Automated Functional Testing — How To Do and Best Practices?

How to Begin in Sprint Automation: A Tactical Guide


<p>After hours of coding complex web applications and algorithms, amongst many other things, manual tests had to be carried out hundreds of times to ensure the code was right.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, with the introduction of automated tests, things have become much easier for programmers. Ranorex and Selenium are two very popular test automation tools used for this purpose.</p>



<p>In today’s article, we will be doing a comparison of Ranorex vs Selenium. We’ll be discussing the many platforms they’re compatible with, their performance, and many other factors. Stay tuned to find out amongst these automation tools which one’s the perfect match for you.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Overview_of_Ranorex_vs_Selenium"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> Overview of Ranorex vs Selenium</a><ul><li><a href="#Ranorex"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.1</span> Ranorex</a></li><li><a href="#Selenium"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.2</span> Selenium</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Ranorex_vs_Selenium_8211_Key_Differences"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Ranorex vs Selenium &#8211; Key Differences</a><ul><li><a href="#Supported_application_types"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.1</span> Supported application types </a></li><li><a href="#Scalability"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.2</span> Scalability</a></li><li><a href="#Setup_and_your_first_automated_tests"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.3</span> Setup and your first automated tests</a></li><li><a href="#Object_Identification"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.4</span> Object Identification</a></li><li><a href="#Debugging_and_Reporting"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.5</span> Debugging and Reporting</a></li><li><a href="#Ranorex_and_Selenium_Price"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.6</span> Ranorex and Selenium Price </a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="overview-of-ranorex-vs-selenium"><span id="Overview_of_Ranorex_vs_Selenium"><strong>Overview of Ranorex</strong> <strong>vs Selenium</strong></span></h2>



<h3 id="ranorex"><span id="Ranorex">Ranorex</span></h3>



<p>The Ranorex Studio is an excellent tool that works very smoothly for test automation. It doesn’t have its own scripting language, so it uses other standard programming languages like C# and&nbsp;VB.NET&nbsp;for automating tests.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Rainbows-Daily-Agenda-Slide.png" alt="Ranorex image " class="wp-image-19557" /></figure>



<p>This GUI test automation tool is used for desktop web and mobile applications testing. It can support a wide range of operating systems, which include Windows, Android, and iOS. For automated bug tracking, Ranorex studio has built-in integrations with leading tools such as Jenkins, Jira, and TestRail happen. &nbsp;</p>



<p>Thanks to its excellent object-based capture and replay editor, and record replay and edit actions, users get the ability to easily create automated software tests for their web browsers and desktop applications. Because the Ranorex studio has impressive UI elements, this tool is a good option for non-programmers as well.</p>



<p>Parallel testing with Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and many more browsers can be done during web testing, for faster results.&nbsp;</p>



<p>There is no need for jailbreaking with iOS devices or with other mobile platforms when doing iOS application automated testing. Lastly, you can record your test steps in the Ranorex studio with the Ranorex recorder.</p>



<h3 id="selenium"><span id="Selenium"><strong>Selenium</strong></span></h3>



<p>As you may know, Selenium is an automation test tool for web browsers, with Appium as its native mobile app counterpart. With this tool, you will be able to create scripts in several programming languages such as Java, Python, C#, PHP, Ruby, etc. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Rainbows-Daily-Agenda-Slide-1.png" alt="Selenium image" class="wp-image-19559" /></figure>



<p>Selenium WebDriver is popular with SDETs since it’s open-source and one of the oldest tools that automation testing has relied on. Thus, it has APIs, libraries, drivers, and frameworks for multiple use-cases contributed by the massive community. The WebDriver has a client upon whose command the browser-specific driver runs tests. You must keep in mind that Selenium is to automate web browsers only.</p>



<p>Parallel testing is made possible by the Selenium Grid, and it does a great job at reducing the runtime of the tests. The Grid is a smart server, and it has two components the Hub, which is the server, and the Node, which is the remote device. You will, however, need to create and maintain the infrastructure for servers and devices yourself or use cloud-based test labs like SauceLabs or Lambdatest.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="ranorex-vs-selenium-key-differences"><span id="Ranorex_vs_Selenium_8211_Key_Differences"><strong>Ranorex vs Selenium</strong> <strong>&#8211; Key Differences</strong></span></h2>



