Mobile phone use has increased exponentially over the past few decades. Statista has even stated that this usage may rise and reach 7.26 billion globally by 2024.
While “dumb” phones still exist, most of today’s cell phones are smartphones.
Smartphones can function perfectly as communication devices with only the apps they come with. But let’s be honest: smartphones are meant for app variety. Tons of apps make your life easier and more fun.
But nobody likes a buggy and unreliable mobile app. Many mobile applications get poor reviews due to poor performance, battery drainage issues, and crashes.
The solution? Companies have invested in mobile application testing to deliver flawless, cross-platform, and reliable applications for end-users.
In this article, we’ll talk about mobile application testing and recommend the top mobile testing tools available today. Ready? Let’s begin!
What is Mobile Application Testing?
Mobile application testing executes multiple tests on a specific mobile application to assess its functionality and performance. It reduces issues like poor performance, loading issues, and unresponsive elements to prevent poor Google or Apple store reviews.
Types of Mobile Application Testing
QA testers often use mobile app test tools to fulfill various assessments. Here’s a list of mobile application testing types that every application must undergo before launch.
Functional Testing
Functional testing ensures a mobile application functions per the user’s requirements.
Performance Testing
Performance testing ensures an application behaves and performs well under specific conditions like low memory availability, low battery, and bad network coverage.
Laboratory Testing
A network carrier provides all wireless communication services. It possesses the necessary components, such as wireless network infrastructure, radio spectrum allocation, backhaul infrastructure, provisioning computer systems, and billing customer care. Network carriers perform laboratory testing to detect data connection and voice pitfalls.
Interrupt Testing
Mobile apps face many interruptions while operating, from battery removal and incoming texts to network outages and other notifications.
Interrupt testing ensures a mobile application can handle interruptions by going into a suspended state while it is working. Then, after handling all interruptions, it resumes.
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Usability Testing
Companies conduct usability testing to ensure a particular application's user experience or UX is uniformly positive across all devices. Tools for mobile application testing use usability testing to ensure the app functions as expected in cross-platform and cross-device environments.
Memory Leakage Testing
Memory leakage testing ensures application function properly within given memory constraints.
When an application or a computer program cannot handle or manage the allocated memory, performance suffers. Memory leakage can cause app freeze and phone crashes.
Certification Testing
Certification testing helps developers obtain a compliance certificate. QA testers must test every mobile device against the rules defined by different mobile platforms.
Load Testing
Load testing is one of the most critical types a QA tester conducts to ensure the application can handle operating under different types of loads, like multitasking or during peak times.
Security Testing
Security testing checks whether the application has any vulnerabilities. Many testing tools for mobile applications help QA testers find issues that make applications vulnerable to hacking, data theft, and more.
Benefits of Mobile Application Testing
Here are some significant advantages of performing mobile application:
Proper Functioning
Testers check whether an application works correctly under specified requirements, like changing networks, load conditions, etc.
UI/UX Usability
Mobile application testing helps testers think from the end user’s perspective to create a great experience. In addition, they check the logic applied to create an application and verify whether it’s convenient to follow. Testers must run UI and UX tests throughout an application’s development to provide impressive results.
Enhanced Customer Loyalty
Seamless functioning? Check. Impressive UI and UX? Check. Voila, you have a recipe for customer loyalty. This helps you gain popularity and reach more users.
Why is Choosing the Correct Mobile Tool Important?
With so many tools available today, finding the best one for your needs can be challenging. Some tools won’t suit your project’s scale or other requirements. And while testers can still perform tests with suboptimal testing instruments, the wrong tool can still lead to inefficiencies, mistakes, and wasted time.
There’s always a “right” tool for a mobile app testing job. With the perfect tool, you can streamline your work processes — enough that you may even be able to speed up your project’s development process.
Which Factors Should You Consider While Selecting a Mobile Automation Tool?
Tools for mobile app testing vary in quality, function, price, and more. Of course, you can still conduct manual testing — but that’ll turn inefficient eventually. Selecting the correct tool is your first step to automating the entire testing process.
But with so many mobile automation testing tools on the market today, how do you pick the right one?
Consider some of the criteria below for a great mobile test tool:
Support for Multiple Programming Languages
Even though JavaScript is easily the leading programming language today, developers can still create mobile apps in various programming languages. They may choose specific languages depending on requirements, cost, intended app functionality, target audience, and more. For this reason, choosing automated mobile testing tools capable of writing test cases in a few different languages is a good idea.
Do You Need Codeless Options?
Although most software testing and mobile testing involve some form of code, there may be times when you might want to be able to create a test without any code whatsoever. Codeless tests are possible and can be a blessing for users who don’t know any programming languages. If you think you may need a codeless option at some point, look for automated testing tools for mobile applications that include codeless test creation and execution.
