# Best Automation Testing Tools for Small Business - Page 3 *By [Adam Crivello](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/adam-crivello)* Products classified in the overall Automation Testing category are similar in many regards and help companies of all sizes solve their business problems. However, small business features, pricing, setup, and installation differ from businesses of other sizes, which is why we match buyers to the right Small Business Automation Testing to fit their needs. Compare product ratings based on reviews from enterprise users or connect with one of G2's buying advisors to find the right solutions within the Small Business Automation Testing category. In addition to qualifying for inclusion in the Automation Testing Tools category, to qualify for inclusion in the Small Business Automation Testing Tools category, a product must have at least 10 reviews left by a reviewer from a small business. ## Top Automation Testing Tools at a Glance | # | Product | Rating | Best For | What Users Say | |---|---------|--------|----------|----------------| | 1 | [BrowserStack](https://www.g2.com/products/browserstack/reviews) | 4.4/5.0 (3,308 reviews) | Cross-device automation testing without physical device labs | "[eliable Platform for Mobile and Web Testing Across Real Devices](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/browserstack-review-10504282)" | | 2 | [UiPath Agentic Automation](https://www.g2.com/products/uipath-agentic-automation/reviews) | 4.6/5.0 (6,137 reviews) | AI-driven regression testing with agentic orchestration | "[Extending RPA Capabilities with Agentic AI](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/uipath-agentic-automation-review-13049861)" | | 3 | [Keysight Eggplant](https://www.g2.com/products/keysight-eggplant/reviews) | 4.2/5.0 (87 reviews) | Image and OCR-based cross-platform UI automation | "[A big relief for user understanding.](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/keysight-eggplant-review-9423642)" | | 4 | [Testsigma](https://www.g2.com/products/testsigma/reviews) | 4.4/5.0 (127 reviews) | No-code regression automation with AI self-healing | "[Easy Test Steps and API Requests with Helpful, Fast Support](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/testsigma-review-12916988)" | | 5 | [Katalon True Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/katalon-true-platform/reviews) | 4.4/5.0 (213 reviews) | Cross-platform regression automation with low-code scripting | "[Easy, Reliable Testing with Katalon’s All-in-One, Codeless Setup](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/katalon-true-platform-review-12616009)" | | 6 | [QA Wolf](https://www.g2.com/products/qa-wolf/reviews) | 4.8/5.0 (189 reviews) | Fully-managed E2E regression suite ownership | "[QA Wolf: Simple UI, Strong Automation Coverage, and Exceptionally Responsive Support](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/qa-wolf-review-13037084)" | | 7 | [Cyara Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/cyara-platform/reviews) | 4.7/5.0 (40 reviews) | Omnichannel IVR and AI chatbot regression testing | "[Very good tool for CX automation and IVR testing](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/cyara-platform-review-12230122)" | | 8 | [Harness Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/harness-platform/reviews) | 4.6/5.0 (300 reviews) | CI/CD pipeline testing with automated rollback | "[Best tool for cost optimization and Repository](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/harness-platform-review-11543262)" | | 9 | [ACCELQ](https://www.g2.com/products/accelq/reviews) | 4.8/5.0 (108 reviews) | Codeless end-to-end test automation with self-healing | "[Accelerating Test Automation While Reducing Maintenance Effort - ACCELQ](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/accelq-review-12945051)" | | 10 | [Testlio](https://www.g2.com/products/testlio/reviews) | 4.7/5.0 (75 reviews) | Hybrid QA coverage with on-demand automation | "[Testlio: A Source for Top-Notch Testers](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/testlio-review-8770435)" | ## G2 Grid® for Automation Testing Tools ![G2 Grid® for Automation Testing Tools plotting products by satisfaction and market presence](https://www.g2.com/categories/automation-testing-tools/grids.png?focus%5B%5D=138773&focus%5B%5D=6218&focus%5B%5D=23650&focus%5B%5D=51074&focus%5B%5D=40789&focus%5B%5D=1332841&focus%5B%5D=144446&focus%5B%5D=6661) Highlighted products: BrowserStack, UiPath Agentic Automation, Katalon True Platform, Testsigma, Tricentis Testim, Qodex.ai, QA Wolf, and Rainforest QA. Underlying data: [Grid® JSON](https://www.g2.com/categories/automation-testing-tools/grids.json?focus%5B%5D=browserstack&focus%5B%5D=uipath-agentic-automation&focus%5B%5D=katalon-true-platform&focus%5B%5D=testsigma&focus%5B%5D=tricentis-testim&focus%5B%5D=qodex-ai&focus%5B%5D=qa-wolf&focus%5B%5D=rainforest-rainforest-qa&segment=small-business) ## How Many Automation Testing Tools Products Does G2 Track? **Total Products under this Category:** 300 ### Category Stats (Jul 2026) - **Average Rating**: 4.46/5 The average rating of products in this category, based on all submitted ratings - **Top Trending Product**: Testsigma (+0.54%) - Among all products in this category, Testsigma recorded