Top 10 Best BrowserStack Alternatives List to Look For

BrowserStack is a cloud testing vendor offering mobile devices, tablets, and browsers for testing. It’s pretty good, but if you’re interested in switching to something else, this list will go over some of the best BrowserStack alternatives that will help you test your websites or apps quickly and effortlessly. 

What is BrowserStack?

BrowserStack is a test automation tool that supports web and mobile testing on the cloud. It offers access to 3000+ real operating systems and devices to execute cross-browser testing. With such accessibility, BrowserStack eliminates the need to run applications on simulators or emulators. It is a cross-browser testing tool that can directly run and test your application on browsers, operating systems, and real mobile devices. It further supports multiple programming languages, such as Python, Java, and JavaScript, to create test scripts.

BrowserStack Competitors Comparison

BrowserStack	Testsigma	LambdaTest	BitBar	Browserling	DataDog
Code-based	Codeless	Code-based	Code-based	Code-based	Code-based
Third-party integrations available	Third-party integrations available	Third-party integrations available	Third-party integrations available	Third-party integrations available	Third-party integrations available
Free trial available	Free trial available	Free trial available	Free trial available	Free trial available	Free trial available
Supports various testing frameworks	Supports various testing frameworks	Supports various testing frameworks	Supports various testing frameworks	Supports various testing frameworks	Supports various testing frameworks

5 Best BrowserStack Alternatives 

If you’re looking for fast, cheap, and less complicated substitutes to BrowserStack, give these five tools a try –

1. Testsigma 

If you’re thinking of replacing your BrowserStack with something that can cover all test automation platforms like Web apps, Android apps, iOS apps & APIs, Testsigma should be your ultimate choice. 

One of the most exciting features of this automated testing tool is its compatibility with both static and complex tests. Most testing tools only focus on single test scenarios, but with Testsigma, you can cover many different options.

Besides, the codeless automated testing feature makes it easy for developers to work with a wide range of test scripts. 

Testsigma vs BrowserStack – Which One Is Better for Automated Testing? 

Testsigma is the best BrowserStack alternative for automated testing because of its ability to do quick automation end to end. 

 Our Experience

Testsigma has a suggestion engine that is designed to tackle errors and bugs. An exciting feature is its integration with a wide range of CI/CD and bug tracking tools that ensure maximum accuracy.

With Testsigma, you don’t need to try out multiple tools for testing different details of your web apps as it can cover all web, mobile, iOS, android devices, and API testing. Although identifying the HTML element can be tricky with this tool, you can easily overcome it with the help of their support team.

Verdict

Testsigma is an excellent test automation tool that can work as a perfect BrowserStack alternative. Starting from test script development, execution, planning, and designing — everything is conducted efficiently through Testsigma.

2. LambdaTest 

A completely reliable cross-browser testing cloud that serves as an excellent alternative to BrowserStack is the LambdaTest. The best thing about this tool is that it allows developers to conduct cross-browser testing on more than 2000 real browsers in a wide range of screen resolutions. In addition, the UX is far superior to the BrowserStack. 

LambdaTest offers the following platforms for live testing – 

• Android & iOS mobile browsers 
• Windows 
• Windows 7 
• Windows 8 
• Windows 8.1 
• Windows XP 
• Mac OS (10 versions available) 

LambdaTest vs BrowserStack – How Do They Differ? 

LambdaTest differs on many levels from BrowserStack, but the most important differentiating point is that it offers tons of benefits in its free plan, which is not available in BrowserStack. 

Yes, LambdaTest offers a free version that will last you forever. However, the free plan only accommodates five users, 30 minutes of live browsing every day, six sessions in a month, and 10 minutes for each session.  

This free service can be an excellent solution for small companies or developers who don’t need to use a browsing tool frequently. You can also get a free trial with Browserstack, but it covers 30 minutes of live testing and 100 minutes of automated testing.

Even if you move to the premium plans in LambdaTest, you’ll still find them better than BrowserStack. Starting from $19/month, you can enjoy automated browser tests and manual and visual test automation across different locations. 

You can also enjoy an on-demand pass feature, which allows you to purchase testing time for occasional purposes without signing up for a premium plan. This is a very flexible option for web developers and budget companies. 

Verdict 

If you’re looking for a flexible option for live browser and operating system testing for a good deal, LambdaTest can be a decent alternative. It has good features and works fast enough to ensure your requirements are adequately met.

3. Cross Browser Testing 

Cross-Browser testing is an excellent option if your target is running Selenium test scripts in the cloud. Apart from Selenium test scripts, you can also operate Appium test scripts through this tool. You can perform cross-browser testing on multiple browsers, including all the major browsers, via this tool. 