Record and Play
A good mobile test tool can usually record and play (or automate) each test scenario action. This feature can make testing a smoother, more efficient process.
Report Handling & Logs
QA tools, whether for software or mobile apps, should be able to log reports of your performed tests. These logs display detailed descriptions of the test plan and include information about the actual test, with screenshots and other findings.
Integrations
Your testing tool might not have to include third-party integrations. However, integrations with popular CI/CD platforms and tools will save you time.
Operating System Compatibility
If you already know your app will only ever be on one platform and never expand to others, you won’t need to worry so much about OS compatibility. However, if there’s a chance you’ll move into other markets later on, you might want to look for mobile app testing tools that support the operating systems you need (like iOS and Android).
9 Best Mobile Testing Tools for Android and iOS
Developers test apps to ensure a top-notch user experience. Below are some popular tools for mobile testing for you to consider:
1. Kobiton
Pricing: Kobiton has four tiers:
- Free trial for 14 days, then
- Startup is only available on a monthly subscription costing $75 each month
- Accelerate costs $390 per month paid monthly or $3,960 per year paid annually
- Scale is only available on an annual plan, costing $9,000 per year
- Those interested in the enterprise plan may request a demo and receive a customized quote
Key Benefits:
- Allows you to choose from manual, automated, or scriptless app testing
- Free trial
- Lower-tier plans are relatively affordable compared to other tools on this list
- Offers seamless integration with CI/CD platforms so you can create efficient workflows
- Provides data logs and centralized report histories
Kobiton is one of the most used cloud-based mobile application testing platforms. It enables users to perform manual and automated tests on various hybrid, native, and web Android and iOS applications. In addition, Kobiton allows users to perform testing on real devices and does not use emulators.
Kobiton’s Device Lab Management (DLM) feature allows users to develop a perfect mobile testing cloud. This DML feature lets testers create their local test cloud and connect on-desk, on-premises, and local devices to their private clouds. In addition, Kobiton has made test automation seamless and more manageable.
Kobiton used to be the only tool that offered scriptless automation. Despite new tools providing the same, Kobiton’s scriptless automation feature helps users generate automated test scripts and run them on several devices at the same time. Another desirable advantage of using Kobiton is it resolves all test failures efficiently and accurately.
2. TestComplete Mobile
Pricing: TestComplete has two tiers, each on a Fixed or Floating basis. Fixed allows one user to perform testing, but only on physical devices. Floating permits multiple users to conduct tests on physical and virtual devices.
- Free trial for 14 days, then
- TestComplete Base (plus mobile module): $1,665 per license fixed; $3,695 per license floating
- TestComplete Pro (includes web, desktop, and mobile modules): $2,540 per license fixed; $5,075 per license floating
Key Benefits:
- Compatible with multiple mobile platformsand supports multiple programming languages, including C#, C++, VBScript, DelphiScript, Python, JScript, and JavaScript
- Has a record/replay function, allowing you to create tests and run them without having to write new code
- Allows automated testing on real (physical) Android and iOS devices
- Offers integrations with the most popular CI/CD platforms, including JIRA and Git
TestComplete is a comprehensive mobile test automation platform that enables users to create and carry out UI tests on any mobile phone. In addition, it supports UI tests on real iOS and Android devices, and mobile tests on different devices, each with different resolutions and sizes.
Additionally, TestComplete helps users speed up cross-platform mobile testing. It supports frameworks such as Flutter, React Native, Xamarin, and SwiftUI. With TestComplete, you can generate test scripts from the beginning and record them for other purposes.
When you use TestComplete for mobile application testing, you won’t have to jailbreak your tablet or mobile phone. It also has built-in integrations for defect management tools, source control systems, and management solutions.
TestComplete seamlessly integrates with API testing tools, such as ReadyAPI and SoapAPI, allowing testers to check whether APIs used for different operating systems and devices work according to expectations. Moreover, TestComplete provides complete access to the mobile device’s sensor data like accelerometers, GPS, and gyroscopes.
3. Test IO
Pricing:
- Test IO has three tiers. These are Startup, Pro, and Enterprise. Unfortunately, the company does not display its pricing. Instead, you'll need to inquire if you’d like to know how much you’ll pay to use the platform.
- You may also try a free demo before requesting pricing.
Key Benefits:
- Great for crowd-testing
- Skilled human testers continuously test web and mobile apps on physical devices
- Testers are NDA-compliant, ensuring the safety of your app and intellectual property
- Also offers other forms of mobile testing
Test IO is an astounding Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform for crowd-testing and mobile application testing.
The tool allows users to perform testing on real, physical devices, and expand their test coverage to many real-world platforms, devices, and people. The only condition? Your application should be compatible with every version of both Android and iOS operating systems.
