Apache JMeter vs Postman comparison

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7,951 views|6,434 comparisons
87% willing to recommend
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12,264 views|9,916 comparisons
94% willing to recommend
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on Mar 21, 2022

We performed a comparison between Apache JMeter and Postman based on our users’ reviews in four categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.

  • Ease of Deployment: Users of both Apache JMeter and Postman feel that the deployment and initial setup is straightforward and simple.
  • Features: Users of both Apache JMeter and Postman say that they offer good stability and flexibility. Valuable features of Apache JMeter include excellent performance, the recording and playback functionality, scripting, report generation, integration with CI/CD, customization, ThreadGroup, and analysis tools. Areas that users felt could be improved include the GUI, reports that are less heavy, difficult automations, better authentication for API testing, better scalability, improved scalability, and for it to be more user-friendly.

    Valuable features of Postman include great automations, ease of use, strong reporting features, lightweight, fast, easy to manage, good scalability, the ability to create and share collections between team members, a good user-interface, an option for different workspaces, and utility scripts. Areas where reviewers feel the solution is lacking include having to manually provide a username and password because those details are not automatic. Users also mention that it lacks a feature that will integrate with your database. Other reviewers say that it could benefit from some kind of graphical interface for performance testing and better request encryption.
  • Pricing: Both the Apache JMeter and Postman solutions are open-source and free.
  • Service and Support: Users of both solutions say that while there is no direct support line, both options have community support available and online resources to help resolve issues.

Comparison Results: When comparing Apache JMeter and Postman, it is evident that Postman is the more popular choice. While both have great features and both share good flexibility and stability ratings, users of Postman seem to find fewer things lacking with it and are generally more satisfied. A noticeable difference between the two

To learn more, read our detailed Apache JMeter vs. Postman Report (Updated: March 2024).
771,157 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Q&A Highlights
Question: How does Postman compare with Apache JMeter?
Answer: Which is better; there be dragons. They each have strengths and weaknesses, but neither is globally better than the other. One should ask what your testing strategy will require. Collaboration, simple testing with scriptable tests, and strong UX with minimal know-how Postman will excel. Additionally, it allows for mock servers based upon open API specifications for testing code. I find JMeter a better fit for complexity, strong scripting, CICD inclusion, simple end-point, total load, and performance testing, allowing test re-use. Keep in mind, both tools can perform all of the above operations. Can you provide some additional insight into your specific use case(s)?
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"The solution's initial setup is easy.""The solution offers a lot of plug-ins and a huge continuously developing community that is regularly offering new features and plug-ins.""The most valuable feature in JMeter is the Thread Group, which helps us to see whether the performance is good.""JMeter is basically the art of the entire performance testing process.""This solution is very user-friendly, and allows for a lot of data capture when testing.""The reports and analysis tools are very good. They are the solution's most valuable features.""The solution is free. You don't need to worry about licensing costs.""JMeter lets us generate virtual users and T-load, per our requirements. It's easy to configure and adjusting the virtual users according to the DPS we want to achieve."

More Apache JMeter Pros →

"What is most valuable for me is that we can create and share collections between the team members.""The most valuable feature is that JavaScript can be included as tests.""The initial setup of this solution is straightforward. Postman can be used as an extension in Google Chrome for those who do not wish to install it directly. Deployment took an hour and a half.""Postman lets you create, manage, and validate a suite of tests. It has several features to help you organize your test suite. You can also automate stuff with a lot of validations and assertions. Postman supports GraphQL, and you can do various kinds of calls.""The variables part is good. We can easily define the variables and we don't have to manually do a change every time, it gets automatically updated.""It is stable and does not lag.""Postman allows you to incorporate and export the test cases we create. It enables me to share the test cases with my colleagues, so I don't have to copy them into an Excel sheet. Postman lets me export the dataset and share it with my team. They can use my test case for their testing.""I like that it is very easy to use. I also like the automation feature."

