Top Mobile Testing Tools For Automation

Explore our reviews of the best mobile app testing tools for automation. From real device testing to mobile web applications and frameworks, boost quality development!

Digital and AI transformation continues to increase the use of mobile applications, and it is more relevant than ever to release updated versions of applications more quickly and with higher quality.

In this article, we present our TOP pick of automated testing tools for mobile and their main features, which help us to reduce the testing process’s length and mitigate human errors.

Boost your ROI with our test automation services, enhancing test efficiency and maintainability.

Why is it important to Choose Mobile Testing Tools Specifically for Automation?

We need them to optimize the testing process, reduce the required time, minimize human errors, and enhance the overall consistency and reliability of results.

Automation is key to efficiently running tests on a wide range of devices and operating system versions, as well as on different screen sizes and configurations. Aside from this, they have to be reproducible on other devices without rework or much effort.

However, generally, automating tests for mobile applications is challenging due to the unique characteristics of this type of platform, which require specific solutions. That’s where automation testing tools come into play.

Thanks to continuous testing and test automation, developers can release mobile applications faster, while keeping mobile application performance and user experience under control.

Let’s get down to them!

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Which are The Best Mobile Testing Tools for Automation?

Our top picks include Perfecto, Testim Mobile , Maestro, Kobiton, TestComplete, Katalon, Ranorex and Eggplant. Join as while we review each of them in detail.

#1 Perfecto

Perfecto is a cloud-based solution that enables automated testing of web and mobile applications through both coded and scriptless approaches.

For coded testing, users can select a device and application from the platform, download an Appium-based project pre-configured with Perfecto capabilities, execute tests via the command line, and review detailed reports.

On the other hand, the scriptless mode facilitates codeless test creation, though it is not available in the free trial. Perfecto incorporates an auto-recovery mechanism to adapt to UI changes and integrates with various CI/CD tools, IDEs, and test automation frameworks.

Main features

• It has a 14-day free trial. In this mode, it is not possible to use the Scriptless Automation feature.
• Provides access to a proprietary platform featuring both real and virtual devices.
• It is compatible with Android and iOS platforms, as well as frameworks like Flutter, Xamarin, and React Native.
• Delivers intelligent analytics for prompt feedback and issue resolution.
• Integrates with Eclipse and IntelliJ.
• Facilitates Appium script execution compatible with both TestNG and JUnit.
• Supports multiple programming languages, including Java, JavaScript, C#, Python, and PHP.
• Integrates with Jira and Slack, among other tools.

Latest Enhancements

• AI-Powered Testing: Perfecto has introduced AI-driven intelligent testing tools designed to enhance efficiency, detect bugs early, and expedite release cycles. These adaptable AI features aim to future-proof the testing process, boosting speed, quality, and reliability for web and mobile applications.
• Scriptless Mobile: Recent updates to Scriptless Mobile include the ability to copy and paste commands across tabs, streamlining test development, and reducing manual effort.
• Smart Reporting: The Execution Insights feature now provides detailed information on failure reasons, including side-by-side screenshot comparisons between failed steps and previous successful executions, aiding in rapid issue identification.
• Manual Testing: The app has added a full-screen mode for desktop web testing, allowing testers to expand sessions to occupy the entire screen for better visualization and interaction with the application under test.

#2 Testim Mobile

Testim Mobile is a comprehensive solution for automating tests across native, hybrid, and cross-platform mobile applications, including those built with Flutter and React Native. It offers a unified platform that seamlessly connects test authoring with cloud-based test execution, enabling product development teams to deliver high-quality custom mobile applications efficiently.

Main Features:

• Automated Testing for Diverse Applications: Supports native, hybrid with embedded web views, and cross-platform frameworks like Flutter and React Native, facilitating broad testing capabilities.
• Enhanced Test Stability: Utilizes proprietary technology to accurately identify application elements, maintaining tests stable even as applications evolve.
• Cloud-Based Testing: Simplifies the testing process by eliminating the need for complex configurations; users can load their applications and commence testing immediately.
• Virtual Mobile Grid Access: Provides a wide array of virtual iOS simulators and Android emulators, allowing for parallel test execution and comprehensive coverage across various device configurations.
• Integrated Test and Application Management: Facilitates organized test and application management, enabling seamless integration into CI/CD pipelines and gating releases based on test outcomes.
• Detailed Failure Diagnostics: Offers dashboards and visualizations that aggregate errors, aiding in swift diagnosis of failures and expediting bug fixes.