As Test IO is a human-driven testing platform, all testers here are NDA-compliant. They test your application and find bugs your development team may not uncover. Test IO also supports other testing types like black-box testing, exploratory testing, usability testing, functional testing, regression testing, website testing, wearables testing, and beta testing.
4. Appium
Pricing: Appium is open source and 100% free to use.
Key Benefits:
- Free and open-source
- Supports many programming languages, including Perl, C#, JavaScript, Java, Python, and more
- Based on one of the best and most popular software testing tools, Selenium
- Code for automated tests is cross-platform and works on iOS and Android
- Has a record/replay feature
Appium is a widely used and open-source framework for test automation. It supports automated testing for hybrid and native mobile and web applications on Android and iOS. It uses the WebDriver Protocol to drive applications on different operating systems like Windows, iOS, and Android.
Appium’s primary philosophy is that testing any mobile application should not require recompiling or modifying it to automate. Instead, one should choose the desired framework, practices, tests, and tools while testing.
Additionally, Appium doesn’t allow users to stick to a specific programming language or framework to develop and run tests. Instead, it enables users to develop test code in different programming languages, such as Java, Python, PHP, JavaScript, Ruby, etc. Additionally, you can reuse test code between Windows, iOS, and Android test suites.
The best part? Appium lets you automate any mobile application from any test framework using any language. Finally, it allows testers or users to access the test code’s databases and back-end APIs.
5. Perfecto
Pricing:
- 14-day free trial, then
- Live (Manual Testing): starting at $99 per parallel test/month paid monthly; starting at $83 per parallel test/month paid annually
- Automate (Manual + Automated Testing): starting at $149 per parallel test/month paid monthly; starting at $125 per parallel test/month paid annually
- Scriptless (No Code) plans require custom quotes; contact sales here
- Enterprise plans require custom quotes; contact sales here
Key Benefits:
- Offers many third-party and CI/CD integrations to add functionality and streamline work processes
- Ensures the safety and security of your intellectual property thanks to enterprise-grade security solutions
- Provides smart analytics, allowing improved feedback and faster bug fixes
- Gives users access to various testing scenarios and cloud platforms
Editor’s Note: We had ten tools in a previous version of this list of recommendations. However, because Perfecto acquired 21Labs in May 2021, we’ve amended our list to remove 21Labs.
Perfecto is one of the best and most well-known mobile application and web testing platforms available today. Half of its customer base comprises Fortune 500 companies like IBM, Verizon, Ford, LLOYDS BANK, ULTA, and more.
With over 15 years in the space, Perfecto offers an unmatched and incomparable technological solution that can solve the toughest challenges that occur when testing mobile and web applications. It supports parallel test execution across virtual and real-world devices. Perfecto also supports test analytics, continuous testing, functional testing, performance testing, regression testing, and more.
21Labs is a SaaS test automation platform that also uses artificial intelligence in the process. It allows users to test their Android or iOS apps on emulators or physical devices.
Since Perfecto acquired 21Labs, it started offering a 21Labs and Perfecto integration, combining the best of both worlds.
6. Bug Hunter
Pricing: Android Bug Hunter is free to download and use.
Key Benefits:
- 100% free to use
- Works well for testing Android apps, offering faster testing while maintaining accuracy and flexibility
- Great for UI testing
- Manual testing
Bug Hunter is another robust manual tool for testing mobile applications. It is specially designed to make Android application testing quicker and more accurate while retaining flexibility. Bug Hunter is ideal for Quality Assurance Engineers, designers, and developers.
QA Engineers can use Bug Hunter to make testing UI more effective on Android platforms. Designers can use this manual mobile testing tool to ensure that an application’s UI and the design mockups match perfectly. Finally, developers can test their code themselves and make the required changes instantly to reduce frequent and several revisions.
Bug Hunter involves the concept of a grid, enabling users to accurately calculate all UI elements’ sizes. In addition, you can check the horizontal and vertical alignment of UI elements using Bug Hunter’s Rulers & Guides. Finally, a color picker allows you to instantly pick the desired color and drop it on the desired spot on the screen. Bug Hunter supports RGBA and HEX formats.
Bug Hunter makes it effortless to generate screenshots, record videos, and capture long records without leaving the current interface. You can capture screenshots in JPEG and PNG formats. With the longshot mode, users can capture screenshots of long pages with manual editing.
