Top 15 Best Mobile Automation Testing Tools

Every business nowadays demands mobile applications to offer an easy user experience and relatively to make a global presence. The applications are vital for businesses to make a digital presence and to reach customers in person. The demand requires a high contribution from mobile app developers and DevOps teams. To exceed expectations in UI/UX and responsiveness requires the right tools to build, test, and launch fine-tuned mobile applications. This process includes automation testing to a greater extent to develop error-free and top-performing mobile applications.

I remember that we used Selenium as the first automation tool in our organisation, and now there are plenty of codeless automation testing tools. So, I like to list the top 15 best mobile automation testing tools In 2024 to deliver highly optimised mobile applications. I can share my experience in this read about automation testing and a list of mobile automation testing tools. While you read further, you will learn about price, features, and how to choose right mobile automation testing tools. 

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What Is Mobile Automation Testing?

More than 20,000 devices with different screen sizes and brands are available around the world. These various devices has different hardware and software integrated in it. Testing the functionality and performance of one application across many devices manually is nearly impossible. So, automation testing process on virtual devices using simulators and emulators, also known as mobile testing automation tools, needs to be done.

It's simpler to run an automated test process to check the performance of a developed mobile application than manual testing. Mobile app test automation saves time in identifying the bugs, maintaining the error logs, and working simultaneously with the team. It helps to fix the errors through no-code, low-code, or full-code practices. Altogether, mobile app automation testing helps you to be productive and organised while handling big projects in a team.

Types Of Mobile Automation Testing Tools

There are several components of Android and iOS architecture that require specific testing tools to ensure the final product is ready to launch in the market. During the testing process, you need to check the programming error, design, functionality, layout, permission accessibility, logical operations, and throughout the activity lifecycle. Each segment relates to a specific component that requires testing separately. Automation testing tools categorise into six major types;

1. Unit Testing

2. UX/UI Testing

3. Functional Testing

4. Navigational Testing

5. Performance Testing

6. Compatibility Testing

7. Integration Testing

All these automation tests make error and bug detection easier while keeping scalability and project maintenance at the core.

How To Choose The Best Automation Tools For Mobile Testing?

Choosing the right mobile testing automation tools helps you develop the application without error and complete the product launch within a deadline. Mobile automation tools help you enhance user experience with cross-platform testing and help you meet industry standards while keeping all the processes organised. Thus, here are the key features to consider for finding the best automation tools for mobile testing.

• Device Compatibility: The tool must allow you to run tests for Android and iPhone devices.

• Programming Language: Choose no-code or full-code automation testing tools based on your level of expertise in writing testing scripts.

• Multi-language Support: If you are working on a multi-lingual application, then you must choose mobile automation testing tools supported for multi-language testing. 

• Integration for CI/CD: Look for native integration capabilities for CI/CD pipelines to minimise your testing time and efforts.

• Learning Curve: You must invest in mobile testing automation tools that are developed with an easy user interface, allow you to perform the task quickly, and are easy to learn.

• AI-powered features: Look for AI-enabled automation testing tools for mobile applications that will help you speed up the process with automated script writing, parallel testing, fast reporting, and more to save time.

These are the vital features to look at before selecting automation tools for mobile testing. There are different mobile automation testing tools and frameworks in use, so let's check out some.

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Top 15 Best Mobile Automation Testing Tools and Frameworks 

1] Appium

Appium is an open-source automation testing tools for mobile applications that is compatible with Android, iOS, and Windows operating systems. Whether you want to test a native mobile app, web app, or hybrid application, Appium will make your task easier with the initial environment setup.

The Appium tool allows you to perform tests for multi-language support, cross-platform compatibility, and much more. The added advantage is their open community group, which can help you troubleshoot if you are stuck somewhere.

Features

• Easy to set testing environment

• Supports Android, iOS, and Windows app testing

• Offers simulator and emulator testing

• Supports multiple programming languages

• CI (Continuous Integration) compatibility

• Offers to conduct various tests at a time.

• Allows black box testing

• Offers wide client library

• Impressive regression testing

Pricing: Open Source

2] Calabash

Calabash is one of the top mobile testing automation tools available for free use. Developed by the Xamarin team, It is easy to integrate with Cucumber and other frameworks and tools. The Calabash framework comes with an easy user interface and requires no deep knowledge of object-oriented languages, Java, or more complex coding languages to check your application's responsiveness.