the largest rating increase compared to last month *Last updated: July 17, 2026* ## How Does G2 Rank Automation Testing Tools Products? **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 18,400+ Authentic Reviews - 300+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. --- **Sponsored** ### Tricentis Tosca Tricentis Tosca is an AI-powered test automation platform that enables enterprise organizations to achieve continuous testing across complex, multi-application landscapes. It is a type of end-to-end test automation solution that helps teams validate software quality across functional, regression, API, UI, accessibility, and performance test types from a unified platform. Tosca supports codeless test automation across more than 160 enterprise technologies, including SAP, Salesforce, Oracle, ServiceNow, Workday, Snowflake, and a broad range of web, desktop, and mobile applications. Its model-based approach abstracts test logic from the underlying application interface, making tests more resilient to application changes and reducing maintenance overhead across large test suites. Its Business Flow Designer lets teams visually model end-to-end business processes, mapping them directly into test cases that mirror real operational scenarios. Key capabilities include: - Agentic test automation that builds complete test cases from natural language using AI - Risk-based test optimization that prioritizes testing effort based on business impact, reducing unnecessary tests by up to 40% while increasing risk coverage by 90%+ - Cloud-native execution grid for parallel, distributed test runs at scale - Test data management with synthetic and masked data provisioning - API simulation and service virtualization to enable testing in incomplete or unavailable environments - Native and hybrid mobile test automation for iOS and Android applications, plus automated accessibility testing against WCAG 2.0 AA standards - Integrated support for SAP migrations, cloud transitions, and application modernization initiatives Tosca is designed for enterprise QA teams managing large-scale test automation programs and organizations undergoing SAP S/4HANA migrations or other complex transformation projects. It connects with ALM tools, CI/CD pipelines, defect management systems, and monitoring platforms through a broad ecosystem of integrations, and provides analytics and reporting capabilities that give stakeholders visibility into test coverage, execution status, and quality trends across the entire delivery lifecycle. Tosca is available in on-premises, cloud-hosted, or hybrid deployment models, and integrates with other Tricentis platform products, including qTest for test management, NeoLoad for performance testing, and LiveCompare for change impact analysis. [Visit website](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=ppc&secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list&secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=108&secure%5Bchosen_at%5D=2026-07-17T22%3A53%3A01Z&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_id%5D=108&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&secure%5Bplacement_reason%5D=page_category&secure%5Bplacement_resource_ids%5D%5B%5D=108&secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=2390&secure%5Bresource_id%5D=108&secure%5Bresource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bsource_type%5D=category_page&secure%5Bsource_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g2.com%2Fcategories%2Fautomation-testing-tools%2Fsmall-business%3Fpage%3D3&secure%5Btoken%5D=dfe8b726cb3ae47ebd37aa07fddbb7356808def1a4a63e63475a8c0fadbb6a29&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tricentis.com%2Fproducts%2Fautomate-continuous-testing-tosca%3Futm_medium%3Dcpc%26utm_source%3Dg2clicks%26utm_campaign%3Dna_na_na_ams_en_2026-05%26utmc_placement%3Ddefault%26utmc_product%3Dna%26utmc_lptype%3Ddefault&secure%5Burl_type%5D=custom_url) --- ## What Are the Top-Rated Automation Testing Tools Products in 2026? ### 1. [Apache JMeter](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-jmeter/reviews) Apache JMeter desktop application is open source software, a 100% pure Java application designed to load test functional behavior and measure performance. **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 151 **How Do G2 Users Rate Apache JMeter?** - **Reliability:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **Thoroughness:** 8.0/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **Test Feedback:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 9.2/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Apache JMeter?