Website Load & Concurrent User Testing Service: Simplified for You
Are you curious about how well your website performs under pressure? Wondering about the cost of load testing? We’re here to help! In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of getting a quote for load testing services in a way that’s easy to understand.
Setting the Stage
When it comes to figuring out the cost of load testing, a common question is, “What’s the price tag?” Load testing costs are influenced by the complexity of your test cases and the number of users testing your site concurrently. We’re going to break down the process and explain how you can get an estimate that covers setup and testing.
Getting Ready: Setup Costs
Imagine you’re looking to test your website’s performance, much like someone shopping for t-shirts online. The time and effort to prepare for this test vary based on how intricate your website is. For instance, a straightforward landing-page with a single form might take a few hours to set up. But if your site is more intricate, like a business management software platform, preparing dozens of detailed test cases could take several weeks.
Understanding the Infrastructure
Load testing isn’t just about overwhelming your site with users. It’s about pinpointing why your site might be sluggish. We’ll need to set up monitoring on all the servers involved and analyze the data to find bottlenecks. To better understand your system’s configuration, a diagram showing how different components interact is ideal. But if you don’t have that, a simple description will work too.
Starting with the Basics: Use Cases
Now, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of determining the cost. Instead of diving straight into test cases, we’ll begin with use cases. Think of use cases as stories from a user’s point of view about what they do on your site. For instance, when buying t-shirts online, a user might:
1. Browse t-shirt categories and view product details.
2. Add a t-shirt to their cart and make a purchase.
3. Check the delivery status.
4. Return a t-shirt.
5. Sign up for newsletters.
Focusing on What Matters
While we’re happy to test everything, load testing isn’t about every little detail. It’s about ensuring your site’s core functions are super speedy. For our t-shirt shopping example, we’d recommend testing the first two use cases since they likely make up the majority of your site’s traffic. Once these work perfectly, the rest will likely fall in line.
Getting Specific: Crafting Use Cases
Once you’ve outlined the user goals, it’s time to add details so that test engineers can create test cases. For instance, here’s an example of the first use case:
Use Case #1: Exploring T-Shirt Options
1. User clicks on “men’s t-shirt” category, sees a list of sale items.
2. User clicks on the first t-shirt image, opening a product page.
3. User views 3 different angles of the t-shirt.
4. User checks size availability.
5. User returns to the “men’s t-shirt” category and selects another t-shirt.
Tailoring for Realism
Real users are diverse in their behavior, so test cases need to simulate that diversity. This means users will look at different t-shirts, make various purchases, and have distinct information. This simulation paints a pretty accurate picture of your site’s performance. For even more accuracy, understanding customer behavior through analytics can fine-tune the test cases.
Considering Technology
Websites using simple technologies like HTML5 are quicker and cheaper to test. But if your site uses advanced tech like ActiveX or custom plugins, it’ll need more attention. Don’t forget to mention any non-standard technology.
Testing Iterations: What’s That?
Once test cases are in place, it’s time for the test iterations. This is when the tests are run, and it’s usually done more than once. Initial tests often uncover ways to improve speed, so retesting is key.
The Dance of Concurrent Users
Picture this: during a test, users are like a bustling crowd in your store, each doing something different. Some explore, some purchase – just like real customers. Costs are based on concurrent users, meaning users actively on the site at the same time, whether browsing or interacting. The same happens for a web application that requires users to register an account, then logging in, then doing this and that, until they finally submit the application or logged out from the system.
Deciding on the Numbers
The number of iterations depends on factors like your software’s lifecycle stage and application’s importance. New code might require more frequent tests, while an established site might only need a quarterly check.
Bringing It All Together: Costs
Now, let’s talk money. The cost includes setup and the number of test iterations. For instance, if setup is $2,000 (RM 8,000) and each test iteration is $1,000 (RM4,000), two iterations (test plans) would cost $4,000 (RM16,000).
Although the costs will differs based on number of virtual users needed, test steps, type of test and other parameters. On eWallz, our Website Performance Testing service starts from an average of RM1,800.
Summing It Up
To get a load testing quote, remember three things:
- Describe your use cases, like buying t-shirts online or filling out online forms.
- Give a rough idea of how many virtual users you expect.
- Describe your server/app/website setup – a diagram is great, but words work too.
And there you have it! A simple guide to understanding load testing costs and how to get a quote tailored to your needs. If you have no idea on how your current website will performs when visited by many users, simply contact our expert team to get a free basic surface test report.
Request a FREE Load Testing Report
Happy load testing!
