A Detailed Comparison of Katalon vs Selenium [Pros & Cons]

Today, we’re looking at Katalon Studio and Selenium. Both of these software testing tools can create test scripts in several programming languages and can be made to have great analytics capabilities. Since choosing between these two tools can be tough, we are here with a detailed comparison of Katalon vs Selenium to make the decision easier for you!

So, let’s begin,

Katalon vs Selenium: A Comprehensive Comparison.

What Is Katalon? 

Katalon Studio is an automation testing tool that stands out for its user-friendly interface with easy-to-install and configure features, making it accessible even to those with limited programming knowledge.

Katalon supports test automation for mobile, desktop, and web applications.

Katalon Features

• Dual Scripting Interfaces: A user-friendly interface for beginners and a scripting mode with syntax highlighting for advanced users.
• Selenium-Based Engine: Utilizes a Selenium-based engine to create test scripts for UI automation without coding.
• Cross-Platform Support: Runs on all popular OS, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Versatile Test Coverage: Supports API testing, web testing, data-driven testing, cross-browser testing, mobile testing, and desktop testing.
• Continuous Integration: Integrates seamlessly with a wide range of CI/CD tools to support test case planning and defect management.
• Record and Playback: Features a Katalon recorder for recording and playback of tests.
• Advanced Reporting: Enhanced reporting and analytics with Katalon TestOps, which includes test execution, test management, and test planning.
• Enterprise Edition: Offers a paid enterprise version with additional capabilities like automated testing in CLI mode and console mode.

Use Cases

Let’s look at some use cases of Katalon that highlight the working capabilities of its features.

Automating the end-to-end testing process for an e-commerce platform using Katalon involves verifying user registration, product search, cart management, and the checkout process. Katalon’s built-in keywords and record-and-playback features simplify the creation of these test scenarios to ensure comprehensive coverage of user interactions and business logic.

Another use case can be using Katalon for API testing in financial applications, which involves validating endpoints for transaction processing, user authentication, and data retrieval. Katalon’s robust API testing capabilities allow testers to define complex requests, set assertions for response validation, and integrate with CI/CD pipelines to ensure consistent performance and security of financial services APIs.

What Is Selenium?

Selenium is a popular automated testing tool designed for web applications. Selenium tests, as they are known, are exclusively performed on web apps, making this tool particularly flexible and well-suited for web application testing. 

Developers favor Selenium due to its robust support across common browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Firefox and its compatibility with multiple OS, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Selenium Features

• Cross-Browser Support: Selenium supports all major browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
• Multi-Language Support: Test scripts can be written in various popular programming languages, including Java, C#, Python, Ruby, .Net, and Perl.
• WebDriver API: Selenium WebDriver offers a robust API for browser automation to create complex and powerful test scripts.
• Selenium IDE: Available as a plugin for Firefox and Chrome, Selenium IDE records user interactions and generates test scripts automatically.
• Reusable Test Suites: Test automation suites created with Selenium can be reused across browsers and operating systems.
• Integration with Testing Frameworks: Seamlessly integrates with frameworks like JUnit and TestNG for advanced test case management and reporting.
• Continuous Testing Capabilities: With tools like Jenkins, Docker, and Maven, Selenium supports continuous testing and integration, promoting a DevOps approach.

Use Cases

One use case of Selenium is website testing for an e-commerce platform. Selenium can automate various functional tests, such as adding items to the cart, processing payments, and checking order histories. 

By leveraging Selenium WebDriver, testers can write scripts in their preferred programming language to simulate user interactions across different browsers.

Another use case of Selenium is automating cross-browser testing of a web application. Testers can create a suite of tests that run on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, verifying that the web application renders correctly and functions as expected. The reusable test scripts and integration with CI tools like Jenkins enable continuous testing.

Katalon vs Selenium – What Are the Differences?

Parameter of Comparison	Katalon	Selenium
Use of AI or ML	Offers limited AI and ML capabilities for test optimization, test data generation, and report analysis.	Does not include native AI or ML functionalities, but external libraries and tools can be integrated for AI-based testing.
Device Support	Provides built-in support for testing web, mobile, and API applications across various platforms and devices.	Requires additional setup and configuration for mobile testing and may not offer native support for some platforms.
Test Reporting	Offers built-in test reporting and analytics features for generating comprehensive test reports and dashboards.	Relies on external reporting tools or custom implementations for generating test reports and analytics.
Community Support	Provides an active community forum, documentation, and tutorials for assistance and knowledge sharing.	Relies on community-driven support through forums, blogs, and online resources for troubleshooting and learning.

