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Artillery

Freemium

Modern load testing toolkit with YAML scenarios and JavaScript hooks.

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Pricing

Freemium

Type

Automation

Languages

JavaScript, TypeScript

// VERDICT

Reach for Artillery when you want config-first load (and smoke) tests in YAML/JS that drop easily into CI, with cloud scaling when needed. Skip it when you want a GUI (JMeter), a different ecosystem (Gatling/Locust), or enterprise protocol breadth.

Best for

Modern load and smoke testing defined in YAML (or JS) - quick to start, good for HTTP/WebSocket/Socket.io, with cloud/serverless scaling, suited to JS/TS teams who want config-first load tests.

Avoid when

You want a GUI tool, a JVM/Python stack, or the deepest enterprise protocol coverage.

CI/CD fit

Artillery CLI · GitHub Actions · GitLab CI · Jenkins · AWS Lambda/Fargate scaling

Languages

JavaScript · TypeScript

Team fit

JS/TS teams · Teams wanting config-first load tests · DevOps adding load to CI

Setup

Easy

Maintenance

Low

Learning

Beginner

Licence

Freemium

// BEST FOR

  • Defining load tests declaratively in YAML (or JS for logic)
  • Quick HTTP, WebSocket and Socket.io load testing
  • Running smoke + load checks from the same tool
  • Scaling out via serverless (Lambda/Fargate) when needed
  • JS/TS teams wanting load tests in a familiar ecosystem
  • Dropping load checks into CI with minimal setup

// AVOID WHEN

  • You want a GUI / record-and-playback tool (JMeter)
  • Your stack is JVM (Gatling) or Python (Locust)
  • You need the deepest enterprise protocol coverage (LoadRunner)
  • Complex scenarios outgrow the YAML model (drop to JS or another tool)
  • A managed enterprise platform with support is required
  • You only need a quick one-off HTTP benchmark (wrk/Vegeta)

// QUICK START

npm install -g artillery
# config.yml: phases (arrivalRate/duration) + scenarios (flow of requests)
artillery run config.yml

// ALTERNATIVES TO CONSIDER

ToolChoose it when
k6You want a scripting-first JS engine with strong thresholds.
LocustYou prefer Python and code-defined user behaviour.
Apache JMeterYou want a GUI/record-based tool with broad protocol support.

// FEATURES

  • YAML-based scenarios with JS hooks
  • HTTP, WebSocket, Socket.io, gRPC, and Playwright engines
  • Browser-based load testing via Playwright
  • Distributed testing in AWS (Artillery Cloud)
  • Plugin ecosystem and custom processors
  • Detailed JSON reports and dashboards

// PROS

  • Low barrier to entry with YAML
  • JS hooks unlock arbitrary complexity
  • Browser load testing is a unique niche
  • CI-friendly out of the box

// CONS

  • Distributed testing requires AWS and the paid tier
  • Reporting less detailed than Gatling out of the box
  • Node.js single-process throughput limits

// EXAMPLE QA WORKFLOW

  1. Install Artillery (npm)

  2. Write a YAML test with arrival-rate phases and scenarios

  3. Add JS for custom logic where needed

  4. Run via the CLI locally

  5. Add thresholds and gate CI on them

  6. Scale out via serverless for higher load