Continuous testing is one of the new software delivery concepts introduced by the third wave of test automation. Nevertheless, learning continuous testing is challenging, and selecting the best continuous testing technology can be daunting.

Your success with software testing and delivery will greatly benefit from using the appropriate technology. We created a list of the top 10 continuous testing tools available right now (listed in no particular order). According to a set of criteria, including test types supported, learning curve, programming language used, support for continuous testing, support for the CI/CD ecosystem, breakthrough features, and others, we examined the features and potential downsides of each tool.

1.Katalon Studio

Tools for Katalon Continuous Testing

Katalon Studio, a comprehensive continuous testing solution built on top of Selenium and Appium, responds to the pressing need for test automation in CI/CD and DevOps.

On Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms, Katalon Studio offers testing of web, API, mobile, and desktop apps. It has a consistent set of functionality that range from providing infrastructure, tracking test steps, and running test cases to delivering analytics reports and CI/CD integration.

Continual testing and Katalon Studio

Continuous testing is supported by Katalon Studio with native CI/CD interaction with the most widely used CI technologies and smooth Jira Agile integration (e.g. Jenkins, Bamboo, Azure, and CircleCI).

With codeless test generation for beginners and extensive extension for experts, Katalon Studio is known for being user-friendly. the plugs inside You may expand your automation options and quickly integrate Katalon Store with other CI/CD programmes.

The answer offers total infrastructural support. You can run tests in cloud, on-premise, and hybrid settings, as well as on all operating systems, browsers, and gadgets.

Last but not least, Katalon Studio provides a full range of analytical reports, real-time monitoring, and an immediate feedback system. Both the calibre of your output and the effectiveness of your team are entirely within your hands. The immediate feedback loop of Katalon will assist you in identifying any emerging problems as soon as they emerge.

2.Selenium

Tools for Selenium Continuous Testing

When it comes to online automation testing, Selenium is undoubtedly the most well-known name. The open-source framework Selenium is a wonderful choice for a team that wants to adopt continuous testing.

selenite and ongoing testing

For Quality Assurance (QA) engineers with a high level of programming proficiency, Selenium is the tool of choice. For setup and integration into your current development cycle, it necessitates a profound understanding of how frameworks operate.

For cross-environment testing, Selenium supports a large number of well-liked OSs (Windows, macOS, Linux) and browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari).

Selenium integration with other tools in the CI/CD pipeline presents a number of difficulties, nevertheless, since you need a specific set of technical know-how and abilities. Because of this, there are various Selenium-based solutions (such as Katalon Studio) that provide out-of-the-box continuous testing components without requiring users to create custom scripts or configurations.

3.Appium

Tools for Appium Continuous Testing

Appium is a substitute for Selenium.

but created for testing on mobile. It is a well-liked framework for mobile testing that numerous teams have embraced.

Appium and ongoing evaluation

Appium can be used and flexible adjusted to meet the needs of continuous testing. On iOS and Android smartphones, the app offers mobile cross-platform testing. In addition, many cloud device providers now permit users to run Appium testing on their own network. You may develop, upload, run, and examine test results directly in the cloud by utilising Appium.

The difficulties arise during the early stages of integrating into the CI/CD ecosystem.

Similar to Selenium, setting up and implementing Appium requires expert understanding of testing frameworks. Appium is therefore best suited for teams that have already had a thorough knowledge of the CI tools used in the industry and this framework.

However, there are a number of paid and open-source testing solutions like Katalon that can solve this issue. Katalon includes an integrated Appium framework so you may avoid the hassle of setup and configuration.

4. Transplant

Continuous Testing Tools for eggplant

Eggplant (previously Testplant) supports a wide range of automation platforms and technologies, including Point of Sales (POS) apps, mobile applications, and the web.

testing continuously and eggplant

Eggplant is the best continuous testing tool for manual testers due to its quick learning curve. The tool provides an original approach to test automation: an image-based approach.

Through the use of pictures and images, Eggplant communicates with Applications Under Test (AUTs) by simulating the users' points of view.

For continuous testing and continuous deployment, Eggplant offers test lab, a cloud device management service that gives development teams 24/7 access.

Eggplant also allows for integration with other components of the CI/CD ecosystem, like Jenkins, Bamboo, CA Agile Requirements Designers, and others.

Eggplant can also be integrated with Undo, a record and playback tool, to speed up the developers' ability to recognise and address errors.

5. Watir

Watir is a superb open-source test automation and continuous testing solution built on the Ruby programming language with a focus on web application testing.

Continuous testing and Watir

Cross-browser testing is supported by Watir with well-known browsers including Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. Additionally, it offers headless browser testing and data-driven testing, both of which are essential for executing tests in the CI/CD pipeline.

Watir is compatible with Behavioral Driven Development (BDD) frameworks and tools including Cucumber, RSpect, and Test/Unit. Your team may successfully use continuous testing across the development lifecycle by integrating Watir with BDD frameworks and CI systems (such as Jenkins).

