20 BEST Selenium Alternatives in 2021

Details: Last Updated: 16 April 2021

Selenium is an open-source automated testing tool. It can perform functional, regression, load testing on web applications across different browsers and platforms. Selenium is one of the finest tools, but it does have some drawbacks.

There are some strong contenders to Selenium available in the market. Following is a curated list of highly vetted Selenium alternatives.

Best Selenium Alternatives & Competitors

1) Katalon Studio

Trusted by over half a million users, Katalon Studio offers the best of both worlds of Selenium & Appium by eliminating their complexities while still remaining a powerful automation solution with advanced features.

Features:

Flexible test design: easy test generation for automation beginners with the record and playback approach and built-in keywords and advanced scripting capabilities for a productivity boost for experts
Powerful test execution: execute automation tests across multiple platforms and enables CI/CD pipelines with built-in integrations (Gitlab, Circle CI)
Supported testing methodologies: Keyword-Driven Testing, Page Object Model Testing, Data-driven Testing, TDD/BDD Testing
Minimum test maintenance effort with Katalon resilient object locators and auto-healing utilities
A centralized & collaborative report dashboard: insightful charts at all testing stages for better project management and accessible for all members.

2) Ranorex

Over 14,000 users worldwide accelerate testing with Ranorex Studio, an all-in-one tool for cross-platform test automation. Ranorex is easy for beginners with a codeless click-and-go interface, but powerful for automation experts with a full IDE.

Features include:

Robust object identification for reliable tests and reduced maintenance
Shareable object repository and reusable code modules
Cross-browser testing
Automates challenging interfaces like SAP, ERP, Delphi and legacy applications
Run tests in parallel or distribute on a Selenium Grid
Built-in reporting

Ranorex integrates with solutions for BDD, CI/CD, source control, test management, defect-tracking, and more for a complete test automation toolchain

3) Rapise

Rapise - Scriptless Test Automation of Web, Mobile & Desktop Apps. Whether it’s the web, mobile, desktop applications, APIs (REST and SOAP) Rapise tests it all!.

Features:

Record once, playback in any browser, and live-validate during recording,
Create and refine tests using drag and drop through its object-based approach. Objects update synchronously thanks to Rapise's powerful maintenance features and self-healing ai-driven locators.
Edit recorded tests using its easy-to-use visual, keyword-driven framework - rvl.
Rapise has built-in support for data-driven testing and integrates with third-party CI/CD/ALM solutions and complex applications (MS Dynamics, Salesforce.com, SAP).
Rapise runs on a JavaScript-based engine and integrates with open-source standards (Selenium, Appium)

4) Cypress

Cypress is an open source test automation solution for web environments. This tool is closely aligned with current development practices when compared with Selenium.

Features:

Test status menu feature allows seeing how many tests passed or failed
Cypress automatically waits for commands and assertions before moving on
It is one of the best alternatives to selenium which allows checking responsive sites with viewport sizing.
It takes snapshots of a test run. For headless execution, it takes video of an entire test run.
Cypress automatically reloads every change made in the tests
It is python selenium alternative which has Command Log and the app preview that shows the precise automation actions on the web app during test execution.

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5) iMacros:

iMacros is a record and playback tool for web testing. iMacros can also automate repetitious work. This testing tool is used for

Browser Automation
Web testing
Data Extraction

Features:

Free add-on for Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome. Can automate almost all Web tasks.
This selenium replacement tool allows functional, performance, and regression testing of web applications
iMacros allows to upload data from a spreadsheet to a website or populate an Excel sheet with data directly from the website.
Automate functional, performance, and regression testing for website technology including Java, Flex, Ajax or Silverlight applets.

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6) Cucumber

Cucumber is an open source BDD (Behavior Driven Development) testing tool.

Features:

Due to use of BDD, Business and IT teams can understand the tests.
Cucumber merges specification and test documentation into one cohesive whole
Updated continuously and with large community support.

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7) Subject7

Subject7 is an automation platform providing end-to-end test automation capabilities through a series of commands. These commands are available via an easy-to-use web interface. Mimicking user actions, each command hides the complexities of industry-standard packages such as Selenium, Appium, SikuliX, JMeter, ZAP, and others.

Key Features:

Easy to use web interface for non-coders
Integrates with JIRA, Jenkins, and REST capable DevOps pipeline
Zero setup and scales executions leveraging AWS, Azure, and Google clouds
Email notifications, video recordings, team collaboration, and more
Using open source standards such as Selenium and Appium to drive web and mobile

8) UFT (Unified Functional Test)

UFT is also known as a QTP(Quick Test Professional) is the most robust commercial test automation tool. Initially developed by Mercury Interactive, it was later acquired by HPE and is now hands of MicroFocus. It is one of the best selenium alternatives useful for functional as well as regression testing.

Features:

UFT supports not only web but all kinds of development environments like SAP, Oracle, Seibel, etc.
It is one of the best replacement for selenium tool that supports cross-browser and multi-platform testing,
Allows distributing tests across multiple machines.
Image-based Object recognition is the best in Industry.
Visual Test Script Design that helps in quicker test modification and upgrades.
QTP/UFT uses VBScript language which is easy to use compared to other Test Scripting Languages.

