Cloud-based technologies are on a rise today. Even if I deviate a bit from core IT fundamentals, the pandemic of 2021 made cloud tech a hero. It taught us how just an easy monthly subscription can give us access to thousands of movies, games, and live events such as the Tokyo Olympics via streaming.
This is just a small example that we all can relate to and understand the cloud. In IT, however, the cloud means a lot more than just streaming media on the system. If I consider current times, it has become a core concept in development, management, analytics, and also – automation testing.
Cloud-based automation testing is a simple concept. We leverage cloud resources to accomplish our automation testing goals in the project. In this article, we will focus on tools that make this happen in real-time on the cloud.
Below, I have summarised the most popular tools for cloud automation testing with the assumption that you all are familiar with cloud-based automation testing. If not, it is recommended to go through this post first.
Testsigma
Testsigma’s first landing page commitment says it is “a completely cloud-based test automation platform”. It comes with a lot of modules creating a testing ecosystem aiming towards creating a single solution for multiple testing requirements. From end-to-end to AI-based test automation, Testsigma can prove to be a good friend for your organization.
Key Features
- Role management system: Testsigma provides multiple role management systems whereby different people can be assigned various roles and permissions to influence the test scripts.
- Varied automation processes: Testsigma’s main USP is that it can automate almost anything on the cloud – web app testing, cross-browser testing, native Android & iOS app testing, and web services testing.
- Dynamic locator strategy: Cloud automation testing in Testsigma comes with a dynamic locator strategy that helps in creating stable and reliable test cases.
- Parallel Execution: Testsigma comes with parallel execution capabilities to help test faster. You can also run these parallel tests in the local devices or integrate them with other cloud solutions such as Browserstack and SauceLabs.
- Real devices: When testing, testing on real devices is always recommended when compared to testing on emulators and simulators. And thus, Testsigma offers integration with real device cloud labs.
- In-depth reporting: Testsigma’s reports are of extremely high quality and have been appreciated for the analytical information displayed in them. It helps in getting a comprehensive study of the quality of tests.
- CI support: Testsigma also comes with continuous integration support with integrations with CI tools to facilitate your automation testing.
Apart from these highlighted features, Testsigma comes with a lot more interesting and powerful features that can make your cloud automation testing an easy task. You can read all their offerings on the official features page.
Pricing
- $249 (Basic pack per month)
- $349 (Pro pack per month)
- Custom
Testsigma is giving a 30-day free trial – review all features before you decide
AppPerfect
AppPerfect is one among the tools list that is a versatile tool – it is of great use for not only testers but developers and big data operations. Integrating salesforce capabilities, AppPerfect sells web testing, load testing, and security testing on its cloud menu.
Apart from cloud testing, you can also download various other testing modules on the system. AppPerfect provides free 1-hour assistance to install and familiarize with the product.
Key Features
- GUI enabled: AppPerfect cloud automation testing has a smooth GUI rather than being controlled through a console. GUI gives an added advantage of ease-of-use and does not need you to remember complex console commands.
- Ready-made scripts: In case you don’t want to write scripts yourselves, AppPerfect provides a solution for you. AppPerfect gives the facility of defining the test requirement and bring scripts to you.
- Distributed Testing: AppPerfect cloud automation testing solution provides distributed testing where the testers can run their test scripts on multiple systems connected through the cloud. The report is then gathered at a single place with a detailed analysis for the team.
- Schedule and Run: AppPerfect provides the testers with the functionality to schedule their test scripts to run at a specified time. This is very helpful in cases where you either need to verify the performance at some time or need to schedule a nightly test run.
Apart from these, AppPerfect brings a few more advantages such as record and replay feature, remote test management, and in-depth report generation. You can visit their website to know more.
Pricing
- $399 (Starter Pack)
- $499 (Starter Pack + Annual technical support)
CloudQA
CloudQA is one among the cloud-based automation testing tools that is growing in popularity. It can perform tests on web applications and mobile applications. CloudQA is made exclusively for performing QA tests with features such as codeless testing and extension recording.
Key Features
- Intelligent maintenance: CloudQA provides intelligent test script management with facilities to simplify complex tasks easily with Javascript.
- Extremely versatile: CloudQA cloud automation testing solution requires no setup, no infrastructure, and no lock-in. You just need to integrate your tech stack quickly and get started.
- Parallel and scalable: CloudQA provides features to scale your automation tests easily and run parallel executions connected to the cloud infra.
- Collaborative in nature: The tool provides collaborative features where multiple people from the team can collaborate from the ease of their location and contribute to the test creation.
- High-quality resource: CloudQA offers real devices, popular integrations, and data-driven testing support for automation testers.
- Testing methods: CloudQA provides functional testing and load testing capabilities on the cloud along with other features.
Pricing
- $299 (Basic pack per month)
- $499 (Standard pack per month)
- Custom
Blazemeter
Blazemeter brands itself as a “complete automation solution” and according to its reviews, it has lived up to its reputation. Blazemeter is a versatile tool with continuous testing, end-to-end testing, functional testing, and API testing.
As per Blazemeter, it has been named “Gartner’s customer choice for software test automation”. It boasts the following key features.
Key Features
- Access configurational control: Blazemeter comes with an access control facility where automation tests can be modified only by the authorized people.
- Record tests: Blazemeter can record the tests performed by the tester.
- Ease of integration: The tool can be integrated very easily into the existing pipeline.
- Continuous integration abilities: Blazemeter can be integrated with continuous integration applications to run automation tests at build phases.
Apart from the above points, Blazemeter can also be used for cross-browser support and fetching detailed reports.
Pricing
- Free (limited functions)
- $99 (Basic per month)
- $499 (Pro per month)
AWS Device Farm
In our list of most popular cloud automation testing tools – the last one is AWS Device Farm (for mobile sites and mobile apps). It was developed in Portland and acquired by cloud service provider AWS in 2015.
AWS Device Farm’s (previously called AppThwack) selling point has always been its array of real Android and iOS devices which can run automated tests and provide accurate real-time analysis. Since the devices are real, you can get a hint of your application’s performance in the market beforehand.
Key Features
- Real devices: As mentioned above, AWS Device Farm comes with real devices running your application. With real devices in testing, you get the best idea about the behavior of a mobile application on target devices.
- Deep-reports: Device farm has always focussed on letting its user know the power of the final generated reports. These reports are high-level with detailed logs, screenshots, and performance data.
- Built-in testing frameworks: AWS device farm comes with built-in framework support for your help in cloud automation testing. These include Appium and Espresso.
- CI support: The tool also comes with continuous integration support with integrations with CI tools to facilitate your automation testing.
AWS Device Farm is a great platform that comes with physical devices that numbers up to 2500. As a tester, you can always keep this on your list for cloud automation testing on mobile applications.
Pricing
- $0.17 (per device per minute).
- $250 (unlimited testing)
And there are more…
This ends our carefully curated list of the most popular cloud automation testing tools. But, obviously, these are not the only ones floating in the market. With experience and keeping our broad audience in mind, we have shortlisted these tools.
However, we would love to learn more from our readers and understand what other leaves exist in this tree. Share your thoughts and experiences with other tools that were not included in the list.
This will help the community and gain a better understanding of this beautiful cloud automation testing arena.
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