Apache JMeter vs SoapUI comparison

Apache and SmartBear are both solutions in the API Testing Tools category. Apache is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.1, while SmartBear is ranked #12 with an average rating of 8.0. Apache holds a 6.2% mindshare in APIT, compared to SmartBear’s 2.0% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of Apache users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of SmartBear users who would recommend it.

Apache JMeter

Read 97 Apache JMeter reviews

7,641 Views
2,751 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

SoapUI

Read 3 SoapUI reviews

497 Views
497 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Apache JMeter

SoapUI

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 11, 2024

Apache JMeter and SoapUI are leading tools in performance and functional testing. Apache JMeter holds the upper hand in load testing capabilities, while SoapUI is preferred for functional testing due to its extensive feature set.

Features: Apache JMeter offers powerful load-testing capabilities, extensive plugin support, and great flexibility. SoapUI provides comprehensive functional testing, ease in creating complex test scenarios, and suitability for detailed API testing.

Room for Improvement: Apache JMeter could improve its scripting capabilities, documentation, and script management. SoapUI needs better performance with large datasets, more intuitive error handling, and improved performance overall.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Apache JMeter is easy to set up but lacks comprehensive customer support. SoapUI offers a more user-friendly deployment experience with professional support options.

Pricing and ROI: Apache JMeter is highly cost-effective with no setup costs. SoapUI involves higher upfront costs but is considered worth the investment for its robust features and support options.

To learn more, read our detailed Apache JMeter vs. SoapUI Report (Updated: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Apache JMeter vs. SoapUI

April 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Apache JMeter

Ranking in API Testing Tools

3rd

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Performance Testing Tools (1st), Load Testing Tools (1st)

SoapUI

Ranking in API Testing Tools

12th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the API Testing Tools category, the mindshare of Apache JMeter is 6.2%, down from 8.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SoapUI is 2.0%, up from 0.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

API Testing Tools Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Apache JMeter	6.2%
SoapUI	2.0%
Other	91.8%

API Testing Tools

Featured Reviews

Raja Rao Malkari

Principal Performance Architect at Tecnotree Corporation

Have built custom performance test scripts and integrated them into automated pipelines seamlessly

Apache JMeter has its own pros and cons when compared to other tools. It is easy to use the tool and it has open-source capability so we can build our custom scripts and execute them. It provides other capabilities, such as integrating a database and connecting to other application servers for monitoring and related functions. We use dynamic HTML reporting, which helps us in testing analysis by pinpointing the bottlenecks based on the reports. We can identify the specific areas that need attention, troubleshoot them, and report to the development team. The user-friendly GUI for creating and managing tests makes it very easy to drag and drop samplers. For example, if you want the HTTP sampler, you can drag and drop it and use it. For configurations, we have other samplers. For results, we have the view results samplers that we can also drag and drop. The UI is good in comparison with other tools. Regarding integration with CI/CD pipelines, we can create Apache JMeter scripts and use the Docker image. From the image, whatever scripting we have done can be connected. We can use the CI/CD pipelines and connect them with Jenkins tools and GitHub. Then we can create the pipelines and automate the end-to-end flow. For connecting Jenkins to Apache JMeter, JMeter plugins are available, and we have used them. Apache JMeter also has some third-party plugins, which are not native samplers. If we want to use custom test executions, we definitely use all the different plugins available in Apache JMeter. The capability to simulate users has impacted testing resources and outcomes as Apache JMeter is based on Java, which has a limit to the users in a particular load generator. Apache JMeter provides distributed load testing where you can connect multiple PCs in a master and slave concept, allowing you to pump the load with any number of users. In the past, I have done load testing with 10,000 users by connecting the Apache JMeter distributed network in BlazeMeter. There is a cloud version available, the updated BlazeMeter, and I used that. It is very easy to launch load generators in BlazeMeter, and then we can run the test, scaling up beyond 10,000 users.

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Mahendra Andhale

Test Manager at Happiest Minds Technologies

Used for API testing and provides Groovy plugin

We use the solution mainly for API testing The solution's most valuable features are the designing of API, Property Transfer feature, and Groovy plugin. The solution should include some plug-ins to share the generated reports over email. Sometimes, Groovy can be a tricky language, and we need to…

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Very user-friendly and easy to use."

"Apache JMeter is quite flexible and it is also well distributed."

"The product helps me get the expected performance from applications or servers and reduces costs. It also enhances the performance of the services and helped them reach their ultimate capacity."

"This solution is very user-friendly, and allows for a lot of data capture when testing."

"It is easy to set up."

"We have found this solution to be a stable and reliable tool."

"The best features Apache JMeter offers in my experience are that it is an open source tool, free of cost, and it can generate multiple users."

"It is cost-effective and simple to use."

More Apache JMeter pros

"The solution's most valuable features are the designing of API, Property Transfer feature, and Groovy plugin."

"We need to test the APIs as we build them. I use the product for API testing. You can do AWS security in SoapUI. With SoapUI, we can even perform mutual SSL authentication by incorporating certificates into the SoapUI browser. This allows us to send transactions to the backend downstream."

"SoapUI is a pretty simple tool."

Cons

"The solution needs more metrics for reporting."

"I sometimes found the documentation to be not as explanatory as I would've liked it. In the cases that I can think of, I was looking for a rather hand-holding approach with Step A, B, and C, but then I realized that with a product that is open source like this, you can't do handholding. That is because there are so many different uses and different unique environments and setups for it, but I remember thinking a few times that if they only just said this."

"JMeter's reporting is extremely rudimentary. The fundamental reporting mechanisms need to be drastically improved. It doesn't utilize an automatic session management mechanism or methods other tools use like parsing cookies and variables. Everything needs to be done manually. There's no automation."

