TestRail Overview
Before we dive into anything specific, letās start with the basics first. What is TestRail, who are its main users and why is it so popular among the QA community?
What is TestRail?
TestRail is a test management system (TMS) that helps you organise, track, and optimise your testing efforts. It lets you create test plans, monitor progress, and log results, all in one place. You can manage both manual and automated tests, ensuring every test is documented and tracked from start to finish.Ā
TestRail simplifies the management of large test cases and integrates well with tools like Jira. Is it a handy test management solution? Yes. Is it what your QA team needs in 2024? Wellā¦Ā
Without delving that much into the specifics we will talk about in detail, letās move on.
How Does TestRail Work?
TestRail works by organising your testing process through test cases, test plans, and reports. You can easily create and store test cases, and then reuse them to build detailed test plans for new projects. Once assigned, team members execute the tests, and TestRail tracks the results in real time.Ā
Integrations with platforms like Jira ensure defects are reported directly. Its dashboards and reports help you monitor performance and make informed decisions about improving your testing process.
Who Uses TestRail?
TestRail is used by teams in various industries, from small startups to large enterprises, to manage their software testing. QA teams, developers, and project managers rely on it to document and control the testing process. Agile teams also find TestRail helpful for maintaining speed without compromising quality. Well-known companies like NASA, Microsoft, and Ubisoft have also used TestRail to keep their testing on track, whether for small projects or large, complex environments.
TestRail Features
One of the main reasons why TestRail became popular is its extensive set of features. It provides essential test management functionalities, allowing you to manage test cases, track execution, and integrate with other tools. While the tool covers many basics, it also lacks some modern enhancements. Which ones, we talk about next.
Test Case Management
TestRailās test case management capabilities let you easily create, store, and organise test cases. For teams managing large volumes of tests, it is a handy solution. With the ability to reuse test cases and structure them by project, it offers an efficient workflow.
Here are the key features TestRail delivers for test case management:
- Test case library: You can store and organise all test cases in one centralised system.
- Reusability: You can easily reuse test cases across multiple projects.
- Management: You can assign priorities and group test cases to fit your testing strategy.
The main downside of using TestRail for test case management is the lack of AI-powered features. Although TestRail has established itself as a strong solution, going with the flow and relying on its reputation might not always be the best choice.
TestRail's search was not working perfectly for me. Especially with different repos for test cases for different versions.
We use TestRail. Decent test case management tool but I hate it. We write manual cases and then prioritize automating them asap and then mark them automated.
You wonder, why?Ā
Because there are solutions in the market that can streamline your test case management 10 times faster and more efficiently.
One of these solutions is aqua cloud, an AI-powered TMS that delivers top-notch test case management capabilities. With aqua cloud, you can:Ā
- Generate requirements with a simple voice prompt or short text
- Create test cases instantly according to these requirements
- Generate huge volumes of test data to support comprehensive test scenarios.
You can achieve all of these in just 3 clicks, saving a staggering 98% of your time compared to manual test case creation. If you have ever used TestRail for test case management, switching to aqua cloud will be a breath of fresh air for you.
Go beyond TestRail for test case management & try 100% better solution instead
Test Plans and Test Execution Management
Managing test plans and tracking executions is a core strength of TestRail. You can group test cases into test plans, set milestones, and track progress over time. However, it lacks the automation that modern teams expect, which means it requires more manual work.
TestRail delivers effective test plan management through 2 factors:
- Milestone-based planning: Organising test cases into milestones to track progress.
- Multi-environment support: Running test cases across different browsers, devices, or configurations.
However, it relies on manual tracking without any AI-powered feature, potentially slowing down the process.
Actually, I was always a fan of TestRail. We are still using it productively (version 7.0 Server, which was the last well-working version IMHO), but it has been suffering from poor product quality for over a year now and is causing us to seriously consider a change. (E.g. text formatting is only possible with Markdown instead of WYSIWYG. The Markdown formatted text is then incorrectly translated into formatted text. Oh yes, not even the basics of text input work anymore, so the Undo keyboard shortcut is executed in the wrong order and the Redo shortcut doesn't work at all, etc. etc..
Defect and Bug Tracking
TestRailās integration with bug-tracking tools, especially Jira, helps teams link test failures directly to defect tickets. This smoothens the workflow by syncing test results with issue-tracking tools.Ā
Hereās how TestRail supports defect tracking:
- Jira integration: Link failed test cases directly to bug tickets in Jira.
- Syncing: Bi-directional syncing ensures both systems are updated simultaneously.
However, the process is still largely manual and takes a lot of effort. TestRail also lacks built-in defect and bug tracking capabilities, requiring integration with external tools like Jira for managing bugs. If you don’t use Jira or can’t due to regulations, you’ll need to find a workaround for defect management and tracking.
