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Top 40 Commercial Alternatives to New Relic Synthetics

Introduction and Context

Synthetic monitoring emerged to answer a simple question: “Is my user journey working right now?” Early solutions relied on scripted browser checks to exercise critical flows and API calls from multiple regions. New Relic Synthetics helped popularize this approach by packaging scriptable checks (JavaScript-based), reliable scheduling, and deep integration with broader observability—APM, logs, and infrastructure metrics. This gave engineering, QA, and SRE teams a single pane of glass for production readiness.

New Relic Synthetics became a go-to choice because it:

• Embraces modern workflows with scriptable, versionable tests.
• Provides both browser and API checks.
• Integrates with CI/CD and alerting.
• Ties results to application telemetry for root-cause analysis.

Over time, teams expanded their needs beyond uptime and transaction monitoring. They asked for AI-assisted resilience against UI changes, richer visual regression detection, broader mobile device coverage, deeper API capabilities, performance/load analysis, and security scanning—often within specialized tooling. As a result, many are exploring commercial alternatives that complement or, in some cases, replace New Relic Synthetics for specific use cases.

Overview: The Top 40 Alternatives Covered

Here are the top 40 commercial alternatives to New Relic Synthetics:

• Applitools Eyes
• Applitools for Mobile
• Automation Anywhere
• BitBar
• BlazeMeter
• Blue Prism
• BrowserStack Automate
• Burp Suite (Enterprise)
• Checkly
• Cypress Cloud
• Datadog Synthetic Tests
• Eggplant Test
• Functionize
• Happo
• IBM Rational Functional Tester
• Kobiton
• LambdaTest
• LoadRunner
• Mabl
• Micro Focus Silk Test
• Microsoft Playwright Testing
• NeoLoad
• Percy
• Perfecto
• Pingdom
• RPA Tools (UiPath)
• Ranorex
• ReadyAPI
• Repeato
• Sahi Pro
• Sauce Labs
• Squish
• TestCafe Studio
• TestComplete
• Testim
• Tricentis Tosca
• UFT One (formerly QTP)
• Virtuoso
• Waldo
• testRigor

Why Look for New Relic Synthetics Alternatives?

• Specialized needs: Visual diffs, mobile-first flows, model-based testing, or NLP authoring may require niche tools.
• Test stability and flakiness: Scripted tests can be brittle without strong locator strategies or self-healing features.
• Cost and scale: Large test suites or global checks can increase costs; some teams want different pricing models.
• Mobile depth: Some teams need real-device coverage, OS versions, and native app workflows beyond basic browser checks.
• Performance and security: Load testing or DAST scanning are out of scope and may require dedicated platforms.
• Authoring experience: Not all teams want to write JavaScript; low-code or no-code options can lower the barrier.
• Debugging/reporting: Teams may prefer deeper timeline videos, snapshots, and root-cause insights tailored to UI test triage.

Detailed Breakdown of Alternatives

1) Applitools Eyes

AI-powered visual testing for web, mobile, and desktop with the Ultrafast Grid.

• Strengths: Visual diffs at scale; fast parallelization; stable AI matching.
• Strengths: CI-friendly snapshots; component and page coverage.
• Strengths: Reduces CSS/UI regression escapes.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Focuses on visual quality, not uptime or synthetic alerts.

2) Applitools for Mobile

Visual AI for iOS and Android, extending Applitools’ core visual testing to native apps.

• Strengths: Mobile-first visual checks; device/OS variance handling.
• Strengths: Integrates with existing test frameworks.
• Strengths: Baselines shareable across teams.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Targets mobile UI visuals more than scripted production checks.

3) Automation Anywhere

An RPA platform for Windows that overlaps with UI regression automation.

• Strengths: Automates complex desktop workflows.
• Strengths: Visual and rule-based steps.
• Strengths: Enterprise governance and scale.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Better for desktop process automation than web synthetics.

