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This guide outlines the top 10 UI testing tools that dominate the market, providing valuable insights for manual testers, automation engineers, developers, and other stakeholders.
This guide provides a detailed look into each test automation tool helping you select the best-fit UI testing tool for your project.
What is a UI Testing Framework?
A UI testing framework is a collection of tools, libraries, and standards that provide a structure and technique for developing and running UI tests. It aids in automating testing an application’s user interface, allowing testers to test application functionality and user experience more rapidly and efficiently.UI testing is the process of testing any visual elements of the apps that the users interact with. UI testing frameworks are a tool that lets us check if our app’s UI performs uniformly across a wide range of devices. The main aspects tested in this process are the visual design, functionality, usability, and performance.
Testers perform a series of operations to validate these aspects using an UI testing framework. These frameworks also ensure a bug-free UI. Besides, the primary benefit of using an automated android testing framework is eliminating errors the human eye may miss.
It is known that fixing these errors at later stages is expensive. Automation testing also allows us to run and reuse our tests reliably.
Before proceeding, we recommend looking at this blogpost where we’ve written about how to perform a mobile automation UI test.
UI testing tools have become essential for ensuring the quality and reliability of user interfaces. Some of the top tools for UI testing include Testsigma, Selenium, ACCELQ, and Cypress which are all great examples of tools for UI testing. Here are the top 10 UI testing tools.
Read more here Android UI testing Frameworks.
Which UI Testing Framework Should You Choose?
Several considerations must be addressed while selecting a UI testing framework for automation testing. First, evaluate the platform or technology on which your application is developed, as certain frameworks are designed to work only with specific platforms or languages. It’s also vital to examine the complexity of your application and the framework’s level of support and documentation.
Another important consideration is the extent of automation required. Some frameworks include more advanced automation features, such as continuous integration and visual testing, while others are more basic and may necessitate more manual intervention.
Finally, evaluate the framework’s pricing and licencing requirements, as certain frameworks may be more expensive or require specific licencing agreements.
When selecting a UI testing framework for automated testing, it’s critical to analyse your demands and select a framework that fulfils those objectives while providing essential capabilities and support.
Read here - Automated UI Testing
10 Best UI Testing Tools
1. Testsigma
Testsigma is a cloud-based test automation tool mobile and desktop applications. Its easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface simplifies test creation and execution. Notably, Testsigma offers advanced AI and machine learning capabilities that assist testers in developing more reliable and efficient automated tests throughout.
Key Features
- AI-driven automated testing tool to create stable and reliable tests, helping teams to achieve continuous testing and speed up the maintenance of their automated test suite.
- Testsigma's cloud platform delivers instant test automation, 10x faster development, 70% less maintenance time, and 8x faster builds, enabling teams to easily collaborate and scale their testing efforts.
- Easy Test Case Creation: Testsigma's no-code platform allows you to create test cases in simple English, making it easy for non-technical team members to participate in the testing process.
- Unified Platform Automation: With Testsigma, you can automate tests for a variety of platforms, including web, mobile, APIs, and desktop applications, all from the same place.
- Testsigma offers dynamic and context-driven reports with powerful filtering options and drill-down features, allowing users at different levels to gain insights and create custom reports tailored to their interests.
- Supports automatic bug reporting integration, helping you to quickly report bugs from the test case result page without missing any critical issues, even when you have limited time.
- Supports debugging using screenshots, videos, and text logs.
- Continuous integration and delivery support
2. Selenium
Selenium is a popular open-source UI testing tool. It boasts powerful features like recording and playback and has an extensive community of developers and users.
Selenium supports several platforms for test automation, including web applications running on browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, as well as mobile web applications running on platforms like iOS and Android. It also supports automating web applications on different operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux. Selenium's approach to test automation is more code-centric, which can be challenging for teams without strong programming skills.
Key Features
- Cross-browser and language compatibility
- Open-source and extensive community support
- Powerful recording and playback features
- Grid feature for parallel test execution
- Wide range of available plugins and integrations
3. ACCELQ
ACCELQ is a codeless test automation platform. It integrates advanced AI and machine learning capabilities for simplified test creation and maintenance. Additionally, ACCELQ provides built-in analytics and reporting.
ACCELQ focus on end-to-end testing and business process automation. It is known for its intuitive user interface. It requires more technical expertise to set up and maintain tests.
This supports multiple platforms, including web, mobile, and API testing. It can be used for testing on a variety of web browsers, including Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. It also supports mobile testing on both Android and iOS platforms. ACCELQ's API testing capabilities allow for testing of RESTful and SOAP APIs. Additionally, ACCELQ integrates with several popular test management and bug tracking tools, enabling easy collaboration among team members.
Key Features
- Codeless test creation and AI-driven analytics
- Comprehensive web and mobile application support
- Built-in analytics and reporting
- Advanced AI and machine learning capabilities
- Seamless integration with CI/CD pipelines
4. Cypress
Cypress is a JavaScript-based UI testing tool for fast and reliable web application testing. It features a user-friendly interface and easily integrates with other testing tools and frameworks.
It takes a code-centric approach to test automation, similar to Selenium, but with a focus on modern web development practices and developer-friendly features.
Key Features
- Real-time reloading and automatic waiting
- JavaScript-based and user-friendly interface
- Fast and reliable web application testing
- Easy integration with other testing tools and frameworks
- Time-travel debugging and snapshot capabilities
5. Playwright
Playwright is an open-source UI testing tool supporting multiple programming languages, browsers, web, mobile, and desktop platforms. It offers robust features such as cross-browser testing and is suitable for web and mobile applications.
