In this section, we provide a brief overview of the top 20 test automation tools for functional testing.
For each tool, you’ll find:
- Scripting or Programming Requirements: Does the tool require users to script or program to create or maintain tests? This can impact who on the team can use the tool and the associated training or technical debt.
- Platform Support: What types of applications can be automated? Does the tool cover all necessary technologies, such as web, desktop, or mobile?
- Pricing: Is the tool open-source or does it require a paid license? This affects not only upfront costs but also the level of support and ease of use over time.
1. Leapwork
Leapwork is an AI-powered test automation platform designed to help enterprise companies deliver continuous quality across business operations. It enables teams to create and maintain complex, data-driven tests faster and more efficiently. Its code-free visual workflow allows both engineers and business users to automate tests with ease.
- Scripting or programming required: No, it is entirely code-free
- Platform support: Supports cross-application testing
- Pricing: Licenced.
2. Selenium
Selenium is a test automation tool for web browsers. It supports multiple programming languages and has a large and active community. Selenium WebDriver is one of its most popular test automation tools for browser automation, and many test automation vendors use this solution under the hood of their application. However, automating desktop application is not possible.
- Programming or scripting required: Yes - JavaScript (Node. js), Python, Ruby, Java, Kotlin, and C#
- Platform support: Web browsers
- Pricing: Open-sourced (free)
3. Playwright
Playwright is a test automation framework developed by Microsoft that can best be compared to Selenium. It automates web browsers, and it is code-based (though supporting fewer programming languages than Selenium). Its robust automation capabilities, including support for modern web features and a focus on reliability, make it a popular choice for web application testing. Playwright records your actions and turns it into your preferred coding language.
- Programming or scripting required: Yes - JavaScript, Python, Java, and C#
- Platform support: Web applications
- Pricing: Open-sourced (free)
4. Appium
Appium is a tool for automating native, mobile web, and hybrid applications on Android and iOS platforms. It supports a wide range of programming languages and provides cross-platform compatibility.
- Programming or scripting required: Yes - Java, Objective-C, JavaScript with Node. js, PHP, Python, Ruby, C#, Clojure and Perl
- Platform support: Native and mobile web
- Pricing: Open-sourced (free)
5. AccelQ
AccelQ is a test automation platform for cloud and packaged applications. The tool is used for manual test design and planning, and building and executing test automation. AccelQ uses a keyword-driven approach to build tests which requires learning their natural language prompts.
- Programming or scripting required: No - Keyword-driven
- Platform support: Web, mobile, API, desktop and backend
- Pricing: Licenced.
6. Katalon

Katalon Studio is a no-code, low-code and code-based test automation tool, using a combination of record-and-playback and coding to build automated tests. They automate most types of software. Katalon requires a coded approach when driving tests with data from external sources like Excel, building and maintaining tests can require technical expertise.
- Programming or scripting required: No-code, low-code and scripting (Groovy, Java, JRuby, Python)
- Platform support: Windows apps, web, mobile
- Pricing: Licenced.
7. Tricentis Tosca
Tricentis Tosca is a test automation tool for end-to-end testing, including API (Application Programming Interfaces), web, mobile, and desktop applications locally and in the cloud. Tosca is a codeless tool which uses a model-based approach to build test automation cases.
- Programming or scripting required: No
- Platform support: Cross-application support
- Pricing: Licenced.
8. Tricentis Testim

Testim is a low-code test automation vendor for web and mobile based applications. Testim, like most automation vendors, has a record and playback tool. However, configuring data-driven test cases requires coding skills.
- Programming or scripting required: Yes - JavaScript and HTML
- Platform support: Web and mobile
- Pricing: Licenced.
9. Opentext (formerly Micro Focus)

Opentext UFT, formerly known as Micro Focus UFT, is a test automation tool used by enterprises to support software delivery. This tool works with most applications, and comprises three applications - UFT One (for testing), UFT Digital Lab and UFT Developer. Users must be able to build tests using the programming language VBScript in order to maintain test cases.
- Programming or scripting required: Yes - VBScript
- Platform support: Cross-application support
- Pricing: Licenced.
10. Perfecto

