Apache JMeter vs SoapUI comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Apache and SmartBear are both solutions in the API Testing Tools category. Apache is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.3, while SmartBear is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.5. Apache holds a 5.8% 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

10,605 Views
3,606 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

SoapUI

Read 5 SoapUI reviews

1,058 Views
1,058 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: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Apache JMeter vs. SoapUI

September 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

6th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Performance Testing Tools (2nd), Load Testing Tools (1st)

SoapUI

Ranking in API Testing Tools

10th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

5.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2026, in the API Testing Tools category, the mindshare of Apache JMeter is 5.8%, down from 6.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SoapUI is 2.0%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

API Testing Tools Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Apache JMeter	5.8%
SoapUI	2.0%
Other	92.2%

API Testing Tools

Featured Reviews

TusharShankar

QA Manager at Synechron

Performance testing has become central and reporting has provided clear insights for our teams

We do have command prompt related or CLI functionality with Apache JMeter, so it is easier. However, since it is open source, much work has not been put into the GUI part. The GUI could definitely be enhanced. One drawback which I can see when I compare it with other tools is the amount of cache that it uses, the memory that it uses. It becomes very difficult to work with when we have a lot of requests that need to be processed. Anything more than 10,000 requests becomes a bit of an unfavorable task when using Apache JMeter altogether. Otherwise, it does help anyone who is starting off with performance testing.

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PramodChaudharyDarwha

Manager at TCS

Organizing and sharing reusable API test suites has improved our team’s regression testing

SoapUI is really great for my team because when we are trying to create test cases and the requests that we are going to send to an API, we can create one SoapUI folder which will be XML and this XML is used by SoapUI itself. If we want to share whatever request we are running on my system with another person, we can export the test suite that we are working on and give it to another person. It is shareable through file upload and download. However, we cannot share it through a link or something implemented on the cloud. The best feature of SoapUI is that we can build a suite in SoapUI. When we build a suite, it creates a kind of directory where we can organize our tests in one place, and then we can share it. Another best feature is that we can execute the tests that we want to do on API level in a sequential fashion or in parallel, through synchronous or asynchronous calls. For the feature where we can organize and share test suites, because we have the test suite now, there are many things that we want to check manually. This suite can be shared with a team, and then the suite can be divided into parts or we can divide the work by sharing the suite. We can update the suite and then we can make a final suite that will be useful for next iterations. This has helped us in creating a very efficient test suite and a way to organize our test cases and regression suite.

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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

"The features that I appreciate are quite basic. It is easy to ramp up the threads and start calling the application. A lot of connectors can already be found within Apache JMeter, but we are not using the entire set because the integration between the customers and platform is based on HTTP. We are just going to produce lots of HTTP sequences."

"JMeter lets us generate virtual users and T-load, per our requirements, and it's easy to configure and adjust the virtual users according to the DPS we want to achieve."

"The distributed load testing is very good with Apache JMeter."

"One valuable feature of Apache JMeter is the ability to replicate scenarios where bulk files have to be uploaded via API."

"Apache JMeter is completely free as it is open-source, providing cost-effective customization options."

"It is very quick and user-friendly."

"It's very useful for performance and load testing."

"The thread groups, samplers, and listeners, which are all determined by the script's requirements, are the most valuable features of this solution."

More Apache JMeter pros

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

"SoapUI is a pretty simple tool."

"SoapUI has really made that possible for us."

"SoapUI is really great for my team because when we are trying to create test cases and the requests that we are going to send to an API, we can create one SoapUI folder which will be XML and this XML is used by SoapUI itself."

"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."

Cons

"Apache JMeter could use improvement in reporting. Currently, it isn't easy to generate reports in PDF format. While receiving reports in PDF format is possible, it requires a lot of customization. Additionally, when comparing the load test to others solutions it could improve."

"In terms of setup, it could be nicer, to be honest. Sometimes, I get a little bit lost."

"To the best of my knowledge, the documentation could be improved. It should be enhanced to better support newcomers. Currently, only people with some experience can easily understand the content. Including more sample programs, applications, and use cases would help many more people adapt to using the solution."

"If the solution was GUI based, I believe that it would be more versatile."

"With JMeter, with banking encryption, we have struggled a lot; it's not as good as other paid tools that provide support and configuration capabilities that JMeter lacks."

"What needs improvement in Apache JMeter is the very high load requirements when you want to scale it beyond certain thresholds."

"If JMeter could provide a web version of editing, that would be good."

"Running JMeter in GUI mode uses a lot of memory, which means we need to switch to a non-GUI mode when using a heavy load."

More Apache JMeter cons

"If we could have more sharing capability within teams or its own structure, that would help."

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

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

"SoapUI is not that scalable."

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

Pricing and Cost Advice

"In terms of open-source adoption, it is completely free."

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

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

"The tool is open-source."

"It is free."

"This is an open-source product."

"Since it's free, there's no need for extensive support or improvements in pricing."

"This is an open-source solution, and there are no fees."

More Apache JMeter pricing and cost advice

"SoapUI is an open-source solution."

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

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

13%

Outsourcing Company

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Financial Services Firm

29%

Program Development Consultancy

24%

Outsourcing Company

Healthcare Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	27
Midsize Enterprise	23
Large Enterprise	62

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?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that the cost and license are free because Apache JMeter is open source.

See all answers

What needs improvement with SoapUI?

SoapUI is pretty good overall. If we could have more sharing capability within teams or its own structure, that would help. A workspace where two or three people can join and contribute on a single...

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What is your primary use case for SoapUI?

We use SoapUI for testing the API requests and the authentication rules of APIs, and we also check if we are getting the output of the API correctly and if it is not bypassing the test cases. A sce...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering SoapUI?

I would tell others to try to use SoapUI more often so that they will get more familiar with it, and they can surely purchase this product as it is a great tool. I would rate this product an 8 out ...

See all answers

Comparisons

Tricentis NeoLoad vs Apache JMeter

Compared 10% of the time

OpenText Professional Performance Engineering (LoadRunner Professional) vs Apache JMeter

Compared 6% of the time

BlazeMeter vs Apache JMeter

Compared 6% of the time

Postman Enterprise vs Apache JMeter

Compared 6% of the time

ReadyAPI vs Apache JMeter

Compared 3% of the time

More Apache JMeter Competitors

Parasoft SOAtest vs SoapUI

Compared 25% of the time

ReadyAPI Test vs SoapUI

Compared 13% of the time

Postman Enterprise vs SoapUI

Compared 5% of the time

SmartBear API Hub vs SoapUI

Compared 5% of the time

Loadmill vs SoapUI

Compared 5% of the time

More SoapUI Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Apache JMeter

October 2026

Download Apache JMeter product report

Buyer's Guide

API Testing Tools

October 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

September 2026

Free Report: Apache JMeter vs. SoapUI

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