8 BEST Mobile Testing Tools

Mobile testing tools enable the automation of testing for Android and iOS apps.

Below is a carefully selected list of the best mobile automation testing tools, along with their notable features and download links. This list comprises both open-source (free) and paid software.

Best Mobile App Testing Tools for Automation Testing

1) Kobiton

2) testRigor

3) ACCELQ

4) Katalon Platform

5) TestGrid

6) HeadSpin

7) LambdaTest

8) Testim

1) Kobiton

Kobiton: Optimizing Your Mobile App Development Workflow: Streamline your mobile app development workflow with Kobiton's user-friendly platform, designed to facilitate comprehensive manual and automated testing across a comprehensive library of real devices. The platform facilitates intricate gestures, ADB shell commands, and geolocation testing, all while ensuring seamless device management. Additionally, real-time log access with download functionality empowers teams to pinpoint and address issues swiftly.

Features:

• Ease of Use: Centralizes testing history and data logs for increased collaboration, simplifying the user experience to streamline test sessions. It also provides the latest real, cloud-based devices and configurations.
• Test Features: Includes performance testing, a customizable test cloud, Agile Test Enabler, rich test logs, and optimized efficiency.
• Safe Deployment: Offers an on-premises deployment option, giving more control over security when deployed on-site.
• AI-Augmented Testing: Kobiton’s AI-enhanced mobile testing platform enables your team to automate and execute more tests in less time through Appium script generation, no-code testing, and self-healing.
• Natural Gestures: Supports all necessary gestures for device testing, such as scrolling, swiping, and tapping.
• Programming Language Support: Supports programming languages including C#, Java, Ruby, NodeJS, PHP, and Python.
• Supported Frameworks: These are compatible with multiple frameworks like React Native, Ionic, Electron Native Script, Xamarin, and Flutter.
• Types of Testing: supports performance testing, automation testing, manual testing, functional testing, and more.
• Integrations: Seamlessly integrates with Travis CI, Jenkins, Azure DevOps, XebiaLabs, TeamCity, CircleCI, Jira, and more.
• Additional Features: Provides record-and-replay, cross-browsing functionality, no-code automation, remote debugging, and real device testing.

Pros:

• All plans offer on-demand demos.
• The basic Plan allows unlimited users.
• Provides lab management with the ability to more effectively utilize internal devices.

Cons:

• If the required device is already in use, the test may fail.
• It has a steep learning curve.

Pricing:

• Startup Plan: $83 per month
• Accelerate Plan: $399 per month
• Scale Plan: Annual billing
• Enterprise Plan: Customized pricing models
• Free Trial: Offers a 14-day free trial (no credit card required).

2) testRigor

Using testRigor, you can articulate tests as executable specifications in simple English. Suitable for users of all technical abilities, it allows for the creation of detailed end-to-end tests that include mobile, Web, and API steps in one test. Test steps are defined from the end-user’s perspective without depending on technical details such as XPaths or CSS Selectors.

Features:

• Unlimited Usage: Allows unlimited users and unlimited tests, equipped with a web step recorder.
• Comprehensive Testing: Includes Web, mobile, and API steps in a single test, using generative AI to create tests in simple English from the user’s point of view.
• Programming Languages: Supports multiple programming languages like Python, Java, Ruby, JavaScript, PHP, and C#.
• Frameworks: These are compatible with numerous frameworks, including Android, iOS, Angular, React, React Native, and Flutter.
• Types of Testing: Supports a wide range of testing types, including API testing, audio testing, functional testing, security testing, and more.
• Integrations: Integrates seamlessly with tools such as TestRail, Zephyr, XRay, Jira, Azure DevOps, Jenkins, CircleCI, Azure DevOps, PagerDuty, and others.
• AI-based Test Automation: utilizes plain English to build test automation, executing instructions exactly as written.
• Additional Features: Provides features like mocking API calls, accessing databases, record-and-replay, cross-browser functionality, no-code automation, validation of downloaded files, and supports multiple browsers and devices.

