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Best automation tools for software testing in 2025

Best automation tools for software testing in 2025

Automation tools for software testing are essential for increasing efficiency, accuracy, and coverage in the testing process. The best tools vary depending on the specific needs of a project. Here’s a list of some of the best and most widely used automation tools for software testing:

1. Selenium

Open-source, automated, and valuable testing tool that all web application developers should be well aware of. A test performed using Selenium is usually referred to as Selenium automation testing. This Testing tool is used to overcome Manual testing’s obstacles.

Best for: Web Application Testing

Features:

  • Open-source tool for automating web browsers.
  • Supports multiple programming languages like Java, C#, Python, and JavaScript.
  • Integrates with CI/CD tools like Jenkins and version control systems like Git.
  • Supports parallel test execution and works across different browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge).

 Drawback: Requires advanced coding skills and is less ideal for mobile app testing.

2. TestComplete

TestComplete is a functional automated testing platform. It can automate functional UI testing for desktop, mobile, and web applications. With built-in support for 500+ controls and third-party frameworks, TestComplete can handle and identify dynamic UI elements in most available technologies.

Best for: Functional UI Testing for Desktop, Web, and Mobile

Features:

  • Supports multiple platforms (desktop, web, mobile).
  • Can be used with various programming languages (Python, JavaScript, VBScript, etc.).
  • Provides record-and-playback functionality for non-programmers.
  • Integrates with CI/CD tools and supports data-driven testing.
  • Offers AI-powered object recognition for stable tests even if UI changes.

 Drawback: Commercial product with licensing costs.

3. Katalon Studio

Katalon Studio is a low-code and scalable automation testing tool for web, API, desktop (Windows), and mobile applications. Without having to code or built a test automation framework from scratch, users can simply download the tool and focus solely on testing. Katalon Studio excels with its flexible scripting, supporting both Groovy and Java and its complete object repository, enhancing test case management.

 Best for: Web, Mobile, and API Testing

Features:

  • Easy to use with both codeless and scripting modes, making it accessible for non-programmers and developers alike.
  • Supports multiple platforms and allows for web, mobile, desktop, and API testing.
  • Integrated with CI/CD tools like Jenkins, Jira, and Git.
  • Offers built-in analytics and reporting.

Drawback: Limited flexibility compared to tools like Selenium when it comes to customization.

4. Cypress

Cypress is the open-source and free test automation tool. Purely supporting JavaScript frameworks It can be used for front end and application programming interface (API) test automation. It can directly operate within a browser in the same run-loop as your application, enabling native access to elements and faster executions.

 

Best for: End-to-End Web Testing

Features:

  • Specifically designed for modern web applications (React, Angular, Vue.js).
  • Provides faster execution and better stability than Selenium in the browser.
  • Built-in time travel feature for debugging test cases.
  • Easy integration with CI/CD pipelines.

Drawback: Limited browser support (only supports Chrome, Firefox, and Edge) and is primarily JavaScript-focused.

5. Appium

Appium is another open-source automation testing tool, which is used to automate mobile applications on different mobile operating systems such as Android and iOS using mobile JSON wire protocol,

Best for: Mobile Application Testing (iOS, Android)

Features:

  • Open-source tool for automating native, hybrid, and mobile web applications.
  • Supports multiple programming languages (Java, Python, C#, etc.).
  • Can be integrated with testing frameworks like TestNG, JUnit, and CI/CD tools.
  • Works with both real devices and emulators/simulators.

Drawback: Setup and configuration can be complex, especially for iOS.

6. Ranorex

Ranorex Studio can automate GUI testing is easy to start for beginners and productive to use for experienced testers. This tool is for web, desktop and mobile applications without additional framework setup. Ranorex Studio equipped with both low-code automation and full IDE.

Best for: GUI Testing for Desktop, Web, and Mobile

Features:

  •  Provides both codeless automation with a record-and-playback feature and a full IDE for advanced users.
  • Supports multiple platforms (web, desktop, mobile) and technologies (Selenium WebDriver, .NET, etc.).
  • Integrates with CI tools and version control systems.
  • Includes comprehensive reporting and test management capabilities.

