aqua vs Katalon: Which TMS Comes Out on Top?

AI

AI is a rapidly developing tech, so we will look at cutting-edge tech rather than the baseline. Here’s what you should expect from an AI-powered test management solution:

Analyse your workspace to get QA context
Create test cases, defects, and even requirements from a plain text description
Complete test case drafts
Prioritise tests

Artificial intelligence (AI) is crucial in test management as it automates repetitive tasks, improves test coverage, and provides intelligent insights. aqua cloud delivers advanced AI capabilities to generate and manage tests effectively and fast, setting it apart from competitors.

Auto-train AI Copilot with your tests

No AI capabilities

Generate entire tests with AI

No AI capabilities

Complete test drafts

No AI capabilities

Update tests for a changed requirement

No AI capabilities

Generate accurate test data

No AI capabilities

Auto-train AI Copilot with your tests

Generate entire tests with AI

Complete test drafts

Update tests for a changed requirement

Generate accurate test data

No AI capabilities

Test management

Test management is the main reason we are looking at these two tools. You should consider various aspects of handling test cases as well as traceability-minded features. These include:

Create, execute, share, and manage test cases in the workspace
Group tests into test scenarios, segment them into folders, assign labels
Quickly navigate the test suite, apply filters, use individual and shared views
See the entire execution history for a test case
Store a full log of changes for compliance
Visualise requirements coverage and dependencies between requirements, test cases, and defects

Effective test management includes creating, organising, executing tests, and ensuring traceability. Both aqua and Katalon excel in these areas, but aqua offers additional functionalities that enhance workflow efficiency.

Test cases, test scenarios, bulk test edits, custom fields
Execution history
Quick navigation, filters, views
Timestamped item change history for compliance
Nested test cases
Release planning
Tampering-proof project logging
Item change reversal
Views

Workflows

Not available

Shared views

Not available

Test cases, test scenarios, bulk test edits, custom fields
Execution history
Quick navigation, filters, views
Timestamped item change history for compliance
Nested test cases
Release planning
Tampering-proof project logging
Item change reversal
Views

Workflows

Shared views

Not available

Verdict: aqua wins by providing enhanced security features like tampering-proof logging, giving it a stronger advantage in auditability compared to Katalon.

Integrations

Most tools rely on automation via common third-party tools that QA specialists have been using for over a decade. The experience is much better when your test management solution has native integrations for industry-leading tools. REST API support is a must if you do not want to be at the vendor’s mercy for integrations.

First-party framework automation or third-party integrations with test automation tools
Native third-party integrations: Selenium, Jenkins, JMeter, SoapUI, Ranorex
Jira integration and/or Jira plugin
REST API support for integrating any tool

Seamless integrations with other tools are crucial for maintaining efficient workflows. Both aqua and Katalon offer extensive integrations, but their approaches differ.

Jira integration with real-time project sync
Selenium, Jenkins for test automation
UFT, JMeter, SoapUI, Ranorex, Database MSSQL, Database Oracle for test automation
REST API
AI-driven integrations

Third-party bug trackers, Zapier

Available via integrations

Test recording tool Capture

No native test recording integration

Jira integration with real-time project sync
Selenium, Jenkins for test automation
UFT, JMeter, SoapUI, Ranorex, Database MSSQL, Database Oracle for test automation
REST API
AI-driven integrations

Third-party bug trackers, Zapier

Test recording tool Capture

Available via integrations

No native test recording integration

Verdict: Tie

Deployment Models

On-Premise deployment is a must in many industries, yet vendors won’t explicitly say if they don’t offer it. Depending on your security policies and scale, deploying in a non-vendor Cloud is a beneficial option too.

Vendor Cloud
External Cloud: AWS, Azure, etc.
On-Premise

Flexible deployment options are essential for meeting various security and compliance requirements. aqua and Katalon differ significantly in their deployment offerings.

GDPR-compliant hosted cloud

On-Premise

Not availiable

Isolated Enterprise Custom Cloud (Any Azure data centre)

Available via custom arrangements

Custom Cloud

Available via custom arrangements

GDPR-compliant hosted cloud

On-Premise

Isolated Enterprise Custom Cloud (Any Azure data centre)

Custom Cloud

Not availiable

Available via custom arrangements

Verdict: aqua slightly wins by offering on-premise deployment options, catering to companies with strict data security and regulatory requirements that Katalon does not support.

Dashboards

QA dashboards serve two vital purposes. They help the QA team track their progress, but they also make other teams aware of potential bottlenecks. At a minimum, you should be able to include any data and share dashboards with the team.

Use all data of the workspace
Create private and shared dashboards
Choose between various types of graphs
Set up KPI/values alerts that arrive as email/app notifications

Dashboards provide critical insights and monitoring capabilities. Both aqua and Katalon offer customisable dashboards, but aqua includes advanced KPI alerting features.

