01
Peak-day failures
Sales, launches and deadlines bring traffic your system has never seen.
[ What JMeter is, and why it matters ]
The open-source load testing tool with the widest reach
Apache JMeter is an open-source tool for load and performance testing. It simulates many users hitting your system at once and measures how response times, throughput and errors change as load grows. It covers websites and APIs, but also databases, message queues, WebSockets and email or file services, and it can run across many machines when you need serious scale.
The tool is free. The value is in how the tests are designed, run and read, and that’s where we come in.
Looking for load testing in general? See our load testing services or compare all our testing tools →
The problems it solves
02
Slowdowns with no clear cause
Users feel it, but nobody knows whether it’s code, database or infrastructure.
03
Costly over-provisioning
Without data, teams add servers they may not need, and still aren’t sure.
04
Hidden backend limits
Databases, queues and connections fail before the website shows it.
[ How it gives you an advantage ]
JMeter, k6, Gatling and Locust, side by side
JMeter wins on protocol coverage and ecosystem. Code-first tools suit developer-led teams. We’ll tell you honestly which fits.
| JMeter | k6 | Gatling | Locust | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How tests are built | Visual builder, with Groovy scripting | JavaScript code | Scala, Java or Kotlin code | Python code |
| Protocols | Widest: HTTP, SOAP, JDBC, JMS, FTP, SMTP, more via plugins | HTTP, WebSockets, gRPC and extensions | HTTP, WebSockets and more | HTTP by default, others via custom code |
| Resource use per user | Higher | Low | Low | Moderate |
| Distributed runs | Built in, controller and workers | Via cloud or Kubernetes | Via enterprise offering or your own set-up | Built in |
| Ecosystem | Largest: plugins, clouds, integrations | Growing, developer-focused | Mature | Python ecosystem |
| Best for | Broad protocols and teams who prefer a visual tool | Developer-led teams, load as code | High-scale tests from code | Python teams |
Widest protocol support
Web, APIs, SOAP, databases, queues, WebSockets, FTP and SMTP in one tool.
Visual and scriptable
A visual builder for QA teams, with Groovy when logic gets complex.
Scales out
Distributed runs and support from every major load testing cloud.
No licence costs
Open source, with a large plugin ecosystem and community.
Honest note: JMeter test plans can get hard to review as code, and each virtual user uses more resources than in code-first tools. We keep plans modular and plan load generator capacity up front.
[ Where it can be used ]
Where JMeter fits best
Anywhere traffic, data or connections can overwhelm your system. These are the cases where it pays off most.
eCommerce and retail peaks
Sales, launches and holiday traffic on search, cart and checkout.
SaaS platforms
Concurrent users, busy dashboards, chat and real-time updates.
Fintech and real-money apps
Deadline rushes on payments, wallets and live data.
APIs and integrations
Partner APIs, batch imports and third-party traffic spikes.
Enterprise and SOAP systems
Older services, databases and message queues behind modern front ends.
Public sector and announcements
Portals that must stay up when everyone arrives at once.
Performance tests we run with JMeter
[ How we use JMeter ]
Eight JMeter solutions we deliver
Start with your busiest journeys, then go deeper into the layers behind them. Each card lists what we deliver, when you need it and the problem it prevents.
Web & API load testing
HTTP(S), REST, GraphQL, SOAPYour websites and APIs put under realistic traffic, from normal days to your busiest peak, with response times and errors measured for every key request.
What we deliver
- Websites and single-page apps over HTTP(S)
- REST and GraphQL APIs
- SOAP web services
- Response times, throughput and error rates per request
When you need it
Before launches, campaigns, seasonal peaks and major releases.
The problem it preventsA slow or failing site on the day traffic matters most
Database, messaging & real-time load
JDBC, JMS, Kafka, WebSocketsWe load the layers behind your app directly: database queries, message queues and real-time connections, so bottlenecks are found where they start.
