsers in smaller tests or one large test

Max Duration

• Does not limit the number of tests
• Determines allowable duration of each test
• Each test duration can be equal or less than the plan’s max duration

Consulting Services

• Available upon request
• Free consultation
• Consulting can be used for a variety of tasks