The LoadRunner alternative built for the cloud
Skip VuGen, Controller, and six-figure licensing. Get modern cloud-native load testing with Python scripting, per-minute billing, and self-serve signup.
Trusted by 2.4k+ teams to scale their applications
LoadRunner is powerful but legacy and expensive. LoadForge is modern, self-serve, and affordable.
Skip the VuGen recording sessions, Controller installs, and enterprise contracts. LoadForge gives you the same cloud scale with Python scripting, per-minute billing, and results in minutes — not months.
| Feature | LoadForge | LoadRunner |
|---|---|---|
Setup & Ease of Use | ||
| Cloud-hosted (no setup) | LoadRunner Cloud only | |
| GUI test builder | VuGen (desktop) | |
| Swagger/OpenAPI import | ||
| Time to first test | Minutes | Hours to days |
| Procurement required | No — self-serve | Yes — sales contact |
Scripting & Test Creation | ||
| Primary scripting language | Python | C / JavaScript / Java |
| Modern, readable scripts | ||
| Reusable test library | ||
| Visual test builder | TruClient only | |
| Full ecosystem access | Python (pip) | Proprietary |
Scale & Infrastructure | ||
| Cloud-distributed load | LoadRunner Cloud only | |
| Auto-scaling workers | Cloud tier only | |
| Multi-region testing | Cloud tier only | |
| Up to 4M virtual users | ||
| No Controller/Generator to install | ||
Protocols & Test Types | ||
| HTTP/HTTPS load testing | ||
| WebSocket testing | ||
| GraphQL testing | Via HTTP scripting | |
| Playwright browser testing | TruClient (legacy) | |
| DoS/stress testing | ||
| SQL/database testing | Protocol add-ons | |
CI/CD & Integrations | ||
| GitHub Actions | Via Jenkins plugin | |
| CLI for pipelines | ||
| Slack notifications | Custom | |
| Datadog integration | ||
| Jira integration | ||
| REST API | ||
Reporting & Analytics | ||
| Real-time dashboards | ||
| P95/P99 latency tracking | ||
| AI-powered recommendations | ||
| Anomaly detection | Basic | |
| Shareable reports | PDF export | |
| Modern UI | ||
Pricing & Support | ||
| Transparent public pricing | ||
| Per-minute billing | VU licenses / contracts | |
| Self-serve signup | ||
| Free sign-up | ||
| No annual commitment | ||
| Managed testing service | Professional services | |
What you get with LoadForge that LoadRunner can't offer
Cloud-Native, Not Cloud-Hosted Legacy
LoadForge was built for the cloud from day one — no VuGen, no Controller, no Load Generators to install. LoadRunner Cloud is a hosted wrapper around the same desktop architecture from the 1990s.
Transparent, Affordable Pricing
LoadRunner licensing often requires sales calls, contracts, and six-figure commitments. LoadForge publishes its pricing, bills per minute, and has no VU caps — self-serve, predictable, and dramatically cheaper.
From Signup to Results in Minutes
Skip the procurement cycle, VuGen recording sessions, and Controller configuration. Sign up for LoadForge, import your Swagger spec or write a Python test, and run cloud-distributed load in minutes.
Why teams switch from LoadRunner to LoadForge
Stop paying enterprise prices for load testing
LoadRunner licensing is famously expensive, and much of what you pay for is legacy desktop tooling. LoadForge gives you equal or better capabilities at a fraction of the cost, with no contracts required.
Modern tooling your team actually enjoys
Replace VuGen scripts, XML configs, and the Controller UI with Python, a modern web dashboard, and CI/CD-native workflows. Onboarding goes from weeks to hours.
One platform, every test type
HTTP, GraphQL, browser (Playwright), DoS, and SQL testing in a single unified platform — no protocol add-ons, no bolt-on tools, no separate licenses for each capability.