The drive for delivering high-quality software at a faster pace, known as “Quality at Speed,” necessitates organizations to adopt Agile, continuous integration (CI), and DevOps methodologies.
Realizing the benefits of test automation requires the use of suitable tools, as they dictate the manner in which automation is carried out and the delivery of its benefits. Test automation tools are an integral part of the DevOps toolchain. Recent advancements in test automation have incorporated artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) to enhance capabilities, including optimized testing, intelligent test generation, efficient execution, and detailed reporting.
It is crucial to familiarize oneself with the tools that are best positioned to leverage these trends. That's why in this article, we've listed below the top testing tools that you may consider. Each product has its features and pricing plan so that you are informed of what testing tools are suited to your business needs.
1. Katalon Studio
Katalon Studio is a robust and all-inclusive automation tool for testing API, Web, mobile, and desktop applications. It boasts a vast range of features for these types of testing and is compatible with multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Built on the Selenium and Appium engines, Katalon Studio offers a seamless experience for testers who struggle with integrating and setting up various frameworks and libraries with Selenium and Appium, as well as those who are already familiar with these engines.
Features:
- Comprehensive testing capabilities for API/Web services, web, and mobile applications
- SOAP and RESTful support for API testing
- Large collection of pre-built keywords for test case creation
- Option to use BDD Cucumber and Gherkin syntax for test scenario design
- Suitable for both automated and exploratory testing
- Ability to customize and share keywords and plugins on the Katalon Store
- Effortless execution scheduling and test report management with Katalon TestOps
- Seamless integration with popular CI/CD tools such as AWS CodePipeline, AWS CodeBuild, GitLab, CircleCI, and Jenkins.
Pricing:
- Free – 2,000 test results = $0.00
- Premium – 3,500 test results = $25.00 per month
- Ultimate – 30,000 test results = request a quote
2. UFT One
UFT One, previously known simply as UFT, is a well-regarded commercial testing tool for a range of applications, including web, desktop, mobile, and RPA. Its feature set has been expanded to encompass comprehensive API testing capabilities. The tool's ability to support multiple platforms for the application under test (AUT) makes it a convenient choice for testing AUTs that run on desktop, web, and mobile devices.
UFT One boasts several advanced features, such as smart object detection, image-based object detection, and correction. In November 2020, Microfocus released the latest version of UFT (v15.0.2), which brings new features and improvements that streamline testing processes, increase testing efficiency, and maintain high quality while reducing testing time.
Features:
- Enhance platform independence of your tests with the suggested object steps in AI Transformation Assistant
- Boost test productivity by utilizing ParallelRunner to run API and GUI tests simultaneously
- Monitor and report key system metrics, such as WiFi state, thermal state, and disk space, in Record & Run settings
- Automatically capture page checkpoints for either Firefox or Chrome browsers
Pricing:
You can try their 30-day free trial to test their services or contact them for more detailed pricing options.
3. SoapUI
SoapUI is a specialized tool that is not intended for testing web or mobile applications, but instead focuses on API and service testing. It is also a headless functional testing tool crafted specifically for API testing.
SoapUI supports both REST and SOAP services and offers both an open-source version and a professional edition. The pro version boasts a user-friendly interface and additional advanced features, including an assertion wizard, form editor, and SQL query builder. SoapUI is part of the ReadyAPI suite offered by SmartBear.
Features:
- Perform asynchronous testing
- Reuse scripts with ease
- Set up RESTful mock services for testing purposes
- Effortlessly create tests through a drag-and-drop, point-and-click interface
- Conduct powerful data-driven testing using data from files and databases
Pricing:
Contact them for custom pricing.
4. IBM Rational Functional Tester (RFT)
IBM Rational Functional Tester is an advanced test automation tool that can test applications developed using a range of languages and technologies including Web, .Net, Java, Visual Basic, Siebel, SAP, PowerBuilder, Adobe Flex, and Dojo Toolkit. It not only offers comprehensive testing capabilities but it also a platform that serves for conducting functional and regression testing, driven by data.
Features:
- Utilize the advanced ScriptAssure technology
- Take advantage of early data detection
- Choose between Java or Visual Basic .NET for test scripting
- Integrate with other software for collaborative application lifecycle management
- The visual editing feature through screenshots offers a storyboard format for test actions, allowing users to adapt to frequent UI changes and minimize maintenance overhead
Pricing:
Get pricing details through contact.
5. Tricentis Tosca
Tricentis Tosca is a leading continuous testing platform that offers a complete suite of tools to handle all aspects of testing, from test design to automation, reporting, and analytics. It offers a user-friendly interface and a comprehensive set of features, making it a suitable solution for testing APIs and supporting continuous integration and DevOps practices. Tosca provides features such as dashboards, analytics, integrations, and distributed executions to streamline the testing process and improve efficiency.
Features:
- Features robust test reporting and analytics capabilities
- UI testing can be automated using mockups rather than code
- The tool is designed to seamlessly integrate into DevOps processes
- API testing can be executed on multiple browsers, mobile devices, and platforms
- Supports a range of protocols and standards including HTTP(s), JMS, AMQP, Rabbit MQ, TIBCO EMS, SOAP, REST, and IBM MQ
Pricing:
You can contact Tricentis to request pricing by contacting them on their site.
Bottom-line
The list of top tools presented here is not exhaustive, but it does showcase the best options that are well-established, widely used, and equipped with AI/ML capabilities to tackle the pressing demands for “Quality at Speed” faced by organizations today. This compilation also incorporates tools specifically designed for API and services testing, which are critical for the successful adoption of Agile and DevOps methodologies.
The field of software testing tools is constantly evolving, with new advancements such as AI and machine learning, codeless testing, big data, and IoT testing, and the increasing popularity of test automation (especially in Agile teams), presenting both challenges and opportunities for both existing tools and new entrants to demonstrate their value to the testing community.
When selecting a testing tool, it's crucial to consider not just your current needs, but also keep an eye on upcoming trends and advancements. A top-notch tool should offer basic optimization, automated test case execution and data generation, advanced solutions, and analytics capabilities.
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