Automation Testing vs Manual Testing: How to Decide the Best Option for Your App Project?

When it comes to mobile app testing, people often face this dilemma of choosing between Manual testing and Automation testing mechanism.  They find tough to determine which testing mechanism is the right fit for their app needs, and often waste efforts, time and fund by making a wrong decision.

With the context of preventing you from falling into the same situation, here I’m writing this article describing when to choose Manual testing and Automation testing and why. 

But before that, let’s have a quick look at what is Manual testing and Automation Testing.

Manual Testing

In Manual Testing, the mobile app testers (or better say, Quality Assurance analysts) test the mobile application manually. They make a priority-wise approach of all the app features and screens and test them for all the possible test cases. They make a report of all the input values and the results obtained to analyze the performance of the application. 

In simpler terms, the testing team plays a situation-situation game and identify different bugs/errors in the process to make an app a right fit for the industry.

Some of the advantages and disadvantages of Manual testing are as follow:-

Benefits of Manual Testing

1. Earlier Initiation

    Starting a Manual testing is easier and quicker process since all you need is an experienced mobile 

    app tester.

2. Flexibility

    In Manual testing, you can change the testing plan at any phase of time, which adds ease and 

    flexibility to your development process.

3. Wider Possibilities Range

    A human brain can work beyond the potential of automation software and tools, implying Manual 

    testing can bring out more possibilities and use cases that could ever be possible with tools.

4. Improved GUI Testing

    Visual accessibility and preferences are not easy to automate. This makes Manual testing a       

    preferable choice when it comes to GUI testing.

Limitations of Manual Testing

1. Risk

    Since a human is performing the tests, it is possible that some test possibilities or values get     

    missed out.

2. Human Intervention

    Manual testing demands the presence of a mobile app tester. You cannot perform any testing 

    without human intervention. Plus, it is done by the most experienced quality assurance expert only 

    so that more opportunities to diagnose and mitigate the app errors could be created.

3. Bulky Data

    It is tough to test the bulk of data manually. This is why large companies do not rely on Manual  

    testing for ensuring their app quality.

4. Load Performance and Running Testing

    Performing Running test is a tiresome process in case of Manual testing, whereas load testing and 

    performance testing are nearly impossible.

Automation Testing

Automation Testing approach refers to the testing module where mobile app testing team writes codes and employs specific software (automation testing tools) to test the application based on the load, stress, performance, and other such criteria. 

In other words, the testing process is automated using different tools and a script written for executing numerous test cases in Automated Testing approach, such that the testing team need not perform a test and gather results for every test case individually.

Some of the pros and cons of Automation testing are as follow:-

Benefits of Automation Testing

1. Speed

    Automation testing can be performed at any stage of app development. This helps the mobile app 

    development team to identify the bugs and errors and rectify their approach at any instance of time,

    which eventually speed up their mobile app development timeline and help them to launch a  

    perfect app at the earliest.

2. Accuracy

    When we perform testing manually, there are chances that we might miss some pointers or value 

    while drafting a report. But, this is not in the case of Automation approach. Here, the tools are 

    scripted such that they perform every operation precisely and accurately.

3. Time

    With scripted tools performing testing instead of a human, automation testing demands lesser time      and efforts. In other words, automation testing saves times.

4. Re-usability

    In Automation testing, the same test script can be used for numerous tests with lesser-to-no    

    changes even when the OS versions are different.

5. Robust Report

    Automation testing enables you to keep a real-time track of each test script. You can easily  

    determine the number of test scripts executed and scheduled, the bugs reported and the ways to  

    resolve the issues, and more by checking the visual logs.

Limitation of Automation Testing

1. Proficiency

    You need a proficient person to write down the test scripts.

2. Debugging

    Debugging a test script is tough. Even a single error in the test script can lead to deadlocks or      

    some other major consequences.

3. Test Maintenance

    Maintenance of test scripts is somewhat costly. Every time GUI changes, you need to document it  

    again or replace with a new test script.

Now, as you have brushed up your understanding to what Manual and Automation testing are, let’s move to the core part of this article, i.e. factors to consider while deciding what option to choose for your app testing.

But before that, here’s a glance to what mobile app strategies top mobile app development companies like Appinventiv follows.

Criteria to Choose the Right Testing Approach for Your Mobile App

While both the testing approaches have their own set of benefits and drawbacks, one can easily determine which is the right mobile app testing method by considering the following scenarios:-

1. Repetitive Testing

    Suppose you want to test a login page. Rather than feeding different values and testing the module      manually, consider Automation testing. Automation testing will save your time and efforts     

    involved in performing this repetitive task.

2. Usability Testing

    When you wish to test your app usability in terms of efficiency, convenience and user-friendly     

    attitude, prefer Manual testing. This is because a human's observation can test an app far better  

    than any automation tool due to the involvement of emotions.

3. Ad-hoc Testing

    When you are not sure about the roadmap to test your mobile app, prefer Manual over Automation      testing. It offers you with the required flexibility in the testing approach.

4. Load Testing

    When talking about Load testing, Automation approach is the right option to perform testing     

    efficiently.

5. Performance Testing

    When the app testing involves multiple users testing your application simultaneously, choose  

    Automation testing over Manual testing.

6. Conversion-led Testing

    When you do not wish to rely on a single person for testing and are looking forward to     

    collaborating multiple testers into the process, Automation testing is the right approach to go with.      It helps you to understand different scenarios easily and add value to your application.

With this, I hope you will find it easier to choose the right Mobile app testing approach now.  But, in case you have any query, feel free to leave a comment below.