Sauce Labs vs k6 Open Source comparison

Read 113 Sauce Labs reviews

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96% willing to recommend

k6 Open Source

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Sauce Labs and k6 Open Source based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Tricentis, OpenText, Katalon Studio and others in Regression Testing Tools.

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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

k6 Open Source

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Load Testing Tools (9th), Regression Testing Tools (22nd)

Sauce Labs

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

113

Ranking in other categories

Functional Testing Tools (10th), Test Automation Tools (17th)

Featured Reviews

NalinGoonawardana

Principal Consultant ( Test automation - Performance testing) at TTC Global (TTC) at TTC at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

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.

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Mohit Rathi

Lead Consultant at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

Provides multiple test environments and saves time, but should have something for inspecting mobile apps screens

With the desktop browser, we can inspect any screen with the web developer option, but they should provide something for mobiles so that we can quickly inspect elements on the device. To write the Selenium scripts, we require web locators. We have to capture them from the local and execute the script on Sauce Labs. If Sauce Labs can provide a solution where we can inspect any of the mobile devices online, it will be very helpful for us. I also faced an issue where during the execution time, the iCloud password used to expire within a certain period, which used to create pop-ups on the screen making our tests fail. That was one thing that we faced many times. If that can be improved, it will be very helpful.

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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 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."

"Testing across multiple devices and environments is now possible to do quickly and effectively."

"Simple + straight forward + easy to use + pre loaded + runs PERFECTLY + great dashboard."

"Now we have more combinations that we had before and don't have to worry about scaling our script execution ourselves."

"Sauce Labs runs a huge number of browser and operating system combinations, allowing our teams to focus on testing our applications rather than maintaining complex browser and OS environments."

"No longer have to manage VMs for testing."

"Sauce labs is an easy to use hosted infrastructure for managing/launch all browser versions, mobile web browsers, and native mobile applications for seamless integration testing."

"The most valuable feature is the ability to easily test multiple browsers and versions, as well as off-loading our local environments using the SauceCloud."

"Having the ability to test our application on additional browser/OS/mobile device combinations opens up additional revenue streams for us because we have a larger user base."

More Sauce Labs pros

Cons

"One area where k6 could improve is by introducing a GUI similar to JMeter."

"Progress towards reducing application testing time can be made."

"The one issue I have is the 14-day trial that a new user gets for free. I understand the concept of the trial period; however, I think this could be revamped to a free 30-minute run time every few months or after a significant update once the trial period has ended."

"Sauce Labs has room for improvement with its price point. Using a real mobile device, and having that dedicated to your team, costs more than actually purchasing a mobile device. We haven't tried the real devices yet. This is because of their price point."

"They could improve the platform's customer support services."

"Lacks the ability to start multiple tests simultaneously."

"The only drawback is the speed, it will be good if we have a server in Asia too. It will be great if we can improve speed while initialization and execution."

"Another feature that could still be improved on is more error clarity. Sometimes when running automated scripts the test will fail on the device side instead of the script and errors only show a 500 try again message instead of a detailed script that could of a been a timeout error from the code."

"It's a little bit slow sometimes."

More Sauce Labs cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"Trial the product and see if it suits your needs."

"We have an enterprise account; it has worked great for our needs."

"Go ahead please. Try it at a smaller scale."

"We pay for a specific number of VMs."

"When you reach the Enterprise licensing tier, base level being with 10 concurrent test sessions, pricing is essentially per-unit-of-concurrency thereafter with a relatively linear increase and not much benefit for "bulk"."

"The pricing is reasonable due to the amount of diversity that they provide. However, I feel they might be more flexible to bargain based on their relationship with our organization."

"Their pricing is incredibly competitive."

