Guide to 20 GUI Testing Tools with Comprehensive Overviews

Updated March 2024

When developing software, the user interface (UI) is just as important as the underlying code. A well-designed or malfunctioning UI can lead to clarity, satisfaction, and loyal customers. That's why it's essential to thoroughly test your graphical user interfaces (GUIs) before releasing your software to the public. One of the best ways to do this is by using GUI testing tools, also known as GUI automation testing tools. These tools allow you to automate the testing process, saving you time and resources while ensuring that your GUIs are functional and user-friendly.

But with so many GUI testing tools on the market, how do you know which is best for your project? That's where this guide comes in. We've researched and compiled a list of some of the top functional GUI testing tools available. We'll introduce you to each tool and give you an in-depth look at their features, drawbacks, pricing, and platform support. By the end of this guide, you'll have a clear understanding of the best tools available and be able to choose the one that best meets your needs.

Whether you're a developer, QA engineer, or project manager, this guide is a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their software's quality and user experience. Keep reading and discover the best GUI testing tools available today.

GUI Testing Tools: Overview

Here's an overview of some of the most popular and widely used options. We've compiled a list of tools, each with its unique features and capabilities, and in the following sections, we'll take a closer look at each one. We'll provide detailed information about their features, drawbacks, pricing, and platform support. With this information, you'll be able to decide which GUI testing tool is the best fit for your project.

1. Functionize

Functionize is a leading QA testing tool that uses AI to empower teams with end-to-end tests that self-heal and run at scale in the cloud. This allows for faster testing, lower costs, and improved quality in CI/CD environments. Its AI-powered platform creates more stable tests resulting from its unique big data approach. It also empowers teams and future-proofs skills with low-code intelligent tests, removing the need for highly technical “coders” to automate testing.

Drawbacks

• Might be overwhelming for some!

Platform

• Web-based

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2. Katalon Studio

Katalon Studio is a powerful and versatile GUI testing tool that supports web and mobile applications. It is a free and open-source tool that offers a wide range of features and integrations to help users automate their testing process.

Drawbacks:

• Limited Support for Non-Web Applications
• Limited Support for Image-Based Testing

Pricing:

• Free

Platform:

• Windows, macOS, Linux

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3. TestComplete

TestComplete is a comprehensive GUI testing tool that supports many web, mobile, and desktop applications. It offers a wide range of features and integrations to help users automate their testing process.

Drawbacks

• No Free Version is Available
• Limited Support for Non-Windows Platforms

Pricing

• Contact Sales

Platform

• Windows

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4. RAPISE by Inflectra

RAPISE is a GUI testing tool that supports a wide range of applications, including web, mobile, and desktop. It offers a wide range of features and integrations to help users automate their testing process.

Drawbacks

• No Free Version is Available
• Limited Support for Non-Windows Platforms

Pricing

• Contact Sales

Platform

• Windows, Linux

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5. Abbot Java GUI Test Framework

Abbot is an open-source GUI testing framework for Java applications. It provides a simple, flexible, and extensible way to automate the testing of Java GUI components.

Drawbacks

• Limited Support for Non-Java Applications
• Limited Support for Image-Based Testing

Pricing

• Free

Platform

• Windows, macOS, Linux

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6. AutoIt UI Testing

AutoIt is an open-source GUI testing tool designed to automate the testing of Windows GUI applications. It is a simple and easy-to-use tool that is well-suited for automating repetitive tasks.

Drawbacks

• Limited Support for Non-Windows Platforms
• Limited Support for Image-Based Testing

Pricing

• Free

Platform

• Windows

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7. CubicTest

CubicTest is a GUI testing tool that supports web applications. It is an open-source tool that allows users to create and execute tests using a simple drag-and-drop interface.

Drawbacks

• Limited Support for Non-Web Applications
• Limited Support for Mobile Platforms

Pricing

• Free

Platform

• Windows, macOS, Linux

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8. eggPlant UI Automation Testing

eggPlant is a GUI testing tool that supports a wide range of applications, including web, mobile, and desktop. It uses image-based testing to automate the testing process, which allows for more accurate and reliable testing.