Features

• Supported for iOS and Android

• User-friendly dashboard

• Allows to Code in plain English

Pricing: Open Source

3] Espresso

Espresso is owned by Google, and it is a UI testing framework that allows you to perform quick tests for Android applications. It offers low code to full code test script writing regardless of the level of experience you have to operate with mobile automation testing tools.

Features

• Best for black-box and UI testing

• Supports Android app testing

• Easy usage through API

• Easy to maintain testing script

• Seamless integration with Android Studio

• One assertion or UI action occurs at a time.

• Supports JUnits and Java

Pricing: Open Source

4] Flutter

Flutter is yet another automation testing tools for mobile applications, which is developed by Google and allows you to perform app testing on real devices. It is an ideal framework for creating natively compiled applications for Android, desktop, and web browsers. With Flutter, you can perform UI (user interface) testing, widget testing, Unit testing, and more, accessing simulators and emulators.

Features

• Best for integration and widget testing

• Supports Android app testing

• Allows CI (Continuous Integration) testing

• Backed with CircleCI, Travis CI, and Jenkins support

• Support Streams to manage asynchronous operations

• Allow you to pump frames of animation

• Easy to manage favourite item list

Pricing: Open Source

5] HeadSpin

HeadSpin is a global omnichannel mobile automation testing tools that allows you to analyse the app performance manually or automatically, backed up with data science. You can either use the HeadSpin cloud-based testing environment or set an on-premises environment to perform app testing compatibility for several devices, including mobile, computer, media players, web browsers, and even automotive screens.

Features

• Best for real device performance testing

• Supports Android and iOS app testing

• 90+ locations to test from

• Global device infrastructure for real-time testing

• Offers detailed insights on app performance

• Easy to identify bugs and errors

• Seamless testing for concurrent device testing

• Schedule manual or automation testing

Pricing

HeadSpin is a completely premium automation tools for mobile testing. You need to request a customised quote based on your project requirement that will be billed annually.

6] iOS Driver

iOS Driver is an open-source mobile testing automation tool with seamless integration with WebDrive API and Selenium. You can use iOS Driver to test hybrid, native and even web-based iOS applications without changing automation infrastructure. Also, it doesn’t require jailbreaking the device and allows you to manage the simulator farm.

Features

• Supports iOS applications only

• Reduced feedback time for GUI testing

• Reuse of utility and helper classes

Pricing: Open Source

7] Katalon

Katalon is an all-in-one automation testing tool for mobile applications that can be used on-premises or over the cloud. AI-enabled Katalon features allow you to test web-based applications, mobile applications, and APIs with scripting flexibility. Based on your preferences, you can perform application testing with a low-code or full-code facility.

Features

• Supports app testing for Android, iOS, web apps, and APIs

• Easy test record and replay using a browser extension

• Flexibility to create DevOps-centric workflow

• Fast process with pre-made project templates

• Smooth integration with CI/CD

• Cloud and on-prem testing execution

Pricing

Katalon is a freemium tool where you can get access with limited features such as recorder and reporting capabilities for free. Its paid plan starts at $175 per month for each user with advanced features.

8] LambdaTest

LambdaTest claims to be an ultra-fast mobile testing automation tools that supports 120+ frameworks and multiple application tests. You can use simulators and emulators for real device testing in multiple languages and geolocation and save unlimited screenshots as well for performance.

Features

• Supports native, hybrid, and web app testing

• Smart UI inspector

• Seamless integrations with other tools

• AI-powered testing

• Save time on error reporting

Pricing

Lambda Test comes with basic features in a free plan forever. The Lambda Test premium plans start from $15 per month while billed annually and can go up to $159 per month based on the plan you are choosing.

9] Selenium

Selenium is primarily a web application testing framework, and its capabilities can be enhanced with library integration to make it easy automation testing tools for mobile applications. Selenium Grid allows you to write testing scripts in object-C languages to check application performance and functionalities on various browsers and devices.

Features

• Supports native, hybrid, and web apps

• Compatible for Android & iOS testing

• Allows Java, Ruby, PHP, Python, and C# coding

• Easy cross-browser testing

• Check performance on real devices and emulators

Pricing: Open Source

10] Selendroid

Selendroid is an easy-to-use automation tools for mobile testing that supports native, hybrid, and web app testing for Android UI performance. Integrating it with Selenium 2 client API, Android target API, and nodes can help you parallel testing while saving time in output and error fixing.

