What is StormRunner Load?
StormRunner Load was the cloud-based variant of HP/Micro Focus LoadRunner, designed for teams that wanted LoadRunner-style enterprise load testing without the heavy on-prem deployment. The product was rebranded as LoadRunner Cloud after the Micro Focus acquisition and is now part of the OpenText portfolio (after the 2023 acquisition of Micro Focus).
If you're searching for a StormRunner Load alternative, you're likely either evaluating cloud load testing tools as a replacement for the StormRunner Load era, or you're maintaining a deployment under the new LoadRunner Cloud branding and exploring options.
When LoadRunner Cloud (formerly StormRunner Load) is the right tool
- OpenText/Micro Focus ecosystem customers. Teams already invested in OpenText's broader testing portfolio.
- LoadRunner-script compatibility needs. If you have existing VuGen scripts, LoadRunner Cloud runs them.
- Enterprise SLA + support. OpenText provides enterprise-grade support contracts.
- Multi-protocol enterprise testing. SAP, Citrix, Oracle, mainframe protocol support inherited from LoadRunner.
Where StormRunner Load / LoadRunner Cloud stops being enough
- Sales-quoted pricing. Self-serve sign-up is limited; meaningful evaluation requires sales engagement.
- Heavy enterprise positioning. Pricing scales rapidly with VU count and protocol licensing.
- VuGen-style proprietary scripts. Not native JMeter or k6 (the modern OSS standards).
- No native page speed monitoring. Load testing only.
- No native API monitoring. OpenText sells separate products for that.
LoadFocus vs StormRunner Load (LoadRunner Cloud) — feature comparison
| Feature | LoadFocus | LoadRunner Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free tier; from $29/mo | Sales-quoted |
| Free tier | Yes (no credit card) | Trial only |
| Deployment model | Cloud SaaS | Cloud SaaS |
| Test definition | Web UI + JMeter/k6 scripts | VuGen IDE + LoadRunner Cloud UI |
| JMeter (.jmx) script support | Yes (native) | Limited |
| k6 (.js) script support | Yes (native) | No |
| VuGen script support | No | Yes (specialty) |
| Geographic test coverage | 25+ cloud regions | Multiple cloud regions |
| Max throughput | Up to 12,500 VUs | Plan-dependent (very high) |
| Multi-protocol (SAP, Citrix) | Limited | Yes (specialty) |
| CI/CD integration | Yes (CLI + GitHub Action) | Yes (Jenkins) |
| AI-generated analysis | Yes (all plans) | No |
| Page speed monitoring | Yes | No |
| API monitoring | Yes | No |
| Combined platform (load + speed + API) | Yes | Load only |
When LoadFocus is the right alternative
You want self-serve transparent pricing
LoadFocus's free tier and published pricing eliminate sales-driven procurement. LoadRunner Cloud requires sales engagement.
You want JMeter or k6 as first-class formats
k6 and JMeter are the modern OSS standards. LoadFocus runs both natively.
You don't need enterprise-protocol coverage
If your testing is web/HTTP/REST (not SAP, Citrix, mainframe), LoadRunner Cloud's protocol breadth is overkill.
You want consolidated load + page speed + API monitoring
LoadFocus combines all three on one platform.
Migration from StormRunner Load / LoadRunner Cloud
- Sign up at loadfocus.com/signup.
- Convert VuGen scripts to JMeter or k6 (re-record via JMeter Recorder or k6 HAR converter).
- Upload to LoadFocus.
- Configure VU count and ramp-up to match your StormRunner setup.
- Run from one or more LoadFocus regions.
FAQ
Is StormRunner Load discontinued?
Rebranded — it's now called LoadRunner Cloud and is part of the OpenText portfolio. Same product, new branding.
Can LoadFocus run my old StormRunner scripts?
No — VuGen scripts are LoadRunner-proprietary. Convert to JMeter or k6.
How does pricing compare?
LoadRunner Cloud is sales-quoted. LoadFocus starts at $29/mo with a free tier.
Will my CI/CD setup still work?
LoadFocus provides a CLI and GitHub Action.
Can I use both tools?
Yes — many teams keep LoadRunner Cloud for enterprise-protocol-specific tests and add LoadFocus for cloud-distributed HTTP load + page speed + API monitoring.
Try LoadFocus free
If you're evaluating StormRunner Load alternatives or want self-serve cloud load testing, LoadFocus offers transparent SaaS pricing with native JMeter and k6 support. Sign up for a free tier at loadfocus.com/signup.
