LambdaTest vs Katalon – Which is Better?

Cloud execution tools like LambdaTest provide cloud-based infrastructure to execute the tests across different browsers, operating systems, devices, etc. This cloud-based execution provides real user-like environments which help to get accurate results. Katalon is the popular end-to-end test automation framework and LambdaTest is one of the widely used cloud execution platforms. Let’s compare these two.

LambdaTest vs Katalon – Overview

What is LambdaTest?

LambdaTest is a subscription-based cloud test execution platform that allows cross-browser, cross-platform, and cross-device compatibility testing for web and mobile applications. It provides different combinations of browsers, operating systems, and devices to test mobiles and apps againts. 

With Lambdatest,  there is no need for infrastructure setup and maintenance, enabling testers to focus on the core work of test automation. LambdaTest can be integrated with popular test automation frameworks including Katalon, Selenium, Cypress, and Playwright. It also supports many CI/CD tools integration like Jenkins, Gitlab, Github Actions, etc. 

Check here – Lamdatest Alternatives

What is Katalon?

Katalon is an end-to-end test automation platform. It was launched in 2015 by KMS Technology. It provides a platform to test the design and execution of various types of automation tests that belong to desktop, web, and mobile applications. 

Katalon provides an intuitive user interface and many unique features. Katalon also has a record and playback option to support codeless test automation. 

Katalon tests can be integrated with CI/CD platforms with ease. Katalon simplifies test creation, execution, and reporting, making it a popular choice for end-to-end automation. 

Though Katalon was initially designed to support functional test automation. Today, it supports API testing, Visual regression testing, etc.

Check here – Katalon Alternatives

What is Testsigma?

Testsigma is a popular no-code test automation platform that supports many different types of testing such as data-driven testing, functional testing, API testing, visual regression testing, etc. 

Testsigma helps accelerate automation by reducing the technical skills required to automate. 

Testsigma has many unique features such as it has inbuilt cloud execution and test management tools. Organizations do not need to sign up for third-party tools for cloud execution. 

Testsigma combines the power of test automation, no-code scripting, and cloud execution which makes Testsigma a complete test automation tool. Interestingly, Testsigma is a budget-friendly tool that can fit into an organization of any size. 

LambdaTest vs Katalon – Pros and Cons

Pros and Cons of LambdaTest

LambdaTest is a cloud-based execution platform that allows integration with many automated testing tools like Playwright, Katalon, Cypress, etc. Let’s discuss in detail the pros and cons of LambdaTest.

Pros of Lambda Test

• LambdaTest eases the cloud infrastructure creation and maintenance by providing the cloud-based test execution infrastructure to the organization.
• It supports cross-platform, cross-device, and cross-browser testing which allows the execution of automation tests in different combinations based on requirements without modifying the code.
• Supports various test automation framework integration including Katalon, Playwright, Cypress, Selenium, etc.
• LambdaTest can be integrated into CI/CD environments such as Jenkins, CircleCI, Gitlab, etc.
• It supports both mobile and web application execution
• Highly scalable infrastructure where the resources can be allocated on demand which allows to reduce the cost.
• Advanced capabilities like AI, auto-healing, and smart wait can help to maintain the test cases more easily.
• Supports integration of many third-party tools including codeless automation tools, project management tools, CI/CD tools, etc.
• It also supports Geolocation Testing and Tunnels for Local Testing
• LambdaTest provides Advanced Analytics & Reporting to help in error detection, insights, and monitoring. 

Cons of LambdaTest

• LambdaTest has various pricing plans however, these pricing plans may not be budget-friendly for all different organization sizes.
• Many users have opined that it has stability issues with simulators on the execution platform which result in false positives.
• LambdaTest does not provide the environment to test creation, users need to rely on other test automation frameworks for test creation.
• Many users occasionally reported performance issues like delays or timeouts, during peak usage times.
• Mobile testing devices availability and versions may be limited
• LambdaTest limits the customization
• Integration of test automation may require good technical expertise

Pros and Cons of Katalon

Pros of Katalon

• Supports test automation of web, desktop, and mobile applications
• It supports low code testing which minimizes the need for scripting in test automation
• Katalon test can be integrated with TestCloud which is an in-house test execution platform or can also be integrated with BrowserStack, Saucelab, etc. third-party cloud execution provides
• It can be integrated with many CI/CD tools like Jenkins, AzureDevOps, Gitlab, etc.
• Supports Java/Groovy scripting for test automation
• It supports reporting integration, which eases the reporting of test automation outputs.

Cons of Katalon

• Katalon pricing is not budget-friendly for many organizations
• Though Katalon has a TestCloud platform that executes tests in multiple devices and browsers, it has a limitation with device availability. Additionally, integration may require good technical skills
• Katalon’s no-code automation approach may not generate stable test scripts
• It has a steep learning curve, organisations may need to spend on upskilling
• Visual testing can be improved compared to similar tools in the industry
• Additionally, Katalon relies on third-party tools in the background for simulation which makes the platform complex

Check here – Katalon vs Selenium

Testsigma as an Alternative to LambdaTest and Katalon

Testsigma is an all-in-one platform with advanced AI capabilities. It is known for no-code automation. As Testsigma fully focuses on no-code automation, it generates highly stable scripts and accurate results.

Testsigma’s in-built cloud execution provides a scalable and robust testing infrastructure with ease of integration. Testsigma does not require technical expertise to design or create the test cases. 

