STATIC COMPARISON / TIER B
Artillery vs The Grinder
Answer Artillery is an open source, self-hosted protocol and API load tool from Artillery Software, scripted in JavaScript, TypeScript. The Grinder is an open source, self-hosted load testing tool from The Grinder project, scripted in Jython, Java. It is discontinued. The practical split is the authoring language: JavaScript, TypeScript for Artillery, Jython, Java for The Grinder.
Curator verdict
Both cover HTTP, HTTPS. On recorded coverage Artillery is the wider of the two (5 protocols against 2), which matters only if your workload actually uses the extra ones. The Grinder is discontinued with nGrinder named as its successor, so Artillery is the safer default for new work. Team language and existing tooling usually settle Artillery against The Grinder. Run the same scenario on both before you standardize; the rows below only tell you what is true on paper.
Spec matrix
| Field | Artillery | The Grinder |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Artillery Software | The Grinder project |
| Category | Protocol/API Load | Load Testing |
| License | Open Source | Open Source |
| Deployment | Self-hosted | Self-hosted |
| Status | Active | Discontinued |
| First released | 2016 | 2003 |
| Pricing | Free open-source core; commercial cloud features available. | Free; open-source license (see project). |
| Scripting | JavaScript, TypeScript | Jython, Java |
| Protocols | HTTP, HTTPS, WebSocket, Socket.IO, MQTT | HTTP, HTTPS |
| OS support | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
How to choose
- Only Artillery records support for WebSocket, Socket.IO, MQTT — one hard requirement there decides the pair on its own.
- Match the authoring language to the team: Artillery means JavaScript, TypeScript, The Grinder means Jython, Java.
- The Grinder is discontinued; migrations off it usually land on nGrinder.
- Open the Test Rig to compare license, deployment, protocol and OS rows side by side.
Need more than two tools or a shareable matrix? Use the live Test Rig from the directory compare tray.
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