31 January 2024 Leave a comment Tool comparisons
In the bustling realm of software testing, Katalon and Applitools stand out with their AI-augmented capabilities, but choosing between them hinges on your needs. Katalon offers a comprehensive quality management suite with a balance of low-code and no-code options, suitable for diverse testing types and integration-focused workflows.
On the other hand, Applitools specializes in AI-powered Visual Testing, emphasizing efficiency with its Visual AI and Ultrafast Test Cloud. Both platforms cater to web and mobile applications, yet their approach to test automation and analysis varies, which we’ll dissect to inform your decision.
Latest update: 1/29/2024, 3:34:32 PM
We do not guarantee the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the information presented on our website. This includes prices, product specifications, and availability, which are subject to change. The reviews on this site are collected from g2.com and crozdesk.com and summarized by us.
Feature comparison of Katalon and Applitools
| Feature | Katalon | Applitools |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✔ | ✔ |
| On Premise | ✔ | ✔ |
| Device Farm | ✔ | N/A |
| Scheduler | ✔ | N/A |
| No Code | ✔ | ✔ |
| Uses Ai | ✔ | ✔ |
| Generates Reports | ✔ | ✔ |
| Uses Computer Vision | ✔ | ✔ |
| Platforms | web,Android,iOS | web,Android,iOS |
| Ease Of Use | easy to learn | easy to learn |
| Is Open Source | – | – |
| Support Included | ✔ | ✔ |
| Review Pros |
– Reduced Effort in Test Maintenance: Users report that Katalon simplifies the creation and maintenance of reusable methods, which can reduce time and effort significantly. – Built-in Reporting Features: The platform automatically captures snapshots on test failures, which enhances the efficiency of reporting. – Comprehensive Test Features: Offers features like Record, Object Spy, and Frame Handling, which streamline the testing process. – Low Learning Curve: Katalon is accessible to manual testers, allowing them to transition to automation testing with minimal training. – Cross-Functional Testing Support: It supports UI, API, and Mobile testing within a single platform, reducing the need to manage different tools for different types of testing. – Community and Customer Support: There is strong community support for the free version and dedicated customer support for the paid version. – Facilitates Cross-Functional Roles: Enables testers to handle both manual and automated testing, effectively becoming cross-functional team members. – CI/CD Integration: For those who opt for the paid version, it offers Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment integration. – Codeless Automation: Provides a codeless automation option, making it accessible for teams with limited coding knowledge. – Efficiency in Test Execution: Users find that Katalon allows for faster test execution compared to manual testing, enabling more extensive and frequent testing. | 1. Easy to use and implement into existing automation workflows. 2. Customer-focused support and assistance. 3. Facilitates the detection of unintended changes, especially in large applications. 4. Shallow learning curve, making it accessible for QA teams with less coding experience. 5. Enhances cross-browser and cross-device testing capabilities. 6. Visual regression testing moves beyond simple visibility checks to ensure visual perfection. 7. Integration with popular frameworks like Cypress for immediate feedback on changes. 8. Offers multiple SDKs for ease of creating and comparing visual snapshots. 9. Features like self-healing capabilities for cloud runners improve user experience. 10. Supports visual validation for accessibility and early component validation in the delivery cycle. |
| Review Cons |
– Separate Licensing: Some users find the need for separate licenses for different features to be a disadvantage. – Cost for Advanced Features: Advanced features like CI/CD integration and Visual Testing require a paid license. – Mobile Execution Issues: There have been reports of instability during mobile test execution, where sessions unexpectedly close. – High Resource Usage: Users with less powerful hardware have experienced performance issues, indicating the platform may require substantial system resources. – Lack of Support for Legacy Systems: Katalon currently does not support automation testing for legacy Java UIs, which can be a limitation for some organizations. – Limited TestOps Analytics: The free version has limitations on the analytical results available through TestOps, pushing users towards the paid version for full functionality. – Separate Licensing for Cloud Features: Features like Parallel Cloud Execution and Cloud Tunnelling require additional licensing, which can increase costs. – Limited Free Features: Some users feel that the most valuable features are locked behind the paid version, which can be a barrier for smaller teams or individual users. – Hardware Demands: The platform’s demand on hardware resources can lead to slower performance on less capable machines. – No Bundled Packages: Users would prefer bundled packages for the various Katalon products to simplify licensing and possibly reduce costs. | 1. The platform can be sluggish on slower connections or computers. 