Load test your backend with realistic traffic patterns
Visit WebsiteFreemiumVisit Website
Tracked since2025
0 reviews trackedThe Bottom Line
Entry price
Free plan available, paid tiers above
Biggest pro
Good load testing
Biggest con
Cloud expensive
TL;DR - Artillery
- Artillery is a modern load testing toolkit for developers and DevOps teams
- It runs performance tests against APIs and web apps with scenario-based scripting
- Free open-source version, Pro from $49/month
Pricing: Free plan available
Best for: Growing teams
What is Artillery?
Artillery tests your backend under load before real users do. Define scenarios that simulate realistic traffic patterns, then watch how your system responds when thousands of virtual users hit it simultaneously.
Write tests in YAML or JavaScript. Run from your laptop or scale to massive distributed tests in the cloud. Detailed reports show latency distributions, not just averages.
Engineering teams use Artillery to catch performance problems in staging instead of discovering them in production during a launch.
Available on: Web, Linux, macOS, Windows
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Good load testing
- YAML config
- Good for APIs
- Open source core
- Cloud option
Cons
- Cloud expensive
- Learning curve
- Reporting basic
- Documentation gaps
- Less GUI
Key Features
Load testingPerformance testingScenariosPluginsCI/CD integrationOpen source
Pricing Plans
Free TrialPricing checked Jul 5, 2026
Most Popular
Free
Free
Open source
- Load testing
- YAML config
- Plugins
Pro
$99/month
Teams
- Cloud runs
- Dashboards
- Team features
How Artillery's pricing compares
At $99/mo, Artillery is mid-range of its 2 direct competitors ($0.15 to $99/mo across the set).
Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked Jul 5, 2026.
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Artillery FAQ
How does Artillery simulate realistic traffic patterns for backend load testing?
Artillery allows users to define scenarios that simulate realistic traffic patterns, enabling testing of how a system responds when thousands of virtual users hit it simultaneously. This helps in understanding performance under conditions similar to live production traffic.
Which teams benefit most from using Artillery?
Engineering teams find Artillery most beneficial for catching performance problems in staging environments before they impact production during a launch. It helps ensure the backend can handle expected user loads.
How is Artillery's approach to reporting different from other tools?
Artillery provides detailed reports that focus on latency distributions, offering a more nuanced view of performance rather than just presenting average response times. This helps in identifying performance bottlenecks more precisely.
Can Artillery tests be scaled beyond a local machine?
Yes, Artillery tests can be run from a laptop or scaled to massive distributed tests in the cloud. This flexibility allows for testing systems under various load conditions, from small-scale to very large-scale.
How does Artillery compare to k6 for API load testing?
Artillery is good for API load testing and allows tests to be written in YAML or JavaScript, similar to k6 which also supports JavaScript for test scripting. Both tools offer an open-source core, but Artillery emphasizes its detailed latency distribution reporting.
What kind of trade-offs should users consider when adopting Artillery?
Users should consider that Artillery has a learning curve and its reporting can be basic compared to some other tools. Additionally, while it offers a cloud option, that service can be expensive.
How is Artillery priced for users?
Artillery is available on a free tier, providing access to core functionalities. For users requiring more extensive usage and additional features, paid plans are available.
Source: artillery.io