What is Automated Software Testing?
Automated software testing is the process of using specialized tools and software to test the functionality and performance of a computer program or system. It is designed to help identify and fix defects and bugs in the program or system, and to ensure that it meets the specified requirements. Automated testing can be used to test a variety of different types of software, including web applications, mobile apps, and desktop software.
There are many benefits to using automated software testing. It can help to improve the quality and reliability of the software, and can save time and resources by automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks. Automated testing can also help to identify problems earlier in the development process, which can reduce the cost of fixing defects and bugs.
There are different types of automated testing, including unit testing, integration testing, and acceptance testing. Each type of testing has its own specific goals and focuses on different aspects of the software. Automated testing can be done manually, or it can be automated using specialized tools and software.
Important Features to Consider When Choosing an Automated Testing Tool
In order to leverage the power of an automated testing tool, it’s important to choose the best tool or set of tools that will fulfill your organization's or project's needs. Here are some criteria that you should consider when choosing an automated testing tool:
- Does the tool support the applications and technologies you will be testing?
- If your testing will be done by business users, do you have the ability to run tests without scripting? Conversely, if you have programmers on your team, does it allow use of scripting or code to perform advanced features?
- Does it provide a way to separate the test data from test logic so that you can run the same test under many different data combinations (data-driven testing).
- Does the tool have an integrated set of reporting and analysis tools, or does it integrate with a test management platform to perform this task.
- How easy is it to maintain the test scenarios when the application changes in some way?
- How resilient are the recorded test scripts? If the application being tested is changed slightly, will the tests still execute without manual intervention?
The Best Automated Testing Tools
#1. Rapise
Rapise by Inflectra is the rapid and easy to use test automation tool that provides built-in support for testing web, mobile, and desktop apps in multiple browsers and devices. Rapise includes the best support in the industry for Java, Windows, .NET, Flash, Qt, SWT, Ajax, WPF, Silverlight apps, iOS, Android, REST/SOAP API web services, & complex business apps in one easy to use package. The platform also bolsters codeless automation, so anyone can get started with automated testing. If you’re looking to move away from manual testing and need support for various browsers, mobile devices and technologies, Rapise is the automated testing tool for you. Rapise includes out of the box support for SAP Hana UI5, Microsoft Dynamics AX, CRM, NAV and 365, Oracle Fusion, as well as Salesforce and ServiceNow.
Pricing starts at $2,499.99 per fixed license per user or $299.99 per month per floating license. There is a 30-day free trial.
#2. Micro Focus UFT
Micro Focus Unified Functional Testing (UFT) formerly known as Quick Test Pro (QTP) is a tool for automating the testing of application software. It allows you to create automated tests for your software to ensure that it is functioning correctly and identify any issues that may arise during development or use. UFT supports a wide range of technologies, including web, mobile, and desktop applications, and can be integrated with a variety of development and testing environments.
#3. Ranorex
Ranorex is a commercial tool for automating the testing of application software. It is designed to enable developers and testers to create and execute automated tests for desktop, web, and mobile applications. Ranorex provides a range of features for creating and maintaining automated test cases, including support for a variety of programming languages, integration with a range of development environments, and the ability to test applications on different operating systems and devices.
#4. Katalon Studio
Katalon Studio is an automation testing software tool developed by Katalon, Inc. The platform has the ability to run automated tests for Web interfaces, APIs, and Windows desktop and mobile apps (both iOS and Android). Katalon Studio provides test recording capabilities for quick debugging and uses visually intuitive reporting and analytics to track performance across tests. Katalon Studio supports integrations with a number of tools, including collaboration platforms (Git, Microsoft Teams, and Slack), execution platforms (SauceLabs, BrowserStack, Selenium Grid, and Kobiton), and CI/CD and DevOps such as Jenkins, Bamboo, TeamCity, CircleCI, and Travis CI.
#5. TestComplete
TestComplete is a tool developed by SmartBear Software for automating the testing of application software. It allows developers and testers to create and execute automated tests for desktop, web, and mobile applications. TestComplete provides a range of features for creating and maintaining automated test cases, including support for a variety of programming languages, integration with a range of development environments, and the ability to test applications on different operating systems and devices.
#6. IBM Rational Functional Tester
Rational Functional Tester (RFT) is a software testing tool that is used to automate functional testing of web, mobile, and desktop applications. It is developed and marketed by IBM, and is part of the IBM Rational software testing suite. RFT uses a record and playback approach to testing, which allows users to create tests by interacting with the application under test and recording their actions. These recorded actions can then be played back to automatically perform the same steps during a test run.
RFT supports a range of programming languages, including Java, C#, and VB.NET, and can be integrated with other IBM Rational tools and platforms, such as IBM Rational Quality Manager and IBM Rational Team Concert, to support continuous integration and agile development practices.
#7. Eggplant
Eggplant is a software testing tool that is used to automate functional, performance, and load testing of web, mobile, and desktop applications. It is developed and marketed by Keysight Technologies, a company that specializes in providing electronic design and test solutions. Eggplant uses a proprietary technology called "image-based testing" to test the user interface (UI) of an application by interacting with it as a user would. This means that Eggplant can simulate clicks, taps, swipes, and other user actions on an application's UI, and then verify that the expected results are produced.
Eggplant is designed to be flexible and easy to use, with a script-free interface that allows users to create and execute tests quickly. It also integrates with a variety of tools and platforms, such as Jenkins, Spira, Jira, and Selenium, to support continuous integration and agile development practices.
#8. Tricentis Tosca
Tricentis Tosca is a software testing tool that is used to automate functional and regression testing for web, mobile, and desktop applications. It is designed to help organizations reduce the time and effort required to test complex, modern applications by providing a range of testing capabilities, including test case design, execution, and maintenance.
Tricentis Tosca uses a model-based approach to testing, which allows users to create reusable test models that can be easily modified and maintained as the application under test changes. It also integrates with a variety of tools and platforms, such as Jenkins, Spira, Jira, and Selenium, to support continuous delivery and agile development practices.
#9. Cypress
Cypress JS is a modern front-end testing tool written entirely in JavaScript. It’s designed to ease the burden of application testing for programmers and QA specialists. Cypress is an improved development instrument that works locally inside the browser and makes use of a novel DOM manipulation approach. Cypress furthermore offers a one-of-a-kind interactive test runner that runs all instructions.
Unlike Selenium, Cypress scripts cannot be run in a standalone application. All of Cypress’s test scripts are run directly in the browser. Cypress does not, for instance, use a specialized driver to communicate with the browser when a user clicks a certain button. To trigger the button’s click, it relies on DOM events instead.
#10. Selenium
Selenium is an open-source tool that is used for automating web browsers. It allows you to write tests in multiple programming languages, such as Python, Java, C#, and more. With Selenium, you can create scripts to automatically perform actions on a website, such as clicking on buttons, filling out forms, and navigating between pages. This can be useful for testing the functionality of a website or for web scraping. It can perform functional, regression, load testing on web applications across different browsers and platforms.
Test Automation Tool Honorable Mentions:
- FitNesse
- ZAP Test
- Applitools
- Worksoft Certify
- Squish
- LambdaTest
- DataDog
- Perfecto
- testRigor
- Subject7
- Testim
- Cucumber
- Telerik Test Studio