Nowadays, there are so many Mobile App Testing Tools that you can use for both iOS and Android device-powered gadgets. Whilst, bearing in mind, mobile apps can bring great value to any business and make it possible for the brand to become a household. Since their inception, mobile phones have evolved substantially (from hardware and software perspectives).
Nevertheless, most of the hardware changes were a result of mobile applications. They have taken smartphones beyond their value as communicating devices. Currently, there are close to five million mobile apps, and the number is increasing with every passing day. Therefore, the mobile app marketplace is crowded and highly competitive.
Whether it is a gaming app, a travel services app, an email app, or a social media app, it is very important that the app offers top-notch performance to the users so that they can ensure a seamless experience for the users. This is something that can only be ensured by making use of the best mobile app testing tools and automation software in the marketplace.
Something that can be used for checking the functionality, consistency, usability as well as security of a mobile app. That said, in this guide, we are going to have an elaborate look at what all this entails for beginner mobile app designers. So, stick with us till the end so that you can read and learn more in detail so that you can do everything right from the start.
An Introduction To The Mobile App Testing Tools And Their Main Benefits
Smartphone users prefer to use mobile applications that pass the test of quality, security, and usability. Testers use different types of mobile application testing types and tools to test an app on several parameters. Before releasing an app on the marketplace, a tester tests the app on various types of mobile application testing lab management toolkits (learn more about mobile app testing below):
However, it’s worth mentioning that comprehensive testing is never that simple. You have to check for issues across a wide variety of devices, screen sizes, and network speeds, and you have to produce reports that let developers easily understand and solve those problems. Important to realize, that every mobile app testing tool has its own purpose and feature set.
As an example, testRigor is a mobile application testing tool that lets you perform automated tests with nothing but plain English commands. While, by the same token, TestGrid is yet another kit on the best mobile app testing tools list with low-code authoring and management of test cases. Let’s have a look at a few other testing tools that you can consider.
But to compare some of these tools, we have to find some common criteria. For example, great customer support and easy-to-understand documentation usually play into any great testing tool for usability. Be that as it may, below is a basic summary of what to look for so as to select the best mobile app testing tools in the marketplace.
Below are some of the key features to consider:
- UI: A clean, attractive, and fast UI-based tool that can adapt to the times and have a modern look.
- Depth: Can it cover a wide variety of testing? How many devices and operating systems can you test on?
- Integrations: Look for integrations with the tools that DevOps teams are most likely to use.
- Value: There’s a place for high-end, low-cost, and even free testing tools.
- Usability: Above all, the user interface should be intuitive for users of any level with great end-user customer support.
Every app developer must incorporate a variety of mobile application testing types in their work plan strategy so as to build robust, reliable, seamless, and secure mobile applications. However, not every mobile app has to go through all the basic testing types. Simply because every mobile app is different from the other in one way or another — and by industry.
What A Strategic Mobile Application Testing Process Generally Involves
Your tool of choice should include a variety of integration features. Including but not limited to CI/CD solutions like Jenkins as well as issue management tools like Jira., among many other elements. And then again, just as we aforementioned, the other question to consider is whether the functionality offered is appropriate for the price point.
Therefore, as an experienced mobile developer, you must get help from a professional mobile application testing company to identify the best testing method suited to your application. Now that there are numerous tests to conduct as follows:
1. Functionality
Among all mobile app testing types, functional testing is one of the most critical. Functional testing focuses on testing the primary objective and flow of an application. It helps in verifying the features and specifications of an app. While performing functional testing, a tester must check if a user can install the app properly.
It also helps to verify that the app launches correctly and there are no issues with login or signup whatsoever. Moreover, functional testing is primarily done to check whether the buttons, boxes, icons, menus, etc., are working accurately, push notifications are rendering correctly, and transactions (if any) are happening seamlessly in the app.