Any integration or operation in Testsigma is UI based which reduces the learning curve and increases productivity considerably. Below are some of the key features of Testsigma however it is not exhaustive. 

• Supports stable, accurate test design and execution using the no-code approach
• A cloud-based tool, no local installation is required
• Platform also has in-built cloud execution for both web and mobile which can be configured with ease
• Integrating third-party tools like CI/CD tools and project management tools are easy which are driven by visual forms
• Testsigma’s latest AI capability helps to reduce the maintenance effort considerably
• It has a different level of reporting which allows for configuration and sharing instantly with intended stakeholders
• Testsigma also supports dashboards for monitoring and aids in strategic decision-making.
• Visual testing, cross-browser testing, and cross-platform testing for both mobile and web applications can be carried out natively without relying on third-party tools.
• It also supports Codeless API testing where API testing can be done without using any programming language.
• Testsigma provides flexible pricing plans that can fit into any organization which in turn helps to increase the return on investment.
• It has special features for Salesforce testing to reduce the Salesforce testing complexity.

Testsigma vs LambdaTest vs Katalon

Features	Testsigma	LambdaTest	Katalon
Purpose	Testsigma is a no-code platform that supports the design, cloud execution, and many features in a single platform.	LambdaTest is a test execution platform that provides an environment to execute the tests with real devices.	Katalon is a test automation platform that supports test case design and execution. It supports cloud execution using TestCloud.
Usability	Easy to use, the User interface is self-explanatory	Requires good technical knowledge to integrate automation framework	Comes with its own IDE, though it has a good UI but it may require a good configuration machine to work smoothly.
Support for test design	Yes, it supports codeless test design	No support for test case design or creation	It supports basic codeless test design and advanced test design can be done using programming languages like Java or Groovy.
Pricing	Flexible and budget-friendly pricing	It has many pricing plans and may not be budget-friendly	It has various subscription plans however small-scale organizations find that cost-heavy
No-code scripting	Yes, it supports no-code scripting	No support	Supports basic level of no-code scripting
Learning curve	Low	High	High
Dependency	No dependency on third-party systems	Dependant on test automation tools	Dependency with other test automation tools like Selenium, Appium etc.
Supported testing types	Cross-Browser, Cross-Platform, API, Visual Regression testing, etc.	Cross-Browser, Cross-Platform, etc.	Cross-Browser, Cross-Platform, API, Visual Regression testing, etc.
Reporting and Analytics	Very good reporting and analytics with a customizable dashboard	Supports reporting and analytics	Supports reporting and analytics
Visual Testing	Yes, supports Visual testing	Dependency with test automation framework	Basic Visual regression testing feature
Customization	Highly customizable dashboards and reports	Allows minimal customization	Supports customization
Support for platform	Supports Windows, Mac, and Linux for web and iOS and Android for Mobile	Supports Windows and macOS for web and Android and iOS for mobile	Supports platform with TestCloud integration Linux, Windows, macOS for web and iOS and Android for mobile
Availability of Cloud devices	Inbuilt, readily available	Inbuilt, readily available	Requires TestCloud subscription and integration
Speed and Accuracy	Highly reliable, faster, and accurate	Varies with many factors including the test automation framework	Good speed and accuracy

Testsigma vs LambdaTest vs Katalon: Which one to Choose?

Choosing between Testsigma vs LambdaTest vs Katalon may not be straightforward. 

LambdaTest is an execution platform that can aid only in the test execution. However, you might need a separate tool for test automation scripting. If you have a dedicated highly skilled team and are already using a test automation framework then subscribing to LambdaTest may give you some advantage but it may not be cost-effective. 

Katalon can help in designing test cases using the Java or Groovy language and you can integrate with any one of the cloud execution providers or its own TestCloud platform. However, Katalon may demand technical expertise and subscription costs may be higher. 

Testsigma allows to improve collaboration and accelerate automation testing with a no-code test automation platform.  Manual testers, developers, product teams, or any team members can contribute to the automation with no-code testing. Because of this it doesn’t demand any strong technical skills neither creates dependency on team members, this allows the sharing of resources across the projects based on the demand. 

Additionally, Testsigma doesn’t require the purchase of third-party license for cloud execution as it has in-built cloud execution. For extensibility, it also supports integration with third-party cloud platforms and other third-party tools. Testsigma’s flexible and affordable pricing strategy makes it a budget-friendly tool for organizations.

By investing time in the careful analysis of organization requirements, future scope, team members’ skill sets, upskilling efforts, return on investment, and other organizational factors – one needs to choose the best tool for the organization. 

Conclusion

Test automation may not yield better results without cloud execution, as modern applications are mostly web-based or mobile-based, it is important to test them across various combinations like platforms, browsers, and devices. However, integrating with cloud execution tools and paying for third-party cloud execution platforms may incur a lot of cost to the organization. 

Testsigma minimizes this effort by integrating the cloud execution natively on its platform and helps organizations by providing budget-friendly pricing options. However, the testing tool can be chosen based on the requirement and one must always ensure there is high ROI whichever platform you choose.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Katalon open-source?

Katalon is not an open-source test automation framework. But, it has a free variant with basic features. Remember that the free version differs from open-source where organizations may restrict any feature at any time and it’s up to the company’s discretion.

Can Testsigma integrate with LambdaTest?

Yes, Testsigma can be integrated with LambdaTest hyperexecute with few and easy steps. However, Testsigma has an in-built cloud execution option that addresses the need of integration with any third-party tools unless required.