Drawback: Requires a commercial license.

7. Jenkins with Selenium

Jenkins is an open source continuous integration (CI) server. This is popular choices for CI/CD pipeline orchestration because it allows you to build, test, and deploy your code continuously and autonomously. When paired with the right tools like Selenium, Jenkins can be used to automate end-to-end (E2E) testing

 

Best for: Continuous Testing in CI/CD Pipelines

Features:

  • Jenkins is a widely-used CI/CD tool that integrates seamlessly with Selenium for automated testing.
  • Allows scheduling and automating test runs after every code commit or build.
  • Supports parallel test execution and multi-environment testing.
  • Works with various testing frameworks (TestNG, JUnit, NUnit).

Drawback: Jenkins needs proper configuration for testing, and may require additional setup for mobile app testing.

8. Postman

Postman is most widely used automation testing tools for API. It allows users to write different kinds of tests, from functional and integration to regression tests, and executes them automatically in CI/CD pipelines via the command line.
Performance testing enables you to simulate user traffic, so you can observe how your API behaves under load.

 

Best for: API Testing

Features:

  • Allows easy creation, management, and automation of API tests.
  • Provides a user-friendly interface for crafting requests, assertions, and data-driven tests.
  • Offers integration with CI/CD tools to automate API testing in the development pipeline.
  • Supports REST, SOAP, and GraphQL APIs.

Drawback: Focuses primarily on API testing and does not cover UI or mobile testing.

9. SoapUI

SoapUI is widely used in WebServices testing tool used for functional and non-functional(performance, regression, and security) testing. This open-source API testing tool is designed for REST and SOAP web services. Users can also aim for the commercial version, ReadyAPI (formerly SoapUI Pro), for more advanced capabilities.

 Best for: Web Service and API Testing

Features:

  • Widely used for functional, performance, and security testing of APIs.
  • Supports both RESTful and SOAP web services.
  • Can perform data-driven testing and integrates with CI/CD pipelines.
  • Provides codeless test creation along with scripting for more complex cases.

 Drawback: It can be more resource-intensive compared to lighter API testing tools like Postman.

10. Robot Framework

Robot Framework is a generic open-source framework for test automation, especially for acceptance testing and acceptance test-driven development. Built with a keyword-driven approach, its low-code to start and also extensible with a rich ecosystem of tools and libraries.

Best for: Keyword-Driven Testing for Web, Mobile, and Desktop

Features:

  • Open-source framework that is easy to extend with libraries like Selenium, Appium, and other tools.
  • Uses keyword-driven and data-driven testing, which makes it accessible to non-programmers.
  • Integrates well with CI/CD pipelines and other DevOps tools.
  • Good for acceptance testing, UI testing, and custom automation.

Drawback: May require more setup and customization for specific use cases compared to more specialized tools.

11. Tricentis Tosca

Tricentis Tosca is a comprehensive automation tool for web, API, mobile, and desktop testing. It has a unique model-based testing approach, allowing users to scan an application’s UI or APIs to create a business-familiar model for test creation and maintenance.

 Best for: Continuous Testing in Enterprise Environments

Features:

  • Supports model-based test automation across various platforms (web, mobile, API, desktop).
  • Allows for codeless test automation, making it accessible to non-technical testers.
  • Integrates well with CI/CD pipelines and supports continuous testing.
  • Offers advanced reporting and analytics.

 Drawback: Expensive licensing fees, primarily aimed at large enterprises.

12. Eggplant

Eggplant Functional is a black-box graphical user interface test automation tool for mobile, desktop, and web applications. With an image-based approach, it allows a single script to automate different combinations of platforms and technologies

 

Best for: AI-Powered UI Testing for Web, Mobile, and Desktop

Features:

  • Uses AI and machine learning to automate testing from a user’s perspective.
  • Can test both GUI and non-GUI applications.
  • Integrates with CI/CD tools and supports data-driven testing.
  • Offers robust reporting and analytics features.

 Drawback: Licensing cost is high, and it may not be suitable for smaller teams.