# Gatling vs AWS Distributed Load Testing

> Gatling is an open source, self-hosted load testing tool from Gatling Corp., scripted in Java, Scala, Kotlin. AWS Distributed Load Testing is an open source, vendor-hosted cloud load testing service from Amazon Web Services, scripted in Java, JavaScript. The practical split is who runs the load generators: Gatling on your own infrastructure, AWS Distributed Load Testing on the vendor's.

- Canonical: https://perf.jmeter.ai/vs/gatling-vs-aws-distributed-load-testing/
- Compared: [Gatling](https://perf.jmeter.ai/tools/gatling/) · [AWS Distributed Load Testing](https://perf.jmeter.ai/tools/aws-distributed-load-testing/)

## Verdict
Both cover HTTP, HTTPS. On recorded coverage Gatling is the wider of the two (5 protocols against 2), which matters only if your workload actually uses the extra ones. Data residency and who operates the generators usually settle Gatling against AWS Distributed Load Testing. Run the same scenario on both before you standardize; the rows below only tell you what is true on paper.

## Specs
| Field | Gatling | AWS Distributed Load Testing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Vendor | Gatling Corp. | Amazon Web Services |
| Category | Load Testing | Cloud Load Testing |
| License | Open Source | Open Source |
| Deployment | Self-hosted | Cloud |
| Status | Active | Active |
| First released | 2012 | 2018 |
| Pricing | Free open-source core; commercial platform available. | Free solution code; pay AWS infrastructure costs. |
| Scripting | Java, Scala, Kotlin | Java, JavaScript |
| Protocols | HTTP, HTTPS, WebSocket, SSE, JMS | HTTP, HTTPS |
| OS support | Windows, macOS, Linux | Linux |

## How to choose
- Pick AWS Distributed Load Testing to avoid operating injectors, Gatling when residency or air-gapped runs rule a hosted service out.
- Only Gatling records support for WebSocket, SSE, JMS — one hard requirement there decides the pair on its own.
- Match the authoring language to the team: Gatling means Java, Scala, Kotlin, AWS Distributed Load Testing means Java, JavaScript.
- Open the Test Rig to compare license, deployment, protocol and OS rows side by side.

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Curated by NaveenKumar Namachivayam (QAInsights) · methodology: https://perf.jmeter.ai/about/#methodology · corrections: https://github.com/QAInsights/Performance-Testing-Tools/issues/new?title=Tool%20submission%3A%20&body=Tool%20name%3A%20%0AOfficial%20URL%3A%20%0AWhat%20should%20be%20added%20or%20corrected%3F%20%0A