More Postman Pros →

Cons
"The reporting section of the solution can be better.""The UI could be better.""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.""We would like some reporting and analysis tools to be added to this solution.""JMeter should be more stable. Every time there is a new release coming up, a lot of its older functionalities or the new functionalities that are brought in are not very well-documented. It should be documented properly, and there should be proper use cases.""What needs improvement in Apache JMeter is the very high load requirements when you want to scale it beyond certain thresholds. For example, small to mid-range testing is very easily done with Apache JMeter, but if you scale and increase the load, then it would be a problem because the tool consumes a lot of resources, probably because Apache JMeter provides an enriched UI experience, so it consumes a lot of memory and requires high CPU usage. This means you have to manage your infrastructure, or else you'll have high overhead expenses. As Apache JMeter is a heavyweight tool, that is an area for improvement, though I'm unsure if Apache can do something about it because it could be a result of the way it's architected. What I'd like to see from Apache JMeter in the future is for it to transition to the cloud, as a lot of cloud technologies emerge around the globe, and a lot of people prefer cloud-based solutions or cloud-native tools. Even if a company has a legacy system, it's still possible to transition to the cloud. I've worked with a company that was an on-premise company that moved to the cloud and became cloud-native. If Apache JMeter could transition to the cloud, similar to k6, then it could help lessen the intense resource consumption that's currently happening in Apache JMeter.""JMeter output reports can be difficult to understand without training.""It's not easy to get the data from one place or to do customizations."

More Apache JMeter Cons →

"Integration of the solution towards Bitbucket, BitHub, and CI pipelines is difficult.""I would like to have a code snippet where I can write a code and for the responses of the endpoints to be validated using my custom business conditions.""An area that needs some improvement would be to allow multiple windows with different collections to be open at the same time.""Could be more user friendly.""The request encryption could be one thing on which they can work a little bit. If we don't want to expose our production data but we still want to test our APIs on the production data, there should be a way to do that. It is not only with Postman. I think no tool in the market is doing that right now.""The reporting could be better. It should give you a detailed PDF report after you run a test.""Reporting can be better. If you have bigger APIs, it takes time.""Version management could be simplified."

More Postman Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "Free"
  • "I switched to Apache because it is free. Other tools are much too expensive and can cost up to $50,000 a year if you are looking at commercial options."
  • "This is an open-source solution, and there are no fees."
  • "This is an open-source product."
  • "I was using the free version of the software."
  • "In terms of open-source adoption, it is completely free."
  • "We are using the free version, and if required, we can easily switch to the other version."
  • "When comparing the price with Load Runner, and if the cost is an issue then JMeter is a better choice"
  • More Apache JMeter Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "It is free."
  • "We are currently using the free version, but we have plans to buy a license."
  • "We are using the free version that is available."
  • "Its price is moderate as compared to other competitors. The version that we are using is not open source, so it is not free."
  • "The solution is open-source and free."
  • "I am using the free option."
  • "Postman is a free service."
  • "Unlike APIs, the solution does not require a license."
  • More Postman Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Answers from the Community
    Netanya Carmi
    Arif Ahmed - PeerSpot reviewerArif Ahmed
    Real User

    Postman is for API verification. It can be used for inspections of API as well.  


    JMeter is mainly used for performance tests - such as a load or stress test. Both tools have different perspectives, however API calls can be intersected between them.

    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer: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 them… more »
    Top Answer: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… more »
    Top Answer: I appreciate JMeter's simplicity and power for performance testing.
    Top Answer:The product is easy to implement.
    Top Answer:Some features related to the automation of tasks need to be added to the solution. The tool may already have some automated testing features, but I haven't discovered Postman's full operational… more »
    Ranking
    3rd
    out of 17 in API Testing Tools
    Views
    7,951
    Comparisons
    6,434
    Reviews
    43
    Average Words per Review
    480
    Rating
    7.7
    1st
    out of 17 in API Testing Tools
    Views
    12,264
    Comparisons
    9,916
    Reviews
    38
    Average Words per Review
    376
    Rating
    8.1
    Comparisons
    ReadyAPI Test logo
    Compared 23% of the time.
    Tricentis Tosca logo
    Compared 15% of the time.
    Katalon Studio logo
    Compared 11% of the time.
    Apigee logo
    Compared 6% of the time.
    Parasoft SOAtest logo
    Compared 4% of the time.
    Also Known As
    JMeter
    Learn More
    Overview

    Apache JMeter is an open-source Java application that tests load and functional behavior and performance in applications. Created initially to test web applications, it has expanded its functionality to test other functions. For instance, you can test a server to see how efficiently it works and how many user requests can be handled simultaneously.

    You can use JMeter to test functional performance and regression tests on different technologies. This Java desktop application has an easy-to-use graphical interface which uses the Swing graphical API. You can run JMeter on any environment that accepts a Java virtual machine, such as Windows, Linux, and Mac.

    What protocols does JMeter support?

    • Web - HTTP, HTTPS
    • Web services - SOAP/XML-RPC
    • Email service - POP3, IMAP, SMTP
    • FTP service
    • Database via JDBC drivers
    • LDAP
    • Native commands or shell scripts
    • TCP
    • Java objects

    How does JMeter work?

    JMeter sends requests to a target server by simulating a group of user requests. Then it collects and calculates statistics on the performance of the target. This target can be a server or an application.