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9) Serenity

Serenity BDD is a selenium alternative for automated acceptance and regression tests. It is one of the best selenium alternatives tool that generates test reports that document and describe functional test coverage.

Features:

It is one of the best replacement for selenium which provides comments/narrative and screenshots for each test step.
Aggregate vies of test results by Requirements or Release.
This selenium replacement tool helps you write cleaner and more maintainable automation code.
Map your automated tests back to your requirements
Provides Test Coverage.

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10) IBM Ration Functional Tester

IBM Rational Functional Tester is an automated functional and regression testing tool. It is one of the best selenium alternatives software which offers automated testing features for functional, regression, GUI and data-driven testing. It supports a range of applications like Java, Siebel, SAP, Net, PowerBuilder, Ajax, etc.

Features:

Visual editing through screenshots
Rational Functional Tester enables your development teams to create associated keyword scripts which allow for easy re-use, improving efficiency.
It makes it easier to code test scripts in Java with Eclipse.
This functional testing tool automates code completion and offers advanced debugging options
Easy Integration with other third-party software

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11) Galen framework

Galen framework was initially introduced for the testing layout of web-applications in a real browser. Today it has become a fully functional testing framework. This automation test tool can be integrated with Selenium for visual and layout testing of web applications.

Features:

HTML Based Error reporting with screenshots
Easy to write/read syntax
It is one of the best alternatives to selenium which offers multiple browsers support
Using Galen specs language, you can describe any complex layout including different screen sizes or browsers.
Galen Framework runs well in Selenium Grid. This allows to set up tests to run in a cloud-like Sauce Labs or BrowserStack
Image Comparison feature.

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12) SikuliX

SikuliX automates anything seen on the screen in Windows, Mac or Linux/Unix Operating System. It is one of the best selenium competitors that uses image recognition powered by OpenCV to identify and control GUI components. SikuliX workflows are based on searching images and acting on GUI elements with mouse and keyboard.

Features:

SikuliX can be used to automate repetitive tasks.
It can be used to automate a task or desktop/web application for daily use.
To test application or web that is under development.

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13) Redwood

RedwoodHQ is an open source test automation framework. It is installed on a single server, and multiple people can use from the web interface. It is one of the best selenium alternatives which runs with any HTML5 compatible browser without any installation.

Features:

It allows observing test execution in real time with detailed results, clickable stack trace exceptions, and screenshots
It allows executing automated test cases in parallel on multiple machines
Import existing TestNG/JUnit test cases and develop new ones
Compatible with tools like Jenkins or TeamCity to integrate with the continuous integration process

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14) Watir

Watir is an open source Ruby library for automating the test. It is one of the selenium competitors which supports functional and regression web tests.

Features:

It supports web app irrespective of what it is developed in.
It supports multiple browsers on different platforms
Watir is a family of Ruby libraries, but it supports all other technologies
It uses Ruby, a full-featured modern scripting language, rather than a proprietary vendor script

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15) Telerik Test Studio

Test Studio is a software automation tool developed by Progress. It supports automating applications like AJAX, HTML5, JavaScript, Silverlight, WPF, MVC, iOS, Android, PHP. It is one of the best selenium webdriver alternatives that has native cross-browser support and is a record and playback tool.

Features:

Can perform API as well as Load Testing
Robust Object Repository feature.
Supports Continuous Integration.
Native Support for the Telerik UI Controls
Testing HTML Popups and Browser Dialogs

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16) Screenster

Screenster is a cloud-based UI testing platform. It is used for visual regression testing of web applications and websites. It is one of the best selenium webdriver alternatives that captures a screenshot of each step and stores it as a baseline.

Features:

Low-code solutions that enable you to automate UI tests without hand-coding.
Recording tests in the easiest and fastest way to automate visual testing
Screenster can run tests as part of CI. So, if a difference is detected between the baseline and a regression run, the test is marked as failed.
Screenster offers great features like auto-correcting smart selectors and automatic timeout management.

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FAQ

⚡ Which factors should you consider while selecting Selenium Alternatives?

You should consider the following factors before selecting the Alternatives to Selenium.

Desired Platform Support: Web, Desktop, Citrix, SAP, etc.
License cost, if applicable.
In the case of an outsourcing project, you need to factor customer/Client Preference of the replacement for selenium.
The cost involved in training employees on the tool.
Hardware/Software requirements of the Selenium competitors tool
Support and Update policy of the automation tool vendor.

✅ How to select the best Selenium Alternatives test automation tool?

Here, is a simple process to determine the best Selenium Alternative tool for your project needs

Identify the tests that need to be automated.
Research and analyze the automation tools that meet your automation needs and budget.
Based on the requirements, shortlist the two most suitable tools.
Do a pilot for two best tools and select the better one.
Discuss the chosen automation tools with other stakeholders, explain the choice, and get their approval.
Proceed to test automation.

There is no best tool in the market. You need to find the best tool for your test automation project goals.

❗ Why choosing the correct Selenium Alternative automation tool is important?

There are many Selenium Alternatives Automation Testing Tools available. Some of them are free while some are expensive. Some of these automation tools were created long ago, while some have just made it into the market. Each tool is unique and possesses specific characteristics.

A broad range of test automation tools makes it difficult to select the best one for a project, and often tester's end up with tools that do not conform to project requirements. Hence, choosing the right tool for your project is very important.