Smartphone penetration and the usage of mobile applications are growing at a steady rate. In 2021, there were almost 6.3 billion smartphone users. By 2025, this number is expected to reach around 18.22 billion. This booming digital transformation is one of the major reasons why companies are investing more into the best mobile app testing tools.
Mobile application testing eliminates several risks and increases your app retention rate. Thus, companies need to choose the right mobile application testing tool to keep up with the growing demands of their customers. This article covers a list of mobile app testing tools for debugging Android and iOS devices and helps you decide on the right tool for implementing your mobile app testing strategies.
A comprehensive end to end testing tutorial that covers what E2E Testing is, its importance, benefits, and how to perform it with real-time examples.
What to look for in your mobile app testing tools?
A good mobile application testing tool should let you set smart testing strategies and define clear goals before you perform the actual testing. Finding the right tool for script generation is the first step towards automation testing. Once the tool is chosen, you can start setting up the testing environments.
You need to pay attention to the features of the mobile application testing tool and ensure to pick a reliable solution that gives you different test creation options with multiple programming languages and platform support. Here are some mobile app testing checklists that your team should consider while choosing the right mobile app testing tool:
- Supports multiple programming languages — Mobile apps can be developed in any programming language depending on cost, requirements, and target audience. However, it is always good to choose a mobile app testing tool that allows the tester to write test cases in various programming languages. As per the Stack Overflow Developer Survey, JavaScript is the most preferred programming language among the developers with a 64.96% share, followed by HTML/CSS, Python, etc.
Seamless integration with the widely used CI/CD tools — Integrate with third-party applications to build a robust automation framework. For example, a good mobile application testing tool can be integrated with multiple third-party applications and top CI/CD tools to achieve various purposes including, execution, revision control, test management, record defects, and inspection.
Provides codeless options to create and run test cases — Creating codeless tests is fast, easy, and great for users with no programming skills. With a codeless mobile app testing tool, you can reduce the execution time for repetitive test cases.
Supports multiple operating systems — If you are looking for a cost-effective and time-saving option or planning to migrate to cross-platform technology, make sure the mobile app testing tool you choose supports multiple operating systems, such as Android and iOS.
Record & Play options — Mobile application testing tools should be able to sense, record, play, and automate every single action of the test scenarios.
Logs and report handling — Any mobile QA tools should be able to log test reports that display a detailed description of the plan, screenshots, defect points, and so on.
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Why mobile app testing tools?
One common element in successfully developing any mobile application is to adopt the best mobile app testing strategy. This testing strategy revolves around the various mobile QA tools that are more reliable and cost-effective. Here are some of the advantages of using a mobile app testing tool:
Automated and cross-platform testing
Long-term cost reduction
Easy to share test results
Saves time — Faster and reliable execution
Perform quality assurance tests
Since every tool has its own set of advantages and challenges. Here are some of the key challenges of mobile app testing one can face:
Selecting the right mobile app testing tool
Selection of devices
Device fragmentation and various OS platforms
Different mobile user interfaces
In addition to the features mentioned above, here are some of the other factors you can consider before choosing your mobile application testing tool:
Browser, network, and device compatibility
Bandwidth and security
User expectations
Multiple software upgrades
There are several mobile QA tools that you can choose to implement your testing practices. These tools help you automate the testing of your Android and iOS applications and reduce the time required for the testing process.
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Types of mobile app testing tools
Here is the list of mobile QA tools for Android and iOS mobile apps that can assist you in managing and implementing your mobile app testing strategies. The list contains both commercial and free mobile app testing tools.
Appium
Appium is an open-source automation testing framework, which can be used for both Android and iOS apps. It is an effective tool for web and mobile application testing and works even for hybrid apps. Appium is also used for automated functional testing that improves the overall functionality of the applications.
Advantages of using Appium
Multiple language support — End-to-end testing in multiple programming languages such as Java, JavaScript, Node, Python, Ruby, and C#.
Supports testing on iOS and Android devices using the same API.
Record and playback feature allows testers to speed the testing process and produce test scripts in multiple programming languages.
Integrates easily with Jenkins and other popular CI/CD tools.
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Here is a quick video tutorial on mobile app automation using the Appium framework.
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Apptim
Apptim is one of the best mobile QA tools that empowers mobile developers and testers to easily test their apps and analyze their performance in each build to prevent critical issues from going live. Measure app render times, power consumption, resource usage, capture crashes, errors, and more on Android and iOS devices.
Advantages of using Appium
Compatible with Android and iOS devices.
You can identify the mobile application performance of two different build sessions and compare them to find out the changes and any new performance issues.
Generate reports and publish them to any JIRA project.
Apptim is a free mobile app testing tool to use.
Finest mobile application testing tool to record, share and test the bugs.
TestComplete
TestComplete is another supreme mobile application testing tool. It is an automated UI testing framework from SmartBear. With TestComplete, you can create, maintain, and execute UI tests for web, mobile, and desktop apps. It allows both hybrid and native app testing. TestComplete can run tests on real or virtual devices and emulators. It is a flexible tool that offers script and scriptless options.
Advantages of using TestComplete
Support multiple mobile platforms
Supports JavaScript, JScript, DelphiScript, Python, VBScript, C#, and C++.
Provides a record and replay feature to create and run tests without writing any code.
Integrates with the popular CI/CD tools such as Git and project management tools like JIRA.
Create and run automated GUT tests on real iOS and Android devices.
Robotium
Robotium is an open-source and automated Android app testing tool. It helps with easy-to-code automation test scripts and is popularly known for its ability to write automated test cases. Test case developers can use Robotium to define function, system, and acceptance test scenarios that span many Android activities. This tool may be used to test apps that include source code as well as apps that merely have an APK file.