<p>With a brief review of Ranorex and the overview of Selenium, you may be able to tell which one is better for you, but the detailed comparison below will give you a clear solution for sure.</p>



<h3 id="supported-application-types"><span id="Supported_application_types"><strong>Supported application types</strong> </span></h3>



<p>Between Ranorex test automation project and Selenium, we must say that Ranorex studio is more versatile in terms of compatibility as it can support desktop web and mobile application tests without additional framework setup.&nbsp;</p>



<p>On the other hand, Selenium was developed to automate test execution of web browsers, and not mobile or desktop applications. Both of these tools work perfectly well with most common web applications such as Windows, opera, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and more.</p>



<p>Both of them support you to create test scripts in a programming language like Java, Python, C#, and many others.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 id="scalability"><span id="Scalability"><strong>Scalability</strong></span></h3>



<p>With the help of Selenium grid, you can get test results very quickly during the automation of your browser. Its central station distributes the web applications to several virtual and physical servers to speed up the test automation and get solutions quickly. Not all Selenium tools come with such parallel test features.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, the Ranorex studio comes with parallel test features, which makes it faster in some cases.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 id="setup-and-your-first-automated-tests"><span id="Setup_and_your_first_automated_tests"><strong>Setup and your first automated tests</strong></span></h3>



<p>If you&#8217;re setting up the automation framework on your own, and you don’t know how to code, Selenium is going to be tricky. Ranorex studio has an easier setup. Selenium on its own is just a browser component. To make it useful as a test automation framework, you need to install relevant libraries for the programming languages that are available.</p>



<p>While you shouldn&#8217;t face much trouble using any of the two tools, the Ranorex studio is definitely more user-friendly. As we have mentioned before, it has a great capture and replay editor, which ensures you don&#8217;t have to write any code for creating tests.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The Ranorex studio easily does data driven testing by setting up data tables and Excel files.&nbsp;</p>



<p><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/strings-in-javascript/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Selenium WebDriver</a> has autocomplete, and Ranorex studio has predictive code completion, and both of them work similarly.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 id="object-identification"><span id="Object_Identification"><strong>Object Identification</strong></span></h3>



<p>Although there are many automation software out there, not many of them can locate UI elements like text boxes and buttons easily.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To move along an HTML object tree, both of these test tools use a type of Xpath expression. Yet maintenance with Selenium is much more difficult. This is because <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/xpath-in-selenium/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Xpath in Selenium</a> can only be used on the code level.</p>



<p>On the contrary, the Ranorex studio has an object repository that helps arrange all the UI elements when it&#8217;s time to do automation tests.&nbsp;</p>



<p>On top of that, editing and even creating Xpath expression is made easier with the help of the Ranorex spy tool. Using these UI repository elements in the Ranorex studio software for object identification helps to make your code cleaner and readable.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In comparison to the Ranorex, the Selenium WebDriver also has more of a tough time trying to identify and locate UI elements with dynamic IDs.</p>



<h3 id="debugging-and-reporting"><span id="Debugging_and_Reporting"><strong>Debugging and Reporting</strong></span></h3>



<p>Selenium-based frameworks are inherently customizable but are still limited in terms of test execution reports. Meanwhile, Ranorex studio reporting is easier to comprehend and more actionable. It is also very simple to share and comes in different formats such as JUnit, PDF, and HTML. Both of them will provide you with recordings of the test runs, which is very helpful when debugging.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 id="ranorex-and-selenium-price"><span id="Ranorex_and_Selenium_Price"><strong>Ranorex and Selenium</strong> <strong>Price</strong> </span></h3>



<p>Along with all the features, the price of the automated testing software also plays a major role when you&#8217;re in the market.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Selenium is open source, which means that it is a free tool, and anyone can access it.&nbsp;Ranorex Studio starts at $3,950 for a license.&nbsp;</p>



<p>You will get a free trial for Ranorex, and in this free trial, you can find out whether you it’d be a good investment for you.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="conclusion"><span id="Conclusion"><strong>Conclusion</strong></span></h2>



<p>We hope our detailed comparison of Ranorex vs Selenium was able to help you finally come to a decision.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Both of them are excellent choices, but if we had to pick one without the price in mind, we would have to say that the Ranorex studio has a much better performance. However, if you already have a team of developers you can assign solely to setting up and maintaining your test automation framework and all the automated tests (to avoid flakiness), you can always use Selenium.</p>