Latest Enhancements:

• AI-Powered Stability: Incorporates AI-driven mechanisms to enhance test stability, reducing maintenance efforts and improving resilience against application changes.
• Seamless Integration with CI/CD Pipelines: Enhances connectivity with various CI/CD tools, streamlining the testing process within development workflows.
• Advanced Reporting and Analytics: Introduces sophisticated reporting features that provide deeper insights into test results, facilitating informed decision-making.

#3 Maestro

Maestro is a mobile UI testing framework designed to simplify the automation of user flows within applications. Drawing from predecessors like Appium, Espresso, UIAutomator, and XCTest, Maestro enables easy definition and testing of user journeys, referred to as “Flows,” such as login, checkout, and adding items to a cart.

Main Features:

• Declarative Syntax: Allows tests to be defined in YAML files, providing a clear and concise representation of user flows.
• Built-In Flakiness Tolerance: Accounts for the inherent instability of mobile applications by handling unexpected UI element behaviors and interaction delays.
• Automatic Wait Mechanisms: Eliminates the need for manual sleep commands by intelligently waiting for content to load, enhancing test reliability.
• Rapid Iteration: Interprets tests without the need for compilation, enabling swift test execution and continuous monitoring of test files for real-time updates.
• Cross-Platform Support: Compatible with both Android and iOS platforms, facilitating comprehensive testing across different operating systems.

Latest Enhancements:

• AI-Powered Commands: Introduces AI-driven commands to enhance test automation capabilities, improving efficiency and accuracy.
• Improved Parallel Testing: Enhances the ability to run tests on multiple devices simultaneously, optimizing test execution time.
• Landscape Mode Support for iOS: Adds support for testing applications in landscape orientation on iOS devices, broadening test coverage.

#4 Kobiton

Kobiton is a cloud-based mobile application testing platform. It provides a farm of real devices and allows multiple configurations on them, such as GPS, time zone, connectivity, camera, speakers, and multi-touch gestures, among others. It integrates with the main CI/CD platforms, with Jira and other tools such as Katalon.

The tool enables both manual and automated testing (based on Appium). It supports several programming languages and even allows downloading code generated from a manual testing session. 

Main features

• Has a 15-day free trial.
• It is a real device platform. 
• Its Device Lab Management allows you to manage local devices on-premise, private cloud, or public cloud.
• Provides ‘Record and replay’ of testing sessions.
• Kobiton allows testing native, web, and hybrid Android/iOS applications based on technologies such as React Native, Ionic, Electron, NativeScript, Xamarin, and Flutter.
• Enables Appium script execution in languages such as C#, Java, Ruby, NodeJS, PHP, and Python.
• Allows integration with multiple CI/CD tools such as Travis CI, TeamCity, Jenkins, Azure DevOps, Digital.ai Deploy (formerly XebiaLabs), and CircleCI, among others.
• Has an integration with Jira.
• Records all device usage activities and commands records video, and generates logs with metadata automatically.

Latest Enhancement

• Turbo Test Execution: Speeds up automation testing by running tests on real devices within the same network, reducing latency. Currently available for Android, with plans to extend to iOS.
• Scriptless Automation: Transforms manual testing sessions into automated test cases without requiring coding skills. This feature integrates seamlessly with tools like bitrise.io.
• AI-Generated Appium Scripts: Leverages AI to convert manual testing sessions into Appium scripts, simplifying the shift to automation for teams with limited programming experience.
• No-Code Validations: Streamlines the testing process by enabling UI and functionality validations through an intuitive, code-free interface.
• AI-Powered Issue Aggregation: Groups related bugs and identifies shared patterns across testing sessions, making it easier to uncover and address recurring issues.