2. Initial maintenance and setup may require some time to get used to. 3. Error reporting can be problematic for automated report generation. 4. Snapshot quality issues have been observed, although updates have addressed them. 5. Lack of built-in support for Azure DevOps Server on pipelines (though now available and updated). 6. Misuse of the tool due to a lack of understanding of its collaborative potential. 7. Branch and baseline management can be confusing, especially for non-technical team members. 8. The cost of Applitools can be prohibitive, especially for large companies requiring many accounts. 9. The GUI, while user-friendly, may oversimplify for advanced users or specific use cases. 10. While the tool is mature and comprehensive, its powerful features come with a high price tag. |
Pricing Comparison: Katalon vs. Applitools
Katalon Pricing Overview
Katalon provides a tiered pricing model aimed at different team sizes and testing needs:
- Starter Plan: Free, basic test automation for small teams or beginners.
- Premium Plan: $167/month (billed annually), advanced features for professional test creation.
- Ultimate Plan: Custom pricing, enterprise-grade features.
Annual billing offers up to 25% savings, with package deals for various licenses and test options, and discounts for new customers.
Applitools Pricing Overview
Applitools also has a tiered pricing structure for automated visual testing:
- Starter Plan: Free, unlimited tests, three users, three parallel tests (public cloud only).
- Eyes Plan: Custom pricing, unlimited tests and users, more than 20 parallel tests (public, dedicated, and on-premise clouds).
- Ultrafast Test Cloud Plan: Custom pricing, focuses on enterprise needs with comprehensive support.
A free account option with 100 checkpoints per month for a single user is available, and there are discounts for startups and open-source projects.
Comparison of Pricing Models
Both Katalon and Applitools offer tiered pricing structures designed to scale with team size and project complexity. Here are the key similarities and differences between their pricing models:
Common Points:
- Free Options: Both platforms offer free plans, allowing small teams or individual users to access basic functionalities without cost.
- Tiered Plans: Each has multiple pricing tiers to cater to different levels of needs, from startups to large enterprises.
- Annual Savings: Committing to annual billing results in savings, reducing the overall cost for the user.
- Special Discounts: Both provide discounts under specific conditions — Katalon for new customers and Applitools for startups and open-source projects.
Differences:
- Plan Focus: Katalon’s plans are more structured around the testing cycle and include AI-powered and visual testing in higher tiers, whereas Applitools focuses on visual AI and automated visual testing.
- Enterprise Customization: Katalon’s highest tier requires custom pricing, similar to Applitools’ Eyes and Ultrafast Test Cloud plans, but Applitools also offers expanded parallel testing and on-premise options.
- Usage Limitations: Applitools’ free account is limited to 100 checkpoints per month for a single user, while Katalon’s free Starter Plan provides unlimited tests for small teams.
- Cloud Options: Applitools provides support for public, dedicated, and on-premise clouds in its higher-tier plans, which is not explicitly stated in Katalon’s pricing model.
In summary, Katalon’s pricing is more modular with clear-cut tiers and a focus on a comprehensive testing cycle, suitable for teams seeking a full suite of testing tools. Applitools, on the other hand, emphasizes its visual testing capabilities with plans that scale significantly in terms of parallel testing and cloud options, catering more towards enterprises with large-scale visual testing needs. Readers should consider the scale of their testing requirements, cloud preferences, and budget constraints when choosing between the two platforms.