4) BitBar

A real-device cloud for web and mobile testing from SmartBear.

• Strengths: Access to many devices/browsers.
• Strengths: Works with Selenium/Appium/Playwright.
• Strengths: Parallel execution and CI hooks.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Emphasizes device coverage, not monitoring with alerts.

5) BlazeMeter

SaaS performance testing compatible with JMeter, Gatling, and k6.

• Strengths: Scalable load tests; distributed regions.
• Strengths: Strong analytics and reporting.
• Strengths: API and protocol-level depth.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Optimized for load/perf, not scripted uptime checks.

6) Blue Prism

Enterprise RPA solution for Windows; useful for repeatable UI workflows.

• Strengths: Robust desktop automation.
• Strengths: Model-driven process design.
• Strengths: Enterprise-grade governance.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Suits RPA over web/API synthetic monitoring.

7) BrowserStack Automate

Large device and browser cloud for automated web and mobile testing.

• Strengths: Broad, reliable device/browser matrix.
• Strengths: Supports popular test frameworks.
• Strengths: Video, logs, and debugging.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Test execution platform rather than a monitoring suite.

8) Burp Suite (Enterprise)

Automated DAST scanning for web and API security exposure.

• Strengths: Strong security testing pedigree.
• Strengths: Automated scheduling and coverage.
• Strengths: Integrates with pipelines and reporting.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Security scanning, not functional uptime checks.

9) Checkly

Synthetics-as-code for web and API checks using Playwright.

• Strengths: Browser checks with code; GitOps-ready.
• Strengths: Fine-grained alerts and dashboards.
• Strengths: Regional scheduling and CI hooks.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Similar purpose with Playwright-native authoring as code.

10) Cypress Cloud

Parallelized runs, flake detection, and dashboards for Cypress tests.

• Strengths: Smart parallelization; test insights.
• Strengths: Rich debugging with artifacts.
• Strengths: Scales existing Cypress suites.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: A runner/analytics layer, not monitoring-focused.

11) Datadog Synthetic Tests

Browser and API synthetics integrated with Datadog observability.

• Strengths: Unified metrics, logs, traces.
• Strengths: Global, scheduled checks with alerts.
• Strengths: CI/CD integrations and dashboards.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Very similar scope; tight Datadog ecosystem integration.

12) Eggplant Test

Model-based testing with image recognition for desktop, web, and mobile.

• Strengths: Model-driven authoring; cross-platform.
• Strengths: Computer-vision interactions.
• Strengths: Suited for complex UIs.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Focuses on functional automation, less on uptime monitoring.

13) Functionize

AI-assisted end-to-end testing for web and mobile.

• Strengths: ML-driven element locators.
• Strengths: Self-healing test stability.
• Strengths: Cloud execution and analytics.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Geared to functional tests over synthetic availability.

14) Happo

Visual regression for web components and pages in CI.

• Strengths: Component-focused diffs.
• Strengths: Parallel snapshot rendering.
• Strengths: Developer-friendly reviews.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Visual quality assurance, not synthetic monitoring.

15) IBM Rational Functional Tester

Enterprise UI automation for desktop and web.

• Strengths: Mature enterprise features.
• Strengths: Scripted and codeless options.
• Strengths: Integration with ALM tools.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Functional automation rather than uptime checks.

16) Kobiton

Mobile device cloud for manual and automated testing.

• Strengths: Real devices at scale.
• Strengths: Appium support.
• Strengths: Video and logs for triage.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Mobile-first testing, not production monitoring.

17) LambdaTest

Cross-browser testing cloud for web and mobile.

• Strengths: Wide browser/device coverage.
• Strengths: Supports Selenium/Playwright/Cypress.
• Strengths: Parallel runs and CI support.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Execution environment vs. synthetic monitoring.

18) LoadRunner

Enterprise load and performance testing for web, APIs, and protocols.

