What are the Top 10 Compatibility Test Tools for Web and Mobile Applications?

Author: James Danel

With user experience becoming the ultimate differentiator for software to gain acceptance in the market, the compatibility of the software to perform equally across browsers has become critical. This has brought into sharp focus the role of compatibility testing, which if done manually can be quite challenging. However, with the availability of various compatibility testing tools the task of testing a software across browsers has become easier.

Top 10 compatibility testing tools for testers

By using a host of tools, testers can troubleshoot issues and ensure every user enjoys uniform experiences across devices and browsers. The top 10 tools for application compatibility testing are as follows:

#1 CrossBrowser Testing: This paid tool from SmartBear allows single or parallel cross browser testing for mobiles and desktops with quick results. It offers more than 2000 combinations of operating systems, devices, and browsers, and has features such as automated screenshots, localhost support, testing behind logins, and testing on real Android and iOS devices, among others. Its intuitive REST API allows testers access to the entire application.

#2 Lambda Test: As a cloud-based platform, the Lambda Test tool helps to conduct device compatibility testing for websites or web applications. Its scalable cloud grid allows you to run automated Selenium scripts or interactive testing on real browser environments. Its key features include running Selenium automation tests on more than 2000 browser environments, executing automated screenshots of websites, testing privately or locally hosted websites using the SSH tunnel, and a one-click bug logging to tracking tools such as JIRA, Trello, Microsoft VSTS, Asana, GitHub, and BitBucket, among others.

  1. BrowserStack: As one of the most reliable mobile application and browser testing tools, it provides access to more than 1200 mobile devices and browsers. This paid tool does not require any set up and can be initiated for instant testing in a real device cloud environment. It helps to speed up the release cycles of mobile applications and websites and allows them to work seamlessly across any user interface.
  2. Testing Bot: The tool runs manual, automated, and visual tests on more than 2500 browsers, emulators, and mobile devices, and offers an Appium/Selenium grid in the cloud. By providing high-level security and concurrency, the Testing Bot tool allows screenshots, video, and logs for every test. This enterprise-ready tool offers features such as customizations and single sign-on to test websites on private networks.
  3. Selenium Box: This Enterprise Selenium Grid tool can run on-premises or in the cloud and allows automated tests for mobile and web applications. Used in security sensitive areas such as insurance, banking, and medicine, Selenium Box possesses the features of SaaS solutions coupled with the performance of in-house deployment. The tool does not require any external access or tunnels and is fully secured.

#6 Litmus: This paid tool for mobile app compatibility testing is backed by Spectrum Equity. It facilitates testing and reviewing of emails using a centralized application thereby improving visibility and collaboration. Major brands across the industry use Litmus to create more effective emails, simplify workflows, and derive valuable insights from other marketing channels.

  1. Browsera: This is one of the best tools to conduct software compatibility testing across browser layouts. It can find layout problems and JS errors while testing the entire website and does not require any installation. Browsera can test web pages behind login passwords and scripting errors for your website.
  2. Sauce Labs: As one of the leading cloud-based test tools for mobile app and website testing, Sauce Labs can run tests on more than 260 devices and browsers. Moreover, it does not require any VM set up or maintenance and allows testers to take control of the system and investigate an issue manually. Its key features include listing the latest test runs in chronological order by providing information about the testing platform, pass or fail result, and the build.
  3. IE NetRenderer: This open-source compatibility testing tool can test websites on all variants or versions of Internet Explorer (IE). The tester has to merely select the IE version from the drop-down menu and place the URL to begin rendering. It allows instant verification of the test through screenshots.
  4. Experitest: It allows real-time interactions with mobile and web applications for debugging. This application compatibility testing tool can execute scores of parallel tests across thousands of desktop and mobile browsers thereby saving time. By using Experitest, identifying and fixing issues related to responsive design have become possible.

Conclusion

The above-mentioned compatibility testing tools have certain advantages and disadvantages. It is only after conducting due diligence that you should select one suitable to your testing requirements. However, using these is of paramount importance given their impact in achieving quick release cycles and offering better user experiences.