Advantages of using Robotium
Simple and robust test scripts.
Automated test cases for hybrid and native app testing.
Create automatic GUI test cases for Android apps.
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Kobiton
Kobiton, a mobile app testing framework, is a cloud platform that allows real devices or emulators to run both automated and manual mobile app testing. It works well with Android, iOS and native apps. It uses no-code technology and completely validates your UI and UX across all devices.
Advantages of using Kobiton
Allows manual, automated, and scriptless testing.
Provides a free mobile app testing tool trial.
Integrates into all CI/CD platforms for creating seamless workflows.
Provides a centralized testing report history and data logs.
Katalon
Katalon is one of the best codeless automation testing tools built on top of Appium and Selenium-based engines. It gives complete platform support that can execute tests on all types of OSs, browsers, and devices. This uses charts, graphs, and reports to visualize test data and execution results. In addition, it lets you operate on both cloud and on-premise infrastructures.
Advantages of using Katalon
Codeless testing experience for beginners — no complex programming background is required.
Simple setup and easy test creation that uses keywords, images, record, and playback features.
Flexible test reusability across API, web, and mobile platforms.
Built-in integration with the popularly used project management tools such as JIRA.
Allows cross-environment test execution. Tests can be executed remotely with simulators, real devices, and cloud-based platforms like LambdaTest.
Selendroid
Selendroid is known as the Selenium for Android-based mobile applications. It also supports test automation for hybrid and native apps. Selendroid can also execute parallel test cases on multiple devices at once.
Advantages of using Selendroid
Supports web driver-compatible languages such as Java and C#.
Supports all Android versions.
Works on real devices as well as emulators.
XCUITest
XCUITest is an automated app testing tool launched by Apple for iOS automation testing of apps. It is not a cross-platform framework — tests written here cannot be reused to verify Android applications. Also, you can’t pick any programming language to create tests (Java, Ruby, Python). Only Swift/Objective C is supported.
Advantages of using XCUITest
Runs within the XCode IDE.
A comprehensive framework for testing iOS apps.
Allows faster test execution.
Setup is easy as it is embedded into the XCode IDE.
Espresso
Espresso is an Android-specific test automation framework that enables the creation and deployment of UI tests. This tool allows developers to create a test scenario and record how they interact with a mobile device. Based on the analysis, developers can verify the behavior of the UI elements by capturing snapshots
Advantages of using Espresso
An open-source native app testing tool developed by Google for automated UI testing for Android devices.
Allows both black box and individual component testing.
You can perform tests on Android native apps as well as hybrid web apps.
Test cases can also be crafted in Java or Kotlin.
Provides easy setup and synchronized test executions.
Record your tests using the Espresso recorder.
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Perfecto
Perfecto is the leading cloud mobile app testing tool that runs on a platform to aim and deliver faster digital experiences. It provides a unified platform for testing web and mobile applications. You may access the cloud for end-to-end testing from anywhere in the world.
Advantages of using Perfecto
Coverage across multiple cloud platforms and testing scenarios.
Smart analytics for feedback and bug fixes.
Robust integrations with IDEs, frameworks, and popular CI/CD tools.
Provides enterprise-grade security.
testRigor
testRigor lets you perform test cases as executable specifications in plain English. You can build test scenarios covering mobile, web, and API steps within one test case. Build tests that run in all mobile and native apps.
Advantages of using testRigor
It’s a free mobile app testing tool.
Allows unlimited users and unlimited tests.
Recorder feature for web steps.
Integrations with popular CI/CD tools.
Allows web, mobile, and API steps in one test case.
Calabash
It is one of the popular cross-platform testing tools that allows writing and executing tests on Android and iOS devices. In addition, it is an automated UI testing framework, which allows tests to be written in Ruby using Cucumber.
Advantages of using Calabash
The test cases are written with Cucumber.
It is available for both iOS and Android devices, which provides real-time validations and feedback.
So far, we have discussed the top mobile application testing tools you can consider for your mobile app testing needs. Of course, the choice of tool depends upon your testing requirements. However, every tool has its own set of advantages and limitations. So, the true capabilities of such tools can be leveraged by using them along with cloud-based mobile app testing tools like LambdaTest.
LambdaTest supports Appium for app automation to test your native, web, and hybrid apps on mobile device cloud.
In the next section of this article on the top mobile app testing tools, we will discuss how you can use LambdaTest for your mobile app testing needs.
Mobile app testing using LambdaTest
LambdaTest enables you to test your mobile apps on simulators & emulators and real devices. You can run tests across multiple devices using LambaTest’s online real device cloud. LambdaTest also lets you perform manual app testing and app test automation of your native apps on a wide range of 3000+ Android and iOS devices. This helps to replace your expensive testing strategies with an easy-to-implement cloud mobile testing platform that is more reliable and compatible to test on real devices.
Here’s a quick rundown of the features available in the LambdaTest Mobile App Testing Platform.
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Summary
Here’s your free opportunity for mobile emulator app testing. With increasing smartphone penetration, it is critical to provide a consistent app experience across devices. Users expect high performance and seamless interactions while validating the core feature of a mobile application — which is why mobile app testing is an integral part of your overall testing strategy. To achieve this, testers should implement the right mobile app testing tool, and the teams should follow the best practices that actively involve smart end-to-end testing solutions to ensure an enhanced app experience.
LambdaTest is a mobile app testing platform that runs in the cloud. LambdaTest provides an Appium test execution cloud that is dependable, scalable, and secure, allowing app testers to speed up their release cycles. Emulators, simulators, and the cloud of real devices can all be used to test.
Looking to perform Android and iOS app testing on Real Device Cloud, check out our video below –
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