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Katalon Studio vs k6 Open Source comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on May 21, 2025

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

k6 Open Source
Ranking in Regression Testing Tools
10th
Average Rating
7.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.9
Number of Reviews
2
Ranking in other categories
Load Testing Tools (8th)
Katalon Studio
Ranking in Regression Testing Tools
3rd
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
47
Ranking in other categories
API Testing Tools (4th), Test Automation Tools (3rd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Regression Testing Tools category, the mindshare of k6 Open Source is 0.5%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Katalon Studio is 16.7%, up from 16.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Regression Testing Tools
 

Featured Reviews

NalinGoonawardana - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers good scalability and has the ability to integrate with various systems and services
One area where k6 could improve is by introducing a GUI similar to JMeter. While k6 is a powerful tool for performance testing, it leans heavily towards coding. Having a GUI, even if it is a low-code approach, could make it more accessible to a broader audience. It would be beneficial to strike a balance where basic tasks can be performed graphically through a user-friendly interface, while still allowing the flexibility for more complex operations through code, similar to how JMeter operates. This could enhance the user experience and make k6 more approachable for those who may not be as comfortable with scripting.
Appu Ashok - PeerSpot reviewer
Expansive integrations boost automation potential across devices
I am in the field of product research and am familiar with Katalon Studio for product comparisons and test automation. Even though I am not an active tester, I have created a few tests using Katalon Studio Some of our customers use Katalon Studio, however, our own product, Tangene, is a…

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The tool's big advantage is that it is more performance-test oriented for experienced testers who know what they are doing. In a normal working setup, performance engineers frequently work with DevOps and development teams. For these teams, k6 Open Source's syntax is much simpler and easier to understand and apply in the working process."
"The standout feature of k6 is its strong focus on API performance testing."
"It supports multiple easy-to-learn languages."
"It provides us daily feedback on the status (failing/working) of the core features of our websites."
"Overall, I recommend it highly and find it easy to use with many integrations."
"The automation is very fast and you don't need to be overly proficient in coding."
"The initial setup is pretty straightforward and easy enough to complete."
"We can write code in Java and it is easy to link to other JARs that we find on the internet, which is very handy."
"It is a good tool and provides all the essential features for our business requirements."
"It has been good so far for API testing on Mac. It is not that hard to learn and use. There is so much support out there, so if anyone wants to start using it, there is enough help."
 

Cons

"One area where k6 could improve is by introducing a GUI similar to JMeter."
"Katalon Studio's pricing is expensive."
"It should be faster while executing, and there are some defects, like choosing the new device with the test case."
"Katalon's support is not very strong unless you opt for the enterprise version."
"The integration process with Jira should be enhanced and facilitated."
"The solution can be further improved with better loading time."
"There could potentially be more reporting within the solution. We need more issue reports, for example."
"The free version of the solution is not user friendly at all."
"There is not much support offered for the free version, which is something that could be improved."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available
"Its pricing is quite reasonable. If you require their help in getting started, then there is a professional services fee on top of the product license cost."
"The tool is affordable."
"This product is freeware, so there is no charge for using it."
"Price-wise, Katalon Studio is a costly product. Considering what the solution provides its users with, I can say that price-wise, Katalon Studio is an okay product."
"Katalon Studio is an expensive tool."
"The product’s pricing is very, very low."
"The approximate cost is around $8,000."
"There is a free version of the tool to use and support is available through the community forums, but there is a licensed version as well."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
20%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Media Company
8%
Educational Organization
19%
Computer Software Company
17%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Manufacturing Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about k6 Open Source?
The standout feature of k6 is its strong focus on API performance testing.
What needs improvement with k6 Open Source?
One area where k6 could improve is by introducing a GUI similar to JMeter. While k6 is a powerful tool for performance testing, it leans heavily towards coding. Having a GUI, even if it is a low-co...
What is your primary use case for k6 Open Source?
k6 Open Source is a powerful tool, especially for API-level performance testing. Its integration capabilities and ease of use make it promising for a wider audience.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Katalon Studio?
Katalon Studio is on the expensive side. I rated it eight on a scale where ten is very expensive. I recommend optimizing the pricing, as a moderate value around five would be preferred.
What needs improvement with Katalon Studio?
The pricing could be improved. Offering a discount on Katalon Studio licenses could encourage more users. There is significant competition, so providing a good offer with extra features could be be...
 

Also Known As

Load Impact
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

rackspace, salesforce.com, IBM, servicenow, Nasdaq, JWT
Coca-Cola Tesla Black Board TaTa Consultancy Services Sony
Find out what your peers are saying about Katalon Studio vs. k6 Open Source and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
859,129 professionals have used our research since 2012.