SOAPUI
Software testing tools
Automation testing tools
Load testing tools
DevOps software
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$990 per license per year
Free TrialFree version
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- Information technology and software
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What is SOAPUI
SoapUI is an API testing tool used to create, run, and automate functional, regression, and load tests for SOAP and REST services. It targets QA engineers, developers, and DevOps teams that need to validate API behavior, data, and performance as part of delivery pipelines. The product provides a desktop GUI for building test suites and supports scripting and data-driven testing for more complex scenarios. It is commonly used for service-level testing rather than end-user experience testing.
Strong SOAP and REST coverage
SoapUI supports both SOAP and REST API testing in a single tool, including WSDL-driven SOAP workflows and REST request construction. It provides assertions, property transfers, and test suite organization suited to service-level validation. This makes it practical for teams maintaining legacy SOAP services alongside newer REST endpoints. It fits API-centric testing needs more directly than tools focused on user feedback or usability research.
GUI-driven test authoring
The desktop interface enables users to build requests, assertions, and test suites without starting from code. It includes features such as environment/property management and reusable test steps that help structure larger API test packs. This lowers the barrier for QA teams that prefer visual tooling while still allowing advanced customization. It is well suited to exploratory API testing and quick regression checks.
Automation and load testing options
SoapUI supports automation via scripting (commonly Groovy) and command-line execution for CI/CD integration. It also includes capabilities for running performance and load-oriented tests (with expanded functionality available in commercial editions). Teams can reuse functional test assets as a starting point for performance scenarios. This provides a bridge between functional API testing and basic load validation.
Desktop-first collaboration limits
SoapUI is primarily a desktop tool, which can make team collaboration, review workflows, and centralized governance harder than in web-native platforms. Sharing projects often relies on file-based artifacts and version control discipline. In distributed teams, this can increase friction around test ownership and change management. Organizations may need additional process or tooling to standardize collaboration.
Scripting complexity for scale
Advanced scenarios (dynamic data handling, complex chaining, custom auth flows) often require Groovy scripting and deeper product knowledge. This can create a skills dependency and reduce maintainability if scripts are not standardized. Large suites may become harder to refactor without strong conventions. Teams seeking primarily code-based test frameworks may find the approach less aligned with their preferred workflow.
Performance testing not full APM
While it can run load and performance-oriented tests, it is not a full performance monitoring or observability platform. It focuses on generating traffic and validating responses rather than end-to-end system telemetry and diagnostics. For large-scale load generation, distributed execution, and deep analysis, teams may need complementary tooling. This can limit its role in enterprise-grade performance engineering programs.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| SoapUI (Open Source) | Free | Open-source downloadable edition for functional, regression and basic load/security testing; community-supported. |
| ReadyAPI — API Test module | $990 per license/year (billed annually) | Scriptless & custom scripting, data-driven testing, CI/CD automation; part of ReadyAPI commercial suite. |
| ReadyAPI — API Performance module | $6,840 per license/year (billed annually) | Flexible load generation, parallel API load tests, server monitoring, pre-built load templates. |
| ReadyAPI — API Virtualization module | $1,310 per license/year (billed annually) | Create and share virtual services, mock data generation, simulate server-side behavior. |
| ReadyAPI — VirtServer (add-on) | From $3,090 | Run & manage virtual services remotely (listed as add-on on the vendor site). |
Seller details
SmartBear Software, Inc.
Somerville, Massachusetts, USA
2009
Private
https://smartbear.com/
https://x.com/smartbear
https://www.linkedin.com/company/smartbear/