2. Performance
Performance testing is done to check a mobile application’s stability, responsiveness, and speed in different workload conditions. It helps to ensure that an app does not malfunction in any given condition or scenario. First of all, a tester lists various performance parameters by identifying the potential bottlenecks in the application.
And then, thereafter, the mobile-based application platform is put into various working conditions to test device performance, network performance, API performance, and recovery capabilities. Some popular types of performance testing are stress testing, spike testing, soak testing, volume testing, load testing, and much more…
3. Usability
Usability testing or user experience testing is done to check the user-friendliness of a mobile app. Among all types of mobile testing, the usability testing type is the only one that focuses on the human experience and not the technicalities of an app. Moreover, usability testing of an app is done on a real mobile device rather than on an emulator.
A tester checks various scenarios by mimicking the actual end-user using the app for the first time. Based on experience, they give feedback to the project manager, designer, or developer to update the app accordingly. While checking for the usability of an app, they check whether the app looks visually appealing — its intuitiveness and response times.
4. Installation
Installation testing checks whether a mobile app can be installed and uninstalled properly and without any error. On top of that, installation testing also ensures that any updates can be installed seamlessly too. It also checks that the outcomes don’t change if a user decides not to update an app. This is also coupled with other elements such as interruption too.
Always remember, that while using a smartphone, any type of interruption is inevitable. Interruption testing ensures that the app works perfectly fine in case of certain interruptions, such as getting a phone call, text message, push notifications, alarms, lower network connectivity, low battery, plugged out or in when charging, and more.
In most cases, QA engineers usually forget to test the application when the phone updates the OS or the app itself.
5. Compatibility
Compatibility testing is a type of non-functional testing that helps ensure that the mobile application works properly across various operating systems, devices, network environments, and specific internal hardware specifications. To capture a larger audience, performing compatibility checks is quite important.
There are two types of compatibility checks, backward compatibility, and forward compatibility. Backward compatibility checks are done to test whether the app works in older software versions. On the other hand, forward compatibility checks help us learn the behavior of an app in newer software versions, including the beta version.
6. Localization
This is important for apps that target audiences from specific geolocation. It helps in testing features that change with the geographic location of the mobile application. For example, if we log in to the Amazon mobile app in India, it will show me the prices of products in INR, whereas if we log in to the app in the USA, it will show product prices in USD.
In addition to that, localization testing is also crucial in testing the language-changing feature based on different geolocations. The app should adapt to different languages based on a user’s location. Customer acquisition becomes easy if the app adjusts its UI/UX, culture, and accessibility based on a user’s location.
7. Speed
Technically, it’s very important to conduct manual testing as well first — that’s before you can even move on to speed testing. To enumerate, manual testing is one of the oldest yet one of the topmost effective methods of testing a mobile application. Generally, manual testing can help navigate through the complexity of a mobile application.
On one hand, it helps to ensure that the mobile app built for the final release works according to the developer’s and user’s expectations. After all, it is very useful to test for scenarios that don’t come naturally to a user. Physical interface tests, complex tests, and exploratory tests are some of the types of manual testing.
On the other hand, speed testing ensures that the app opens up quicker than its previous version and competitors’ apps — a popular method to test web performance rather than mobile apps. It’s slightly different from performance testing — done in an ideal working environment. Whereas performance testing checks the app’s behavior in different zones.
8. Automation
Automation testing is one of the two major types of mobile app testing. As time passes, mobile apps are becoming more and more complex, and so is their testing. Automation testing tools help to test such complex mobile and web applications. These tools help reduce the tedious tasks performed by human testers.
Automation testing mainly helps integrate and align the existing workflows, manage test automation framework, test runs, set up, review and validate defects and test results, and more. In addition to that, it also carefully monitors flakey tests and provides a rapid response if needed.
9. Memory
Equally important, before you move on, you should first evaluate for any memory leak in your final stage of testing — while using the right/best mobile app testing tools as your guide. Whilst, keeping in mind, that memory leak testing helps a QA engineer identify if a mobile application fails to return the temporary memory, that it uses to function properly.