** - **Seller:** [The Apache Software Foundation](https://www.g2.com/sellers/the-apache-software-foundation) - **Year Founded:** 1999 - **HQ Location:** Wakefield, MA - **Twitter:** @TheASF (66,168 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/215982/ (2,470 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer, Senior Software Engineer - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 40% Enterprise, 39% Mid-Market #### What Are Apache JMeter's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Capabilities (1 reviews) - Customer Support (1 reviews) - Ease of Use (1 reviews) - Functionality (1 reviews) - Helpful (1 reviews) **Cons:** - Complexity (1 reviews) - Device Unavailability (1 reviews) - Difficult Learning (1 reviews) - Learning Curve (1 reviews) - Licensing Issues (1 reviews) ### What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Apache JMeter? *AI-generated summary from verified user reviews* **Pros:** - Users value the **robust capabilities** of Apache JMeter for performance and load testing, enhancing their testing processes. - Users value the **excellent customer support** provided for Apache JMeter, enhancing their testing experience and efficiency. - Users find Apache JMeter **very easy to use** once familiar with the UI, enhancing their testing experience. - Users value the **robust functionality** of Apache JMeter, making it essential for effective performance and load testing. - Users appreciate the **ease of use** of Apache JMeter, especially when familiar with the user interface for testing. **Cons:** - Users find the **complexity** of Apache JMeter challenging, particularly with large scripts and advanced configurations. - Users find the **device unavailability** challenging, as it affects performance and complicates testing on local machines. - Users find the **difficult learning** curve of Apache JMeter challenging, particularly with scripting and complex test management. - Users find the **learning curve steep** , particularly due to complex testing and the need for Groovy scripting. - Users experience **licensing issues** that complicate their use of Apache JMeter, hindering overall access to features. #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Apache JMeter? **"[Apache JMeter Excels at Performance and Load Testing](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/apache-jmeter-review-13095339)"** **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars *— Verified User in Information Technology and Services* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/apache-jmeter-review-13095339) --- **"[Scalable Distributed Load Testing with Clear Performance Metrics & Reports](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/apache-jmeter-review-12236221)"** **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars *— Abhishan M.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/apache-jmeter-review-12236221) --- #### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Apache JMeter? - [What is Apache JMeter used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-apache-jmeter-used-for) ### 2. [TestFirst](https://www.g2.com/products/testfirst/reviews) At TestFirst, we’re building QA for the AI era. Our flagship model is 1QA: the One-Man QA Team — a modern QA service that gives companies a complete QA function through one dedicated QA specialist, powered by TestFirst AI and agentic automation. The 1QA formula is simple: Specialist + Tooling + AI + Agentic Automation One dedicated QA specialist owns the work. TestFirst tooling keeps test management, manual testing, automation, and issue tracking organized in one place. AI-powered workflows help generate, automate, and manage test coverage faster. Agentic automation reduces repetitive QA overhead and keeps execution moving. The result: the coverage, ownership, and execution of a QA team — without the cost, overhead, and hiring cycle of building one. Faster, leaner, AI-powered QA. Delivered through 1QA. **Average Rating:** 5.0/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 31 **How Do G2 Users Rate TestFirst?** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 9.2/10) **Who Is the Company Behind TestFirst?** - **Seller:** [FirstCall QA](https://www.g2.com/sellers/firstcall-qa) - **Year Founded:** 2021 - **HQ Location:** Singapore - **Twitter:** @FirstCallQA (2 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/firstcall-qa/ (7 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Computer Software - **Company Size:** 65% Mid-Market, 35% Small-Business #### What Are TestFirst's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Ease of Use (23 reviews) - Test Cases (21 reviews) - Efficiency Improvement (10 reviews) - Jira Integration (8 reviews) - User Interface (8 reviews) **Cons:** - Limited Device Options (5 reviews) - Difficult Learning Curve (4 reviews) - Poor Reporting (4 reviews) - Poor UI (2 reviews) - Integration Issues (1 reviews) ### What Do G2 Reviewers Say About TestFirst? *AI-generated summary from verified user reviews* **Pros:** - Users find TestFirst to be **very easy to use** , enabling efficient creation of exploratory test cases seamlessly. - Users enjoy the **ease of creating exploratory test cases** with TestFirst, enhancing their testing process and creativity. - Users praise the **efficiency improvements** with TestFirst, noting significant reductions in time and effort for QA processes. - Users commend the **seamless integration with Jira** , enhancing workflow and simplifying defect management directly within TestFirst. - Users appreciate the **simple and user-friendly interface** of TestFirst, enhancing their test management experience significantly. **Cons:** - Users are disappointed by the **limited device options** , as TestFirst lacks support for Mac and other platforms. - Users experience a **difficult learning curve** with TestFirst, especially transitioning from traditional testing methods. - Users find the **reporting features lacking** , seeking more variety, customization, and detail for improved effectiveness. - Users often experience **glitchy UI transitions** , which occasionally disrupt the overall user experience of TestFirst. - Users struggle with **integration issues** as TestFirst lacks customizable reports and support for essential tools like Slack. #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of TestFirst? **"[Great and simple tool for test management](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/testfirst-review-8136572)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— Anuja S.