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PeerSpot user
Performance Tester/QA at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Overall LoadRunner is a good tool to use, but it’s quite expensive and complex to script at times.

What is most valuable?

Available protocols

What needs improvement?

Scripting should be simpler, it becomes very complex many times.

For how long have I used the solution?

3 years

What was my experience with deployment of the solution?

Yes
Buyer's Guide
OpenText LoadRunner Professional
May 2025
Learn what your peers think about OpenText LoadRunner Professional. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2025.
851,604 professionals have used our research since 2012.

How are customer service and support?

Customer Service: 7 out of 10Technical Support: 5 out of 10

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

No, but I have evaluated many other solutions.

How was the initial setup?

Not very long.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Senior Consultant at a computer software company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Real User
It is very stable and the technical support is good
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is quite stable."
  • "I guess scalability becomes a problem when you use things like TruClients."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case of this solution is to do testing for banks and financial institutions. 

What is most valuable?

At the moment I like to use the TruClient port, add them and create other versions of TruClient, because TruClient is usually too big to handle heavy loads, so you need to recreate a vamp version for whatever you will need. 

What needs improvement?

Sometimes I have problems when I want to record a script if the application is a little special, like the login part. I think the TruClient works well and they are developing new things there all the time. So it's getting better. I would like to see an easier way to move things from SoapUI to the same addressed services and postman or something like that. Because the developers will use the other products and then the website and then load them at no cost. So if it was just one step to move from one system to another it would be a great improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for almost twenty years now.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is quite stable. I've seen a few bugs of course - they will always be there. That's not a big deal and I just work around it. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I guess scalability becomes a problem when you use things like TruClients. It eats lots of memory, so usually, I have two or three low generators while I have the one controller. We have had some problems with when we are using a BPM system. In the beginning, it was quite difficult when we changed to this other system and we wanted to connect to the home computer. 

We have about 12 users, mostly testers, working on the solution currently. Then we have two people working in our performance center. 

How are customer service and technical support?

The technical support is good. Whenever we had a problem, they solved it. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was quite straightforward and it's quite easy to install the standard version. Everything takes less than an hour.

What other advice do I have?

My advice to others would be to look into the application differently. In the next version, I would like to see an easier way to create and use TruClient for development and to move it to another version. They already have this function, but it is not very user-friendly. You cannot do a correlation of things now, because it is on a higher level now. So you have to do a lot of work. 

My rating for this solution is nine out of ten. I've used it a lot, so I guess it's possible to make things better, but it's been around for a while, so I think it's very good.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
OpenText LoadRunner Professional
May 2025
Learn what your peers think about OpenText LoadRunner Professional. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2025.
851,604 professionals have used our research since 2012.
it_user567588 - PeerSpot reviewer
Manager Quality Assurance at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Enables us to test most of our products and projects, across all the different technologies
Pros and Cons
  • "Enables us to test most of the products and projects that we have across all the different technologies, without having to look at other tools."
  • "We still have some issues with integration with things like SiteScope which, obviously, being another HPE product should be very straightforward, but there are always issues around that."

What is most valuable?

Enables us to test most of the products and projects that we have across all the different technologies, without having to look at other tools.

How has it helped my organization?

It allows us to get better reliability, quicker, for the products and solutions. That means fewer critical performance issues when the product goes to market. 

What needs improvement?

Probably integrations. We still have some issues with integration with things like SiteScope which, obviously, being another HPE product should be very straightforward, but there are always issues around that.

We would like to see more integrations and easier integrations. We have other products that we have integrations with, other third-party products, which seem to be straightforward, ALM and JIRA for example. But for integration between HPE products, we would like to see that go a bit more smoothly.

For how long have I used the solution?

About 12 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

it's stable. It's been around for a long time. There are no real issues, no defects or anything.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability is good. There are lots of different options ranging from the freely available versions through to Enterprise and Performance Center. And obviously features like StormRunner Load allow you to scale more quickly and effectively.