It takes a developer-centric approach to test automation, but with a focus on cross-browser testing and automation of complex scenarios. Playwright also provides automatic waiting and debugging features, which can speed up test development and maintenance.
Key Features
- Reliable auto-waiting and network interception
- Cross-browser support and multiple programming languages
- Open-source and suitable for web and mobile applications
- Headless browser testing
- Device emulation and geolocation testing
6. Puppeteer
Puppeteer is a Node.js library that offers a high-level API for UI testing. Its advanced features include headless Chrome testing and are easily integrated with other testing frameworks.
Puppeteer can be used for web automation and scraping tasks. However, while Puppeteer can be used for cross-browser testing, it is mainly designed for use with Chrome and Chromium browsers.
Key Features
- Headless browser testing and extensive API
- High-level API for UI testing
- Node.js library with powerful features
- Integration with other testing frameworks
- Support for generating screenshots and PDFs
7. TestCafe
TestCafe is another popular open-source cross-platform UI automation testing tool compatible with multiple browsers and operating systems. It uses JavaScript to automate end-to-end web testing. It has a unique approach to test automation by running tests directly in the browser, without requiring browser plugins or additional software.
TestCafe supports cross-browser testing and can run on Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. However, it is mainly focused on web testing.
Key Features
- No browser plugins or WebDriver installations required
- Cross-platform compatibility with multiple browsers and operating systems
- Simple, intuitive interface
- Parallel test execution and concurrency support
- Built-in automatic waiting mechanism
8. WebdriverIO
WebdriverIO is a versatile UI testing tool that supports multiple programming languages and browsers. It has a user-friendly interface and seamless integration with other testing tools and frameworks.
It uses Node.js to automate web applications. It follows the WebDriver protocol and supports cross-browser testing and parallel execution. WebDriverIO provides a simple and concise API to write tests, and it integrates with various test runners and other tools. It is mainly focused on web testing.
Key Features
- Extensible plugin architecture and protocol support
- Support for multiple programming languages and browsers
- User-friendly interface
- Seamless integration with other testing tools and frameworks
- Synchronization support for asynchronous JavaScript
9. Katalon Studio
Katalon Studio follows a keyword-driven approach. It provides a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows users to create test cases using keywords and actions, without requiring programming skills. This approach aims to make test automation more accessible to non-technical users and to speed up the creation of automated tests.
Katalon Studio supports various platforms for test automation, including web, mobile, desktop, and API testing. It provides built-in libraries and plugins for popular programming languages and frameworks, such as Java, C#, and Selenium, and integrates with other tools and services, such as JIRA, Jenkins, and Git. This platform support aims to make it easier for users to integrate Katalon Studio into their existing workflows and to automate different types of applications.
Key Features
- Reusable test components and CI/CD pipeline integration
- All-in-one solution for web, mobile, and API testing
- Straightforward interface for manual and automated testing
- Built-in test case management and reporting
- Extensive integration with other tools and platforms
10. Screenster
Screenster is a cloud-based AI-driven end-to-end testing platform that enables no-code automated testing. Its approach to test automation involves capturing user actions and replaying them using machine learning algorithms to create robust and reliable tests. Screenster's focus is on speed and ease of use, allowing users to create automated tests in minutes with its simple user interface.
In terms of platforms, Screenster supports web applications on various browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. It also supports testing for mobile web applications on Android and iOS. Additionally, it can automate tests for desktop applications on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a versatile option for organizations looking to test across multiple platforms.
Key Features
- Intelligent visual comparison and layout issue detection
- Cloud-based platform for web and mobile applications
- Simple, intuitive interface
- Integration with other testing tools and frameworks
- Collaborative features for team-based testing
Select Your Best Fit UI testing Tool
Considering the many available options, selecting the best-fit UI testing tool can be challenging. However, choosing the right, UI testing tool based on specific requirements can make the selection process more manageable.
Here are some key factors to consider when selecting a UI automation testing tool:
Project Requirements
The tool should align with the project requirements, including the programming language, application type, and platform compatibility.
Ease of Use
The tool should be user-friendly and easy to navigate, even for beginners.
Features and Functionality
The tool should have the necessary features and functionalities, including reporting, debugging, and support for frameworks.
Integration Capabilities
The tool should integrate seamlessly with other software development tools, including CI/CD pipelines and version control systems.
Community Support
The tool should have an active community of users, providing support and sharing knowledge.
Licensing and Pricing
The tool should be affordable and offer flexible licensing options, including open-source or commercial licensing.
Considering these factors, you can select a UI automation testing tool that aligns your test results with your project requirements and supports your software development goals.
Summary
UI testing tools are essential for testing the user experience and functionality of software applications with graphical user interfaces (GUIs).
Selecting an appropriate testing tool can be complex with the various UI automation tools available.
This article reviews 10 leading UI automation tools. Each tool has unique strengths and capabilities for automating different types of UI tests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the easiest UI automation?
There are several UI automation tools available, but Testsigma stands out as one of the easiest options on the market. Its no-code platform lets you create test cases in simple English, making it accessible to non-technical team members.
Additionally, Testsigma uses AI to create stable and reliable tests faster than ever, and to speed up the maintenance of your automated tests. While there are other similar tools too, Testsigma′s ease-of-use and AI-driven capabilities make it a popular choice for teams looking to streamline their UI testing efforts.
What is the UI testing framework?