#5 TestComplete

TestComplete by SmartBear is a desktop application (compatible exclusively with Windows) that facilitates automated testing for Android, iOS, and hybrid applications. It features record-and-replay functionality for codeless test creation and supports multiple programming languages and hybrid app frameworks.

TestComplete offers its own cloud service, BitBar, and supports local execution via Appium servers, providing comprehensive reporting.

Main features:

• Provides a 14-day free trial.
• Designed for Windows installation; can be installed on Mac using tools like Bootcamp to create a Windows partition.
• Offers a platform with real and virtual devices.
• Compatible with Android and iOS platforms, as well as frameworks like Flutter, React Native, Xamarin, and SwiftUI.
• Integrates with Jira and Git.
• Supports integration with popular CI/CD platforms.
• Integrates with API testing tools such as ReadyAPI and SoapUI.
• Provides full access to mobile device sensor data, including accelerometers, GPS, and gyroscopes.

Latest Enhancements

• AI-Driven Test Creation: TestComplete has introduced AI-powered capabilities to enhance test creation and maintenance, improving efficiency and accuracy.
• Enhanced Cross-Browser Testing: The platform now offers improved cross-browser testing features, boosting consistent application behavior across different browsers.
• Advanced Object Recognition: TestComplete’s object recognition has been enhanced to better identify and interact with complex UI elements, increasing test reliability.

#6 Katalon

Katalon Studio is a versatile automation tool available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. It facilitates test creation through recording across various levels. For mobile applications, it supports Android and iOS. It is possible to run tests on multiple device farms, as well as integrate with other systems for CI/CD or incident management. 

Main features

• Katalon Studio offers a free version. Advanced features, such as integration with other tools, enhanced reporting, and collaboration with solutions like TestOps or TestCloud, require a paid subscription.

• Provides ‘record and replay’ functionality.
• Allows local execution on simulators and real devices.
• Integrates with leading device farms, including Sauce Labs, Kobiton, Perfecto, BrowserStack, and LambdaTest.
• Supports integration with Jira; CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, CircleCI, and Azure DevOps; Applitools for visual regression testing; and GitHub.
• Offers comprehensive reporting capabilities.

Latest Enhancement

• AI-Powered Test Generation: Katalon Studio 9.6 introduced an AI-driven API test case generator (beta) that transforms imported OpenAPI/Swagger specifications into test cases, streamlining API test creation.
• Selenium 4 Adoption: Version 10.x upgraded to Selenium 4, aligning with the W3C WebDriver standard and enhancing browser automation capabilities.
• Enhanced Object Recognition: The Smart Locator feature improves object recognition in complex scenarios involving Shadow DOM and iframes, enhancing test stability.
• AI Control at Account Level: Administrators can enable or disable AI-powered features across accounts, allowing compliance with company policies regarding AI usage.

#7 Ranorex

Ranorex Studio is an installable system that allows you to run automated tests for all types of platforms, including web, desktop, and mobile applications. It supports Android and iOS apps on real devices or emulators.

The tool features Ranorex Spy, which enables the location and analysis of various elements, including dynamic ones. Its user-friendly interface facilitates low-code testing, making it ideal for beginners. Ranorex Studio integrates with several incident management and CI/CD tools.

Main features:

• Offers a 30-day free trial.
• Includes Ranorex Spy for object identification.
• Provides record-and-replay functionality for codeless test creation.
• Compatible with Android, iOS, and hybrid applications.
• Allows test scripting in C# or VB.NET.
• Primarily designed for Windows installation; however, it can be installed on Mac using tools like Bootcamp to create a Windows partition.
• Integrates with BrowserStack, as well as incident management tools like Jira, Bugzilla, and TestRail.
• Supports integration with multiple CI/CD tools, such as Jenkins, Azure DevOps, Bamboo, TeamCity, and Travis CI.
• Facilitates data-driven testing using CSV files, Excel, or SQL databases.
• Enables version control through Git, Subversion, or Azure DevOps.
• Allows execution on emulators or physical devices.
• Generates reports in HTML and PDF formats, with options to send them via email.