An interesting feature of this testing tool is that it allows you to take turns between regular and portrait modes for mobile testing. 

Other features include capturing network traffic, running automated screenshot tests as well as tracking web pages or web applications. QA engineers can benefit the most from this BrowserStack substitute.

Cross Browser Testing vs BrowserStack – Which Is Better for Web and Mobile Apps? 

The Cross Browser Testing and BrowserStack have plans to start at 29$ a month.

However, you cannot run tests on real mobile devices using the starting plan of BrowserStack. With the starting plans of BrowserStack, you can only run tests on desktops. 

However, with Cross Browser Testing, you can conduct multiple tests on mobile devices. In the same plan, you can run unlimited manual tests, which is pretty amazing. Since you’re paying the same price, it’s better to go for the Cross Browser Testing, which allows better facilities than BrowserStack.

However, the starter plans do not include automated tests, and you need to select a premium plan depending on the number of parallel testing. 

Our Experience

We loved the web application testing feature on real devices and browsers. Starting from its Headless Browser Testing feature, integration with GitHub, Jira, and Jenkins, and performing visual regression testing across different browser versions — everything about this tool was excellent.

However, we did face an issue with end-to-end testing. It was slightly difficult to edit the end-to-end testing compared to other tools. Other than that, this one works perfectly well for different operating systems.

Verdict

Cross Browser Testing from SmartBear is an excellent tool for web designers and QA engineers because of its impeccable performance in mobile testing. It can be considered one of the best BrowserStack alternatives available today.

4. Browserling 

One of the easiest and most effortless tools for testing websites in virtual machines is Browserling. Equipped with online browser sandbox technology, you no longer need to panic about viruses.

You can also deploy tests with the help of some extensions like Firefox, Chrome, Safari, etc. Besides, this tool allows you to change the screen resolution and browser size to meet all your testing requirements.

Browserling vs BrowserStack – How Is It Different? 

With BrowserStack, you can’t expect a free trial or plan. However, with Browserling, you can enjoy an excellent free plan that does not even need account creation. 

The free plan allows you to test on Windows 7 and accurately depict how any website will appear on live browsers. It is also limited to browser versions like Internet Explorer 11, Firefox 3-88, and minimum live test numbers. 

Despite the limitations in the free plan, it is still a better alternative to BrowserStack as it allows you to test applications to figure out how certain websites will look on multiple versions of browsers.

Our Experience

Although we did not like some of the limitations in the free plan of Browserling, we were still quite impressed with the responsive testing and safe encryption features. We liked that you can share the URL for viewing the browser, take screenshots, annotate them and leave any feedback. 

Verdict

 Overall, this is a decent tool that can benefit many small budget companies who want something for occasional use and are looking for a reliable substitute to BrowserStack.

5. DataDog 

DataDog is an outstanding device for test automation compared to other tools. You don’t have to do any coding to carry out test automation with Datadog.

The best thing about this tool is that the tests can regularly update themselves, which is excellent. It allows you to record the tests and view the full page screenshots based on your tests.

DataDog vs BrowserStack – How Do They Differ? 

Although both Datadog and BrowserStack have similar work modes, Datadog is a cheaper option compared to BrowserStack. 

BrowserStack starts at 29$ a month, whereas DataDog begins at $12 a month, which is even less than half the price of BrowserStack. With the starting plan, you can comprehensively test at least a thousand browsers per month — which is far better than paying for the expensive BrowserStack starting plan.

 Our Experience

Although we were impressed with the automated screenshots and cheap price points, we faced some issues with the graph report. The graph report felt technical and included several metric types that need further reading. Other than that, we liked the great insight and were impressed by the self-maintaining test feature.

Verdict

DataDog is an eminent private cloud monitoring tool designed for testing different browsers. With a smart user interface and easy integrations, this is a great replacement for BrowserStack.

6. Appium

Appium is one of the most popular and mature tools in the market for mobile, web, desktop, and hybrid applications. It works on a driver, is open-source, and boasts a large and active community readily available to provide answers to all queries. The source code for Appium and the technology behind API calls are taken from Selenium which is also one of the reasons that Appium is trusted and stands as one of the few Browserstack alternatives that are not available on the cloud but are extremely popular.

Appium vs Browserstack – How do they differ?

The main difference between Appium and Browserstack is that Appium is free to use, is open-source, and requires local application installation to get started. Appium also misses out on providing testing devices (simulators, emulators, or real devices) to their testers but is very well connected to all cloud-based applications including Browserstack.