It doesn’t offer native defect management features, such as logging, tracking, or reporting bugs directly within the platform, limiting its functionality for teams that don’t use third-party tools. Additionally, customisation options for defect workflows are minimal, making it harder to fit the process to specific project needs.
Reporting and Analytics in TestRail
TestRail offers reports to help teams monitor test execution, but it doesnāt go beyond basic analytics. You can view progress and performance, but the lack of predictive insights makes it harder to make proactive decisions.
TestRail helps teams with reporting through:
- Customisable reports: Tracking test run success rates, test case coverage, and team performance.
- Historical data: Analysing past results to spot trends and issues.
TestRail is limited in its ability to provide advanced, customisable reports. While it offers basic reporting features such as summary reports and test case progress tracking, users often find it lacking in deeper insights, such as trend analysis, advanced filtering, and customisable dashboards. Thereās also no built-in support for advanced analytics or AI-driven insights, which restricts the ability to forecast test outcomes or make data-driven decisions. Integration with external business intelligence tools is also limited, making it harder for teams to perform comprehensive test data analysis.
Integrations with Other Tools
TestRail integrates well with popular development tools, such as Jira, Jenkins, and GitHub, helping teams streamline their workflows. While the integrations are functional, they donāt offer any intelligent recommendations or dynamic adjustments.
Hereās how TestRail supports tool integration:
- Jira, Jenkins, GitHub support: It seamlessly connects with major development and issue-tracking tools.
- CI/CD support: It keeps testing in sync with continuous integration and deployment pipelines.
- API-supported customisation: TestRail also provides an API, allowing teams to build their custom integrations.
While it integrates well with defect tracking systems like Jira, Bugzilla, and GitHub, the setup is complex, and it requires manual configuration. Additionally, TestRail lacks native integrations with some CI/CD pipelines and automation frameworks, which is an issue with workflows for continuous testing environments. Its integrations with other tools often rely on third-party plugins or APIs, which do not provide the same level of support or customisation that users need for more complex setups.
TestRail Support and Customer Service
TestRailās support and customer service are where the main downsides begin. Many teams have reported long response times and less-than-ideal support experiences. If you have an urgent issue to fix, there is a huge chance that you will get frustrated and your issue will never be resolved.
Response Time and Availability
One of the major complaints about TestRailās support is the slow response time. Users frequently face extended delays before receiving assistance, which can impact project timelines and productivity. Also, the support teamās availability is questionable and inconsistent, leaving you stranded during critical moments.
Here are just some examples of frustrations noted by users on social media:
TestRail got to a point where the users were the ones testing their product instead of their internal team. I logged bug after bug with them, and none were ever fixed. It went down on a regular basis to the point where I almost missed deadlines because I couldn't log in. Their forum was so full of customer complaints that they finally took the forum down and removed it from their site.
Another userās answer to āWhat is TestRail about?ā also raises questions regarding customer support:
Suffering. You can report as many Issues as you want about the tool but they are not going to fix them.
Quality of Support
The quality of support is another area where TestRail falls short. Issues are often resolved more slowly than expected (most times, never resolved), and most users find that the solutions provided do not fully address their problems. This lack of effective and timely support is a significant pain point if you rely on TestRail for your test management needs.
I already found a lot of bugs, especially with cloning test cases. They asked me to record a video of the screen, and I did and it was never fixed.
So the question is, are you able to afford these frustrations or delays in your testing efforts?
If not, we offer you aqua cloud. Our customer support is known for its exceptional responsiveness and German-quality precision, as you always get your response below 2 hours. We prioritise every ticket raised by our users, ensuring we address your issues promptly and thoroughly. Bringing our 20 years of experience in the market to you, we offer exceptional features combined with excellent support. Now considering all requests, we are aiming to deliver the ultimate one soon: seamless migration from TestRail to aqua cloud. We are working on it at the moment, but deciding to choose a superior TMS is never too late.
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TestRail Pricing
TestRail offers a variety of pricing plans to suit different needs. For cloud-based solutions, the Professional Cloud plan is priced at $408 per year for one user. This plan includes:Ā
- Unlimited projects, test cases and suitesĀ
- Test runs, plans, milestonesĀ
- Defect and requirements integration,Ā
- Traceability and coverage reporting
- access to the TestRail API.Ā
For more advanced features, the Enterprise Cloud plan costs $826 per year per user, adding single sign-on (SSO), advanced auditing, test case version control and approvals, test parameterization, project admin permissions, and priority support.