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/testfirst-review-8136572) --- **"[TestFirst End To End - Hands On Experience](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/testfirst-review-7971592)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— Priya S.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/testfirst-review-7971592) --- ### 3. [Pcloudy](https://www.g2.com/products/pcloudy/reviews) Pcloudy is an Agentic AI digital experience testing platform that brings together real devices, real browsers, and intelligent AI agents—guided by human oversight—to validate functionality, performance, and AI behavior across your Web, Mobile Apps, and APIs. Recognized as the industry’s fastest device cloud with instant device connections, Pcloudy is trusted by 500+ global enterprises and powers over 2 million + test runs every month across 5000+ real device & browser combinations. With 300k+ registered users and enterprise-grade security (SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR), Pcloudy ensures every release meets the highest standards of speed, quality, and reliability. **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 85 **How Do G2 Users Rate Pcloudy?** - **Reliability:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **Thoroughness:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **Test Feedback:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 9.2/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Pcloudy?** - **Seller:** [Opkey](https://www.g2.com/sellers/opkey-6a22c45a-4e85-4789-a309-b7465b198654) - **Year Founded:** 2015 - **HQ Location:** Dublin,California - **Twitter:** @opkey_ssts (310 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/opkey/ (423 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 40% Mid-Market, 36% Small-Business #### What Are Pcloudy's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Ease of Use (28 reviews) - Customer Support (18 reviews) - Device Variety (18 reviews) - User Interface (15 reviews) - Integrations (13 reviews) **Cons:** - Slow Speed (9 reviews) - Slow Performance (7 reviews) - Performance Lag (5 reviews) - Device Management (4 reviews) - Performance Issues (4 reviews) ### What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Pcloudy? *AI-generated summary from verified user reviews* **Pros:** - Users commend the **intuitive interface** of pCloudy, facilitating a seamless and efficient testing experience. - Users commend pCloudy's **responsive customer support** , noting their effectiveness in addressing inquiries promptly and thoroughly. - Users value the **wide device variety** on Pcloudy, making testing and assessment easy and convenient for different scenarios. - Users commend the **intuitive user interface** of pCloudy, facilitating a seamless and efficient testing experience. - Users value the **seamless integrations** of pCloudy, enhancing automation testing and simplifying their overall workflow experience. **Cons:** - Users experience **slow response times** and connection issues on iOS devices, affecting overall productivity and stability. - Users experience **slow performance** occasionally, impacting productivity and device accessibility during crucial tasks. - Users experience **performance lag** with pCloudy, leading to slow interactions and occasional responsiveness issues. - Users report **speed issues** with Pcloudy, as devices can be sluggish and unresponsive, impacting productivity. - Users experience **performance issues** with sluggishness and operational slowdowns impacting overall productivity during testing. #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Pcloudy? **"[One of the best cloud device platform](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/pcloudy-review-8197487)"** **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars *— Vipin V.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/pcloudy-review-8197487) --- **"[Feature-Rich and High-Value Experience](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/pcloudy-review-12649939)"** **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars *— Bussid M.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/pcloudy-review-12649939) --- #### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Pcloudy? - [What is meant by pCloudy?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-meant-by-pcloudy) - 3 comments - [What are the features of Appium?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-are-the-features-of-appium) - 1 comment - [How does pCloudy work?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-does-pcloudy-work) - [What is pCloudy used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-pcloudy-used-for) - 1 comment ### 4. [TestCafe](https://www.g2.com/products/testcafe/reviews) A Cross-Platform IDE for End-to-End Web Testing **Average Rating:** 4.2/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 26 **How Do G2 Users Rate TestCafe?