Vegeta
Vegeta is an open-source HTTP load testing tool that sends requests at a constant rate.
What Vegeta is
Vegeta is an open-source HTTP load testing tool that sends requests at a constant rate. It can run as a command-line tool or as a Go library, and its CLI is designed to compose with UNIX tools. The project says it avoids coordinated omission and supports distributed load testing. Its report command can produce text, JSON, histogram, and HDR plot output; results can also be encoded as CSV, Gob, or JSON. The attack command has an optional Prometheus exporter listen address. The CLI supports HTTP/2 when the server does, including HTTP/2 over TCP without TLS. For TLS, it accepts client certificates and keys, custom root certificates, and an option to ignore invalid server certificates. Its documented default request timeout is 30 seconds, and setting it to 0 disables timeouts. Installation options include precompiled executables, package managers and packages for several systems, or building from source. The repository identifies the license as MIT. Combining an unlimited request rate with a very high maximum worker count can consume excessive resources and crash Vegeta.
Good
- Sends requests at a constant rate.
- Can be used as a CLI or Go library.
- Supports distributed load testing.
- Reports include text, JSON, histograms, and HDR plots.
- Supports TLS certificate and root-certificate controls.
Watch out
- Unlimited rate with very high worker counts can crash it.
- Default request timeout is 30 seconds.
Who it suits
Vegeta is suited to developers and teams that need constant-rate HTTP load testing, including distributed runs, and want a CLI or Go library. Its reporting and output formats may suit users who need to inspect or pass along test results.
Verdict
Vegeta offers a free, open-source option for HTTP load testing with configurable protocols, TLS controls, and several result formats. Take care with unlimited rates and high worker counts, which the project warns can exhaust resources.
Plans and prices
From Vegeta's own pricing page, checked 11 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Open-source HTTP load testing tool and Go library |
The facts
Each one read from Vegeta's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- CLI and library
- Vegeta can be used as a command-line tool or as a Go library.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Composability
- The CLI is designed with UNIX composability in mind.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Distributed testing
- The README describes Vegeta as simple to use for distributed load testing.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The README lists precompiled executables, Homebrew and MacPorts for macOS, pacman for Arch Linux, and a FreeBSD package.checked 11 Oct 2026
- License
- The GitHub repository identifies the project as MIT licensed.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Load measurement
- Vegeta avoids coordinated omission and provides reporting functionality.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Load testing
- The project says Vegeta avoids coordinated omission and can be used for distributed load testing.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Maintainer
- GitHub identifies Tomás Senart as the repository owner and maintainer.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Output formats
- Vegeta can encode results as CSV, Gob, or JSON, and generate text, JSON, histogram, or HDR plot reports.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Prometheus
- The attack command can expose a Prometheus exporter when a listen address is configured.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Protocols
- The attack command supports HTTP/2 when the server supports it, and can send HTTP/2 over TCP without TLS encryption.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Vegeta is an HTTP load testing tool built to test HTTP services at a constant request rate.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Reports
- Its report command supports text, JSON, histogram, and HDR plot output.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Resource limit
- The README warns that combining an unlimited request rate with a very high maximum worker count can consume too many resources and crash Vegeta.checked 11 Oct 2026
- TLS
- The attack command supports client certificates and keys, custom root certificates, and an option to ignore invalid server certificates.checked 4 Oct 2026
- TLS controls
- The attack command accepts TLS client certificates and keys, custom root certificate files, and a flag to ignore invalid server certificates.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Usage limit
- The documented default request timeout is 30 seconds, and setting it to 0 disables timeouts.checked 4 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker
- The repository owner profile identifies tsenart as Tomás Senart.checked 4 Oct 2026
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