• Strengths: High-scale load generation.
• Strengths: Protocol-level support.
• Strengths: Deep performance analytics.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Performance engineering, not synthetic user journeys.

19) Mabl

Low-code, AI-assisted end-to-end testing for web and API.

• Strengths: Self-healing locators.
• Strengths: Low-code authoring.
• Strengths: Cloud-first execution.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Functional automation focus over monitoring.

20) Micro Focus Silk Test

Legacy enterprise UI automation for desktop and web.

• Strengths: Stable for enterprise apps.
• Strengths: Multi-tech stack support.
• Strengths: CI/CD and reporting options.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Functional testing, not uptime checks.

21) Microsoft Playwright Testing

Managed cloud service to scale Playwright test execution.

• Strengths: Native Playwright support.
• Strengths: Parallel at scale; artifacts.
• Strengths: Integrates with CI pipelines.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Execution and scaling, not ongoing monitoring.

22) NeoLoad

Enterprise load and performance testing for web, APIs, and protocols.

• Strengths: Design, run, and analyze at scale.
• Strengths: DevOps-friendly workflows.
• Strengths: Realistic user modeling.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Load/performance, not uptime and alerting.

23) Percy

Visual snapshots for web integrated into CI flows.

• Strengths: CI-friendly visual diffs.
• Strengths: Component and page testing.
• Strengths: Fast parallel rendering.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Visual regression detection, not synthetic checks.

24) Perfecto

Enterprise device cloud for web and mobile testing.

• Strengths: Real devices/emulators.
• Strengths: Network shaping; geos.
• Strengths: Deep debugging artifacts.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Execution at scale vs. monitoring with alerts.

25) Pingdom

Transactional synthetics and uptime monitoring for web and APIs.

• Strengths: Easy setup; global probes.
• Strengths: Uptime and simple journeys.
• Strengths: Alerting and reporting.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Similar monitoring scope; simpler transactions.

26) RPA Tools (UiPath)

RPA platform used for repeatable UI regression automation.

• Strengths: Strong desktop automation.
• Strengths: Visual workflow authoring.
• Strengths: Governance and orchestration.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: RPA/regression vs. production monitoring.

27) Ranorex

Codeless/scripted end-to-end automation for desktop, web, and mobile.

• Strengths: Object repository; recorder.
• Strengths: C#/.NET extensibility.
• Strengths: Solid reporting and CI.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Functional automation over synthetic alerts.

28) ReadyAPI

API testing for SOAP/REST/GraphQL with advanced validations.

• Strengths: Contract, functional, security tests.
• Strengths: Data-driven testing.
• Strengths: CI/CD integrations.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Backend API depth, not browser monitoring.

29) Repeato

Codeless, computer-vision-based mobile UI testing for iOS and Android.

• Strengths: CV-based resilience.
• Strengths: Easy authoring and replay.
• Strengths: Works across UI changes.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Mobile UI validation vs. synthetic checks.

30) Sahi Pro

Enterprise UI automation for web and desktop.

• Strengths: Robust web app support.
• Strengths: Stable element handling.
• Strengths: Scripting and record/play.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Functional test focus over monitoring.

31) Sauce Labs

Cross-browser/device cloud for web and mobile automation.

• Strengths: Huge device/browser matrix.
• Strengths: Comprehensive logs/videos.
• Strengths: Parallelization at scale.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Execution platform, not synthetic alerting.

32) Squish

GUI automation for Qt/QML, web, desktop, and embedded systems.

• Strengths: Qt/embedded expertise.
• Strengths: Multi-language scripting.
• Strengths: Object-level access.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Specialized UI automation vs. monitoring.

33) TestCafe Studio

Codeless IDE for TestCafe-based web end-to-end testing.

• Strengths: No browser plugins.
• Strengths: Visual authoring + code.
• Strengths: Parallel runs and CI.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Functional automation, not synthetic uptime.

34) TestComplete

Codeless/scripted end-to-end testing for desktop, web, and mobile.