How is customer service and technical support?

We've used technical support quite a lot but not so much lately because it's something we're very familiar with, so we tend to manage it. But when we've used it we've been happy with it.

How was the initial setup?

It was a very long time ago. It was complicated only because of the age of the technology then and the infrastructure we had.

Updating, it's something you just have to plan for, but otherwise it was fairly straightforward.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

There are various things we haven't been able to test so we're continuously looking at other vendors to complement it. NeoLoad being one, recently. That's it really.

What other advice do I have?

It covers the most technology, is the most reliable, it gives us the most features.

It's not a 10 out of 10 because of the issues with integrations and it's not quite the one solution, the one-part solution for everything.

I don't know if it's really the product's fault but there are products that, later on, I can't test or can't script against or can't replay against and it's just understanding whether that's a limitation of the tool or a limitation of the product. Part that is design as well as trying to actually script against it.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user94998 - PeerSpot reviewer
Performance Test Lead at a consultancy with 51-200 employees
Consultant
LoadRunner is the best for those who need a full blown product, or a diverse range of protocols to be tested
Pros and Cons
  • "The capabilities and flexibility of the Controller, the ability to monitor the systems under test, and the comprehensive results Analysis which saves a great deal of time."
  • "More guidance on the use of the Tru Client protocol which is used for Web interfaces."

What is most valuable?

The capabilities and flexibility of the Controller, the ability to monitor the systems under test, and the comprehensive results Analysis which saves a great deal of time.

What needs improvement?

More guidance on the use of the Tru Client protocol which is used for Web interfaces.

For how long have I used the solution?

15 years

What was my experience with deployment of the solution?

LoadRunner generally deploys without issues.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Its a complex product and there are usually a few bugs in the point zero releases, it is generally pretty reliable.

Sometimes the controller can crash, this is usually after opening and closing several scenarios without closing the controller. Closing the controller after a couple of scenarios opened will avoid the problem.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability is great, I have personally used LoadRunner with up to 72,000 virtual users, and 35 load generators.

How are customer service and technical support?

Customer Service:

I don't have recent experience with HPE customer service.

Technical Support:

I don't have recent experience with HPE tech support.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I started performance testing with LoadRunner and I'm still using it. I have used other tools, but its the best all rounder.

How was the initial setup?

Initial setup is straightforward as LoadRunner is pretty much standalone and just needs connectivity to the system under test.

What about the implementation team?

I generally implement it myself.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The cost depends greatly on the needs of the testing engagement.

The free community licence (permanent for 50 VUsers) available from Version 12 is very useful. For small tests this is sufficient and there is no licence cost to use it.

The community licence is excellent for training as well, you get full functionality for as long as you like.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

No

What other advice do I have?

Take a good look at your requirements, LoadRunner is the best for those who need a full blown product, or a diverse range of protocols to be tested. However not everyone needs this. There are other products that do parts of what LoadRunner does just as well and cheaper. Because LoadRunner is so widely used, there are many people with LoadRunner experience available, it will be harder to find experience in an alternative tool. There are cheaper and free alternatives, but these generally take longer to set up and use. Often the software licence costs are far less than the professional services cost for a performance testing engagement. The higher cost of a LoadRunner licence will be offset by time saved by using it.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user733185 - PeerSpot reviewer
it_user733185Managing Partner with 51-200 employees
Vendor

Worksoft Certify does not provide the same accuracy of response time as LoadRunner.

See all 8 comments
it_user487383 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Systems Engineer at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
We're able to test standalone from individual machines.

Valuable Features

For me as a user, the flexibility in different protocols and things like that which can be tested with the tool.

Improvements to My Organization

We're able to test standalone from individual machines.

Stability Issues

The stability on the old versions is good. On the newer versions, the bleeding edge is still being worked on.