<p><em>Unlike Ranorex, </em><a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Testsigma</em></a><em> is open-source and supports end-to-end web, mobile app, and API testing. Unlike Selenium, Testsigma does it all without code. With Tetsigma, you get the best of both worlds. Try it for free today, or check out the repo on </em><a href="https://github.com/testsigmahq/testsigma" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Github</em></a><em>.&nbsp;</em></p>


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<p>Appium is one of the most renowned automated testing tools for creating and running tests on mobile platforms such as iOS and Android. However, as technology evolves and project requirements vary, exploring Appium alternatives becomes essential to meet diverse testing needs efficiently. There are so many top alternatives to Appium that can make your testing experience more efficient. In this blog, we have curated a list of the top <strong>Appium alternatives </strong>that will meet your testing requirements just as well, if not significantly better than Appium.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_Appium"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is Appium?</a></li><li><a href="#Reasons_for_Finding_Appium_Alternatives"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Reasons for Finding Appium Alternatives</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Choose_the_Right_Appium_Alternative"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> How to Choose the Right Appium Alternative?</a></li><li><a href="#6_Best_Appium_Alternatives_List"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> 6 Best Appium Alternatives List </a><ul><li><a href="#1_Testsigma"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">4.1</span> 1. Testsigma</a></li><li><a href="#2_Kobitonnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">4.2</span> 2. Kobiton&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#3_Espresso"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">4.3</span> 3. Espresso</a></li><li><a href="#4_Selendroid_Selenium_for_Android"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">4.4</span> 4. Selendroid (Selenium for Android)</a></li><li><a href="#5_XCTest"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">4.5</span> 5. XCTest</a></li><li><a href="#6_Sauce_Labs"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">4.6</span> 6. Sauce Labs</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#1_Which_is_the_best_Appium_alternative"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.1</span> 1. Which is the best Appium alternative?</a></li><li><a href="#2_Is_Appium_outdated"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.2</span> 2. Is Appium outdated?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="what-is-appium"><span id="What_is_Appium"><strong>What is Appium?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Appium is an open-source test automation framework designed for automating mobile testing on various platforms, including Android, Windows, and iOS. It allows testers to write and execute automated test scripts for native, hybrid, and mobile web applications using Java, Python, JavaScript, Ruby, and C#.</p>



<p>Appium can also use the WebDriver Protocol to provide a unified API for cross-platform mobile testing. All these features make Appium a versatile and powerful tool for upholding app quality and consistency across different devices and OS.</p>



<h2 id="reasons-for-finding-appium-alternatives"><span id="Reasons_for_Finding_Appium_Alternatives"><strong>Reasons for Finding Appium Alternatives</strong></span></h2>



<p>Despite Appium being a popular tool for mobile app testing, it still has a few drawbacks and legacy approaches toward automation testing. Many modern testing tools are addressing these limitations and emerging as worthy alternatives to Appium with the motto, “<em>fast development, faster testing.</em>”&nbsp;</p>



<p>Let’s look at some of the characteristics of Appium that require an alternate:</p>



<ul><li>Appium can be challenging to set up and configure for mobile testing, especially for beginners.</li><li>It has a client-server architecture and WebDriver dependency, making it slow compared to other modern mobile testing tools.</li><li>Appium tests are prone to flakiness, which can lead to inconsistent results due to timing issues, network conditions, or device-specific quirks.</li><li>You require physical devices or a device cloud service to run tests on real devices, which accumulates considerable cost over time.</li><li>While Appium supports basic gestures, it struggles with complex, multi-touch gestures or more intricate interactions.</li><li>Appium lacks integrated test management features and requires additional tools and frameworks to handle test data management, reporting, and continuous integration.</li></ul>



<h2 id="how-to-choose-the-right-appium-alternative"><span id="How_to_Choose_the_Right_Appium_Alternative"><strong>How to Choose the Right Appium Alternative?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Multiple factors are involved in choosing the right Appium alternative. From aligning that tool to your team’s skill set to integrating it into your existing bundle of tools, here are some key aspects to consider:</p>