Both Katalon and Selenium offer the best of features for automation testing. However, if you are searching for a tool that is easy to install and requires less manual labor (or almost no coding), Testsigma could be the best choice. 

It offers a unified platform that simplifies automated testing across web, mobile, and desktop applications, providing reater ease of use and comprehensive integrations compared to Katalon and Selenium.

Who is it for?

Before we get into specifics, it’s important to know who Katalon Studio and Selenium are for. Katalon Studio, with its dual interface, is user-friendly for those with limited technical knowledge, offering features like debugging, code suggestions, and syntax highlighting. It also caters to advanced users.

Selenium, on the other hand, is suited for users with moderate to advanced programming skills, as it requires setting up libraries and frameworks manually. While Katalon Studio is an all-in-one solution, Selenium necessitates additional setup, including the optional Selenium IDE.

If you need a tool for desktop or mobile automation, Katalon Studio is the better choice since Selenium is only for web apps. Although both tools support browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, Katalon Studio offers more flexibility by supporting additional browsers like Microsoft Edge and Opera.

Target Audience

Before we get into anything, we need to look at who the Katalon studio is for, and who the Selenium is for. As we have discussed before, Katalon studio has a dual interface. Users with limited technical knowledge and those who may not even know one programming language properly are able to use it. However, it also has all the important tools for its advanced users, and with the Katalon studio, the users will be able to get access to debugging, code suggestions, and syntax highlighting. 

Using Selenium with very limited technical knowledge will be extremely difficult as it is developed for users with at least moderate programming skills. 

While Katalon studio comes with almost everything in a bundle, with Selenium you have to install libraries, get Selenium IDE (optional), and set up the framework yourself. Regardless of which testing software you choose, it would be best if you had some level of programming skills. 

Most importantly, if you are looking for a desktop or mobile automation tool, then you should immediately scratch Selenium off your list as it only works for web apps. It’s mobile counterpart, Appium, has a similar functionality, which is a different article altogether.

Both these tools work with common browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. However, Katalon studio is more flexible because it works with more browsers like Microsoft Edge, and Opera. 

Setting Up

Katalon comes as a complete bundle, and the only thing you have to do is download and install it. Unlike Selenium, this tool doesn’t call for many other installations. However, you may have to install Appium, XCode for Mac, and Node.js for Windows. 

User Interface and Test Management

It is worth highlighting that the Katalon studio does an excellent job at making their UI very rich with readily usable features to manage your test case and test data, code suggesting, and debugging while making it easy to use as well. 

When integrated, Selium and Appium can create a very intuitive platform for professional SDETs. However, there are too many complex features that are unnecessary and can make the interface very difficult to use for beginners. 

It is important to know the scripting language support of the two tools as it determines the compatibility, and versatility of the tool. With Selenium you will get a lot more flexibility in terms of scripting languages, as it has many. 

Unfortunately, there’s only the option for Groovy, which is a language made on top of Java for Katalon studio. 

Speed and Performance

Selenium tends to be faster than Katalon studio. The reason is the scripting language, which for Katalon is Groovy, and since it is built on Java, it has to load more test objects, libraries, etc. 

The difference in speed and performance will be noticeable if the test is very long. For smaller automation purposes, the performance of the two tools is similar. 

Data Driven Testing

A data file object is present in the Katalon studio, which queries data from external resources. These resources include Excel files, Relation DBs, XML files, and CSV files. 

The data driven testing feature is also present in the Katalon studio, and it works perfectly with external data file objects like Excel files. 

The case is not the same for Selenium. Code of the test data must be hard-coded by users into Selenium, which can be a very tedious task. 

Recording and Reporting

Recording the tests allows users to generate the right test steps with the correct keywords, and it also helps to capture objects in recording. The good thing is both of these tools have recorders.

The Katalon studio has the Katalon recorder, and the Selenium has Selenium IDE. The Katalon recorder does a good job at capturing all the objects, and it is very easy to operate. 

Selenium IDE also does well in recording the test runs and exports the recording into TestNG or JUnit test cases. It’s worth knowing neither the Katalon recorder nor the Selenium IDE function in mobile devices. 