Scalability Issues

It's very scalable. No issues with scalability.

Customer Service and Technical Support

Premium support is great, but before that when we just had general support, it was not all that great. We had issues with trying to get support to call us back on tickets and turnaround time on resolution.

Initial Setup

It's not exactly straightforward. Their instructions were not all they could have been, but we still got it installed.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user49908 - PeerSpot reviewer
Architect at a healthcare company with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Excellent load testing capabilities & reports. Quick visibility focusing in on a problem area is extremely helpful.

The main reason that we decided to implement LoadRunner was because of our serious lack of insight into exactly where flaws were stemming from when a problem arose or how we could fix those problems earlier and more efficiently in the future. When a problem was found, solutions could only be given after the fact, making the losses bigger and causing more damage than necessary. We needed to increase our awareness of the challenges and issues that could come up before they arose, or at least catch the problems faster than we currently were, in order to tackle them properly.

As the company grew and our infrastructure increased, the task of testing and debugging our entire system transformed into a colossal and costly problem. Our service, which includes providing healthcare and insurance services to a wide range of patients and clients, was becoming inefficient as well, making the need for in-house testing of our various software flaws urgent.

LoadRunner seemed to be an obvious solution since it recreates real life scenarios on a virtual plane in order to test the performance rate, speed, efficacy and functionality of the system during those actual situations. In this way, we could easily pinpoint problem areas, bugs and other flaws to the system prior to the real time launch, avoiding tremendous issues from ever arising.

We tried out three different virtual assessment products concurrently. Each of these products was tested in a wide range of areas that were either commonly known to be problem areas or were considered to be of great importance to remain problem-free. Some included:

  • Secure systems
  • Overall system substructure
  • Performance speed and accuracy

The system that came out as superior during the testing was HP LoadRunner, and we purchased the package immediately upon reviewing the results of the trials. This choice was made primarily for the software’s extensive capabilities, though HP’s greater overall presence within the technology field also contributed to the ultimate decision.

Installing LoadRunner was an uncomplicated procedure, needing no third party or outsourced services or tools. The successful implementation of this software led to the acquisition of some 250 licenses from the onset and an additional 1500 in subsequent months.

We proposed a three-year window to view the results and overall ROI of the product. To our surprise, LoadRunner provided positive effects even faster than we would have expected in a real and tangible example as described below:

One of the portals that our company used for selling various insurance packages and products developed major issues. As a result, brokers were losing sales because of the inaccessibility of their services. With the use of HP LoadRunner, the entire issue was simulated, examined and solved within a week of the initial symptoms. The software actually paid for itself within that first month simply due to the efficient manner in which the problem was able to be recreated, analyzed and dealt with.

Other members of the staff also found the product to be more effective and easier to work with due to the alacrity and smooth, automatic functions that were performed. As a result of these faster protocols, team members were able to meet strict deadlines that were otherwise unrealistic prior to theLoadRunner implementation.

The load testing capabilities and efficient performance were rated as the most integral aspects of this software, though the adeptness at getting to the core of the issue was a very close second.

Other features that people found generally helpful were the reports and the quick visibility focusing in on a problem area. Using HP LoadRunner in combination with the SiteScope software from HP has made all of these inevitable mishaps easier to deal with in a timely manner.

Our use of LoadRunner has become a standardized process, a part of our regular routine. The software is repeatedly used to discover the source of a problem when code freezes pop up. What is more, the usage of these tools is not limited to IT techs; everyone from the developers to quality assurance and even management is actively using this software to hone in on the problem areas and solve the issues quickly.

HP LoadRunner has been a gateway into the implementation of other invaluable HP tools such as Application Lifecycle Management products. In general, there has been a vast improvement to the performance and output of the company since the use of this product has been initiated, and everyone has seen positive results in the form of fewer problems, greater visibility and faster response times to issues that will come through. Having a central database for problem solving tools and resources has also contributed to the efficacy of our staff individually and as a team.

