Top 5 tools for AI-based test automation
Automation Best practices Agile
17 mins read
March 11, 2024

Top 10 tools for AI-based test automation

AI-powered test automation tools are the market niche to follow. They take test automation to the next level but also help you save time in areas beyond regular automated QA. Letā€™s look at the exciting and variable landscape of the best AI-powered solutions.

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Tania Zhydkova
Denis Matusovskiy

1. aqua cloud

aqua cloud is the latest established solution to join the ranks of AI tools for testing. The test management solution that evolved into a full-scale ALM was launched in 2013, while the AI functionality entered beta at the end of 2022. aqua is supported by the German andagon group, which has been doing IT consulting for over 20 years.

The key AI functionality here is generating entire test cases from requirements. aqua uses a large-scale natural language processing algorithm (fine-tuned by QA specialists) to turn plain text into a test. The functionality is not limited to English or German, which is great for multilingual teams and/or companies that attract external talent. About 40% of the AI-generated test cases do not need any human tweaks before they can be added to the test suite.

There is some less groundbreaking functionality that will still save you a lot of time. QA specialists can create test steps themselves but make the AI fill out the test case description. The opposite is also possible: enter test case description and get AI-generated test steps. These options require a bit more upfront effort but fewer finishing touches.

aquaā€™s is expanding beyond test generation. The extra functionality includes AI prioritisation of tests from your test suite and automated removal of duplicate test cases. These features will be useful even if you donā€™t quite trust artificial intelligence to make tests for you.Ā 

As for non-AI functionality, aqua is one of the highest agile test management tools in the market. It has a rating of over 4.5 on G2 and Capterra. The software boasts the Made in Germany badge and is used by German government agencies and Google among other clients. It has a dozen native integrations and can send/receive data from any other third-party tool via REST API.Ā 

Discover aqua cloud, the cutting-edge test management solution powered by AI. aqua brings structure to your test automation, unites manual and automated testing, and eliminates routine and repetitive tasks even where automation testing can’t. It offers groundbreaking AI capabilities to generate test cases and requirements and create test data sets. aqua offers groundbreaking AI functionality that generates entire test cases from requirements. With the ability to seamlessly integrate with automation, devops or management third-party tools, aqua empowers QA specialists to streamline test case creation and prioritise tests easily, revolutionising your testing process. Join leading organisations like Google in using aqua’s agile test management capabilities. Unlock the future of testing with aqua cloud.

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2. Perfecto Scriptless

Perfectlo Scriptless

Perfecto Scriptless is one of the most prominent AI tools for test automation purposes. It is specifically designed to enhance automated quality assurance of web and mobile applications. The solution was launched as TestCraft by an independent company before Perfecto started a partnership and eventually purchased the tool in late 2018.

Perfecto Scriptless is as close as we get to an open source automation tool for testing AI systems. While this is a commercial solution that does not disclose source code, Perfecto Scriptless is enhancing Selenium test automation ā€” and Selenium is open-source. This is a really inspiring point in a new market like AI test automation, since potential migration to a more advanced tool will be smooth.

The key selling point of Perfecto Scriptless is the low barrier of entry. Boasting the no-code approach, this is designed to be one of the simplest tools used for implementing AI in automation testing. It is made to be even easier than regular test automation with Selenium.Ā 

Other than testing, Perfecto Scriptless advertises AI-powered reporting and third-party-friendly continuous integration pipeline. The solution can work with Jenkins, TeamCIty, Jira, and GitLab among others.

The community sentiment is hard to measure, because most reviews of Perfecto Scriptless date back to 2018. Back then, users praised the core functionality but had complaints about buggy navigation that would require reopening the tool from time to time. This is something to look out for during the free trial period.

3. Testim

Testim is another example of test automation-focused AI tools. It was propelled by Microsoftā€™s accelerator programme in 2016, and then acquired by the test automation powerhouse Tricentis in February 2022. To this day, Microsoft remains the biggest client on the Testim portfolio.

The feature suite of Testim has many similarities to Perfecto Scriptless. They both advertise self-healing tests, good visibility for quick troubleshooting, and the room to increase the scope. Testimā€™s approach, however, is more about aiding experienced engineers in writing automated tests rather than creating them without any code. The key areas are UI, API, and functional testing.