What we deliver
- Database load over JDBC
- Message queues with JMS and Kafka
- WebSocket connections and message bursts
- FTP and SMTP where your app relies on them
When you need it
When the slowdown is behind the API, not in front of it.
The problem it preventsA queue or database quietly backing up until everything stalls
Realistic, maintainable test plans
Built from real trafficTest plans built from your real traffic patterns, recorded, correlated and parameterised so each virtual user behaves like a real one, and kept modular so they’re easy to review.
What we deliver
- Recording with the HTTP(S) Test Script Recorder or BlazeMeter recorder
- Correlation of tokens, sessions and dynamic values
- CSV and database test data
- Groovy and JSR223 scripting, plus custom thread groups from Plugins Manager
When you need it
Whenever results need to reflect what real users actually do.
The problem it preventsLoad tests that pass because they don’t behave like real users
Distributed & cloud-scale runs
Controller and workersWhen one machine isn’t enough, we run JMeter across many load generators in the cloud or on your own infrastructure, close to where your users are.
What we deliver
- Distributed JMeter with a controller and workers
- Load generators on AWS or Azure
- Docker and Kubernetes-based runs
- BlazeMeter, Azure Load Testing or OctoPerf
When you need it
When you need thousands of virtual users or traffic from several regions.
The problem it preventsA load test that tests the load generator instead of your system
Monitoring & bottleneck analysis
Find the cause, not just the symptomLive dashboards during every run, linked to your servers and APM, so each slowdown is traced to its cause: code, database, configuration or infrastructure.
What we deliver
- Grafana and InfluxDB live dashboards
- Prometheus, New Relic, Datadog or AWS CloudWatch
- JMeter HTML dashboard reports
- Bottlenecks traced and explained in plain language
When you need it
On every run, so results lead to fixes rather than just charts.
The problem it preventsKnowing it’s slow, but not why
JMeter in CI/CD
Performance on every releaseSmaller load tests run in your pipeline with Taurus, with agreed pass and fail thresholds, so performance regressions are caught before release.
What we deliver
- JMeter runs wrapped with Taurus (bzt)
- Pass/fail thresholds on response times and errors
- Trend comparison against previous builds
- Results posted where your team already looks
When you need it
When performance needs checking on every release, not once a year.
The problem it preventsA release that quietly makes key pages slower
LoadRunner to JMeter conversion
Move without losing coverageWe convert your LoadRunner scripts into maintainable JMeter test plans and run both side by side until results match, so you can drop the licence with confidence.
What we deliver
- Audit of existing LoadRunner scripts
- Scenarios rebuilt as modular JMeter plans
- Side-by-side runs to compare results
- Monitoring and reporting carried across
When you need it
When licence costs are high or the tool no longer fits your team.
The problem it preventsLosing years of performance coverage in a rushed tool change
Test plan review & refactoring
Clean up existing plansWe review your existing JMeter plans, fix unrealistic scenarios and correlation gaps, split them into reusable modules and make them easy to maintain.
What we deliver
- Unrealistic think times and pacing fixed
- Missing correlation and hard-coded data removed
- Plans split into reusable modules
- Documentation your team can follow
When you need it
When your plans are hard to read, change or trust.
The problem it preventsResults nobody believes because the test plan is wrong
[ Our approach ]
How we analyse your project and design the solution
A load test is only as good as its model of real users. We spend time on that first, so results reflect what will actually happen.
Understand your traffic
We study real traffic, peak patterns and the journeys that matter most, from analytics, logs or your team.
You get: Workload modelSet clear targets
Response time, throughput and error goals agreed with you, so every run has a clear pass or fail.
You get: Agreed performance targetsMap your architecture
Servers, databases, queues, caches and third parties, so we know what to monitor and where limits may be.
You get: Monitoring planDesign the test plan
Modular JMeter plans with correlation, realistic data, pacing and the right load generators for your scale.
You get: Test plan blueprint[ Structure & tool setup ]
The setup we use, layer by layer
Each layer is chosen for your system and scale. On the right is a typical modular project layout, so plans stay easy to review and reuse.
