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Best Tools for Manual Software Testing in 2023

Testing software manually might seem like a big task, but it’s a must to make sure apps and websites work right. In 2023, there are many tools to help make this job easier. These tools help you write tests, track bugs, and get feedback from testers. Let’s look at some of the best manual testing tools you can use this year.

Key Takeaways

  • Marker.io is great for web development agencies and software testing teams, making it easy to track tasks.
  • BrowserStack allows you to test across different browsers and devices, ensuring compatibility.
  • Jira/Xray is a powerful combo for managing test cases and tracking bugs.
  • Firebase helps you with real-time crash reporting and performance monitoring.
  • Postman is essential for testing APIs, making sure they work as expected.

Marker.io

Marker.io is a user-friendly manual testing tool designed for web development agencies and software testing teams. It operates as a small widget on a live website or staging environment, integrating smoothly with your favorite project management tools. With just one click, testers and users can provide visual feedback, complete with all the data needed to fix bugs or make changes to a website or app. Additionally, session replay allows you to watch the last 30 seconds before feedback was submitted.

Marker.io makes it easy for testers and clients to give feedback and create detailed bug reports quickly. These reports include an automatic screenshot, which users can annotate with arrows, emojis, and other visual aids. This makes fixing bugs much simpler when all the data is at your fingertips. For testers and external stakeholders, giving feedback is a straightforward, three-step process:

  1. Click the Marker.io widget.
  2. Annotate the screenshot.
  3. Submit the feedback.

Marker.io is ideal for agencies and software development teams needing to gather client and internal feedback during development or user feedback on live websites. Setting it up is easy—just embed a few lines of code on your website, and you can start collecting client feedback with screenshots, annotations, and advanced technical metadata. There is also a no-code WordPress plugin and a browser extension available.

The tool integrates seamlessly with many project management tools, including Jira, GitHub, Trello, ClickUp, and Notion. This makes your project management suite the single source of truth for every task, roadmap item, bug report, and manual testing report for every website and app project. And don’t worry, Marker.io won’t slow down your website; it runs entirely in the background.

Anyone can submit feedback without needing an account, making it accessible for all users. Pricing plans start as low as $49 per month, with each plan offering a 15-day free trial. For more details, check out the pricing page and get started now.

BrowserStack

BrowserStack is a top-notch testing platform that supports both automated and manual testing for web and mobile applications. It allows teams to test on a wide range of real devices and browsers, ensuring comprehensive coverage.

Key Features

  • Real Device Cloud: Test on over 3000 real devices and browsers.
  • Automation Support: Integrates with frameworks like Selenium, Cypress, Appium, and more.
  • CI/CD Integration: Works seamlessly with tools like Jenkins, CircleCI, and Travis CI.
  • Visual Testing: Perform visual regression testing to catch UI bugs.
  • Accessibility Testing: Automated accessibility tests to ensure your app is usable by everyone.

Free Tools

  • SpeedLab: Analyze your website’s performance.
  • Screenshots: Capture full-page screenshots across different devices and browsers.
  • Responsive: Test your website’s responsiveness on various screen sizes.

Resources

  • Support: Get help when you need it.
  • Status: Check the current status of BrowserStack services.
  • Release Notes: Stay updated with the latest features and fixes.
  • Blog: Read articles and case studies.
  • Events: Participate in webinars and events.
  • Guides: Access detailed guides and tutorials.

BrowserStack is trusted by over 6 million developers and 50,000 teams worldwide. Join them to ensure your applications work flawlessly across all devices and browsers.

Jira/Xray

Jira is a project management tool that helps QA engineers and development teams track and manage tasks and issues throughout the software development lifecycle. Its flexible nature allows for the creation of customized workflows, facilitating efficient bug tracking, test case management, and overall project visibility.

Xray, an add-on for Jira, is a comprehensive test management tool designed to improve the testing process. It provides extensive capabilities for creating, organizing, and executing test cases, as well as tracking test coverage and generating insightful reports.

Using both Xray and Jira offers comprehensive test management capabilities. It facilitates efficient test planning, execution, and defect tracking, ensuring smooth collaboration among development and QA teams. Combined with Jira, it provides smooth traceability, enabling users to stay updated on the progress and quality of the app development.

With Jira, you can:

  • Manage development workflows with agile boards.
  • Keep your team on the same page with a detailed, task-oriented roadmap.
  • Implement feedback during manual testing (although you might need a tool such as Marker.io—which integrates seamlessly with Jira—to do that).

Pricing: Free for up to 10 users, or $7.75 per user/month (10+ users minimum).

Firebase

Firebase is a collection of services and platforms for app development provided by Google. It offers databases, services, authentication, and integration for various applications. With its suite of software testing tools, Firebase is crucial in ensuring app stability, crash reporting, performance monitoring, and efficient distribution to beta testers.

Here are some examples of Firebase tools:

  • Firebase Crashlytics provides real-time crash reporting.
  • App Distribution simplifies the process of distributing app builds for testing.
  • Remote Config allows for dynamic app configuration, upgrading flexibility, and personalization.
  • Performance Monitoring enables the identification of performance bottlenecks and optimization opportunities.

Postman

Postman is a top choice for building and testing APIs. It allows you to manually test each endpoint to ensure it returns the expected response. You can also test APIs under different conditions to see how well they perform under heavy load. Postman automation offers a powerful platform for streamlining API testing processes and improving software quality.

Here are some key features of Postman:

  • Friendly and easy-to-use interface equipped with code snippets
  • Support for multiple HTML methods, Swagger, and RAML formats
  • Broad support for API schemas to generate collections and API elements
  • Test suite creation, executions with parameterization, and debugging
  • Integrations with popular CI/CD tools

Postman also provides automated testing capabilities, environment management, mocking and simulating APIs, performance testing, security testing, monitoring, and reporting functionalities.