Latest Enhancements

• Enhanced Reporting Capabilities: Ranorex Studio 10.4 introduced new filters to reduce report detail and output size, an editable description field in test suite reports, and options for PDF report generation per test case. Additionally, it offers data masking for variables and parameters to protect sensitive information.
• Integration with Selenium 4: Version 11.0 added support for Selenium 4, aligning with the latest browser automation standards.
• Improved Object Recognition: Ranorex Spy enhancements allow for better identification of UI elements, including those within complex structures like iframes and Shadow DOM.
• BDD Integration: Ranorex Studio now offers enhanced Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) integration with tools like DesignWise, facilitating seamless workflows for optimized test coverage.

#8 Eggplant

Keysight’s Eggplant is an easy-to-use tool for creating automated tests for web, desktop, and mobile apps for both iOS and Android. Leveraging machine learning, it facilitates the transition from manual to automated testing and integrates seamlessly with CI/CD and version control tools.

It is possible to install Eggplant on Windows, Mac, and Linux and it is not necessary to create tests for multiple platforms or devices, but reuses the same script.

Main features:

• Offers a free trial upon request.
• Provides access to a 30-day web sandbox for tool exploration.
• Utilizes AI and machine learning for intelligent test automation.
• Supports standard platforms: Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry.
• Integrates with Sauce Labs for cloud-based test execution.
• Facilitates API testing to enable backend operations and align with front-end outcomes.

Latest Enhancements

• Intelligent Computer Vision: Eggplant employs optical character recognition and image analysis to evaluate applications from the user’s perspective, enhancing UI and UX testing.
• Universal Fusion Engine: The AI-driven test modeling engine enables compatibility across various browsers, operating systems, and devices, streamlining cross-platform testing.
• Model-Based Testing: Eggplant’s model-based approach predicts application behavior under diverse conditions, improving usability and reliability.
• CI/CD Integration Adapters: Enhancements include integration adapters for tools like Jenkins, Bamboo, and GitHub, accelerating CI/CD pipelines and expanding test coverage.

How to Choose the Best Tool? Here are Our Recommendations

When selecting a mobile app testing tool, prioritize options that excel in real device testing and offer seamless integration with your preferred mobile test automation framework.

Given the high and varied availability of apps, when users download an app and it is buggy or does not perform as expected, they are likely to choose an alternative app. Thus, it is crucial to dedicate efforts to check that mobile applications have the best possible performance, appearance, usability, and accessibility at the very beginning of the software development life cycle. 

Feel free to use this guide:

✅ Perform proofs of concept before getting started

Many vendors offer a free trial for a few days. That allows you to explore the features and understand the general operation before making a decision.

✅ Price of the tool

There is a range of prices and varied plans. You have to understand well the context of our project first, the number of people who will make use of the tool, as well as, the platforms and devices you need

✅ Compatibility with the desired platform

Always check the compatibility with the corresponding platform (Android, iOS, or hybrid apps), before choosing a tool.

✅ Integrations

It is necessary to analyze the integrations or possible integrations needed with tools for DevOps and CI/CD in general and to know beforehand if such integration is possible.

✅ Learning curve

It is important to understand how expensive it can become to learn how to use the tool we choose. Training people in its use is also a cost to consider.

✅ Requirements

In the case of an installable tool, it is a priority to review the minimum hardware and software requirements before installing the tool.

✅ Vendor Support

While it is not easy to determine in advance how good the support offered by the vendor of each tool is, it is key to contact the vendor so that you can evaluate their service before purchasing a license.

How We Can Help You

With over 16 years of experience and a global presence, Abstracta is a leading technology solutions company specializing in software development, AI solutions, and end-to-end software testing services.

Our expertise spans across industries. We believe that actively bonding ties propels us further and helps us enhance our clients’ software. That’s why we’ve forged robust partnerships with industry leaders like Microsoft, Datadog, Tricentis, and Perforce, empowering us to incorporate cutting-edge technologies.

Our holistic approach enables us to support you across the entire software development life cycle.

Visit our solutions page and contact us to enhance your mobile app development.

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