The app cannot function as planned if it drains the existing memory in a mobile device. In case of a memory leak, an app can even face termination when opened and closed multiple times. Memory leaks usually occur if there is a bug in programming. Testers can check the memory capabilities of an app by running it on multiple devices simultaneously.
10. Security
Security testing is one of the most critical mobile app testing types. According to data, 80% of users delete an app if they find any security issues while using it. For example, a fitness tracking app asks many personal questions to sign up on its platform. A user will only enter those details if the app guarantees that data will not leak or be sold to other parties.
A QA engineer should test an app for every possible cyber-attack or every possible reason for data leak or stealing. One way to make the user feel safe about the app is to ask for their permission at every stage of the signup process. On top of that, the tester must also pass the app through various benchmark security tests and get the app certified.
The Topmost Best Mobile App Testing Tools For iOS And Android
According to theqalead, modern applications and web-based platform users aren’t that very forgiving. We’ve all gotten used to using convenient, high-performing mobile apps for everything from shopping to entertainment to banking.
So, if a user downloads a promising new app and it’s buggy, slow, or hard to navigate, they’re likely to delete it and download something else. As a result, this makes mobile application testing essential. In general, most mobile app testing tools are there to ensure that your web-based application platform has the best performance capacity.
In particular, make sure that it also offers great User Experience (UX) functionality, and that its User Interface (UI) Design appearance layout makes a good impression on all its target users. Essentially, the mobile application services and web-based platforms testing solution market is booming. Worth $5 billion back in 2020, it’s expected to rise even more.
Whilst, reaching the $25 billion mark by 2030. In other words, there are a lot of mobile app testing tools to choose from, and the list is growing every day. It can be hard to know which ones are worth the investment. That said, below is an outlook of the 5 topmost best mobile app testing tools for iOS and Android apps that app developers should consider.
1. Calabash
At all costs, Calabash is one of the best app testing automation tools that can be used for both Android and iOS apps. This open-source tool is regularly used by professional quality engineers working in various software development agencies. Some of the emerging game development company brands also use this tool to test their mobile applications.
Particularly, if it’s integrated with Salesforce CRM or any other related application platform. It can work with a test code for programmatically interacting with all kinds of native and hybrid apps. With Calabash, you can perform automation testing for your app for thousands of devices within the cloud platform. It functions as a mechanized acceptance system.
Meaning, that it can carry out automated functional tests for mobile local applications. The tool can also be used for testing the efficiency of the APIs of local applications on touchscreen gadgets. Calabash consists of libraries that allow test code to collaborate automatically with numerous applications.
By underpinning the framework cucumber Calabash makes it easier for non-specialized QA personnel and business specialists to benefit from it. In short, Calabash is a test automation framework that enables mobile developers and pretty much anyone without coding skills to create and execute automated acceptance tests for Android and iOS apps.
2. SeeTest Continuous Testing Platform
This toolkit is created by Experitest and can be used for automation testing of both Android and iOS applications. With the help of the SeeTest Continuous Testing Platform, it is possible to test mobile applications constantly so that the quickness and efficiency of the discharge cycles as well as the increment quality are always maintained.
This testing tool allows users to develop ways for performing powerful Appium tests in an effortless and rapid manner with the help of visual test advancement systems like test recorders, device reflection systems, and Object Spy. Equally, the SeeTest Continuous Testing Platform also lets users test applications on company gadgets for both iOS and Android.
So that fast input is generated with better discharge cycles. It is possible to utilize visual reports effortlessly which makes use of screen captures, log documents, and recordings. The quality status can be comprehended with test examination dashboards. Manual tests of applications can be performed with cell phones.