Pros:

• Offers reusable rules for streamlined testing.
• Includes email and SMS testing capabilities.
• Allows the recording of test execution videos.

Cons:

• Lacks a robust test management system.
• Tests may fail upon re-execution even after passing initially.

Pricing:

• Plan: Starts at $99 per month, with a custom pricing option available.
• Free Trial: lifetime free access with a public open-source plan.

3) ACCELQ

By leveraging a cloud-native architecture and AI-powered codeless automation, ACCELQ unifies test creation and management for a comprehensive range of application types—mobile, Web, API, database, and packaged.

Features:

• Ease of Use: This platform enables manual testers to automate without needing any programming skills. You can design, develop, and execute mobile test automation with zero setup and no coding.
• AI-Powered: ACCELQ offers AI-powered mobile object handling and self-healing capabilities that eliminate test flakiness. Additionally, it features AI-based automated test case generation and data planning.
• No-Code Editor: An automation flow recorder combined with a powerful natural language no-code editor is included.
• No Custom Frameworks: ACCELQ’s design-first approach with inbuilt modularity means you do not need custom frameworks.
• Automation: The platform provides robust and sustainable automation that is significantly low on maintenance. Its automation also executes across various mobile OSs and is agnostic of development frameworks.
• In-Sprint Automation: ACCELQ supports in-sprint automation that aligns with DevOps and Agile methodologies, allowing both teams to work on the same task simultaneously.
• Integration: The platform integrates a mobile cloud device execution farm with public and private device options for cross-device testing in a plug-and-play model. It also includes seamless CI/CD integration and natural traceability.

Pros:

• Referential integrity across tests reduces maintenance and upkeep.
• The CI workflow allows for scheduling, recurring, and triggering runs.
• Email notifications facilitate quick decision-making.

Cons:

• Managing agents can become challenging over time.
• The live sync feature can be slightly slow.

Pricing:

• Contact for Pricing: Specific pricing details are available upon request.
• Free Trial: A 14-day free trial is available with no credit card required.

4) Katalon Platform

Powered by Appium and Selenium, the Katalon Platform simplifies complex syntax into user-friendly, low-code functionalities, enabling anyone to automate mobile tests swiftly. You can record your screen to replay as a test or choose keywords from the built-in library to automate actions. Mobile testing becomes a breeze with Katalon. The Katalon Platform stands out in mobile testing with support for Android and iOS.

Features:

• Flexible Test Creation: The Katalon Platform offers no-code, low-code, and full-code test creation options, providing the highest flexibility and a visual representation of test steps to enhance test creation efficiency.
• Execution Options: Execute tests locally or remotely on real devices, simulators, or custom cloud-based devices, including Sauce Labs, Kobiton, Perfecto, and Lambda Test.
• Self-Healing: The platform features self-healing capabilities to automatically maintain test scripts after code updates.
• AI-Powered: Katalon uses AI for code generation and explanation, along with autonomous ML-based regression testing.
• Rich Reports: It provides rich and insightful reports to help analyze test outcomes effectively.
• Integrations: Seamlessly integrates with Jira, Git, Jenkins, Azure DevOps, BrowserStack, Circle CI, CodeMagic, Curiosity, GitHub, Google Cloud Build, and more.

Pros:

• A low learning curve allows you to start testing immediately.
• Parallel testing capabilities shorten your overall testing time.
• Reduced maintenance efforts thanks to self-healing features.
• Innovative AI functionalities enhance testing efficiency.

Cons:

• Documentation can be relatively limited.

Pricing:

• Premium Plan: $218 per user/month with a 20% discount when billed annually.
• Free Trial: A lifetime free public open-source plan.

5) TestGrid

With TestGrid, users can seamlessly execute manual and automated testing on real mobile devices, whether these devices are cloud-hosted or maintained on-premise. With TestGrid, both your testing and business teams can build and run test cases without needing any programming skills. TestOS allows users to reuse almost all test cases across different app versions and other applications, avoiding the hassle of rewriting them.