Drawbacks

• No Free Version is Available
• Limited Support for Non-Windows Platforms

Pricing

• Contact Sales

Platform

• Windows, macOS, Linux

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9. FitNesse

FitNesse is an open-source GUI testing tool that uses a wiki-based interface to allow users to create and execute tests. It supports agile development and can be integrated with various testing frameworks.

Drawback

• Limited Support for Non-Web Applications
• Limited Support for Mobile Platforms

Pricing

• Free

Platform

‍

• Windows, macOS, Linux

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10. Ascentialtest

Ascentialtest is a GUI testing tool that supports web applications. It offers a wide range of features and integrations to help users automate their testing process.

Drawbacks

• No Free Version is Available
• Limited Support for Non-Windows Platforms

Pricing

• Contact Sales

Platform

• Windows

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11. LambdaTest

LambdaTest is a cloud-based GUI testing tool that supports web applications. It offers a wide range of features and integrations to help users automate their testing process.

Drawbacks

• No Free Version is Available
• Limited Support for Non-Web Applications

Pricing

• Contact Sales

Platform

• Windows, macOS, Linux

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12. Selenium

Selenium is an open-source GUI testing tool that supports web applications. It is one of the most widely used and well-supported GUI testing tools.

Drawbacks

• Limited Support for Non-Web Applications
• Limited Support for Mobile Platforms

Pricing

• Free

Platform

• Windows, macOS, Linux

‍

13. Cypress

Cypress is a JavaScript-based GUI testing tool that supports web applications. It is an open-source tool that allows users to create and execute tests using a simple and easy-to-use interface.

Drawbacks

• Limited Support for Non-Web Applications
• Limited Support for Mobile Platforms

Pricing

• Free

Platform

• Windows, macOS, Linux

‍

14. Playwright

Playwright is a GUI testing tool that supports web applications. It is a new tool developed by Microsoft and allows for cross-browser testing.

Drawbacks

• Limited Support for Non-Web Applications
• Limited Support for Mobile Platforms

Pricing

• Free

Platform

• Windows, macOS, Linux

‍

15. Puppeteer

Puppeteer is a JavaScript-based GUI testing tool that supports web applications. It is developed by Google, allowing users to automate the browsing process and perform actions such as clicking, scrolling, and typing.

Drawbacks

• Limited Support for Non-Web Applications
• Limited Support for Mobile Platforms

Pricing

• Free

Platform

• Windows, macOS, Linux

‍

16. TestCafe

TestCafe is a GUI testing tool that supports web applications. It is an open-source tool that allows users to create and execute tests using a simple and easy-to-use interface.

Drawbacks

• Limited Support for Non-Web Applications
• Limited Support for Mobile Platforms

Pricing

• Free

Platform

• Windows, macOS, Linux

‍

17. WebdriverIO

WebdriverIO is a JavaScript-based GUI testing tool that supports web applications. It is an open-source tool that allows users to create and execute tests using a simple and easy-to-use interface.

Drawbacks

• Limited Support for Non-Web Applications
• Limited Support for Mobile Platforms

Pricing

• Free

Platform

• Windows, macOS, Linux

‍

18. Screenster

Screenster is a GUI testing tool that supports web applications. It is a cloud-based tool that allows users to create and execute tests using a simple and easy-to-use interface.

Drawbacks

• Limited Support for Non-Web Applications
• Limited Support for Mobile Platforms

Pricing

• Contact Sales

Platform

• Windows, macOS, Linux

‍

19. Squish

Squish is a GUI testing tool that supports a wide range of applications, including web, mobile, and desktop. It offers a wide range of features and integrations to help users automate their testing process.

Drawbacks

• No Free Version is Available
• Limited Support for Non-Windows Platforms

Pricing

• Contact Sales

Platform

• Windows, macOS, Linux

‍

20. Ranorex Studio

Ranorex Studio is a comprehensive GUI testing tool that supports a wide range of applications, including web, mobile, and desktop. It offers a wide range of features and integrations to help users automate their testing process.

Drawbacks

• No Free Version is Available
• Limited Support for Non-Windows Platforms

Pricing

• Contact Sales

Platform

• Windows, macOS

‍

21. RIATest

RIATest is a GUI testing tool that supports web and mobile applications. It offers a wide range of features and integrations to help users automate their testing process.