<ul><li>Ensure the alternative tool supports all the platforms you need to test, such as iOS, Android, and web applications for cross-platform testing.</li><li>Consider the tool that is easy to set up and install. It should have a user-friendly interface, good documentation, and a supportive community.</li><li>Evaluate the tool’s performance, including execution speed and resource usage for faster test execution.</li><li>Ensure the tool can handle advanced testing requirements such as complex gestures, interactions, and support for various device configurations and orientations.</li><li>Choose a tool that integrates smoothly with your existing CI/CD pipeline and other tools in use, such as test management systems, reporting tools, and version control systems.</li><li>Assess the cost of the tool, including licensing fees, maintenance costs, and any additional infrastructure required.&nbsp;</li><li>Check if the tool allows for easy creation and reuse of test components to significantly reduce the time spent on maintaining and updating tests.</li><li>Ensure the tool can scale with your testing needs and effortlessly handles a growing number of tests, supports parallel test execution, and works with both local and cloud-based testing environments.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-6-best-appium-alternatives-list"><span id="6_Best_Appium_Alternatives_List"><strong>6 Best Appium Alternatives List </strong></span></h2>



<p>While Appium has long been a popular choice for mobile test automation due to its flexibility and open-source nature, there are several other compelling alternatives to Appium on the market that are worth the time and cost. Some of the best Appium alternatives are as follows:&nbsp;</p>



<p>The table below depicts the key comparison between the top 6 Appium alternatives</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1700" height="1006" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Table-V.1.jpg" alt="Appium Alternatives Comparison table" class="wp-image-40771"/></figure></div>



<h3 id="h-1-testsigma"><span id="1_Testsigma"><strong>1. </strong><a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Testsigma</strong></a></span></h3>



<p>Testsigma is a unified low-code test automation platform that allows you to automate mobile testing for both Android and iOS applications in one platform. It supports low-code testing techniques, such as NLP-based testing and Recorder,&nbsp; to test your mobile apps.&nbsp;</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/N3v7d05E7xv9Qm2PNSEfn_WV02R1j3-e5ZLwnZEGTVY1QsBn5YMNV9UkvJeFnplgHGdW_Qm8g6BIswUIqaKTrvxQkauSslbv4xP8_criCvZRiQi3ukjZyiOAJ0yE8nIv-MSH4EX8emTMss8xm5WI7oY" alt="Testsigma- top Appium alternatives
"/></figure></div>



<p>What makes it a better alternative to Appium? Let&#8217;s discuss them. Testsigma offers several test automation features for mobile testing, making it the best Appium alternative.</p>



<p>Some of the key features of Testsigma include,</p>



<ul><li>Create automated test cases in plain English using <strong>NLPs</strong>.</li><li>Test your native, hybrid, and mobile web apps in one place.</li><li>Testsigma is <strong>cloud-based</strong>, so you can create and run automated mobile tests on the cloud. No setup/installation is required.</li><li>Supports web, mobile, desktop app, and API testing in one place. You don&#8217;t have to switch between multiple tools or frameworks to test your applications.</li><li>Test your mobile apps across <strong>3000+ real devices/tablets and 1000+ browser/OS</strong> combinations to ensure their functionality and responsiveness.</li><li>Perform <strong>parallel testing</strong> across multiple environments&nbsp;</li><li>Supports AI-driven auto-healing capability and built-in test case review management.</li><li>Perform end-to-end functional testing of mobile apps and achieve high test coverage.</li><li>Provides a Record feature to automate UI testing of mobile applications.</li><li>Extended <strong>24&#215;7</strong> technical customer support via chat, call, email, and community</li><li>Seamlessly integrate your automated tests into the DevOps and CI/CD pipeline.</li><li>Supports various third-party integrations with Jenkins, JIRA, Bamboo, Bugzilla, Azure DevOps, etc.</li><li>You can achieve a good ROI using Testsigma&#8217;s <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/scriptless-test-automation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">scriptless test automation</a>.</li></ul>



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<h3 id="h-2-kobiton"><span id="2_Kobitonnbsp"><strong>2. Kobiton&nbsp;</strong></span></h3>



<p>Kobiton is another alternative to Appium that allows developers and testers to perform functional testing and performance testing of web and mobile applications. It supports both scriptless and script-based testing. It is a bit pricey yet offers a great solution for automated testing.</p>



