Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Loadster VS speedtest-cli

Compare Loadster VS speedtest-cli and see what are their differences

Loadster logo Loadster

Loadster is load testing, stress testing, and site monitoring platform. Your site has a breaking point... load test to find it before your users do, and monitor to react quickly to downtime and other problems.

speedtest-cli logo speedtest-cli

Test your download speed using SpeedTest on the command-line
  • Loadster Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-12

Loadster is a cloud-based load testing and synthetic monitoring platform for engineers who want to know how their applications behave under real traffic.

Tests run with three types of bots: Protocol Bots for HTTP testing, headless Browser Bots that render full pages and execute JavaScript in real Chrome browsers, and Playwright bots for when you want to use Playwright JS directly.

Loadster scripts can be recorded from Chrome or Firefox with the Loadster Recorder extension, edited in a built-in editor with variables, datasets, and shared includes, and then replayed from multiple cloud regions.

Each test run returns detailed page timings (TTFB, FCP, LCP, CLS, etc) alongside resource waterfalls, screenshots, and full traces you can step through in a self-hosted trace viewer. Tests scale from a handful of virtual users (bots) to hundreds of thousands across distributed cloud engines without you provisioning anything.

The same scripts can be set up as monitors that run on a schedule from chosen regions. Notification policies route incidents to email, SMS, voice, or integrations like Slack and PagerDuty. Projects, roles, and shared test history keep teams aligned on what passed, what failed, and what changed.

Pricing is usage-based via Loadster Fuel, with 50 free units on sign-up and no credit card to start.

  • speedtest-cli Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-01

Loadster features and specs

  • Scalability
    Loadster can simulate thousands of users, which makes it useful for testing the performance of applications under high traffic conditions.
  • Detailed Reporting
    Loadster offers comprehensive and detailed reports, including real-time performance metrics, which help in identifying bottlenecks and issues quickly.
  • Easy Script Creation
    The tool provides an intuitive interface for creating and managing test scripts, making it accessible even for users with limited coding experience.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Loadster supports various platforms, allowing users to test web applications on different browsers and devices.
  • Cloud-Based Execution
    Loadster allows for both on-premises and cloud-based test executions, providing flexibility in how tests are managed and run.

speedtest-cli features and specs

  • Open Source
    Speedtest-cli is open-source, meaning the source code is freely available for anyone to inspect, modify, and enhance.
  • Command Line Interface
    Allows users to run internet speed tests from the command line, which can be useful for automation, scripting, and use on headless servers.
  • Platform Independent
    Runs on multiple systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it versatile for use across different environments.
  • Integration Capabilities
    Can be easily integrated with other applications and monitoring systems for automated performance tracking and reporting.
  • No Ads
    Unlike web-based speed test services, speedtest-cli does not display any advertisements, offering a cleaner user experience.

Possible disadvantages of speedtest-cli

  • Requires Terminal Knowledge
    Users need to be familiar with the command line interface, which might be a barrier for those who are accustomed to graphical user interfaces.
  • No Graphical Output
    Lacks a visual representation of the speed test results, which can be a disadvantage for users who prefer graphical data.
  • Limited Server Selection
    Automated server selection might not always choose the best server for testing, potentially affecting the accuracy of results.
  • Dependencies
    Speedtest-cli relies on Python and the 'pip' package manager, which may require additional setup steps for some users.
  • Feature Limitations
    Not all features of the web-based Speedtest service (like detailed historical data) are available in the CLI version.

Analysis of Loadster

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Loadster is considered a good choice for businesses and individuals who need reliable and flexible load testing. Its user-friendly interface and advanced testing features make it a valuable tool for ensuring web applications can handle real-world traffic scenarios.

Why this product is good

  • Loadster is known for its comprehensive and efficient load testing capabilities. It allows users to simulate heavy traffic on web applications to test scalability and performance. Its ability to generate load from multiple geographical locations and support for various protocols makes it a versatile tool for developers and testers aiming to optimize web application performance.

Recommended for

  • Web developers and testers who need to validate the scalability of web applications.
  • Businesses looking for a load testing tool with multi-region support.
  • Teams that require a user-friendly interface with robust testing capabilities.
  • Organizations that need to simulate real-world traffic on different protocols.

Analysis of speedtest-cli

Overall verdict

  • Speedtest-cli is a reliable and effective tool for quickly assessing internet speed from the command line. It is well-regarded in the tech community for personal use, troubleshooting, and integration into network monitoring solutions.

Why this product is good

  • Speedtest-cli is a popular command-line tool that allows users to measure Internet bandwidth performance by using the Speedtest.net infrastructure. It is favored for its simplicity, ease of use, and ability to function on systems without a graphical user interface. It supports automated testing through scripts, making it suitable for batch processing and integration into monitoring systems.

Recommended for

  • System administrators who need a tool to monitor bandwidth performance across different machines.
  • Developers who require automation of speed tests in scripts.
  • Users who prefer command-line interfaces instead of graphical user interfaces.
  • Individuals seeking a lightweight and straightforward way to test internet speed without additional software installations.

Loadster videos

Review Cargobike Citkar Loadster: 4 Rรคder, 400 kg zulรคssiges Gesamtgewicht - kann das gut gehen?

speedtest-cli videos

Testing Internet Bandwidth From The Terminal Using Speedtest-cli

More videos:

  • Review - Test internet bandwidth using speedtest-cli

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Loadster and speedtest-cli)
Website Testing
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Load And Performance Testing
Speed Test
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, speedtest-cli seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 13 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Loadster mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Loadster yet. Tracking of Loadster recommendations started around Mar 2021.

speedtest-cli mentions (13)

  • CLI Tools every Developer should know
    Or, you can follow the installation instructions on the official GitHub repository: SpeedTest-CLI Installation Guide. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • Routing table confusion, or did Kirkland move to Kansas?
    That's a community cli client https://github.com/sivel/speedtest-cli rather than the official cli client https://www.speedtest.net/apps/cli. Source: about 3 years ago
  • running script via cron does not provide full output
    If you read the docs for Speedtest-CLI you will see that the program timeouts after 10 seconds. Try using this for default timeout of 1 minute and also redirect errors to the same file. Speedtest-cli --timeout 60 >> /bin/speedtestoutput.txt 2>&1. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Press 'Enter' to Run a SpeedTest (Update v2.5.4) - Self-Hosted SpeedTest - Docker
    Already exists https://github.com/sivel/speedtest-cli/, mature, stable, packaged in major distributions. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Can I accept license agreements for my end-users?
    I have an open-source software, which can show some stats about your PC/Server. One of those stats is internet speed. I have been using speedtest-cli for now, since it is open-source and runs without having to accept any license agreements. Source: about 4 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Loadster and speedtest-cli, you can also consider the following products

Loader.io - Loader.io is a simple cloud-based load testing service

Fast.com - Quickly test your internet speed with this fast-loading speed test powered by Netflix.

LoadForge - Better, cheaper load testing for websites, APIs and servers

LibreSpeed - Self-hosted Speedtest for HTML5. Easy setup, examples, configurable, mobile friendly.

k6 Cloud - Managed load testing service built on top of the popular open-source project k6.

SpeedOf.Me - SpeedOf.Me is an HTML5 Internet speed test. No Flash or Java needed!