Pricing for Postman starts from $15 per user per month.

TestRail

TestRail is a web-based test case management tool. It is used by QA engineers, developers, and team leads to manage, track, and organize software testing efforts. With TestRail, you can create detailed test cases, plan and assign testing activities, and monitor progress in real-time.

One of the standout features of TestRail is its ability to integrate with various other tools and platforms, making it a versatile choice for many teams. It supports integration with popular issue tracking systems like Jira, as well as continuous integration tools.

TestRail also offers robust reporting capabilities. You can generate detailed reports on test results, track the status of test runs, and identify any bottlenecks in your testing process. This helps teams to make informed decisions and improve their testing strategies.

Additionally, TestRail’s user-friendly interface makes it easy for team members to collaborate and stay on the same page. Whether you’re working on web, mobile, or desktop applications, TestRail provides the tools you need to ensure thorough and efficient testing.

Zephyr

Zephyr is a powerful tool for manual software testing, offering a range of features that make it a favorite among testers. One of its standout features is its seamless integration with Jira, which allows for efficient test management and tracking. This integration ensures that all testing activities are aligned with project requirements and timelines.

For those new to Zephyr, the platform provides a comprehensive getting started guide to help users set up and navigate the tool effectively. This guide covers everything from initial setup to advanced features, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced testers.

Zephyr also supports various testing methodologies, including Agile and Waterfall, making it versatile for different project needs. Its real-time test metrics and dashboards provide valuable insights into the testing process, helping teams make informed decisions quickly.

In summary, Zephyr is a robust and user-friendly tool that enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of manual software testing. Its integration with Jira, comprehensive guides, and support for multiple methodologies make it a top choice for testers in 2023.

qTest

qTest is a powerful tool for managing tests, especially in standardized testing workflows. It offers a range of features that make it suitable for both manual and automated test execution. With qTest, you can easily create custom testing workflows and connect them with third-party and open-source tools. This flexibility allows for seamless integration into your existing processes.

One of the standout features of qTest is its ability to provide visibility into your testing activities. You can generate detailed reports on test status and velocity, helping you keep track of your project’s progress. Custom dashboards can be built to report on various aspects of your projects, including new releases and other key performance areas.

qTest also supports agile and waterfall test management, exploratory testing, and behavior-driven development. It integrates well with popular tools like Jira, Jenkins, and Selenium, making it a versatile choice for any testing team. Additionally, qTest offers a 14-day free trial, with paid plans starting at $1,200 per user per year.

TestLink

TestLink is a great tool for managing complex software projects with many test cases. It is free and open-source, making it accessible to everyone. With TestLink, you can:

  • Create test plans and test cases
  • Execute test cases and record the results
  • Use the free TestLink browser extension for all these tasks

If you ever get stuck or need advice, there’s a large community and forums to help you out.

PractiTest

PractiTest is a comprehensive test management tool that helps teams manage their testing processes efficiently. It offers a wide range of features to streamline both manual and automated testing efforts.

Key Features

  • End-to-End Test Management: PractiTest supports the entire testing lifecycle, from planning to execution and reporting.
  • Customizable Dashboards: Users can create dashboards tailored to their specific needs, providing real-time insights into testing progress.
  • Integration Capabilities: PractiTest integrates with various tools like JIRA, Jenkins, and GitHub, making it easier to manage testing in a unified environment.
  • Advanced Reporting: The tool offers advanced reporting features that help teams analyze test results and make data-driven decisions.

Benefits

  • Improved Collaboration: PractiTest enhances team collaboration by providing a centralized platform for all testing activities.
  • Increased Efficiency: The tool’s automation capabilities and integrations help teams execute tests faster and more accurately.
  • Better Visibility: Customizable dashboards and advanced reporting features offer better visibility into the testing process, helping teams identify and address issues quickly.

Use Cases

  • Web Testing: PractiTest is ideal for web testing, allowing teams to create, debug, and execute tests across multiple browsers.
  • API Testing: The tool streamlines API testing, enabling teams to unify API, web, and mobile testing in one platform.
  • Mobile Testing: PractiTest supports testing for Android and iOS apps, making it a versatile tool for mobile application testing.

PractiTest is a robust solution for teams looking to improve their testing processes and achieve better results. Its wide range of features and integration capabilities make it a valuable asset for any testing team.

Conclusion

In 2023, manual software testing remains a vital part of ensuring high-quality apps and websites. The tools we’ve discussed offer a range of features to help testers work more efficiently and catch bugs early. Whether you’re a small team or a large organization, there’s a tool out there to fit your needs. Remember, the right tool can make all the difference in delivering a smooth and reliable user experience. So, take the time to choose wisely and keep your software running flawlessly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is manual software testing?

Manual software testing is when testers manually execute test cases without using automation tools. They check for bugs, issues, and other problems in the software.

Why is manual testing important?

Manual testing is important because it helps find bugs and issues that automated tests might miss. It allows testers to understand the software from a user’s perspective.

What are some popular tools for manual testing?

Some popular tools for manual testing include Marker.io, BrowserStack, Jira/Xray, Firebase, Postman, TestRail, Zephyr, qTest, TestLink, and PractiTest.

How do I choose the right manual testing tool?

Choosing the right manual testing tool depends on your project needs. Consider factors like ease of use, integration with other tools, and the specific features you require.

Can manual testing be combined with automated testing?

Yes, manual testing can be combined with automated testing. This approach helps ensure that the software is thoroughly tested, covering both automated checks and manual inspections.

Is manual testing time-consuming?

Manual testing can be time-consuming, especially for large projects. However, it is essential for finding certain types of bugs and issues that automated tests might not catch.

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