<p>Some of the key features of Kobiton include,</p>



<ul><li>Test on real-devices, cloud, or on-premise.&nbsp;</li><li>Perform cross-platform and cross-browser testing for web and mobile apps</li><li>Perform both manual and automated testing&nbsp;</li><li>Test on real devices within the IDE to identify cross-platform issues</li><li>Supports testing across 400+ real devices in both public and private cloud environments</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-3-espresso"><span id="3_Espresso"><strong>3. Espresso</strong></span></h3>



<p>Espresso is an open-source test automation framework developed by Google. It allows you to automate UI testing for Android applications. It also supports black-box testing, but the developer/tester has to be completely aware of the codebase under test.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>It is great for testing native applications and <a href="https://www.techtarget.com/searchsoftwarequality/definition/hybrid-application-hybrid-app" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hybrid-web applications</a>. It is a code-based testing framework. You can create test cases using Java or Kotlin.</p>



<p>Some of the key features of Espresso include,</p>



<ul><li>It supports features such as intent validations, synchronized test executions, and capabilities to run recipes.</li><li>Espresso is integrated with Android Studio, which is the official IDE for Android app development. So, developers can easily code and test their UI in the same environment.</li><li>It has an integrated test runner, so testers can run tests directly from the IDE.</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-4-selendroid-selenium-for-android"><span id="4_Selendroid_Selenium_for_Android"><strong>4. Selendroid (Selenium for Android)</strong></span></h3>



<p>Selendroid is a widely used open-source test automation framework to automate Android app testing. It is a Selenium-based API that allows testers to interact with Android applications using the WebDriver. It supports testing both native and hybrid Android applications.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Some of the key benefits of Selendroid include,</p>



<ul><li>Supports testing across multiple browsers like Safari, Chrome, Edge, IE, Firefox, Opera, etc</li><li>Use various programming languages to create code scripts like Java, JavaScript, Python, C#, Ruby, .NET, Perl, PHP, etc&nbsp;</li><li>You can scale your test automation by integrating it with Selenium Grid or so.</li><li>By integrating Selendroid with iOS drivers, you can test iOS applications as well.</li><li>Selendroid, in integration with Selenium Grid, supports parallel test execution across multiple platforms and browsers.</li><li>Open-source and available for free</li><li>Has a very active community</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-5-xctest"><span id="5_XCTest"><strong>5. XCTest</strong></span></h3>



<p>XCTest, by Apple, is a built-in mobile test automation framework that is integrated with XCode, which is the official IDE for developing Mac and iOS applications. It is a code-based testing framework that allows developers/testers to create and run automated test cases using Objective C or Swift.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Some of the key benefits of XCTest include,</p>



<ul><li>Since Objective C or Swift is the language stack for most Mac and iOS applications, developers can build code and run tests in the same environment, that is, XCode.&nbsp;</li><li>No further setup or installation is needed, as the framework is completely integrated with XCode.</li><li>It provides a Record feature for UI testing.</li><li>It supports UI testing, unit testing, performance testing, and snapshot testing of iOS applications.</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-6-sauce-labs"><span id="6_Sauce_Labs"><strong>6. Sauce Labs</strong></span></h3>



<p>Sauce Labs is the last one on this list of Appium alternatives. Sauce Labs is a cloud-based testing platform that allows developers and QA to automate web and mobile app testing.</p>



<p>Some of the key features of Sauce Labs include,</p>



<ul><li>Supports testing across 2000+ real devices and 900+ browser/OS combos&nbsp;</li><li>Perform continuous testing for web and mobile apps&nbsp;</li><li>Supports cross-platform and cross-browser testing</li><li>Supports visual regression testing&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-conclusion"><span id="Conclusion"><strong>Conclusion</strong></span></h2>



<p>With the digital revolution, the need for smartphones and mobile applications increases every day. With that, the demand for quality and reliable mobile applications is also on the rise. Businesses need to invest in good testing platforms to ensure they ship quality products to their customers.</p>



<p>Choose a <a href="https://testsigma.com/qa-automation-tools" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test automation tool</a> that streamlines your testing process, improves efficiency, and delivers high-quality applications. Remember that the choice of tool depends on factors like project requirements, team expertise, testing needs, and budget.&nbsp;</p>



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<h2 id="h-frequently-asked-questions"><span id="Frequently_Asked_Questions"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions</strong></span></h2>