Verdict

Appium is a test automation tool requiring programming scripts to conduct actions on the application. It is extremely popular and has a diverse community. Appium also gets  regular development and modification in its code base which helps provide latest functionalities to the tester. However, it still requires devices and the recommended method is to use BrowserStack along with Appium instead of using them individually for maximum performance. Instead of considering it as a free BrowserStack alternative, consider it as a free BrowserStack extension.

7. Sauce Labs

An alternative to Browserstack that provides almost all similar features is Sauce Labs. It is a cross-browser testing platform that comes with a real device lab and support for automation testing on web, mobile, and desktop applications. Claiming a 217% return on testing, Sauce Labs is widely used in a lot of testing domains including UI testing, visual regression testing, and responsive testing.

Sauce Labs vs BrowserStack – How do they differ?

Sauce Labs and BrowserStack are almost similar platforms with similar features. However, as per community talks, Sauce Labs is preferred by those teams that focus more on automation testing execution on a cloud network rather than accessing thousands of devices. This is just the opposite in BrowserStack where the community is more inclined to use it when they need an infrastructure with many fast-operating real devices. However, in theory, there may be slight differences between both of them, their priority and use remain the same which is a sign of being one of the best alternatives to BrowserStack.

Verdict

It is recommended to use Sauce Labs when automation testing is the need of the project and using BrowserStack when device requirement is the priority.

8. Headspin

Headspin is a test automation tool that provides devices placed at various geographical locations. It supports web, mobile, and desktop applications with a focus on providing insights that have more depth in terms of parameters and KPIs than normal reports. Headspin comes integrated with artificial intelligence for comprehensive analysis of test execution and provides debugging capabilities to debug the issues quickly and easily. 

Headspin vs BrowserStack – How do they differ?

Headspin and BrowserStack both provide devices and support for test automation. However, they both differ in two areas. First, Headspin allows its users to create their own lab by using Headspin’s devices. The user can pick any device from any location any number of times and create a list out of it. Secondly, Headspin comes with AI-enabled insights and 100+ KPIs through which it assesses the performance of test execution. It can serve as a good BrowserStack alternative when these two elements are more in focus.

Verdict

Headspin is a better choice when test automation is required on multiple devices with rich insights including impact scores.

9. Katalon

Katalon is an extremely powerful tool and one of the best alternatives to BrowserStack available today. The tool can serve web, mobile, and desktop applications with preferences for no-code, low-code, and full-code automation. Katalon comes with artificial intelligence and supports API testing in all the above-mentioned formats. It facilitates the debugging process, and report creation, and eliminates repetitive tasks including log-related tasks.

Katalon vs BrowserStack – How do they differ?

Katalon is more inclined towards test automation and providing a complete testing environment that includes test creation with the help of an IDE. The testers can create test cases, select devices, and execute the tests readily. In BrowserStack, however, only an execution environment is provided which includes integrating automation framework and executing tests on selected devices.

Verdict

It is easier, better, and more convenient to go for Katalon if test creation is a requirement or the team is just starting the testing phase. Since Katalon tests are no-code, it will save setup time and costs invested in learning of testers. If the goal is just execution on multiple devices, BrowserStack can be used.

10. Perfecto

Perfecto is an AI-powered test automation tool for mobile and web-based applications. It provides real and virtual devices and supports codeless test automation with AI-enabled analytics for deeper insights into execution. Perfecto also offers a wide spectrum of test automation that includes API testing and performance testing, hence minimizing the need to switch back and forth between multiple tools.

Perfecto vs BrowserStack – How do they differ?

The main difference between Perfecto and BrowserStack is in the AI department. Perfecto brings codeless testing into the picture with Heatmap and machine learning technologies for analytics and insights. Perfecto also provides wider choices when it comes to test automation features such as 2FA and biometrics which are missing in BrowserStack. 

Verdict

If the team is more inclined towards test automation and the features used in it, it is better to go for Perfecto. However, if the team has already set up a test automation infrastructure and needs a device execution environment with many real and virtual devices, BrowserStack will be an economical and perfect choice in this case.

Why Do People Choose BrowserStack? 

People have loved BrowserStack for a long time because they’re one of the earliest cloud testing vendors in the market. They’re also known for: 

Cross Browser Testing

One of the main reasons many people choose this leading software testing platform is because it excels at cross-browser testing. It allows users to test for experience close to the original device counterpart. 

Option to Choose Different Devices 

BrowserStack also has different devices to choose from over the cloud. This is another reason why users are still drawn to this tool. It is also relatively easy to troubleshoot with the help of competent support and documentation.  