Testim has over 15 integrations with issue tracking solutions as well as continuous integration software. Just like Perfecto Scriptless, it is powered by Selenium and thus wonā€™t lock you into a painful choice of sticking with Testim or starting from scratch.Ā 

Just like aqua, Testim is hovering around the 4.5 score on review websites. Customers are happy with the AI functionality, but there are multiple reports of a non-intuitive user interface and limited mobile testing. Luckily, there is a free trial option to see if the UI will be a deal breaker for you.

4. ACCELQ

ACCELQ

ACCELQ, an AI-based test automation tool, is a no-code platform launched in 2014. It is used by Intel, Pfizer, and United Airlines.

What differentiates ACCELQ from other automation-focused AI solutions is the wide scope. The company provides dedicated solutions for web, mobile, and API testing. They also boast of offering these three options alongside a space for manual QA, but aquaā€™s test management software natively unites manual and automated testing. Most other AI-powered solutions without issue management will integrate with third-party solutions for that, too.

The solution has a serviceable range of integrations with open-source automation frameworks and continuous integration solutions. The no-code component creates tests that cover all prominent frameworks, including React and AngularJS.

ACCELQ is punching above a review score of 4.5 as well. There are some minor performance complaints, a couple of reports on lacking documentation, and a note about high upfront investment. The customers are happy about the wide scope of the solution, and thatā€™s the key advantage that the company advertises.

Speaking of scope, the rise of GPT unlocked and expanded a lot of AI testing niches. We explore the new possibilities and how you can take advantage of them in our overview of key AI testing trends.

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5. Applitools

Applitools

Applitools is an AI-powered test automation platform that specialises in UI testing. Launched in 2015, it features Microsoft, Bank of America, and adidas on the portfolio.Ā 

The key selling point of Applitools is its range of visualised testing solutions. It includes a cross-browser (and cross-device) grid for testing web applications as well as a mobile grid to test native mobile applications. Here, artificial intelligence compares snapshots of app screens to quickly spot changes that are likely erroneous. Auto-compliance with visual accessibility requirements is a nice touch as well.Ā 

Applitools supports all major development frameworks, synergises with continuous integration software, and sends status updates to corporate messengers. It also integrates with issue tracking solutions and even competitor solutions, including Testim.Ā 

Reviews-wise, Applitools is scoring just below the 4.5 mark. The two major concerns raised by users are a huge time investment to weed out false positives and slow execution. One user notes that it takes 100 seconds for a simple test because of everything happening in the background. Just like with non-AI test automation, you can brute force unoptimised execution to make it faster ā€” but at an almost proportionally higher cost.Ā 

Feature aqua cloud Perfecto Scriptless Testim ACCELQ Applitools
AI Functionality Generates test cases from requirements Enhances Selenium for automation Aids in automated test writing Wide scope of testing options Visual testing, AI-driven comparison
Test Case Generation AI-generated with minimal tweaks No-code approach for simplicity Aids experienced engineers No-code automation platform AI-driven visual comparison for errors
Non-AI Functionality Agile test management, high ratings Third-party integrations, CI compatibility Issue tracking, CI integrations Manual and automated testing Visual accessibility checks, integrations
Integrations Native integrations, REST API Jenkins, TeamCity, Jira, GitLab, etc. Issue tracking, CI tools, Selenium Various automation frameworks CI, issue tracking, Testim integration
Reviews Highly rated Mixed reviews from 2018, buggy navigation Non-intuitive UI, limited mobile testing Minor performance issues Mixed reviews, slow execution

6. Mabl

Mabl is a low-code AI test automation tool. It focuses on performance, web, and API testing.Ā 

The solution utilises artificial intelligence in 2 ways. First, it tries to reduce the number of unnecessary automated test runs to save time and money. Second, Mablā€™s AI suggests new tests to expand the test coverage.Ā 

Other than this AI functionality, Mabl is similar to many low-code test automation solutions. It can work with Selenium for regular, non-AI test automation. It offers self-healing in case your tests break. Regression testing is part of the automation suite as well.

7. Katalon

Katalon is an AI-powered test automation tool for UI testing. The solution was launched in 2016 and has SAP, Santander, and Rakuten among high-profile clients. Just like with competitors, it is hard to tell where simpler image recognition ends and advanced AI functionality starts. Katalon claims that the AI algorithm can tell which visual changes are deal breakers and which are acceptable. The tool also self-corrects false positives to avoid extra work by your front-end developers.Ā 

Regular functionality includes UI validation by screenshots, cross-browser and cross-OS testing, and granular ignored zones to test individual components only. The solution also boasts dozens of integrations with test automation tools and even a couple of non-AI test management solutions.