** - **Reliability:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **Thoroughness:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **Test Feedback:** 7.5/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.0/10 (Category avg: 9.2/10) **Who Is the Company Behind TestCafe?** - **Seller:** [DevExpress](https://www.g2.com/sellers/devexpress-e81ea598-e8d7-44b2-bd94-3c522ccf1c02) - **Year Founded:** 1998 - **HQ Location:** Glendale, CA - **Twitter:** @DevExpress (8,517 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/230052 (190 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Computer Software - **Company Size:** 45% Mid-Market, 41% Small-Business #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of TestCafe? **"[TestCafe makes life easy for Automation Tester](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/testcafe-review-4654378)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— Pramod R.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/testcafe-review-4654378) --- **"[A year of using Testcafe](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/testcafe-review-4667853)"** **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars *— Verified User in Retail* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/testcafe-review-4667853) --- #### What Are G2 Users Discussing About TestCafe? - [What is TestCafe used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-testcafe-used-for) - [Is TestCafe open source?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-testcafe-open-source) - [Who uses TestCafe?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/who-uses-testcafe) - [Is TestCafe free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-testcafe-free) - [What is TestCafe tool?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-testcafe-tool) ### 5. [Preflight](https://www.g2.com/products/preflight/reviews) Preflight is an AI-driven, automated web testing tool that generates web testing scripts in seconds. Unlock the full potential of your web testing with Preflight's no-code AI-driven solution. Experience lightning-fast, automated test execution without a line of code. Achieve error-free, high-performing test cases with ease. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 13 **How Do G2 Users Rate Preflight?** - **Reliability:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **Thoroughness:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) - **Test Feedback:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 9.2/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Preflight?** - **Seller:** [Preflight](https://www.g2.com/sellers/preflight) - **Year Founded:** 2018 - **HQ Location:** Chicago Greater Area, US - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/18909358 (10 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Computer Software - **Company Size:** 77% Small-Business, 23% Mid-Market #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Preflight? **"[Great tool for automated testing!](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/preflight-review-7726920)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— Jeleny B.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/preflight-review-7726920) --- **"[Next gen UI testing](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/preflight-review-7699103)"** **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars *— Devin L.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/preflight-review-7699103) --- #### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Preflight? - [What does Preflight do?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/preflight-what-does-preflight-do) - [What does Preflight do?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-does-preflight-do) - [What is the use of Preflight?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-use-of-preflight) - [What is preflight process?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-preflight-process) - [What is the function of preflight software?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-function-of-preflight-software) - 1 comment ## What Is Automation Testing Tools? [DevOps Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/devops) ## What Software Categories Are Similar to Automation Testing Tools? - [Software Testing Tools](https://www.g2.com/categories/software-testing) - [Test Management Tools](https://www.g2.com/categories/test-management) - [AI Software Testing Tools](https://www.g2.com/categories/ai-software-testing-tools) --- ## How Do You Choose the Right Automation Testing Tools? ### What You Should Know About Automation Testing Tools ### What are Automation Testing Tools? Automation testing tools, also known as test automation software, allow development teams to run prescripted tests on their applications before they are pushed into production. These tools give developers the means to set standard test parameters and automate their execution. While the setup for these standard testing frameworks requires initial effort, they are then run quickly, repeatedly, and automatically to the benefit of developer workloads over time, reducing the need for manual testing.  