ProtocolsHTTP(S) · REST · GraphQL · SOAP · JDBC · JMS · Kafka · WebSockets · FTP · SMTP
Test typesLoad · stress · spike · endurance · scalability · volume
Script creationHTTP(S) Test Script Recorder · BlazeMeter recorder · correlation and parameters
Logic & extensionsGroovy and JSR223 · JMeter Plugins Manager · custom thread groups
Test dataCSV files · database-driven data
ExecutionDistributed JMeter (controller and workers) · AWS or Azure load generators · Docker and Kubernetes
Cloud platformsBlazeMeter · Azure Load Testing · OctoPerf
CI/CDTaurus (bzt) · pass/fail thresholds
MonitoringGrafana and InfluxDB · Prometheus · New Relic · Datadog · AWS CloudWatch
ReportingJMeter HTML dashboard · bottleneck report with causes and fixes
Sample project layoutJMeter · Taurus
jmeter/
plans/
checkout-peak.jmx
api-baseline.jmx
fragments/ login.jmx search.jmx pay.jmx
data/ users.csv products.csv
scripts/ token-extract.groovy
config/ staging.properties peak.properties
taurus/ peak.yml ci-smoke.yml
monitoring/ grafana-dashboard.json
results/ (HTML dashboards per run)
Example only. Your layout follows your system and scale.
[ How we work ]
Six steps from workload model to confirmed fixes
You agree the targets and test windows before any load is applied, and see results after every run.
-
Step 1 of 6
Model the workload
Real traffic, peak patterns and key journeys turned into a workload model.
You getWorkload modelTargets -
Step 2 of 6
Build the test plans
Modular JMeter plans with correlation, realistic data and pacing.
You getReviewed test plans -
Step 3 of 6
Set up load and monitoring
Load generators sized for your scale, dashboards linked to your systems.
You getLive dashboards -
Step 4 of 6
Run the tests
Baseline first, then load, stress, spike or soak runs as agreed.
You getResults per run -
Step 5 of 6
Find and explain bottlenecks
Each slowdown traced to its cause, with clear fix suggestions.
You getBottleneck report -
Step 6 of 6
Retest and hand over
Fixes confirmed, plans and CI checks handed over to your team.
You getRetest reportDocs and plans
[ Benefits you’ll see ]
What changes once the testing is in place
For Peddler, JMeter tests ahead of busy periods led to tuning that made peak-load paths about 70% faster. For AmericanDream11, we simulated 1,000 concurrent players before contest deadlines.
Confidence before peak day
You know how many users your system handles, and what happens beyond that.
Bottlenecks explained
Each slowdown traced to code, database, configuration or infrastructure, with a fix to try.
Right-sized infrastructure
Data to scale where it matters, instead of guessing.
Regressions caught early
Smaller JMeter checks in CI flag slower releases before customers do.
Reusable test plans
Modular plans your team can rerun and extend for every release.
No licence costs
Open source, in your repository, with no lock-in to us.
[ Case Studies ]
JMeter load testing we’ve delivered
JMeter load tests were part of our QA work on each of these products. Each links to the full write-up.
[ Ways to work ]
Six ways to work with our JMeter engineers
A one-off test before a big date, a JMeter engineer in your team, or performance checks on every release.
01Fixed-price projectChoose it for a load test before a big date, with a clear scope.02Managed testingChoose it when you want performance tested on every release, run for you.03On-demand testingChoose it for a one-off test before a launch, sale or announcement.04QA consultingChoose it for a review of your current test plans and performance approach.05Staff augmentationChoose it when your team needs a JMeter specialist for a while.06Dedicated QA teamChoose it when performance is part of every sprint.
Not sure which fits? Find your model in four questions, compare all six or estimate your cost.
[ FAQ ]
JMeter performance testing questions, answered
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[ Contact us ]
Get a JMeter test plan for your product
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