Disclosure: PeerSpot has made contact with the reviewer to validate that the person is a real user. The information in the posting is based upon a vendor-supplied case study, but the reviewer has confirmed the content's accuracy.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1576428 - PeerSpot reviewer
Engineer 2 at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Reliable with good reporting and support of a wide range of protocols
Pros and Cons
  • "The reporting is very good in regard to scripting and debugging."
  • "We'd like the solution to be a bit more user-friendly."

What is our primary use case?

The solution is used for scripting and debugging. 

How has it helped my organization?

I've found the option - remote application via LoadRunner Proxy to be the most valuable feature which played vital role in recording network traffic of mobile application. Very helpful for mobile scripting

What is most valuable?

It supports a wide range of protocols, which I don't think any other load-testing tool can offer.

It's very stable and reliable. 

The reporting is very good in regard to scripting and debugging.

What needs improvement?

The installation process and the initial configuration could be a little easier.

We'd like the solution to be a bit more user-friendly.

For someone that doesn't have a lot of experience with the solution, it might be challenging. Even after five years of using it, I still find it challenging. 

The solution can be quite expensive.

There is slow performance when you are opening multiple instances on one machine.

For how long have I used the solution?

Five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable and reliable. There are no bugs, glitches and it doesn't crash or freeze. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

For scalability, I will use LoadRunner Enterprise, not LoadRunner Professional. LoadRunner Professional is purely for scripting and debugging purposes.

How are customer service and support?

Tech support is very responsive and knowledgeable

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

So far, I have also used JMeter. Compared to JMeter, LoadRunner is the best tool out there. As per the feedback from my peers, most of them prefer LoadRunner in terms of performance testing - executions, scripting and debugging (which provides more insight during our work)

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup and configuration is pretty complex. 

I'd rate the solution a three out of five in terms of ease of setup.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

It is very expensive compared to the other tools available in the market. 

I'd rate it a two out of five in terms of affordability.

What other advice do I have?

I'm satisfied with the product. I'd rate it nine out of ten. 

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user825579 - PeerSpot reviewer
Consultant at a computer software company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Real User
The interface is user-friendly and it offers great loading and repair properties.
Pros and Cons
  • "The initial setup and installation of the software were very easy and straightforward."
  • "Sometimes we are not be able to click on some of the buttons due to the screen mismatching and compatibility issues."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case of this solution is for performance testing and load testing.

How has it helped my organization?

The solution improves our organization because we can use it for recording scripts, enhancing the scripts and for running test revisions. We can therefore preform test revisions and do analysis.

What is most valuable?

What I really like about this solution, is the user-friendly interface and the loading and repair properties.

What needs improvement?

Currently the solution doesn't have recording options or sometimes we're not be able to see the recording options. So that needs to improve. I also think the solution should have more screen compatibility, even if you're using a different operating system like Windows 10, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. Sometimes we find that there is a difference between the desktop screen and the laptop screen. So, it should be compatible for both screens.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using LoadRunner for around two years on premise.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable and the only compatibility issues lie within the screens. I think there should be an improvement to the compatibility to both laptop and desktop screens. Sometimes we are not be able to click on some of the buttons due to the screen mismatching and compatibility issues. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have about 200 users and the scalability is good so far. We don't plan to increase our usage so I am not sure how scalable it will be with more users.

How are customer service and technical support?

We get really good support from the support team.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup and installation of the software were very easy and straightforward. 

What other advice do I have?

LoadRunner has a variety of options and different protocols that will support all types of applications categories like web application, monitor and any internal applications or desktop applications. The customization protocol also is user-friendly and if I have to rate the solution, I will give it a nine out of ten. In the next version I would like to see specific protocols when I want to do performance settings for any desktop clients. 

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free OpenText LoadRunner Professional Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: May 2025
Buyer's Guide
Download our free OpenText LoadRunner Professional Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.