7. Apptim
Pricing:
- Unlike other paid tools on this list, Apptim has a Free tier
- 14-day trial for premium plans, then
- Pro: $99 per user per month
- Enterprise: starts at $1,499 per month; for a more accurate quote, it’s best to book a demo with Apptim
Key Benefits:
- Excellent choice for testing mobile app performance
- Offers a comprehensive dashboard that displays comparisons of tests and findings
- User-friendly interface allows even beginners to navigate the platform
- Seamless integration with JIRA
It’s often pretty challenging to test a mobile app’s performance. Luckily, Apptim has made it easier and more manageable, enabling users to quickly find performance issues in a mobile application.
Apptim's comprehensive performance dashboard displays performance comparisons of different test sessions. It supports testing native applications that run on Android and iOS systems and enables users to run performance tests locally and share or save the generated reports with their team.
Apptim involves shift-left mobile performance testing. It enables you to test the performance of every new code, every new build of an application, and every deployment. Anyone can use Apptim, as it has a user-friendly interface. Finally, it supports seamless JIRA integration, allowing you to publish and track bugs.
8. Ranorex Studio
Pricing:
- Ranorex Studio offers a 30-day free trial
- To use this tool, you’ll need to purchase a license. There are two types of licenses, namely Studio and Enterprise
- Studio, a license best suited for solo users,costs $3,590
- Enterprise costs $5,990
Key Benefits:
- One of the best all-in-one test suites for mobile app testing
- Chosen by thousands of companies
- Supports various types of testing on emulators or physical devices
- Also supports cross-browser testing
- Seamless integration with various project management and CI/CD tools
Ranorex Studio is a one-stop destination for mobile application testing. More than 4,000 renowned companies use this robust testing platform to deliver top-notch applications. In addition, Ranorex Studio is the most suitable testing platform for beginners and experts, enabling them to develop tests for mobile, web, and desktop applications.
Ranorex Studio supports testing for mobile web applications, native mobile applications, and Android and iOS applications. It supports cross-browser testing, data-driven testing, regression testing, and keyword-driven testing. Testers get an entire toolset for testing web, mobile, and desktop applications with a single license.
Additionally, Ranorex Studio automates tests on Windows desktops and later runs them locally on emulators or physical Android and iOS mobile devices. Ranorex also supports cross-browser testing for Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Chrome, and more.
There is no need to jailbreak your mobile devices for testing with Ranorex Studio. Ranorex Studio seamlessly integrates with JIRA and many other DevOps tools that automate bug tracking. In addition, it integrates hassle-free with Travis CI, testRail, Jenkins, etc.
9. Eggplant
Pricing:
- You can request a free trial of Eggplant
- You must purchase a license to use Eggplant
- Single test stream licenses cost $3,400
- You can add a second stream for $1,700 and a third for $80
- Alternatively, you can try the comprehensive package that already has three test streams (for a single system), costing $8,950
Keysight’s Eggplant is another GUI automation testing tool developed by TestPlant. It involves machine learning and artificial intelligence to shift from manual testing to automated testing, ensuring the rapid release of mobile applications. It effectively tests mobile applications that run on Android and iOS systems.
Eggplant supports a user-centric approach to mobile application testing, ensuring responsive design, high performance, and a consistent experience. In addition to mobile testing, it also supports image-based testing, cross-browser testing, network testing, automated and functional testing, and web testing. Eggplant also ensures that all defects, bugs, and performance issues are addressed much earlier before going live.
Users can install Eggplant on Windows, Linux, and macOS operating systems. It doesn’t require creating different tests for different platforms and devices; one script with all platforms or devices will support it.
The AI-driven approach of Eggplant utilizes scriptless models and supports the entire testing process, from test-case generation to results analytics. Eggplant can test any browser, device, technology, and operating system. Therefore, it is an all-in-one testing platform.
Conclusion
Testing is critical in the software or application development process. Every mobile application must undergo specific tests to ensure functionality. Mobile test tools meet that need.
We hope this article on the best mobile testing tools has helped you pick a solid choice for your next project. If you think we missed a tool that should be on this list, please let us know in the comments below!
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Mobile Testing, with an Example?
Mobile testing involves testing applications to ensure they perform as expected and according to specifications. An example of mobile application testing is load testing, where testers check that an app can perform under heavy or peak loads without freezing or crashing. Another example is UI testing, where testers ensure that all user interface elements match perfectly with the designer’s intended layout.
2. Can We Use Selenium for Mobile Testing?
Selenium does not directly offer the capability to test mobile apps. However, it does have frameworks available that will allow you to test your apps as needed. One example is Appium, which is an open-source framework based on Selenium. Appium is one of our recommendations listed above.
3. Why Is Mobile Testing Important?
More often than not, bugs or unintended results will come from a mobile app’s code. Without testing, these bugs won’t be found and fixed before the app reaches the hands of the end user. A buggy, untested app on any app store will no doubt collect a series of negative reviews, instantly obliterating the product’s reputation and affecting user trust.
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