Apache JMeter vs Vegeta
Apache JMeter
jmeter.apache.orgVegeta
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Apache JMeter | Vegeta |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Performance Testing Software | 8.4 (#6) | 7.8 (#22) |
| Distributed testing | JMeter supports remote testing, and its security guidance recommends enabling the security manager in distributed environments to reduce the risk of malicious code execution. | The README describes Vegeta as simple to use for distributed load testing. |
| Protocols | The site lists HTTP and HTTPS, SOAP and REST, FTP, JDBC, LDAP, JMS, email protocols, TCP, Java objects, and native commands or shell scripts among supported test types. | The attack command supports HTTP/2 when the server supports it, and can send HTTP/2 over TCP without TLS encryption. |
| Purpose | Apache JMeter is an open source, pure Java application for load testing functional behavior and measuring performance. | Vegeta is an HTTP load testing tool built to test HTTP services at a constant request rate. |
| Reports | JMeter can generate a dynamic HTML report for test results. | Its report command supports text, JSON, histogram, and HDR plot output. |
Plans
In their own words
Apache JMeter
Apache JMeter is a free, open-source Java application for testing functional behavior under load and measuring performance. It can simulate heavy workloads on servers, networks and other systems. Supported test types include HTTP and HTTPS, SOAP and REST, FTP, JDBC, LDAP, JMS, email protocols, TCP, Java objects, and native commands or shell scripts. Its test IDE can record plans from browsers or native applications, then help users build and debug them. JMeter provides command-line operation on Java-compatible systems and can generate dynamic HTML reports. It also supports remote testing, pluggable samplers and timers, scripting such as Groovy and BeanShell, and plugins for analysis and visualization. Third-party open-source libraries connect it to Maven, Gradle and Jenkins for continuous integration. JMeter works at the protocol level: it does not execute JavaScript in pages or render them as a browser does. It requires Java 8 or later. The project recommends command-line rather than GUI operation for load testing and advises caution with untrusted JMX files, which may execute code when opened.
Vegeta
Vegeta is a free, open-source HTTP load-testing tool and Go library that sends requests at a constant rate. Its command-line interface is built for UNIX-style composition, while the library offers use from Go programs. The project states that its load measurements avoid coordinated omission and that distributed testing is supported. Reports can be written as text, JSON, histograms, or HDR plots, and results can also be encoded as CSV, Gob, or JSON. The attack command can expose an optional Prometheus exporter. HTTP/2 works when supported by the server, including HTTP/2 over TCP without TLS. TLS options include client certificates and keys, custom root certificates, and ignoring invalid server certificates. The documented request timeout defaults to 30 seconds, with zero disabling timeouts. Prebuilt binaries, package-manager installs, distribution packages, and source builds are documented for Linux, macOS, Windows, API use, and self-hosting. The repository uses the MIT license.