While the core concept that defines automation testing software is relatively straightforward, there exists a wide variety of tools based on the types of tests they handle. This includes, but is not limited to, user interface (UI) testing, desktop testing, and different types of performance testing. These tools can be run across programming languages and operating systems, including Python, Java, JavaScript, Windows, and more.  #### What Types of Automation Testing Tools Exist? There is a wide variety of automation testing tools on the market. These tools help test for a range of issues across several different use cases. These tests include:  **Desktop testing** Desktop testing tests the functionality, security, usability, and stability of an application after it is deployed. This includes desktop application testing tools such as Katalon Studios.  **User interface (UI) testing** UI testing tests the aspects that a user will come into contact with. This type of testing often focuses on visuals, as that is what the user most often sees and comes into contact with. UI testing alusuallyten tests for potential bugs.  **No-code testing** No-code testing is an automated form of testing that does not require the intervention of developers. Codeless testing frees up time for developers, as they do not need to get involved with potentially long, time-intensive testing.  **Mobile testing** Mobile device testing, or mobile applications testing, is the process by which mobile devices and applications are tested for areas such as functionality, usability, and consistency. As mobile apps and devices continue to become more common, this type of app testing will become increasingly important. An example of this is Appium. Appium is an open-source test automation framework for native, hybrid, and mobile web apps and web applications.  **Cross-browser testing** Cross-browser testing compares and analyzes the behavior of a website in various browser environments. This web testing ensures that the website has an optimal user experience across different web apps and services. An example of this is Selenium, an integrated development environment (IDE). Selenium WebDriver conducts automated regression testing across web browsers.  **API testing** API testing allows users to test APIs directly. This includes functional testing, as well as testing for reliability, performance, and security.  **Load testing** Load testing tools simulate real-world load environments for apps or websites in a safe, controlled environment. These testing tools will monitor and report on the performance of applications or websites to catch slowdowns or other issues. ### What are the Common Features of Automation Testing Tools? The following are some core features of test automation software:  **Test feedback:** Testers rely on test automation tools to automatically produce reports upon testing. These reports provide actionable insights when issues arise, giving development teams a jumping-off point to react accordingly. This feedback helps testers save time and effort hunting down bugs and solutions. **Test history:** ​​Test automation platforms maintain a thorough history of logs for future reference and analysis. Users rely on these test logs when tracking an issue across multiple cycles to determine possible causes. Test history serves as a roadmap that aids development teams working to resolve issues. **Custom parameters:** Most test automation tools allow users to define custom tests and test parameters to best suit their needs. This allows development teams to test the exact qualities of their software that warrant analysis without wasting time with irrelevant data. **Organization:** Test automation platfroms automatically notifies relevant team members with updates upon testing. Development teams also rely on test automation to accurately assign follow-up tasks when action is needed after testing. This takes effort within the software testing process off developers’ hands, freeing their time to focus on other aspects of development. ### What are the Benefits of Automation Testing Tools? While there are many facets to consider, some key benefits apply to the successful adoption of any automation testing platform. **Automate repetitive tasks:** As the name implies, test automation systems automate repetitive software testing tasks. These tasks are crucial to the software development process and time consuming when handled exclusively by developers. Implementing test automation software shifts the workload off of developers’ shoulders, allowing them to spend more time on their in-production applications. **Gain immediate insights on test outcomes:** Since automation testing solutions run outcome reports after each test and automatically compare test outcomes against previous tests and benchmarks, developers can easily diagnose software flaws. Without these tools, developers must compare test results manually or use less comprehensive software to handle analysis. Test automation software reports give teams a starting point by which they more effectively solve issues with their software. ### Who Uses Automation Testing Tools? As automation testing software is costly, enterprise companies are more likely to implement them. However, depending