"Report generation needs to be improved. It is quite difficult to get to."

"In this tool, automation in general is almost non-existent. Everything is done manually."

"The UI could be better."

"It should be easier to combine multiple scripts. If you have multiple scripts, you need to write a new script to combine those scripts. The virtual user generator is slow."

"If you go above the 200 user mark, the application creates a bottleneck and that's one of its major drawbacks."

More Apache JMeter cons

"The solution should include some plug-ins to share the generated reports over email."

"The product needs to be available as an extension for the Chrome browser."

"There are more advanced API testing tools than SoapUI, and SoapUI could be made better."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Since we are using an outsourced solution, it is not paid for by our company."

"The solution is open source with no user fees or licenses."

"JMeter is open source and available free of charge."

"Everything is included, and there are no additional costs."

"The price of Apache JMeter is good. The selling rate is quite effective and the limited users with a multi-region-related execution."

"When comparing the price with Load Runner, and if the cost is an issue then JMeter is a better choice"

"I haven't looked into it. Most of our projects are nonprofit or grant-based. Everything is public commons, so we don't really have to worry about that so much."

"Apache JMeter is a free open source solution and it is why we are using it."

More Apache JMeter pricing and cost advice

"SoapUI is a cheap tool that does not have an expensive license."

"SoapUI is an open-source solution."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

16%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Insurance Company

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	27
Midsize Enterprise	25
Large Enterprise	56

No data available

Questions from the Community

How does Postman compare with Apache JMeter?

Postman lets you easily define variables, which then get updated automatically. This is a huge time-saver and makes processes very efficient. We can also export the test cases we create and share t...

See all answers

How does BlazeMeter compare with Apache JMeter?

Blazemeter is a continuous testing platform that provides scriptless test automation. It unifies functional and performance testing, enabling users to monitor and test public and private APIs. We ...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Apache JMeter?

Using JMeter helps us avoid additional costs for high-load testing since it is open-source and allows for unlimited virtual users at no extra cost.

See all answers

What do you like most about SoapUI?

We need to test the APIs as we build them. I use the product for API testing. You can do AWS security in SoapUI. With SoapUI, we can even perform mutual SSL authentication by incorporating certific...

See all answers

What needs improvement with SoapUI?

The solution should include some plug-ins to share the generated reports over email. Sometimes, Groovy can be a tricky language, and we need to focus more on that.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for SoapUI?

We use the solution mainly for API testing.

See all answers

Comparisons

Tricentis NeoLoad vs Apache JMeter

Compared 12% of the time

BlazeMeter vs Apache JMeter

Compared 6% of the time

Postman Enterprise vs Apache JMeter

Compared 5% of the time

OpenText Professional Performance Engineering (LoadRunner Professional) vs Apache JMeter

Compared 5% of the time

ReadyAPI Performance vs Apache JMeter

Compared 3% of the time

More Apache JMeter Competitors

Parasoft SOAtest vs SoapUI

Compared 27% of the time

ReadyAPI Test vs SoapUI

Compared 23% of the time

More SoapUI Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Apache JMeter

May 2026

Download Apache JMeter product report

Buyer's Guide

API Testing Tools

April 2026

Download SoapUI product report

Also Known As

JMeter

No data available

Overview

Apache JMeter is a versatile, open-source tool designed for performance and load testing, widely recognized for its user-friendly interface and robust test automation capabilities. It supports a range of protocols and integrates seamlessly into various environments, making it ideal for high-load scenarios.

Apache JMeter stands out in performance testing for its ability to handle high transactions per second and perform distributed load testing effectively. Its open-source nature and cost-effectiveness are enhanced by its user-friendly GUI, which simplifies the testing process. Despite memory consumption concerns, Apache JMeter remains a top choice due to its large community support, comprehensive scripting capabilities, and easy integration with CI/CD pipelines, allowing for continuous automated testing. Its robust protocol support meets diverse testing needs.

What are Apache JMeter's key features?

User-Friendly GUI: Simplifies test creation and management.
Open-Source: Offers flexibility and community support.
Protocol Support: Handles multiple protocols effectively.
Integration: Works seamlessly with tools like Jenkins.
Scripting: Extensive scripting abilities for custom tests.
Platform Independence: Operates on various operating systems.

Which benefits should users consider in reviews?

Cost-Effectiveness: No licensing fees due to open-source status.
Community Support: Access to a large user base for help and updates.
Scalability: Effective in high-load scenarios with distributed testing capabilities.
Automation: Integration with CI/CD for continuous testing.
Comprehensive Reporting: Provides detailed performance insights.

In industries like finance and banking, Apache JMeter is used extensively for performance validation to ensure system robustness under heavy user loads. It's integrated into CI/CD pipelines for automated testing processes, allowing organizations to simulate real-world scenarios and ensure high-performance standards.

Apache

SoapUI is a leading tool for testing SOAP and REST web services, known for its robust functionality and user-friendly interface. It supports functional, automated, and load testing, and offers powerful scripting and automation. Organizations appreciate its efficiency, protocol flexibility, and integration capabilities.

SmartBear

Sample Customers

AOL, Orbitz, Innopath Software, PrepMe, Sapient, Corporate Express Australia, CSIRO, Ephibian, Talis, DATACOM, ALALOOP, eFusion, Panter, Sourcepole, University of Western Cape

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Apache JMeter vs. SoapUI

April 2026

Free Report: Apache JMeter vs. SoapUI

Find out what your peers are saying about Apache JMeter vs. SoapUI and other solutions. Updated: April 2026.

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