Features of BrowserStack

BrowserStack carries several features that make it a fan-favorite of many testers. Here are some of them:

• The tool offers support for mobile and web testing on more than 3000+ real OS and devices.
• BrowserStack is helpful in executing performance and API testing.
• You can easily run parallel tests using BrowserStack.
• The tool has the option to run parameterized testing and requirement-based testing.
• You can integrate BrowserStack with other third-party tools, such as CI/CD, bug tracking, and more.
• It provides testers with the option to gather test summary reports and visual analytics to easily understand and debug the output.

BrowserStack Pros and Cons

We list the Pros and Cons of BrowserStack

Pros	Cons
Offers access to more than 3000 real devices	Uses a high degree of system resources and might overload the system
Is secure, stable, and scalable to support multiple concurrent automated and manual tests	It can be slow at times
Provides actionable insights into the performance of the application under test	The cost of the tool might be more than its alternatives at times
Allows integration with third-party plugins to scale the testing efforts
Saves cost by eliminating the need to use simulators/emulators or buying various devices for testing

Downsides of the BrowserStack tool

Despite having so many advantages, BrowserStack lacks many features that users desperately need. For instance, installing the app files takes a very long time, and it could be a problem for users who want something fast. 

Another issue with this tool is that it is pretty expensive for small-scale companies and budding testers who want to start with something affordable. 

Now that you know all the downsides of this tool, it’s time to explore some alternatives for testing your apps. 

How do you Choose the Best BrowserStack Alternative?

With so many BrowserStack alternatives available to the team, it could be a bit hard to finalize one out of them that should also be the best choice according to the project, the team, and the requirements. It is always recommended, in such cases, to never go with some “best” option according to the internet but choose one yourself by understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each of these tools. If required, assess the tools on the following criteria to get a clearer picture:

• How much automation do you need: The first step to consider is how much automation is required for the project which is yet to be set. If the automation requirements are large, better to choose a tool that checks off the maximum of that requirement to help minimize future efforts.

• How much AI do you need: All advanced BrowserStack alternatives now come with AI integration enabling codeless test automation and execution. However, you may not always require AI in the project and if the team prefers scripted test automation, this might become a loss rather than an advantage. Hence, it is preferred to analyze the AI requirement and the domains in which AI is required before choosing the tool for execution.

• How much support does the tool offer: There will be plenty of times when the team will get stuck somewhere or require help in accomplishing a certain task. Generally, there are two things to look forward to here. First, if the tool is open-source then how big and active the community is. Secondly, if the tool is not an open-source tool, then what is the support service? This could be either an “only-premium” feature or within a certain time slot. Both of which can stall the work.

• How many integrations does the tool support: Integration is an important aspect of test automation as data needs to flow from source to other tools from where it will be assessed or processed. For instance, if a bug is found during execution, it needs to go to JIRA for filing a ticket or BugDB, etc. The more integration the tool has, the better it is for the team especially in the future because as we scale, we will require more tools to work with. It is better to have everything in a single place.

• Collaboration and reporting: Finally, teams should consider the collaboration and reporting features that will help facilitate engagement and sharing with minimum effort from the team. Since many non-technical members are involved in making critical decisions, it is better for the team if they understand the execution clearly which completely depends on how reports are done and how centralized the tool is. The more everyone collaborates, the better it is for the team.

Choosing a BrowserStack alternative can become much easier if the tools and criteria described in this post are followed. It will boost the team’s productivity and help select the “best” tool according to the project and team.

Final Words 

Wrapping it up, it can be said that all of the testing tools in our list are excellent alternatives to BrowserStack. However, the best BrowserStack alternative has to be Testsigma because of the tool’s flexibility and features. 

Both of these tools can provide rapid automation and have capabilities to suit the needs of companies of different scales. So, if you want a better overall test automation experience compared to BrowserStack, we recommend choosing Testsigma.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best alternative to BrowserStack?

There are many alternatives to BrowserStack, and the best one can be any tool that suits your needs. If you are a skilled coder, then going for a testing tool that supports programming is good for you. There are other options, such as Testsigma, that you can choose if you prefer a no-code test automation tool alternative to BrowserStack.

Which is better, Sauce Labs or BrowserStack?

Sauce Labs offers access to real and virtual devices, but it is limited to a handful of popular browsers. On the other hand, BrowserStack provides access to more than 3000 real devices and OS for cross-browser testing. You can choose the option that fulfills your requirements. Or rather, you can choose better alternatives like Testsigma which can help you create automated tests with no coding.