If you are thinking of load testing your web application, you will want to both load test the application and stress test the application. With load testing, putting the application through its paces under an estimated or expected number of users hitting the different parts of the web application at different speeds and times. You will also want to stress the application, where you would have a usually high number of customers taking the same action at the same time.
Most automated load testing tools charge per virtual user, you are probably going to want to continue load testing of your web application over time, but stress testing will only need to be conducted occasionally. To save on costs, ask your load testing vendor if they have any leasing or rental options. The vendor should provide options to rent their application for a week, a few weeks or a month. I know that Mercury Interactive provides this option as well as Quotium Technologies.
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