The solution was launched in 2016 and has SAP, Santander, and Rakuten among high-profile clients.

8. Eggplant Test

Eggplant Test is another AI tool for automation of user interface testing. The algorithm is used to adapt and run the same tests across various operating systems and browsers. The company also highlights the security benefits of not actually giving AI the source code to test the product.

As for non-AI functionality, Eggplant Test highlights API evaluation and model-based testing. Native integrations with CI/CD solutions are included out of the box.Ā 

The tool is run by Keysight, a company founded in 2014 but tracing roots to the late 1990s. The companyā€™s portfolio includes Nokia as well as a number of manufacturers and service providers in 5G and mobile batteries markets.Ā 

9. Parasoft C/C++ test

Parasoft C/C++ test is a unique tool for AI-powered test automation. It specifically focuses on validating C/C++ code.Ā 

The solution uses AI to analyse code and spot defects automatically. This does require sharing your C/C++ IDE with Parasoft, which may be a problem depending on your industry and the project.Ā 

Despite being a niche solution, Parasoft C/C++ test has a solid suite of non-AI functionality. Native CI/CD and automation integration, traceability, and reporting are all available.Ā 

The solution is maintained by Parasoft, one of the biggest software vendors founded back in 1987.

10. Digital.ai Continuous Testing

Digital.ai-Accessibility-Testing

Digital.ai Continuous Testing is a test management solution targeting web and mobile testing. The AI functionality covers code and release governance. The tool looks for errors, suggests workflows to prevent them, and assesses code readiness to adjust release timeline if needed.Ā 

The rest of the functionality is similar to what you will find in other test management solutions. Digital.ai offers tools for accessibility testing, but you may find them in tools that focus on UI/UX testing as well.Ā 

The tool is part of an application lifecycle suite that Digital.ai has been launching and acquiring since 2020. Schneider, Air France, and Societe Generale are some of the biggest clients.

Feature Mabl Katalon Eggplant Test Parasoft C/C++ test Digital.ai Continuous Testing
AI Functionality Reduces unnecessary test runs, suggests new tests Identifies critical visual changes, self-corrects false positives Adapts tests across OS and browsers Analyses C/C++ code for defects Code governance, error detection, release assessment
Test Case Generation AI-based suggestions for test expansion AI identifies critical visual changes Adapts tests across platforms AI spots defects automatically Code governance, error detection, release assessment
Non-AI Functionality Low-code, Selenium integration UI validation, cross-platform testing API evaluation, model-based testing Native CI/CD integrations Accessibility testing, code and release governance
Integrations Selenium, API, CI tools Test automation, various integrations CI/CD solutions, automation integrations CI/CD, automation tools Accessibility testing, release and code governance

Final thoughts

AI test automation is on the rise, and there are tools to cover all sorts of needs. All AI tools for testing on the list have generally positive reviews, and the industry will likely only get better as licensing AI algorithms to build solutions becomes even more popular.Ā 

As AI test automation rises, the need for cutting-edge solutions like aqua cloud becomes increasingly evident. Although not entirely a test automation framework, with aqua’s groundbreaking AI capabilities, youā€™ll revolutionise your testing process, bringing structure to test automation and seamlessly unifying manual and automated testing. With aqua, you can automatically generate test cases from requirements and have automation at every stage of your process. By seamlessly integrating with third-party tools and offering advanced AI functionality to generate test cases and requirements, aqua empowers you to prioritise tests easily, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness. Join leading organisations like Google in unlocking the future of testing with aqua cloud.

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FAQ
Can we use AI in automation testing?

Yes, artificial intelligence can be used to help you create tests for automated QA and even maintain them.Ā 

Which AI-based tool is mostly used for automation testing?

There is no clear market leader, and most tools have one or two niches that they specialise in. Applitools, aqua ALM, and Testim are just some solutions to try yourself.Ā 

What is AI-based test automation?

AI-based test automation introduces fruits of the machine learning labour to speed up and enhance automated QA. Some solutions go further than that and use AI to boost manual testing as well.

How to implement AI in test automation?

The most straightforward way is to adopt an AI-powered test automation solution. You can import existing automated tests and let AI work its magic to make them better and/or more efficient. Most solutions work with Selenium, so the transition will be very smooth if you have been using it as well.

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