Drawbacks

• No Free Version is Available
• Limited Support for Non-Windows Platforms

Pricing

• Contact Sales

Platform

• Windows, macOS, Linux

Selection Criteria

The process of choosing the best GUI testing tools featured in this guide involved a comprehensive evaluation based on various criteria. Our goal was to provide a diverse selection that caters to different GUI testing needs. The following factors played a crucial role in the selection process:

1. Popularity and Community Support:

Automated Testing Tools with a strong user community and widespread adoption were given priority.

• They had to have received evaluations from at least 30 satisfied users across various review sites, like g2.com, Capterra, TrustRadius (most had over 50 total reviews).
• They had to have a total Capterra rating of 4.3 or better.
• They could not have any entirely negative reviews.

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2. Features and Functionality:

We assessed the breadth and depth of features offered by each Automated testing tool. The tools that have the specific range of GUI testing features and functionality were given preference.

3. User-Friendly Interface:

We meticulously examined the user reviews to identify the level of user-friendliness of each of the aforementioned tools. Those with interfaces that facilitate easy navigation and usage were highlighted.

‍4. Cross-Browser and Cross-Platform Support:

The selected tools were evaluated for their cross-browser and cross-platform capabilities, based on customer testimonials.

‍5. Scalability:

The ability of the GUI testing tools to support both small-scale projects and large, enterprise-level applications according to project requirements was considered. This metric was analyzed based on the “Company Size” information available in G2 platform for each of the tools. 

6. Integration Capabilities:

Tools that seamlessly integrate with popular development and continuous integration tools were favored.

‍7. Advancements and Updates:

The GUI testing tools with active development and a commitment to staying current with industry trends were prioritized.

The combination of these criteria led to the selection of the GUI testing tools featured in this guide. There was no sponsorship involved in this process, and the tools were thoroughly investigated by real people, not algorithms.

It's important to note that the tools presented here may not cover every possible use case, and the choice of a tool should align with the specific requirements and preferences of your testing team.

FAQs about GUI testing tools

It's natural to have questions about choosing the right tool for your project. To help you navigate the world of GUI testing tools, we've compiled a list of frequently asked questions and answers to provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision.

What is GUI testing?

GUI testing, also known as graphical user interface testing, is the process of testing the functionality and usability of a software application's user interface. It includes testing the layout, buttons, text fields, and other interactive elements to ensure they are working correctly and are easy to use. GUI testing can be performed manually or through automation tools, such as GUI testing tools.

Is Selenium a GUI testing tool?

Selenium is a popular open-source automation testing tool primarily used for web application testing. It can be used for GUI testing but is not explicitly designed for this purpose. Selenium allows users to automate browser actions such as clicking, scrolling, and typing. Additionally, Selenium can be integrated with other GUI testing tools for more robust testing capabilities.

What are the three types of GUI?

The three types of GUI (Graphical User Interface) are:

• Command Line Interface (CLI) - It is a type of interface that uses text commands to interact with the computer.
• Menu-Driven Interface - It is a type of interface that uses a menu to navigate and access different features of the application.
• Graphic User Interface (GUI) - This interface uses graphical elements, such as icons and buttons, to interact with the computer.

Conclusion

GUI testing is an essential part of the software development process, and it ensures that your application's graphical user interfaces (GUIs) are functioning correctly and are user-friendly. The use of GUI testing tools, also known as GUI automation testing tools, can significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the testing process. With so many options available on the market, it can be overwhelming to determine which tool is the best fit for your project.

This guide has introduced you to some of the most popular and widely used functional GUI testing tools and provided detailed information about their features, drawbacks, pricing, and platform support. We have also answered some frequently asked questions that will help you decide. With this information, you'll be able to determine which GUI testing tool is the best fit for your project.

However, it's important to note that your specific needs and requirements will determine the best GUI testing tool for your project. Try out different tools and see which one fits better with your team's experience and familiarity with the tool. With the right GUI testing tool, you can improve your software's overall quality and user experience and, ultimately, increase customer satisfaction.

In conclusion, GUI testing tools play a crucial role in software development, and choosing the right one for your project can make all the difference. We hope that this guide has helped you understand the available options and make an informed decision about which GUI testing tool best fits your project. Contact the respective vendors for more information and support if you have any further questions.