Features

• Supports only Android app testing

• Integrated Android driver web view app

• Integrated inspector for test case development

• Supports hot plugging for hardware testing

• Simultaneous testing for multiple Android emulators

Pricing: Open Source

11] Xamarin.UITest

Xamarin.UITest is a Microsoft-owned automation testing tools for mobile applications which is compatible with Android and iOS testing. Currently, Xamarin is part of the MS Visual Studio App Center, but soon, it will retired, and you will need to use the BrowserStack App Automate tool for mobile testing over the cloud.

Features

• Supports all central app testing

• Hassle-free test screen recording

• Huge library to create multiple test cases

• Access to 20,000+ real devices

• Cloud accessibility for fast testing

Pricing: Open Source

12] AppliTools

AppliTools is a freemium mobile testing automation tool that has been proven to be the best for visual testing. It can also be used for regression testing, functional testing, cross-browser testing, and more. 

Understanding their navigation and setting up the testing environment might take some time. However, it saves you a lot of time with no code requirement. Also, you will have no difficulty with the previous code if you add a new line of script for testing.

Features

• Best automation tools for visual testing

• AI-powered end-to-end platform

• Easy to manage bug notes and feedback

• Applitools Eyes compatible with multiple programming languages

• Require minimum learning curve

• Seamless adaptability for rapid changes

• Optimized assertions

• Easy integration with popular frameworks

Pricing

AppliTools is a freemium tool that allows you to access limited features with up to 100 checkpoints in the free trial. Its premium package starts from $99 per month and may go up to $599 per month and $63,000 per year, depending on the plan you choose.

13] KIF (Keep It Functional)

KIF is an open-source mobile automation testing tools for iOS applications and can be configured on macOS only. You can 

Features

• Supports iOS app testing only

• Smooth setup with CocoaPods

• Easy integration with the Xcode project

• Flexible with Swift and object C coding

• Easy to test complex and logical functionalities

Pricing: Open Source

14] Kobiton

Kobiton is a premium automation tool for mobile testing that offers access to a wide range of virtual devices over the cloud. Its capability can be maximized with effortless integrations to popular application frameworks like Appium, Jenkins, Espresso, and more.

Features

• Supports all central mobile app testing

• Unlimited Appium script generation

• AI-powered test automation

• Team collaborations for editing and feedback

Pricing

Kobiton offers three premium packages, namely Startup, Accelerate, and Premium, and the price ranges from $83 to $399 per month, depending on the requirement.

15] Perfecto

Perfecto is an AI-driven automation testing tools for mobile applications that allows you to perform manual and automated tests with no-code or low-code preferences. You can use iOS and Android simulators with realistic virtual traffic to test your application performance at server load.

Features

• Supports iOS and Android testing

• Allows manual and automated testing

• Access to virtual public cloud

• Scriptless application testing

• Easy reporting with AI features

Pricing

Perfecto offers a free trial with limited features, and its premium subscription, which ranges from $83 to $125 per month, is available based on your requirements.

Other Popular Mobile Testing Automation Tools and Frameworks 

Here are a few other mobile automation testing tools that are popular and used in many conditions. They are Ranorex, Robotium, Robot Framework, SikuliX, TestComplete, TestFairy, TestProject, XCUI Test, JUnit, and TestNG. Based on the requirement of the application to be tested, users can select any of the automation testing tools. Each and every tool is used to increase the speed of the app delivery and increase the quality of the mobile applications. 

Conclusion

As of now, you have to know a handful of mobile automation testing tools, but each has its own flexibility, features, functionality, UI, and limitations. While a few free automation testing tools like Appium, Espresso, Selenium, and Flutter (as listed above) are enough to start your application testing, the others help you effortlessly manage big projects with multiple tests at a time.

In either case, if you are new to the app testing industry or want to build a rewarding career in this evergreen endeavour, you must be a master of using these tools. Here, getting Automation Testing Training from industry experts can be a smart move towards your career growth. Learning automation testing from a reputed institute such as StarAgile will help you get professional-level expertise with 100+ hours of practical assignments and an assured job package with MNCs. 

Take a step towards becoming a certified mobile automation tester with extensive knowledge about modules, automation frameworks, tools, object-oriented programming languages, APIs, and more.