With reporting, Katalon studio does a much better job. The reports by the Katalon studio are easy to read while also consisting all the important details you need to know in case of the test fails. 

Meanwhile, Selenium doesn’t even provide you with a reporting tool. You may get a very simple free or paid reporting tool separately.

Built in Keywords

You will be getting some commonly used keywords installed with the Katalon studio, and these keywords will be useful for most test cases. However, you also get an extension with the ability to make custom keywords. In Selenium, users don’t get any built-in keywords, and all of them must be programmed by the users.

Alternative to Katalon and Selenium

Both Katalon and Selenium are top contenders for test automation.They are popular and have been around for long to garner a reliable user-base and a thriving community. Yet, it is a good move to keep a check on other tools available that align with your testing needs and make use of the latest technologies.

Testsigma places itself as a worthy competitor to Selenium vs Katalon as the AI-powered, NLP-based test automation platform. It encompasses multiple product features, including web application testing, API testing, and mobile application. The use cases further comprise of regression testing, cross-browser testing, data-driven testing, visual testing, and more.

Moreover, the low-code ability of Testsigma makes it a go-to platform for enterprises with niche businesses that are just emerging in the market. They do not need to spend time and money on training their staff on complex platforms and test automation scripts.

Although these features might appear basic, the easy setup, quick test execution, third-party support, and customization support are just some of the reasons Testsigma makes for a perfect testing partner for companies of all sizes.

Katalon vs Selenium vs Testsigma

Here’s a detailed comparison table between Katalon, Selenium, and Testsigma to highlight the differences or similarities among them.

Feature	Katalon Studio	Selenium	TestSigma
Language	Java, Groovy	Java, C#, Python, Ruby, JavaScript	Proprietary scripting language using NLPs (no coding required)
IDE	Yes	No (WebDriver APIs used with IDEs like Eclipse)	Yes
Scripting	Keyword-driven testing, scripting	Scripting with WebDriver APIs	No coding required
Test Design	Keyword-driven, record & playback	Code-based test design	Record & playback, no-code scripting
Cross-browser	Yes	Yes	Yes
Cross-platform	Yes	Yes	Yes
Parallel Testing	Limited to execution profiles (paid versions)	Possible with test frameworks like TestNG or JUnit	Built-in support
Reporting	Built-in reporting features	Limited; can be enhanced with third-party tools	Built-in reporting features
Community	Active community support	Large community support	Growing community support
Pricing	Free (with limited features), Paid plans available	Open-source (free), Commercial support available	Subscription-based pricing, Free trial available

Katalon vs Selenium – Which is Better?

The better tool is the one that fits perfectly with your testing needs.

Both Katalon and Selenium have their perks and a dedicated customer base, but neither of them would be the right solution for you if you are seeking a no/low-code for your small business. And only one would be right if you have a substantial budget, but less time to train your employees.

In any circumstances, look at your testing requirements, testing team, their skillset, budget, tool’s future scope, and value, and features. If you play around with multiple platforms, a testing tool that connects seamlessly with the external tools you use, should be a point in your checklist.

In the end, make sure to do the research but not at the expense of your necessities. The differences between Katalon and Selenium are quite foundational, and checking all the facts before committing to one tool is the right approach to testing.

Final Words

Although both of these automation test tools are fantastic, in our comparison of Katalon vs Selenium, Katalon studio did slightly better than the Selenium. 

However, your opinion may differ based on your different needs. Regardless of which one you choose among Katalon vs Selenium, we can assure you you’ll get good results!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Katalon Good for API Testing?

Katalon allows you to test any web, mobile, API, or desktop program. The tool is constantly evolving, allowing users to scale-up testing projects with its solution in a reliable manner. However, the Katalon Studio free edition lacks the debugging feature, and the data-driven capability at the test case level is not available.

What Language does Katalon Use?

Groovy is the language Katalon uses, and it is built on top of Java.

Does Katalon Support Java?

Groovy and Java are the two programming languages utilized in the Katalon Platform; Java libraries can be imported into a project and can be used as regular functions.

Is Katalon Open Source?

Katalon does provide an open-source version with limited features 

Does Katalon Need Coding?

With minimal coding, the dual scripting interface tester would be able to automate test cases using the Katalon tool