• Strengths: Strong recorder + scripting.
• Strengths: Object spy and locators.
• Strengths: CI/CD and rich reporting.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Functional coverage vs. monitoring and alerting.

35) Testim

AI-assisted web end-to-end testing with self-healing locators.

• Strengths: Stabilizes brittle tests.
• Strengths: Low-code authoring.
• Strengths: CI-friendly analytics.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Functional automation rather than uptime checks.

36) Tricentis Tosca

Model-based test automation across web, mobile, desktop, and SAP.

• Strengths: MBTA approach; reusable models.
• Strengths: Strong SAP support.
• Strengths: Enterprise-scale governance.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Enterprise functional suites vs. synthetic monitoring.

37) UFT One (formerly QTP)

Enterprise GUI automation for desktop and web.

• Strengths: Mature object libraries.
• Strengths: Broad tech stack support.
• Strengths: ALM ecosystem integration.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Functional testing, not synthetic checks.

38) Virtuoso

AI-driven web and mobile testing with vision and natural language.

• Strengths: NLP authoring.
• Strengths: Self-healing and resilience.
• Strengths: Cloud execution and insights.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: AI authoring for tests, not uptime monitoring.

39) Waldo

No-code mobile UI testing for iOS and Android with cloud runs.

• Strengths: Fast recorder-based authoring.
• Strengths: Automatic test maintenance.
• Strengths: CI integrations and artifacts.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Mobile UI focus vs. web/API monitoring.

40) testRigor

Natural-language end-to-end testing for web and mobile.

• Strengths: Plain-English test steps.
• Strengths: Low maintenance, resilient.
• Strengths: Cloud execution at scale.

Compared to New Relic Synthetics: Functional authoring simplicity, not monitoring-first.

Things to Consider Before Choosing a New Relic Synthetics Alternative

• Scope and goals: Are you monitoring production uptime, running functional regression, or load testing? Pick a tool optimized for that job.
• Platform coverage: Web only, or also native mobile (iOS/Android), desktop, or embedded? Ensure device/OS/browser breadth.
• Authoring model: Code-first (JS/Playwright/Cypress), low-code, model-based, or natural language? Match team skills.
• Test stability: Self-healing locators, visual AI, and model-based approaches can reduce flakiness and maintenance.
• Execution speed and scale: Parallelization, regional points of presence, and on-demand capacity matter for fast feedback.
• CI/CD integration: First-class support for pipelines, version control, and “tests as code” workflows accelerates adoption.
• Debugging and triage: Videos, snapshots, network logs, trace data, and insightful dashboards shorten mean time to resolution.
• Observability fit: If you need unified APM/logs/traces, consider platforms that integrate cleanly with your stack.
• Security and compliance: Data handling, access controls, and audit logs are critical in regulated environments.
• Total cost: Factor in licenses, execution minutes, storage, support tiers, and the maintenance effort required.

Conclusion

New Relic Synthetics remains a solid choice for scripted browser and API checks, especially when you want those results alongside application telemetry. However, teams often need more specialized capabilities—visual regression, real-device coverage, AI-assisted authoring, heavy-load performance, or automated security scanning. That is where dedicated platforms shine.

• Choose Datadog Synthetic Tests or Checkly if you want synthetics tightly integrated with modern observability or “as code” workflows.
• Prefer Applitools or Percy when visual quality is the priority.
• Lean toward Perfecto, BrowserStack Automate, BitBar, or Kobiton for broad device and browser coverage.
• Pick LoadRunner or NeoLoad for enterprise-grade load and performance testing.
• Consider Mabl, Functionize, Testim, Virtuoso, or testRigor for self-healing or NLP-based authoring to reduce maintenance.

The best alternative depends on your use case: production monitoring, functional confidence, visual stability, mobile depth, or performance rigor. Map these needs to the strengths above, validate in a proof of concept, and adopt the tool that gives you reliable signals with the least ongoing effort.