Features:

• Scriptless Testing: TestGrid offers scriptless mobile app automation testing, allowing you to generate downloadable Appium and XCUITest code effortlessly.
• Programming Languages: supports various programming languages, including Java, C#, Ruby, Python, Perl, and PHP.
• AI Testing: Introduces AI-powered test automation with a simple "Paste. Click. Automate!" approach, a first in the industry.
• Frameworks: This includes multiple frameworks such as NodeJS and React Native to enhance flexibility.
• Types of Testing: Supports diverse testing types, including API testing, performance testing, IoT testing, automation testing, security testing, and hand gestures.
• Integrations: It easily integrates with Travis, Jenkins, CircleCI, BitBar, JIRA, GitLab, TestRail, MS TFS, and more.
• Other Features: Offers cloud infrastructure, on-prem support, a Test Case Management Suite, a Test Data Management Suite, and record-and-replay functionality. Includes cross-browser testing, real device testing, and parallel testing.
• Automation: Supports robotic test automation, IoT automation, API test automation, and AI-based no-code automation.
• Support: Provides customer support via live chat, contact form, and email.
• Supported Platforms: Compatible with iOS, Android, Windows, and BlackBerry.

Pros:

• Allows reusing already-written test cases on multiple apps.
• Available both on-cloud and on-premise.
• It enables instant testing by downloading your app directly from the Play Store or uploading APK or IPA files.

Cons:

• It may occasionally fail to connect to the browser or cloud devices.
• Adding multiple devices for testing can be time-consuming.

Pricing:

• Free Trial: A lifetime-free basic plan is available without a credit card.
• Discounted Plan: $25 per month with up to 20% savings when paid annually.

6) HeadSpin

HeadSpin's global platform streamlines digital experience testing, facilitating seamless collaboration between product, QA, engineering, and SRE/DevOps teams. Utilizing advanced data science, it comprehensively tests applications on real devices in over 90 locations, analyzing 100+ key performance indicators to drive optimized DevTestOps practices.

Features:

• Data Science-Driven Insights: HeadSpin’s platform leverages data science to accelerate issue triage, boost product release velocity, and enhance cost efficiency.
• Real-time Performance Monitoring: Provides prompt identification of performance issues across various devices and network conditions, capturing over 100 performance experience KPIs.
• Global Device Infrastructure: Offers access to a wide range of real devices in over 90 locations worldwide, ensuring testing under diverse conditions.
• End-to-End Testing Automation: Automates testing processes for extensive coverage across multiple devices simultaneously.
• Crash Analytics: Detects and diagnoses crash in real time, enabling the prioritization of critical issues.
• Security Testing: Conducts thorough security testing to identify vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with standards.
• API Monitoring: Monitors API performance to address integration issues, enhancing app functionality.
• CI/CD Integration: Integrates seamlessly with CI/CD pipelines for automated testing throughout the development lifecycle.
• Customizable Dashboards: Allows for the creation of personalized dashboards to visualize key performance indicators and make informed decisions, providing AI-enabled experience insights through a dedicated engineering team dashboard.

Pros:

• Gain a competitive edge by expediting product launches.
• Faster development cycles enhance efficiency for developers and QA teams.
• Achieve consistent results through automated build-over-build regression testing.
• Attain better visibility into functional and performance issues for proactive resolution.
• Minimize the time to identify and resolve issues during testing, QA, and production.

Cons:

• The potential barrier for smaller teams is expensive subscription plans.
• Implementation may have a learning curve, slowing down team onboarding.

Pricing:

• Get a Quote: Contact HeadSpin for a personalized pricing quote tailored to your specific needs and usage.

7) LambdaTest

LambdaTest supports both manual and automated testing of websites and mobile applications on a real-device cloud farm with Android and iOS devices. By testing development and production apps on these real devices, LambdaTest ensures your team gets unblocked, delivers precise results, and lowers operational costs by removing the need to maintain an in-house device lab.