<h3 id="h-1-which-is-the-best-appium-alternative"><span id="1_Which_is_the_best_Appium_alternative"><strong>1. Which is the best Appium alternative?</strong></span></h3>



<p>Testsigma is the best alternative for Appium as it allows you to easily test mobile apps, both Android and iOS, through a simple yet intuitive interface. It makes testing more accessible with its scriptless test automation for web, mobile, and desktop apps and APIs in the same platform.</p>



<h3 id="h-2-is-appium-outdated"><span id="2_Is_Appium_outdated"><strong>2. Is Appium outdated?</strong></span></h3>



<p>Appium is not outdated, but it has its fair share of disadvantages when it comes to mobile testing. Modern scriptless test automation tools like Testsigma have changed the way mobile test automation works. Testsigma offers powerful mobile testing solutions that make it the best alternative for automating mobile app testing.</p>



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<ts-linktext-value>Automating Flutter Apps with Appium Flutter Driver</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/automating-flutter-apps-with-appium-flutter-driver/</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
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<ts-linktext-value>Appium vs Selenium</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/appium-vs-selenium/</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Detox vs Appium</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/detox-vs-appium/</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
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<ts-linktext-value>How to test iOS applications with Appium</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/appium-for-ios/</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
</customlinks>


We Used 6 Best Appium Alternatives for 2 Weeks - Here's What We Found

We Tried 6 Best Appium Alternatives [In-Depth Comparison]


<p>Smartbear is a powerful and robust automated GUI testing tools for web, mobile, and desktop applications. However, we wanted more from the automated testing tool that we were relying on.</p>



<p>That is where we started looking for a <strong>Smartbear alternative</strong>. And after tons of head-to-head comparisons and testing, we picked a couple of Smartbear competitors that are worth the try. Want to know all about the competitors and alternatives we are talking about here? Stick till the end!</p>



<p></p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Top_10_Alternatives_to_Smartbear"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> Top 10 Alternatives to Smartbear</a></li><li><a href="#1_Testsigma"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> 1. Testsigma</a></li><li><a href="#2_LambdaTest"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> 2. LambdaTest</a></li><li><a href="#3_BrowserStack"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> 3. BrowserStack</a></li><li><a href="#4_Tricentis"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> 4. Tricentis</a></li><li><a href="#5_ReadyAPI"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> 5. ReadyAPI</a></li><li><a href="#6_Sauce_Labs"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> 6. Sauce Labs</a></li><li><a href="#7_Worksoft_Certify"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> 7. Worksoft Certify</a></li><li><a href="#8_Micro_Focus"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">9</span> 8. Micro Focus</a></li><li><a href="#9_Silk_Test"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">10</span> 9. Silk Test</a></li><li><a href="#10_Katalon_Studio"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">11</span> 10. Katalon Studio</a><ul><li><a href="#Final_Words"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">11.1</span> Final Words</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="top-10-alternatives-to-smartbear"><span id="Top_10_Alternatives_to_Smartbear"><strong>Top 10 Alternatives to Smartbear</strong></span></h2>



<p>So, after tons of deliberation and a hefty amount of debate with our team, we have managed to huddle this list of worthy Smartbear competitors and alternatives:</p>



<h2 id="1-testsigma"><span id="1_Testsigma">1. Testsigma</span></h2>



<p>At the very top of the list for the Smartbear alternatives, we have Testsigma. And it is on the top for a particular reason. At its core, Testsigma is a Test Automation Ecosystem. It has all the essential elements that users would require for test automation. But that is not all that Testsigma has to bring to the table.</p>



<p>The platform has Natural Language Processing power, which means you can develop and write tests for mobile and web applications with simple English. Also, there will be no need to spend a lot of time on the Test development. The service is super fast, fully loaded with Artificial Intelligence-driven maintenance.</p>



<p>Furthermore, you will find proper cloud integration and a modern UI. It even has Parallel Testing features, which are some that most of the alternatives do not offer. The starting price is also at a pretty budget-friendly point, and the service has proper support for the users. Overall, it is an excellent tool for software testing and web app.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1778" height="767" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-94.png" alt="Smartbear alternative- Testsigma" class="wp-image-29520"/><figcaption>Testsigma</figcaption></figure>



