Load testing is a key step in any software development process, since it provides the proof that the developed feature or system performs as expected under a traffic load. By simulating user traffic, load testing helps identify bottlenecks, performance issues and limitations that can affect the system's scalability, stability, and reliability. Identifying these issues before production is an important way to ensure customer satisfaction. By preventing websites and applications from crashing or slowly loading, organizations can avoid an adverse financial impact on their business.
That’s why choosing which load and performance testing solution to use is not a decision to be taken lightly. The right system will seamlessly integrate into the developer workflow to make load testing effortless and effective. A cumbersome solution will remain “on the shelf” and won’t be used by developers and QA, leaving the system in danger of crashing in production under heavy traffic or unexpected spikes.
In this blog post, we compare two leading load testing solutions: BlazeMeter and Tricentis NeoLoad performance testing. After reading this post, you will have a better understanding of how each one operates and will know which one to choose for your needs.
BlazeMeter vs. Tricentis NeoLoad Performance Testing: A Comparison
About BlazeMeter
BlazeMeter is a Continuous Testing platform that supports shift-left capabilities, is fully open-source compatible and has a SaaS infrastructure that helps incorporate testing within the software development lifecycle (SDLC). BlazeMeter can also support on-prem test execution needs. Capabilities include performance testing, functional testing, API monitoring, mock services and synchronized test data.
About Tricentis
Tricentis provides load testing capabilities across web and mobile interfaces hosted either on premise or in the cloud. The desktop application has more capabilities than the SaaS version. Capabilities include performance testing and API testing.
Ease of Use
BlazeMeter User Experience
BlazeMeter is designed to be a user-friendly and intuitive load testing platform built for developers, testers and not so technical-savvy users. The platform provides a wide range of features and tools that make it easy for users to create, execute, and analyze load tests. BlazeMeter provides a simple-to-use interface for creating and configuring load tests, while developers can create JMeter tests using JMeter DSL (with a BlazeMeter integration) or Taurus’s YAML.
The platform integrates with various CI/CD tools, including Jenkins, GitLab, and Bamboo, making it easy to integrate load testing into existing development workflows. In addition, BlazeMeter enables integrating with any custom CI/CD tool using CLI and APIs.
BlazeMeter also provides real-time monitoring and reporting features that enable users to monitor the performance of their tests as they run, and also provides detailed reports and insights after the tests are completed, BlazeMeter users can collaborate and break down organizational silos by sharing the test creation and the results.
Finally, BlazeMeter offers a comprehensive help center that is available directly from the application and also online. This means that information is always at the users’ fingertips at any given time. A simple click of a button brings up the specific answer whenever a question arises directly in the context of a feature.
Tricentis User Experience
Tricentis, on the other hand, requires learning and practice to be used effectively. While the interface is designed to be user-friendly, with drag-and-drop functionality and pre-built templates, it does require custom development.
In addition, in its attempt to adapt to the SaaS age, it developed a web UI. As a result the functionality is split both between a desktop and a Web UI, creating a sub-optimal user experience.
Similar to BlazeMeter, NeoLoad also enables real-time monitoring, reporting, and collaboration features.
Mock Services
BlazeMeter Mock Services
BlazeMeter enables configuring and integrating mock services into load and performance tests, from the BlazeMeter platform, and as part of the CI/CD pipeline. Mocking is automated, deployable, and maintainable and can be used for a variety of real-world conditions, like slow response times, incomplete inputs, unexpected errors, etc. With mocking, users eliminate component dependencies by enabling testing against unavailable or complicated services.
For mocking (and other users), BlazeMeter offers platform-native test data that is synthetic and mimics real production data. Test data can be synchronized across Tests, Mock Services and System under Test/Application under Test.
Tricentis Mock Services
Despite the importance of mocking for dependency elimination, mock services in Tricentis are a costly add-on.
SaaS / On-Prem
BlazeMeter: Cloud-Native and On-Prem
BlazeMeter SaaS was born in the SaaS age and has always been a SaaS native application. Users can record test scripts, upload their JMeter or other testing scripts, configure tests, run them, collaborate on tests, view results, and share reports - from anywhere in the world and from any device. This makes BlazeMeter easy to use and encourages inter-organizational collaboration while reducing organizational silos.
In addition, BlazeMeter offers an on-premises solution for enterprises who need it for compliance or other requirements.
Tricentis: Mostly On-Prem
Tricentis is a legacy platform developed as a thick client application. Over the years, they developed a SaaS layer to answer modern needs for global access. However, not all functionalities are available through the web UI. Instead, some are only accessible through the desktop version, creating friction when testing.
Shift Left Capabilities
BlazeMeter Shift Left
BlazeMeter was born in the shift-left and DevOps age. As a result, it is designed to support developer agility. This includes integrations and plugins for CI/CD tools like Jenkins, Circle CI, Bamboo and others.
BlazeMeter also API interfaces and command-line options through open source Taurus to easily integrate with the developer workflow. Finally, BlazeMeter provides services like test data and mock services, which remove blockers that often impede shifting left performance testing.
Tricentis Shift Left
Tricentis NeoLoad can be integrated into CI/CD pipelines. However, since the tool was developed when the concepts of shifting left and DevOps did not exist, shift left integrations were stitched on top of the tool, impacting performance and the user experience.
Vendor Lock
BlazeMeter Open Source Compatibility
BlazeMeter supports all major open source testing tools. These include JMeter, Gatling, Selenium, Locust, and others. In addition, users can convert their LoadRunner scripts into JMeter scripts. As a result, testers can choose which testing tool and scripting language they want to work with, and BlazeMeter will support them all. As a result, users are not locked into BlazeMeter and can use the tool of their choice. They can also move on from BlazeMeter at any given time.
Tricentis Proprietary Solution
Tricentis developed a proprietary syntax. Users have to learn this syntax to use Tricentis and the skills are not transferable to another platform. This creates vendor-lock.
BlazeMeter vs. Tricentis Comparison Table
BlazeMeter | Tricentis | |
User Experience | Very good, including an easy to use UI, collaboration capabilities, in-context and in-app documentation, multiple integrations, and more. | Mediocre. There are multiple capabilities but they are divided between the web UI and the on-prem version. |
Mocking Services | Comprehensive and encompassing a wide variety of needs. Available for any test. | Need to be purchased as an add-on. |
SaaS/ On-prem | SaaS and on-prem | Mostly on-prem |
Shift Left Support | End-to-end, including CI/CD, developer integrations and data services. | Partial - CI/CD integrations. |
Vendor Lock | No | Yes |
Next Steps for Choosing Your Load Testing Solution
Choosing the right load testing platform for your needs depends on multiple factors. This includes your use cases, the tools you need to integrate with, the type of testing scripts you need to write, and so on. The best way to choose your platform, after reading online reviews, is to try out the solutions for yourself.
BlazeMeter offers a free tier version you can use to see if it fits your performance testing needs.