All data including custom fields
Pie, bar, stacked bar, table charts
External dashboard sharing

KPI Alerts

Does not offer KPI Alerts

All data including custom fields
Pie, bar, stacked bar, table charts
External dashboard sharing

KPI Alerts

Does not offer KPI Alerts

Verdict: aqua wins by offering KPI alerts, enabling proactive monitoring and timely responses to deviations in key metrics.

Reporting

Reporting is important for both internal and external stakeholders. The goal here is to get what you need with as little or as much effort as possible. When a tool offers both a template library and rich customisation, that is a good start.

Access vendor-provided template library
Create custom layouts and save them
Use and transform any data
Apply text & image formatting
Add external data and imagery
Employ scripts and parametrisation to auto-update reports

Comprehensive reporting is essential for decision-making and compliance. aqua excels in customisable reporting options compared to Katalon’s more standard approach.

Template library
Pivot tables
Diagrams
Parametrisation
Text & image formatting

Custom reports

Not available

External data & imagery

Not available

Custom layout (natively)

Not available

Scripts (natively)

Not available

Template library
Pivot tables
Diagrams
Parametrisation
Text & image formatting

Custom reports

External data & imagery

Custom layout (natively)

Scripts (natively)

Not available

Verdict: aqua wins by providing powerful customisation in reporting, allowing users to create custom reports that meet specific needs.

User management

Precise user management is essential when working on multiple projects and/or working with external specialists. It will also save you a lot of pain from running crowd testing in the same test management solution.

Set default roles
Create custom roles
Apply per-user permissions
Authenticate users via SSO

Effective user management ensures security and operational efficiency. Both aqua and Katalon offer role-based permissions, but aqua provides more granular control.

SSO
Default user roles
Custom roles

Individual permissions

Not available

Role permissions only

SSO
Default user roles
Custom roles

Individual permissions

Not available

Role permissions only

Verdict: aqua wins by offering individual permission settings, allowing for more precise access control compared to Katalon’s role-based permissions.

ALM

This is not a hard requirement, but you may be interested in a test management solution that also handles the entire product lifecycle. This is a great money saver as you need licences from fewer vendors, and the synergy should save you some hours as well.

Test case management
Requirements management
Defect management
Project management

Comprehensive ALM capabilities cover test case management, defect tracking, requirements management, and project management. Both aqua and Katalon provide robust ALM functionalities.

Test case management
Defect management
Requirements management
Project management

Test case management
Defect management
Requirements management
Project management

Verdict: Tie

What people say

Here are a few things people like and dislike about both tools.

“I loved how easy it was to migrate to aqua. It was our first test management solution, and we liked what we saw in the demo. It took less than a week to get started with the full version. Our testing was a bunch of Excel spreadsheets before, and aqua provides a completely different level of convenience and transparency.”

Anna R.

E-commerce manager

“I like Katalon's user interface as It is easy to use, user friendly and can be implemented easily. I also like its extensive automation testing capabilities which can be easily integrated with various tools and frameworks. The issues that I noticed with Katalon is that it hangs when running complex automation scenarios or executing multiple test suites. Application gets freeze for some time when switching from one test case tab to another.”

Sunny K.

System Engineer

“My personal favourite is the reporting functionality. Basic templates often do the job, but the customisation is almost PowerBi-deep (at least for our purposes). I also use dashboards to track the state of test cases in real-time.”

Vladimir R.

Leader, service MENA

“I really love how easy it makes the automation process, besides how easy to use and understand this program is. However, it can improve the execution on mobile devices. It happened to me many times in the past that during execution the session just closes itself so the automation fails.”

Kimberly M.

QA Manager

Anna R.

E-commerce manager

Vladimir R.

Leader, service MENA

Sunny K.

System Engineer

Kimberly M.

QA Manager

Final verdict

aqua and Katalon Studio are both competent test management and automation tools. However, aqua wins this comparison as a TMS with its superior AI-driven features, flexible deployment options including on-premise, more generous free licensing, and advanced customisation in reporting and user management. Although Katalon is a well-known low-code automation framework for its web and API testing capabilities, as an all-around test management solution, it falls slightly short due to its niche capabilities. These features make aqua a more versatile and scalable solution for companies seeking a comprehensive and future-proof QA tool.

Bleeding-edge AI testing functionality

Traditional QA only

More granular permissions

Role-based permissions only

Customisable workflows and shared views

Standard workflow efficiency

Bleeding-edge AI testing functionality

More granular permissions

Customisable workflows and shared views

Traditional QA only

Role-based permissions only

Standard workflow efficiency

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Which TMS Comes Out on Top?

Key differences between aqua and Katalon

How we compare

AI

Verdict: aqua wins by offering comprehensive AI-powered testing features that Katalon Studio does not fully support.

Test management

Integrations

Pricing flexibility

Verdict: aqua wins by offering additional no-cost lisences and more robust free licenses, making it more accessible for teams with budget constraints.

Deployment Models

Dashboards

Reporting

User management

ALM

What people say

Final verdict

Winner