on the situation, these solutions may also represent worthwhile value for mid-market companies. **Enterprise development teams:** Enterprise development teams tend to have many software applications and updates in production simultaneously. Companies employing these teams often have the resources to justify the investment required to get test automation software set up, which then generates long-term value by saving time and effort indefinitely. **Mid-market development teams:** Depending on the situation and the tool selected, mid-market development teams find enough value in implementing test automation software to make the upfront investment worth it, despite their relatively smaller resource pool. ### What are the Alternatives to Automation Testing Tools? Alternatives that can replace test automation software, either partially or completely: [**Continuous integration (CI) tools**](https://www.g2.com/categories/continuous-integration): CI, or continuous testing, is the practice of frequently building and testing each change made to a codebase. Continuous testing involves developers uploading new code, or code changes, to a common code repository, which is then tested automatically at the time of upload to ensure changes do not cause issues or breaks. By automating tests, users ensure immediately their code is sound and that important software features are operating as expected. [**Software testing tools**](https://www.g2.com/categories/software-testing): Software testing tools give development teams the methods and tools to determine the quality of their software creation and improvement projects. Development teams use software testing tools to assess whether the software is usable, performs properly, meets development team goals, and satisfies overall requirements. Test automation software automates many of the more tedious tasks associated with software testing tools, meaning the two often go together. #### Software Related to Automation Testing Tools Related solutions that can be used together with test automation tools include: [**Bug tracking software**](https://www.g2.com/categories/bug-tracking): Bug tracking software, or issue tracking software, refers to software used by quality assurance (QA) and software development teams to report software bugs and problems. Thorough bug tracking is essential for good software development. Bug tracking software provides a repository that explains how to reproduce a bug and how widespread an issue is and allows a business to separate, prioritize, sequence, and provide communications about different bugs across many projects or applications. These tools can pair with test automation tools to automatically find new bugs and begin debugging. QA testing tools, including QA automation tools, help QA testers measure the quality of the software.  [**Test management software**](https://www.g2.com/categories/test-management): Test management tools help development teams manage, track, and maintain their software tests. Unlike software testing tools or test automation software, test management software is not designed to run software tests themselves. Instead, developers use test management solutions to maintain test cases and test results in a repository-like structure, which are then turned into actionable reports. ### Challenges with Automation Testing Tools Software solutions can come with their own set of challenges.  **Cost:** Test automation tools may be an expensive investment. Picking the right tool for the right job is crucial to ensure the investment is worthwhile.  **Thoroughness:** For test automation software to be effective, it needs to take testing tasks thoroughly and reliably off development teams’ workload. If a test automation tool requires too much human intervention to function reliably, the time and effort saved come into question.  **Test variety:** Some development teams have niche testing needs. When selecting the right test automation tool, one must ensure that their chosen software covers the right variety of testing types according to development need. A test automation software tool that is unable to automate development teams’ desired test types delivers a less valuable result. ### Which Companies Should Buy Automation Testing Tools? Automation testing tools and software can be used by almost any organization across industries and company sizes. In particular, any company that only has a limited number of developers can benefit from automation testing tools. These tools will help manage the workflow of the small team of developers and coders.  ### How to Buy Automation Testing Tools #### Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Automation Testing Tools The requirements for automation testing software will be dependent on which type the company is purchasing. A [load testing tool](https://www.g2.com/categories/load-testing-tools), for example, may have different requirements than an API testing tool. As mentioned earlier, one of the challenges of test automation software is just how niche it can get. It can be highly dependent on the individual organization’s needs and desires. A company also must consider what related technology it plans to purchase alongside the automation testing software.  #### Compare Automation Testing Products **Create a long list** Buyers should start by identifying which specific type of test automation software tool it is looking to purchase. Once the type of tool is identified, buyers can then use G2.com and other online resources to research the top products on the market.  **Create a short list** After identifying the exact type of automation testing tools needed, buyers can then dig deeper into which product fits their specific needs. Companies should consider the bandwidth of developers on their team, which could help determine whether they need a codeless tool. Companies should also consider what pre-existing software they already have on site, as well as what additional software they may need to purchase.  **Conduct demos** Companies should walk through a demo of each product they are considering purchasing. This allows them to get an up close and personal view of the testing platform, its functionality, and how it fits into the current test automation framework at the company. This allows organizations to initiate test creation to see how the test execution is performed in a test environment.  #### Selection of Automation Testing Tools **Choose a selection team** The selection team should include a mix of roles and titles that would interact with test automation software. First and foremost, at least one member of the development team should be involved, as the development team would be most likely to interact with the tool regularly. Other roles may be dependent on the automation testing use cases. If the tool purchased is for UI testing, roles such as site administrators and product managers may also need to be involved.  **Negotiation** While some test automation vendors will have a set cost for their product, others may be open to negotiation. Organizations should do their research prior to the negotiation phase to ensure that what they are asking for is a reasonable price.  **Final decision** Ultimately, organizations will need to decide which product they want to go forward with. Companies should consider what specific features, use cases, and capabilities they are looking for depending on their organizational needs.  ### How much do Automation Testing Tools cost? Automation testing software tends to be relatively expensive, meaning that a company must carefully weigh the benefits of using such software against the costs. These products span a wide variety of use cases and functionality. Development teams searching for a test automation solution should consider each product’s feature set to weigh the potential benefits against current operational costs.  #### Return on Investment (ROI) With the right tool applied in the right way, test automation software ultimately saves companies time, money, and effort indefinitely after the initial investment. Companies should compare the upfront costs of implementation to potential gains that can be had later down the line after implementation.  ### Implementation of Automation Testing Tools **How is Automation Testing Software Implemented?** As stated above, there is a wide variety of use cases and functionalities of test automation software. This means that implementation can often depend on the tool or the specific kind of testing being conducted.  Test automation software is often implemented through the cloud. There are tools for both desktop and mobile devices, including IoS and Android devices. Automation testing tools can also be open source, which will be important as open-source software continues to rise in popularity.  **Who is Responsible for Automation Testing Tool Implementation?** Developers are often key members of the implementation process, as they are the ones who will be using them regularly. QA team may be involved along with agile project managers in a DevOps environment. In reality, anyone involved in test coverage across the test suite could ultimately become involved.  **What Does the Implementation Process Look Like for Automation Testing Tools?** Companies should plan to run tests multiple times prior to going live in order to collect test data. This test data helps ensure that testing solutions work properly, and it identifies different potential problems before they occur. **When Should You Implement Automation Testing Tools?** Organizations should implement test automation systems once they have conducted initial testing on the tool. Once up and running, developers will be eager to utilize test automation software, as it saves them time and allows them to focus on other, more engaging activities.  ### Automation Testing Tools Trends **Smart automation software tools** As AI continues to develop as a technology, it is increasingly becoming integrated into different software testing tools. These “smart” tools are on the rise, particularly with staff that are missing developers and other resources due to labor shortages amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Automated tools are also beneficial because they are cost efficient and free up time for developers to work on other major projects and initiatives.  **IoT and API testing** IoT is another technology on the rise that will impact test automation software. The majority of data shared over IoT is connected through APIs. This means it will be increasingly critical to conduct API testing to ensure IoT-enabled devices are running smoothly.