"Compared with other services, Sauce Labs is a bit expensive."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Construction Company

Media Company

Outsourcing Company

16%

Construction Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	33
Midsize Enterprise	26
Large Enterprise	73

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Compared 8% of the time

OpenText Professional Performance Engineering (LoadRunner Professional) vs k6 Open Source

Compared 6% of the time

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Compared 6% of the time

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Compared 6% of the time

Tricentis Tosca vs Sauce Labs

Compared 4% of the time

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Product Reports

Load Testing Tools

Download k6 Open Source product report

Download Sauce Labs product report

Also Known As

Load Impact

No data available

Overview

k6 Open Source is a performance testing tool designed for developers who need to run load tests and identify bottlenecks in applications. It targets those seeking sophisticated performance insights without unnecessary complexity in setup.

k6 Open Source offers a refined approach to load testing. It is instrumental in creating scripts for simulated performance scenarios, facilitating deeper analysis of system behavior under stress. Ideal for teams focused on improving application efficiency, it's well-regarded for blending intuitive design with advanced functionality. Beyond simply measuring performance, k6 provides an environment conducive to developing scalable applications.

What are the must-know features of k6 Open Source?

Realistic Load Testing: Simulates user traffic to test system performance under various conditions.
Scriptable API: Empowers developers to create custom tests using JavaScript.
Seamless CI/CD Integration: Easily integrates with continuous integration and deployment workflows for automated testing.
Comprehensive Metrics: Provides detailed analytics for enhanced performance monitoring and understanding.
Extensible Architecture: Supports plug-ins and community extensions for added functionality and adaptability.

What benefits or ROI should users consider?

Improved Performance Insights: Gain a thorough understanding of application behavior, leading to targeted improvements.
Cost Efficiency: Offers a cost-effective alternative to commercial tools by eliminating licensing fees without compromising capability.
Enhanced Scalability: Facilitates the development of scalable apps through predictive performance analysis.
Increased Developer Productivity: Streamlines testing processes, allowing for more focused and efficient development efforts.
Faster Time to Market: Speeds up identification and resolution of performance issues, supporting quicker deployment schedules.

k6 Open Source enhances testing strategies across industries such as e-commerce and finance, where high traffic and transactional performance are critical. By integrating seamlessly into tech stacks and CI/CD pipelines, it facilitates smoother operations and robust application development. Companies within data-intensive sectors benefit from its ability to manage load tests with precision, supporting growth and reliability in performance-critical scenarios.

Sauce Labs delivers a versatile platform for enhancing testing accuracy and efficiency. It supports parallel testing and provides access to numerous browser versions without infrastructure worries, making it ideal for comprehensive compatibility checks.

Sauce Labs integrates seamlessly with CI/CD pipelines, offering parallel testing, cross-browser and OS testing, and extensive mobile device support. Users can quickly deploy virtual machines and utilize a variety of browsers. Features like video recording, screenshots, and real-time reports facilitate effective debugging. With secure cloud execution and a wide range of real and virtual devices, Sauce Labs significantly enhances development processes. However, there are areas needing improvement, such as speed and connectivity, device availability, documentation quality, and integration with platforms like Azure and GitHub.

What are the core features of Sauce Labs?

Parallel Testing: Run multiple tests concurrently to save time.
Cross-Browser and OS Testing: Test on numerous browser versions and operating systems effortlessly.
Mobile Device Support: Access various mobile platforms for testing.
Integration with CI/CD: Enhance development workflows with seamless integration.
Real and Virtual Device Availability: Use a mix of devices for comprehensive testing.

What benefits should users look for in Sauce Labs?

Infrastructure Efficiency: Avoid the burden of maintaining testing infrastructure.
Debugging Tools: Benefit from video recording and real-time reports for swift issue resolution.
Resource Management: Improve test and resource management through scalability.
Comprehensive Compatibility: Validate applications across a multitude of device and browser configurations.

Sauce Labs is implemented across various industries, particularly where robust testing is crucial. In sectors like finance and healthcare, where application reliability and security are paramount, companies leverage Sauce Labs to ensure their applications function flawlessly across devices. The ability to execute thousands of daily tests and comprehensive integration capabilities makes it a preferred choice for industries focusing on delivering high-quality applications.

Sample Customers

rackspace, salesforce.com, IBM, servicenow, Nasdaq, JWT

Salesforce.com, Mozilla, Zendesk, Puppet Labs, Twitter, Bank of America, Eventbrite, Bleacher Report, Okta, Intuit, Travelocity, Sharecare, CapitalOne.

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