6. Tosca

Tricentis developed the test automation tool called Tosca. Tosca is a model-based tool that, among other continuous testing tools, automatically scans and loads the AUT directly into the software with very little manual labour.

Continuous testing and Tosca

Enterprise applications, web, mobile, API, and business intelligence testing are all supported by Tosca. The tool makes it easier for business stakeholders to participate directly in the testing process by simplifying the application's technical architecture.

For the team to quickly identify and focus on the application's most problematic areas, Tosca may additionally propose a few key test cases.

Tosca offers a platform that interfaces with DevOps and Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) systems as a continuous and DevOps testing solution.

Tosca provides virtual services to aid its users in simulating test environments as anticipated in production, allowing the team to expand test coverage and guarantee the quality of the final product.

7. Testsigma

In the field of test automation, Testsigma is a relative newcomer. Web, mobile, and API test automation are all supported by the software's cloud-based solution. Since the tests are written in everyday English, manual testers will have a shorter learning curve to pick up automation skills.

Continuous testing and Testsigma

By way of For organisations with limited resources or complex testing requirements, Testsigma also offers test infrastructure with devices, operating systems, and browsers that are most appropriate. Testsigma uses AIs to help this practise as the testing industry moves to the left. The application makes use of AI to find potential hazards and problems resulting from ongoing adjustments and alterations so that quick action can be taken.

To increase Testsigma's functionality, you can incorporate Java or Selenium using the custom function.

Jira and Slack are just a couple of the well-known CI/CD systems that Testsigma supports and integrates.

8. Functional Rational Testing

An effective test automation tool was developed by IBM and is called Rational Functional Tester (RFT). It is a pioneer in the field of test automation. The tool enables practical, performance, data-driven, API, and testing for regression. RFT employs. The two scripting languages are Java and Net.

Continuous testing and RFT

Based on the already-run tests, RFT builds regression tests automatically. When there are any modifications, this will enable you to regularly monitor the test quality.

RFT provides flexible modes for easy team collaboration, including the scripting mode for more complex tasks and the storyboard testing mode to depict testing flows.

The development team may keep track of the AUT's quality with the help of RFT's integration with IBM Quality Manager, a test management tool.

Additionally, the tool offers CI/CD pipeline testing and continuous testing. The tool does, however, come with outdated (and possibly unknown) technologies because it was first released so long ago. This implies that the setup Since the programme demands significant DevOps technical knowledge, it is especially difficult for inexperienced users.

However, the remaining steps of the process may be easily overcame after the integration with the CI/CD pipeline has been accomplished.

9. The Integrated Functional Tester

Another innovator is Micro Focus' Unified Functional Tester (UFT), which was released at the height of the test automation craze.

Continuous testing and UFT

For online, mobile, API, hybrid, robotic process automation (RPA), and business applications, UFT offers automated and continuous testing. The tool has a special feature that mimics how people recognise objects: image-based identification, enabled by integrated OCR (ABBYY, Google Tesseract).

You may achieve continuous testing by integrating the UFT ecosystem, which includes CI/CD tools like Jenkins, Bamboo, and Microsoft TFS, as well as source control systems like Git and SVN.It could be difficult for certain manual testers to use UFT because the scripting language is VBScript. Before selecting the tool, the team should take this into account and assess its present scripting capabilities.

10.TestComplete

A test automation tool for desktop, online, and mobile apps is SmartBear's TestComplete. Python, Javascript, and VBScript are just a few of the programming languages that are supported by the tool.

Continuous and TestComplete testing

You can run data-driven or keyword-driven tests using TestComplete. The developers of TestComplete have released AI functionality for dynamic test object management and recognition. If the UI of the AUT changes, TestComplete can automatically identify the changes and update the tests.

By enabling connection with external unit test frameworks like TestNG and Selenium Webdriver, you can increase your test coverage.

Through plugins, TestComplete provides open integration with the CI/CD ecosystem. These plugins can be used to interface with well-known CI/CD technologies like Jenkins, GIT, and Zephyr (a test management tool by Smartbear); alternatively, you can create unique plugins to integrate with the current system.

Conclusion

Your selection of continuous testing technologies should take into account anticipated trends and advancements in addition to your existing demands. A good tool should provide fundamental optimization, learning curve, supported programming languages, functionality for continuous testing, technical compatibility, integration with other CI tools, and integration with the whole CI/CD ecosystem of your company.

As there are chances for growth, more instruments will be released onto the market. Additionally, it will be fascinating to observe how the current and future tools interact.

Knowing where your team stands on the continuous testing maturity roadmap is just as important as selecting the appropriate solution. Use this free self-assessment as a strategic endeavour to gain tailored guidance and level up your continuous testing with in-depth performance analysis of your team.