<div class="wp-container-66a3575019eab wp-block-buttons">
<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link" href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Try Testsigma. Sign up for free</a></div>
</div>



<h2 id="2-lambdatest"><span id="2_LambdaTest">2. <strong>LambdaTest</strong></span></h2>



<p>Are you on the lookout for a cross-browser testing platform that can help your medium or small businesses run web automation tests on a large scale? You should take a look at what LambdaTest is offering here!</p>



<p>The service will ensure that your business processes work smoothly and flawlessly. For doing that, LambdaTest offers coverage to run web automation tests on 2000+ operating systems, devices, and browsers. The platform has tons of features. One of them, called Cypress CLI, will let the users test 40+ different versions of browsers.</p>



<p>Other than that, the platform supports manual testers and provides tons of manual testing features. So, users are not limited to the automated features of this automation tool. Also, there are visual studio UI and real-time test features available on the platform. What else could you ask from web and mobile test tools?</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1862" height="892" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-93.png" alt="Smartbear alternatives - Lambdatest" class="wp-image-29517"/><figcaption>Lambdatest</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="3-browserstack"><span id="3_BrowserStack">3. <strong>BrowserStack</strong></span></h2>



<p>One of the browser automation solutions that carry out two million tests every day across 15 different global data servers is BrowserStack. The cloud platform is mostly known to offer developers access to 2000+ real browsers and mobile devices for web application testing.</p>



<p>Unlike any regular test automation tool, this reliable tool provides its customers with proper support. Its features will let the developers handle data swiftly and allow them to manage their mobile applications and software accordingly. They will even have the ability to monitor their in-house test infrastructure.&nbsp;</p>



<p>That is why it has Wells Fargo, NVIDIA, Tesco, Shell, and other top dogs on its user list. You will not even have to worry about the speed of the testing process. Compared to other regular Smartbear alternatives, the tool is pretty fast. And in terms of pricing, it has a reasonable starting price that caters to most of its users properly.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1823" height="842" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-95.png" alt="Smartbear alternatives - Browserstack" class="wp-image-29522"/><figcaption>Browserstack</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="4-tricentis"><span id="4_Tricentis">4. <strong><a href="https://www.tricentis.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Tricentis</a></strong></span></h2>



<p>Is the pricing of the automation systems worrying you too much? Want to try out a totally free service? You need to check out Tricentis!</p>



<p>As we mentioned earlier, the service is free-to-use. You will not need to worry about the starting price, nor will you need to subscribe to a plan just to use the test features of the tool. And although it is free, the product support is stellar. The team is dedicated to offering good support to its users.</p>



<p>Other than that, the initial setup process is pretty hassle-free. Compared with other Smartbear alternatives, you will not need to go through any hassles when setting up this automation tool. The tool also provides a fluid test automation experience. It boasts support for multiple operating systems and cross-browser testing.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-96.png" alt="Smartbear alternative- Tricentis" class="wp-image-29524" width="840" height="390"/><figcaption>Tricentis</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="5-readyapi"><span id="5_ReadyAPI">5. <strong>ReadyAPI</strong></span></h2>



<p>Formerly known as LoadUI pro, SoapUI pro, or ServiceV Pro, ReadyAPI should be your go-to service if you are looking for a good API-testing service. It does not skimp one bit when it comes to providing stellar API tests. Want to know all that it is about? Continue reading!</p>



<p>The testing tool offers automation features that will make your marketing efforts provide good results. Its API functionality lets developers go through their data correctly and test their API software properly. This automated testing tool even has end-to-end complex API tests.</p>



<p>Its continuous integration is a dream for manual testers. The features will let teams work with other developers to carry out effective end-to-end API tests. And the best part is that you will not even need to code just to carry out the API automation tests. The software will handle most of the things for you.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1817" height="682" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-97.png" alt="ReadyAPI" class="wp-image-29526"/><figcaption>ReadyAPI</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="6-sauce-labs"><span id="6_Sauce_Labs">6. <strong>Sauce Labs</strong></span></h2>



<p>We have another continuous testing and continuous integration automation testing tool that will make things easier for you. However, some features make this testing tool stand out from the others.</p>



<p>At its core, Sauce Labs is an automation testing tool for desktop and mobile apps. The software is built to be instantly scalable, giving you a proper idea of how easy it would be to take advantage of testing features. It even has support for running parallel tests on multiple virtual machines.</p>