    You can test the performance of static resources, such as JavaScript or HTML, and dynamic resources, such as JSP, Servlets, and AJAX. It is also helpful to determine how many concurrent users your website can handle.

    There are two main tests you can carry out with JMeter: load test and stress test. The load test models expected usage of a server by simulating multiple users accessing the web server simultaneously. The stress testing aims to find the maximum load capacity of the server or application.

    Apache JMeter Key Features

    • JMeter enables fast test plan recording, building, and debugging via a featured test IDE (integrated development environment).
    • Command-line mode allows carrying out load tests from any OS compatible with Java.
    • JMeter can extract data from most popular response formats, such as HTML, JSON, XML.
    • JMeter is entirely portable.
    • A multithreading framework allows you to simultaneously test multiple samplings and separate thread groups.
    • Thanks to the caching feature, you can conduct offline analysis or replay test results.

    Apache JMeter Benefits

    • As open-source software, it is freely available and continuously improved.
    • The setup is user-friendly, and no installation is needed.
    • The GUI (graphic user interface) is intuitive and easy to use.
    • You can write your own tests and use the visualization plugins to extend the testing.
    • It is a platform-agnostic tool. For example, JMeter can work with Linux by clicking on the JMeter shell script. On Windows, you can call up JMeter by starting the jmeter.bat file.
    • Since the test plans are stored in XML format, you can generate a test plan using any text editor.
    • You can simulate a heavy load on a server, a group of servers, a network, or an object. Use JMeter to test an application or server's strength and performance under different load types.

    The JMeter extensible core has numerous benefits:

    • Unlimited testing capabilities via pluggable samplers.
    • You can choose multiple load statistics with pluggable timers.
    • Visualization plugins and data analysis enable customization.
    • Continuous integration via third-party open-source libraries (Maven, Gradle, and Jenkins).

    Reviews from Real Users

    Stephen B., I.T. Architect, Analyst, and Developer at an educational organization, says, "The scripting ability is most valuable. It is easy to use. There is a UI, and you can go in there and figure those things out. After you've got a good set of tests, you basically have a scripted document that you can grab and execute in a pipeline. It is pretty quick to set up, and you can scale it and version control it."

    "I like the fact that JMeter integrates well with other tools," adds the Founder and Principal Consultant at a tech services company.

    A Quality Engineering Delivery Leader at a financial services firm says, “The performance of the solution is excellent. They have designed the product so that it is very easy to configure. You can basically do anything you like with the product. It's not very restrictive. We like the fact that the technology is open-source.”

    Postman's Tools Support Every Stage of the API Lifecycle. Through design, testing and full production, Postman is there for faster, easier API development - without the chaos.

    Sample Customers
    AOL, Orbitz, Innopath Software, PrepMe, Sapient, Corporate Express Australia, CSIRO, Ephibian, Talis, DATACOM, ALALOOP, eFusion, Panter, Sourcepole, University of Western Cape
    PayPal, Shopify, Microsoft, Adobe, Atlassian, Twitter, BestBuy, Coursera
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company38%
    Financial Services Firm30%
    Energy/Utilities Company4%
    Renewables & Environment Company4%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Financial Services Firm18%
    Computer Software Company17%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    Government6%
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm18%
    Computer Software Company18%
    Energy/Utilities Company14%
    Training & Coaching Company5%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Financial Services Firm20%
    Computer Software Company16%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    Insurance Company7%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business25%
    Midsize Enterprise24%
    Large Enterprise52%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business16%
    Midsize Enterprise14%
    Large Enterprise70%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business28%
    Midsize Enterprise11%
    Large Enterprise61%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business17%
    Midsize Enterprise12%
    Large Enterprise71%
    Buyer's Guide
    Apache JMeter vs. Postman
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Apache JMeter vs. Postman and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    771,157 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Apache JMeter is ranked 3rd in API Testing Tools with 82 reviews while Postman is ranked 1st in API Testing Tools with 52 reviews. Apache JMeter is rated 7.8, while Postman is rated 8.2. The top reviewer of Apache JMeter writes "It's a free tool with a vast knowledge base, but the reporting is lackluster, and it has a steep learning curve". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Postman writes "Reliable and easy to expand with a helpful API network". Apache JMeter is most compared with BlazeMeter, Tricentis NeoLoad, Katalon Studio, OpenText LoadRunner Professional and ReadyAPI, whereas Postman is most compared with ReadyAPI Test, Tricentis Tosca, Katalon Studio, Apigee and Parasoft SOAtest. See our Apache JMeter vs. Postman report.

    See our list of best API Testing Tools vendors.

    We monitor all API Testing Tools reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.