Perfecto is a test automation platform for mobile and web application testing, offering real-device and virtual-device testing capabilities. This tool uses a combination of behavior driven development (BDD) and codeless automation. To extend the functionality of the tool and maintain tests, users should be familiar with coded frameworks.
- Programming or scripting required: Yes, for cross platform coverage - Java, JavaScrip, PHP, C# and Python
- Platform support: Web and mobile
- Pricing: Licenced.
11. Copado
Copado is a test automation and DevOps platform used for web, desktop, mobile and API testing in Salesforce. Test developers can build tests using the keyword-driven programming language called QWords.
- Programming or scripting required: Yes - Bash, JavaScript (Node), Python, QWords. Also supports keyword-driven testing.
- Platform support: Web and API only, with limited application support beyond Salesforce
- Pricing: Licenced.
12. Robot Framework
Robot Framework is a framework that can be used for test automation and robotic process automation (RPA) and uses a keyword-driven approach with a simple syntax. It supports web, mobile, desktop, and API testing. To extend its capabilities beyond their keyword-driven approach, users can use libraries in Python and Java.
- Programming or scripting required: Yes - Python, Java and other languages. Also supports keyword-driven testing.
- Platform support: Web, mobile, desktop and API
- Pricing: Open-sourced (free)
13. Smartbear TestComplete
TestComplete is an automation tool for the creation, management and execution of testing. They offer a code-based approach for building complex test cases, and codeless solutions for less technical testers using a keyword-driven approach.
- Programming or scripting required: Yes - JavaScript, Python, VBScript, Jscript, DelphiScript, C#, C++. Also supports keyword-driven testing.
- Platform support: Desktop, web, and mobile
- Pricing: Licenced.
14. Postman

Postman is an API development and testing platform for building, testing, and documenting APIs. Their testing tool includes built-in tools for writing automated tests using JavaScript in Node.js, enabling users to validate API responses and that APIs function as expected under various conditions.
- Programming or scripting required: Yes - JavaScript
- Platform support: APIs
- Pricing: Licenced.
15. Eggplant
Eggplant, a tool under Keysight Technologies, prioritizes user experience testing, employing image-based testing techniques for web, mobile, and desktop applications. It focuses on simulating user interactions from a user's perspective to ensure high-quality user experiences. Users can also manually script test cases using SenseTalk, a proprietary language which uses a script based approach to test automation.
- Programming or scripting required: Yes - SenseTalk Scripting
- Platform support: All technologies
- Pricing: Licenced.
16. UIPath

UiPath is primarily an automation platform that offers a test automation tool to aid in the planning, build, execution and management of tests. Their combined code and low-code approach can be used by developers to script complex test cases, and by technical testers to build custom test case libraries.
- Programming or scripting required: Code-based and low-code
- Platform support: Cross-application support
- Pricing: Licenced.
17. Opkey
Opkey is a test automation platform designed for end-to-end testing of software applications. It offers features such as test case management, test data management, test execution, and reporting. Opkey provides a codeless environment and requires users to learn their keyword-driven approach to build tests.
- Programming or scripting required: No. Keyword-driven
- Platform support: ERP packaged applications
- Pricing: Licenced.
18. Worksoft
Worksoft is an automation platform for business process testing and RPA for enterprise applications. It offers features such as automated test creation, test data management, and reporting for ERP and CRM packaged applications. Automated tests are built using a proprietary model-based object action framework.
- Programming or scripting required: No
- Platform support: Packaged applications
- Pricing: Licenced.
19. Provar
Provar is a test automation solution specifically designed for Salesforce. It provides a low-code approach to test automation, for users to build, execute, and maintain automated tests. The tool offers both functional and regression testing capabilities, so that businesses can validate their Salesforce workflows, configurations, and integrations.
- Programming or scripting required: Low-code
- Platform support: End-to-end Salesforce testing
- Pricing: Licenced.
20. Ranorex

Ranorex is a low-code test automation tool that supports testing across desktop, web, and mobile applications. It offers features for test recording, test case management, and execution, while providing users the ability to edit their automated tests using the programming languages C# and VB.NET.
- Programming or scripting required: Yes - C#, VB.NET, Java, TypeScript, Python
- Platform support: Desktop, Mobile and Web
- Pricing: Licenced.
Conclusion - taking your research a step further
With a sea of tools to choose from, there are three considerations to keep top of mind.
- Ease of Use: A user-friendly test automation tool not only reduces the learning curve but also allows more team members to participate, increasing overall efficiency and ROI. This can be a game-changer for teams with both technical and non-technical members working together.
- Customer Support: Strong customer support ensures your team can tackle challenges quickly, minimizing downtime and costly delays. When using a complex or code-heavy tool, this support can be the key to maximizing its value without needing to rely on external consultants.
- Technology Compatibility: Ensuring the tool supports all the platforms and technologies your business relies on is essential for achieving comprehensive test coverage. This flexibility enables true end-to-end testing, allowing you to automate across different environments seamlessly, which reduces the need for multiple tools and simplifies your testing strategy.
These considerations ensure that you can gain the maximum adoption rate, scale your automation and get a quick return of investment on your tool.
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