<p>The software also has support for hybrid tests. That will allow the developers to carry out testing tasks swiftly and affordably. Yes, even though it is not free, the pricing is not something you will need to worry about. And the features that it offers are totally worth the pricing it asks for.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1871" height="806" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-98.png" alt="Sauce Labs" class="wp-image-29528"/><figcaption><strong>Sauce Labs</strong></figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="7-worksoft-certify"><span id="7_Worksoft_Certify">7. <strong><strong>Worksoft Certify</strong></strong></span></h2>



<p>Want to try out your web and mobile applications on any SAP platforms? Worksoft Certify is probably the testing software that you have been looking for!</p>



<p>As we have already mentioned, this software works on almost all SAP platforms. The software&#8217;s features are pretty reliable and will handle all your SAP needs. But that is not the only good part about the software. To carry out testing tasks with this tool, you will not need any technical knowledge!</p>



<p>There will be no need to learn any coding language just for testing your web and mobile applications through this tool. It also provides the ability to save and view the results. That will enable you to scrutinize all of the tests properly. Also, the starting price is at a reasonable point.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1841" height="805" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-99.png" alt="Worksoft" class="wp-image-29530"/><figcaption>Worksoft</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="8-micro-focus"><span id="8_Micro_Focus">8. <strong>Micro Focus</strong></span></h2>



<p>User-friendly testing software is not that easy to find. However, if you are looking for one, you should keep Micro Focus in your consideration.</p>



<p>The first highlight of this software is that it is highly user-friendly. There will be no need to have any technical knowledge to carry out testing tasks with this. It also features the support to work with different IDEs and UFT One. And you will have loads of flexibility in testing API, mobile, and web apps.</p>



<p>Even though it is not free, the pricing plan of the software is pretty reasonable. Compared to other cloud-based services, it has loads of API and regression testing features that are highly flexible. Your developer team will indeed thank you for opting for this service.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1708" height="701" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-100.png" alt="Micro Focus" class="wp-image-29532"/><figcaption><strong>Micro Focus</strong></figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="9-silk-test"><span id="9_Silk_Test">9. <strong>Silk Test</strong></span></h2>



<p>On the hunt for testing software that supports object-based implementation? Silk Test is probably what you have been searching for all this time!</p>



<p>This automation testing tool is mainly for performing functionality and regression tests. And it does that in the best possible manner. The features that it boasts will make your workflow smooth. It will help you finish the project at hand in a much shorter period.</p>



<p>The software even has support for different popular browsers. That includes Firefox, Chrome, and others. Also, you can carry out Java, DOM, and other tests with the software.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1622" height="648" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-101.png" alt="Silk Test" class="wp-image-29534"/><figcaption><strong>Silk Test</strong></figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="10-katalon-studio"><span id="10_Katalon_Studio">10. <strong>Katalon Studio</strong></span></h2>



<p>Last but not least, we have Katalon Studio. It is one of the tolls with a very useful Record and Run feature. But that is not all that it has to offer.</p>



<p>If you dig in, you will find plenty of automation testing features on this software, including Object Spy. The things that it offers will make it easier for you to carry out mobile application testing tasks. Its API automation feature is highly praiseworthy as well.</p>



<p>The software is also an all-in-one place for plenty of different automation solutions. With this software, you can make your developer team work swiftly in one place and get more remarkable results. So, it is an excellent pick for automation testing tasks. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1671" height="767" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-102.png" alt="Smartbear alternative -Katalon Studio" class="wp-image-29536"/><figcaption>Katalon Studio</figcaption></figure>



<h3 id="final-words"><span id="Final_Words"><strong>Final Words</strong></span></h3>



<p>The end-to-end and object recognition for GUI tests is pretty top-notch for Smartbear. Let us not forget about the regression testing feature. It is truly excellent software. But there are loads of Smarbear competitors that are offering better value for its pricing. Most provide good support and a fluid testing process.</p>



<p>However, our top recommendation for the <strong>Smartbear alternative</strong> would be <a href="https://testsigma.com/">Testsigma</a>. Even though it is not free, its features are worth the price. And you will be capable of handling each of your testing needs with the software.&nbsp;</p>



<p></p>


cover image of smartbear alternative blog