3. TestComplete Mobile
TestComplete Mobile by SmartBear can be used for launching repeatable UI tests for both local and crossover mobile applications. Made SmartBear, this app testing automation program can be used for both Android and iOS applications. The mechanized testing tool is perfect for carrying out versatile tests for business devices.
With TestComplete Mobile, you can automate UI tests on virtual machines, genuine cell phones, and emulators. It also allows you to replay activities and utilize content-free records for working with mechanized test contents. You can also browse through programming dialects like JavaScript, Python Programming Language, and VBScript.
4. Testdroid By TestMatick
Testdroid is a dedicated application testing program for Android and iOS apps that are used frequently by professional application designers and web-based platform developers. It functions as a cloud-based testing instrument for compact applications. With Testdroid, mobile app design engineers can save costs as they perform application improvements.
They can also bring down operational and unpredictable costs using Testdroid. The time taken to publicize the application can also be shortened with Testdroid. The great thing about Testdroid is that it helps to test applications against all kinds of genuine iOS and Android gadgets along with different hardware stages, OS types, and screen resolutions.
By far, Testdroid is one of the best programs for testing iOS and Android games. With Testdroid, users can enjoy remote manual access to 300+ genuine gadgets that are run on Android before they are launched.
5. Kobiton Mobile Device Manager
Kobiton is a testing platform that is suitable for applications running on Android device cloud and iOS. It can provide complete control over all the genuine cell phones during manual testing through the application of multi-touch signals and features like GPS re-enactments, gadget association administration, speaker control, and camera control.
Kobiton is built over Appium open-source system. It also offers centralized testing history as well as information logs to ensure expanded coordinated effort. It can also take automatic screen captures, record metadata, and build movement logs and charges. So that you can use such information to resolve issues quickly before things get out of your hands
As well as to enhance the quality of the apps you are currently working on. Uniquely, the above-mentioned application testing automation programs can offer a seamless testing experience every time. So, make sure that you use them for generating the optimum results for your app testing efforts.
Below are other memorable mention toolkits:
- BitBar:— Framework agnostic testing on cloud and local devices
- Katalon:— This is an all-in-one low-code tool for mobile, desktop, and API
- Appium:— A flexible test framework for iOS and Android mobile app testing
- BrowserStack:— A cross-browser solution for testing mobile apps and websites at scale
- Headspin:— AI-based geolocation and performance testing tool with thousands of devices
- Selendroid:— Test automation framework for testing native and hybrid Android apps
- Apptim:— Easily test iOS and Android apps without installing SDKs or changing code
- Ranorex Studio:— A powerful cross-platform GUI testing for desktop, web, and mobile apps
- Perfecto:— It offers cloud-based continuous testing with scriptless self-healing capabilities
- Eggplant:— An AI-assisted test automation tool with a best-in-class UI
But, the above mobile app testing tools are not exhaustive. For one thing, there are many more other tools out there that you can lean on as well. Considerably, there are many others such as Test Project and the like — which is a free, community-based end-to-end testing for web, mobile, and API apps. You just need to browse the internet for more lists.
In addition, you can also consider a tool such as Test IO — it offers a full range of web, mobile, and IoT testing with a flexible service model. As well as Android Studio — which offers unique mobile app development solutions for Android OS with an intelligent code completion feature. Whichever toolkit you go for, the choice is ultimately yours!
To this end, do you agree with this list? Kindly feel free to let us know if you have experience with any of these tools or if you want to recommend a different solution. You are also welcome to share your additional thoughts, opinions, suggestions, recommendations, or even contribution questions (for our FAQ Answers) in our comments section down below.
About The Author:
Ranjeet Kumar is a Growth Hacker, SEO, SMO, Blogger, and Digital Marketing Consultant with over 7+ years of IT experience. He loves to share technologies, marketing tips, and strategies among online marketers and developers. In addition, he also likes traveling and blogging quality/resource content such as the one that you have been reading now.
Hey Joseph, thank you for featuring TestGrid, Pls check the link.
Thanks for your input.
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