Features:

• Improved Test Execution: Enhances test execution speed and productivity with one-click bug logging, insights, and detailed test logs.
• Remote Testing: This allows you to conduct tests remotely from various geographical locations and GPS geolocations.
• Framework Support: Supports popular mobile automation frameworks, including Appium, Espresso, XCUITest, and Playwright.
• Advanced Features: Provides access to advanced features such as camera image captures, automating mobile gestures, app profiling, and more.
• Debug Native Apps: Enables real-time debugging of native apps using device logs, app logs, network logs, screenshots, and videos.
• App Installation and Testing: Facilitates the installation and testing of apps via the Google Play Store, App Store, App Center, and TestFlight. Also allows evaluation of locally or privately hosted apps before going live.
• Integration: integrates with third-party tools for CI/CD, project management, and more.
• Support: Offers 24/7 customer support through in-app chat support, the Contact Us page, and emails.

Pros:

• Accelerates mobile test automation by up to 70% with HyperExecute.
• AI-powered testing tools enable well-informed decision-making.
• Supports smart TV testing by automating OTT applications on real smart TVs.

Cons:

• Users may encounter connectivity issues occasionally.
• Live execution speed can be slow.

Pricing:

• Starting Plan: Live testing costs $15 per month, billed annually.
• Real Device Testing: Costs $25 per month, billed annually.
• Enterprise Plan: Customizable pricing is available.
• Free Trial: Offers a free plan for forever.

8) Testim

Streamlined Mobile Testing: Testim Mobile empowers agile teams to deliver high-quality mobile applications faster through its intuitive low-code test automation and seamless integration with real and virtual devices. Agile Development Champion: By enabling efficient test creation with low-code

Features:

• Web and Mobile Applications: Test native iOS and Android applications alongside Web and mobile web applications on the same platform. Supports various applications, including web, websites, custom-built, cloud-native, and native mobile applications.
• Low-Code Testing: Utilize recorder-based testing to author mobile tests with real physical devices or emulators or simulators, significantly reducing the time needed to write Appium scripts.
• Smart Locators: Automatically improve locators when they fall below a certain threshold, fixing tests before they break. AI algorithms help stabilize automation and reduce test maintenance. Testim can identify recording sequences, suggest reusable groups to auto-complete steps, and suggest likely causes of test failures based on past failures.
• Reusable Groups of Test Steps: Auto-grouping identifies duplicate steps across tests and provides actionable recommendations to replace duplicates with reusable shared groups, allowing for one-button refactoring to create these groups.
• Custom Steps in JavaScript: Address unique testing challenges by parameterizing and sharing these custom steps for any tester to reuse in their test
• s.CI/CD Pipeline Integration: Seamlessly integrate with popular tools and dynamically handle pipelines based on test status. Integrate with DevOps tools to sync branches with Git, trigger runs on CI builds, create bug reports in Jira, and see results in Slack

Pros:

• Directly manage GitHub development branches, pull requests, triggers, and merges.
• Integrate checks into your mobile UI tests to verify backend or service responses.
• Visualize the latest status and improvements using project, test suite, and team status metrics, such as pass rates and activity.

Cons:

• Slightly slow technical support.
• Limited customization for testing procedures.

Pricing:

• Free Trial: A 14-day free trial is available.

How do you select the best Mobile App Automation Tool?

Here’s a straightforward process to select the ideal mobile automation tool for your project needs:

• Identify the tests to automate: Determine which tests are suitable for automation within your project.
• Research and Analyze Tools: Investigate and evaluate automation tools that align with your automation requirements.
• Conduct Pilot Testing: Perform pilot tests with the top two tools that match your criteria and budget.
• Shortlist a Tool: Choose one tool based on the pilot results.
• Stakeholder Discussion: Present the chosen tool to other stakeholders, explain your decision, and obtain their approval.
• Proceed with Test Automation: Begin the test automation process with the selected tool.

There is no universally best mobile testing tool available. The key is to identify the one that best aligns with your mobile test automation project goals, given the diverse range of tools available on the market.

Verdict

Having used various mobile testing tools, I can confidently say that tools like Appium and Selendroid excel at automating tests for both Android and iOS platforms. Their open-source nature and extensive community support make them ideal choices for developers aiming for reliable and efficient mobile application testing.