Top 5 Selenium Alternatives (2021)

In the world of QA testing, Selenium is considered the standard choice for DevOps teams. This open-source suite of testing tools is great as it allows test engineers to write test scripts in their native programming language. There is a tool for non-engineers to record-and-playback tests using a GUI. With all these perks, there are many pitfalls, however. Hence why many competitors have emerged. Here’s the list of top Selenium alternatives in a growing pool of options.

“Selenium is a fine test automation tool, however, it lacks many feature requests testers have been asking for…”

Selenium downfalls and why people search for alternatives

• Coding required. In the testing world, it is best if DevOps teams can focus most of an engineer’s time on coding and innovation. Non-engineering tasks can be assigned to testers. Robust Selenium tools require coding only, which can present a steep learning curve for non-coders.
• Lack of built-in image comparison. Selenium, by default, does not offer a built-in image comparison solution. You have to add a third-party solution such as Sikuli to gain this feature.
• Lack of tech support. Since it is open-source, support is sought in the form of user groups, chat rooms, and Slack support via the massive online community.
• Lack of reporting capabilities. Selenium does not properly support reporting. Third-party add-ons must be plugged in for these features.
• Maintenance nightmares. If you have tested using Selenium, then you know the biggest frustration is test maintenance. This list helps avoid Selenium maintenance headaches at scale…

Autify

One of the best Selenium alternatives is Autify. It is an AI-powered codeless test automation software platform. No code platforms are easy to use and do not require coding in a programming language in order to create test scripts. This means non-engineers can create test scripts without training. You can run and record regression tests without learning or writing a line of code. Autify algorithms can discover UI changes, continue test scenarios rather than failing, thus saving valuable time and resources for DevOps teams.

Key features:

• It’s a no code platform, so no coding required. Use a GUI to record test scenarios then play them back.
• Test scripts are maintained by AI.
• Artificial intelligence “learns” of user interface changes, adapt to changes, and alert tester of changes.
• It’s cross-browser compatible including mobile devices.
• Integrates with Slack, Jenkins, TestRail, and more.
• Pricing: 2-week free trial, then $500/month. Commercial — Contact sales.

Playwright

Key features:

Playwright is an open-source automation library developed by Microsoft that allows developers to automate web browsers and perform browser automation tasks. It provides a set of APIs and tools for automating interactions with web pages and web applications using various web browsers such as Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit.

• Built-in mechanisms for waiting and synchronization.
• Designed to handle modern web technologies, such as single-page applications, progressive web apps, and web components.
• Supports both headless mode and headful mode.
• Perform a wide range of interactions with web pages and elements, such as clicking, typing, hovering, scrolling, and executing JavaScript on pages.

Cypress

Cypress is an open-source test automation platform that has recently launched. The tool aligns more with current development principles than Selenium, which is why it is one of the top picks among developers. The platform features two tools; Cypress Test Runner for running tests in the browser and Cypress Dashboard for a suite of CI tools.

Key features:

• Write tests in real-time as you build your web application.
• See snapshots of tests from Command Log.
• Debug test scripts in real-time using tools like Chrome DevTools.
• Automatic wait steps and assertions.

Pricing: Free for up to 3 users (or 500 test recordings per month),
$99/month – 25K tests,
$199/month – 75K tests,
$399/month – 150k tests.

Katalon

Katalon is a test automation platform built on top of Appium and Selenium frameworks. Test desktop, mobile, web, and APIs using the platform. It, too, uses a codeless IDE approach to writing test scripts. The suite of tools consist of; Katalon Studio, Katalon Runtime Engine, and Katalon TestOps.

Key features:

• Record-and-playback IDE for codeless test script writing.
• Smart engine features with auto-heal and auto-wait capabilities.
• Cross-browser testing across multiple devices.
• Advanced reports and AI-powered analytics.
• CI/CD integration with tools such as Jenkins, Bamboo, Azure DevOps, and more.

Pricing: Katalon Studio is Free,
Katalon Runtime Engine $539-1,199/year,
Katalon Studio Enterprise $759-1,529/year.

GhostInspector

GhostInspector allows for test automation of websites, browsers, UI, and e2e testing. Similar to Selenium IDE, GhostInspector provides a streamlined test recorder tool for Chrome and Firefox.

Key features:

• Codeless test creation with record-and-playback GUI.
• Testers can record, schedule, and automate tests.
• Features side-by-side comparison screenshots of changes sent via email or other integrations such as Slack.
• Supports multiple browsers and screen sizes.

Pricing: Small $89/mo – 10K tests,
Medium $179/mo – 30K tests,
Large $359/mo – 100K tests,
Enterprise — Contact sales.

Conclusion

Selenium is a fine test automation tool, however, it lacks many feature requests testers have been asking for. Although paid options, the above-listed Selenium alternatives offer features worth paying for. Those common themes are codeless test script creation, AI-powered test script maintenance, cross-browser and multi-device compatibility, and actionable reports with screenshots. If you are looking for help deciphering which tool is best for your QA team contact us today for help!