For those preferring an on-premise solution, the Enterprise Server plan is available at $16,500 per year for up to 20 users. This plan mirrors the Enterprise Cloud features, including SSO, advanced auditing, version control, test parameterisation, and priority support. In terms of pricing, if you opt for the on-prem solution, be aware that support issues become more critical. Additionally, the lack of guest or free tier licenses for third-party users can greatly increase costs, as seen with a customer who needed 30 licenses but ended up with 100 due to additional access requirements for other employees.
TestRail Pros and Cons
If we shake the clouds of popularity and most people choose it for no valid reason, we have to look at the tool objectively. As a summary, here are the main pros and cons of the tool:Ā
Pros:
- Comprehensive Test Management: TestRail excels in managing test cases, test plans, and test execution with ease.
- Integration Capabilities: It integrates well with popular tools like Jira, providing a streamlined workflow for tracking defects and managing projects.
- Customisable Reporting: Offers customisable reports and dashboards that help teams track progress and analyze performance effectively.
Cons:
- Lack of AI Features: TestRail lacks AI-powered features, which means your test case creation is a hassle that costs you time and money.
- Slow Support Response: You might often face long wait times for support responses, which can delay issue resolution.
- High Cost: The pricing is steep, which is not cost-effective for smaller teams or organisations.
- Manual Effort Required: Many tasks, including defect tracking and reporting, require manual input.Ā
- Limited Scalability: As the number of users grows, costs increase significantly, and the on-premise server solution does not scale as flexibly as cloud-based alternatives.
- Almost no significant product updates: As the users mentioned, the product stays where it has been for a few years.Ā
- Limited software development lifecycle (SDLC) coverage: Although it has robust test management features, it lacks built-in defect management and requirements management, relying instead on Jira or add-ons for these functions.
- Limited customisation: If your project or workflow doesnāt fit TestRailās structure, they wonāt offer solutions to adapt to your needs.
The question is, will it stand the test of time with this growth dynamic?
TestRail reviews
Apart from the unfiltered social media comments about the tool, youāll also come across comments on review platforms, like the following:
āTestRail offers excellent customisation options and strong integrations with tools like GitLab and Jira, but it struggles with performance issues as test repositories grow. It often results in slow updates, server errors, and duplicated results.ā
"I find TestRail to be an excellent test management tool. Once you understand how it works, it becomes almost second nature. We use it daily to create and track test cases and generate reports for stakeholders, and integrating with JIRA has been smooth and effective. However, setting up TestRail can be a bit complex, and it would be helpful to have more tutorials for new users. While the features are great, I think thereās room for more enhancements and a refresh of the UI would be beneficial."
"Great tool to create and manage your test cases. It is really easy to introduce it in company and can be easily integrated with many tools like Jira, Redmine etc. Lack of support for automated tests, Or it is hard to find."
As you can see, the reviews are two-sided: the tool definitely has its strengths and weaknesses. There is a huge chance that if you choose TestRail, you will have some of your needs covered. But you will always crave more.Ā
And if you do, what solution should you go for? This is what we cover next.Ā
TestRail alternatives
Tired of TestRail, its weak customer support and slow-growing product?Ā Here are the main list of alternatives you should go for:
aqua cloud is your most sensible option, excelling at what TestRail fails. Being the first TMS to integrate AI into QA processes, it offers capabilities for generating requirements, test cases, and test data within 3 clicks. With 100% traceability and seamless integration with tools like Jira, UnixShell, PowerShell, and Azure DevOps, aqua ensures a well-rounded test management experience. Its native integration with the screen-recording tool Capture enhances visual bug tracking. Aiming at taking away the pain of testing, aquaās customisable reporting and exceptional, timely support further distinguish it from competitors. Remember: We might be underrated, but we leave no number of our users unanswered or frustrated.
Replace TestRail with a superior alternative: have an all-round AI-powered solution
- Xray is another strong contender, known for its robust integration with Jira and comprehensive test management features. However, it has a steeper learning curve and limited customisation options compared to other tools.
- qTest by Tricentis provides a user-friendly interface and solid automation support, making it a popular choice for Agile teams. On the downside, its pricing can be high, and some users find its reporting capabilities less flexible.
- Zephyr offers flexible test management with strong integration options and an intuitive interface. Nonetheless, users often report that its performance can lag with large test repositories and that it lacks advanced AI features.
Conclusion
Modern teams are increasingly moving beyond traditional tools like TestRail in search of more advanced solutions. While TestRail has been a reliable test management tool for many, its limitationsāparticularly the lack of AI features and slower supportāmake it less suitable for the evolving needs of modern QA teams. Solutions like aqua cloud offer a compelling choice, bringing AI-driven test management, comprehensive integrations, and exceptional support to your table. As you evaluate your options, consider how these modern solutions can enhance your testing processes and drive greater efficiency and accuracy in your workflows.
