5 Cross Browser Testing Tools to ease Browser Compatibility Issues

Cross-browser testing assures a proper user experience across multiple devices, operating systems, and browsers so that users always view a web application the right way and you won’t lose clients because of page layout errors.

Several browsers can display the same web application differently. That’s why it’s important to check how your web app or website is illustrated across multiple browsers.

Cross-browser testing tools vary in terms of the number of supported browsers, ease of use, price, and testing speed. To help you pick the most fitting cross-browser testing tool, we’ve prepared this article in which we explain the need for cross-browser testing, list the best 5 cross-browser testing tools, and examine their pros and cons.

What is cross-browser testing and why do you require to perform it?

The contents of a website may be displayed inaccurately in some browsers as the result of differences in data interpretation across various versions of operating systems. And if a site is displayed inaccurately, a user is likely to leave it.

To avoid this problem, QA specialists should conduct cross-browser testing to ensure that a site is displayed accurately regardless of the browser.

Cross-browser compatibility testing is a non-functional kind of testing web applications and websites over various combinations of browsers, operating systems, and devices. The goal of this testing method is to assure a consistent user experience.

QA specialists verify whether a website is displayed and operates identically in all popular browsers. This suggests there must be no layout breaks and the data must be readable. Apart from that, QA specialists review lots of other website parameters like CSS and HTML validation, page styles, and data formats.

Top 5 cross-browser testing tools that are worth using

1. BrowserStack Live 

BrowserStack Live is a cross-browser testing tool available on desktop and mobile browsers that don’t need any installation. Pricing starts at $29 per month, though you can request a free trial.

This tool enables you to set up a comprehensive testing environment with support for firewalls, and Active Directory. BrowserStack Live promotes new and old versions of Internet Explorer, Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox on Windows and macOS.

You can test your website on real mobile devices working on various operating systems using the BrowserStack cloud platform.

Advantages of BrowserStack Live:

• Can instantly begin testing on a real device in the cloud
• Supports nearly all real mobile device browsers
• Doesn’t need a device lab or virtual machines

Disadvantages of BrowserStack Live:

• Poor response time
• Some defects found can’t be identified on real devices

2. LambdaTest

LambdaTest is a cloud-based stage for cross-browser compatibility testing of your web app or website. It enables you to conduct live interactive testing in real browser environments or even drive automated Selenium scripts on LambdaTest’s scalable cloud grid.

This tool is commercially available starting at $15 per month for just browser testing. Web and mobile testing begin at $99 per month. LambdaTest also gives a free version with limited functionality.

Advantages of LambdaTest:

• Provides a free version that enables you to perform six 10-minute sessions
• Supports cross-browser testing on both desktop and mobile browsers
• Allows an online grid for Selenium test automation that helps a lot of programming languages and frameworks

Disadvantages of LambdaTest:

• Not available on Linux

3. CrossBrowserTesting

CrossBrowserTesting has a user-friendly interface and enables developers to perform cross-browser testing on a broad range of browsers, including ones for mobile platforms.

This tool is available for Windows, Ubuntu, macOS, Android, and iOS. It enables you to run visual, manual, and Selenium tests in the cloud on more further than 2050 real desktop and mobile browsers. CrossBrowserTesting begins from $29 per month for a single user for live testing. Unlimited testing abilities begin from $100 per month for up to two users.

Advantages of CrossBrowserTesting:

• A broad range of browsers and browser versions
• Fit for quick testing
• Presents an opportunity to pick the operating system and screen resolution
• Supports mobile browsers
• Gives a trial version

Disadvantages of CrossBrowserTesting:

• High price, especially if you require to perform testing on a large-scale project
• Not available on Linux

4. Sauce Labs

Sauce Labs is a cloud-based platform for testing web and mobile applications that allow  QA specialists prompt access to thousands of browser/operating system combinations and mobile simulators, emulators, and real devices.

Pricing plans for manual cross-browser testing begin at $39 per month (for only one test at a time), and manual plus automated testing begins at $149 per month (also for only one test at a time). You can test on real mobile devices beginning at $199 per month.

Sauce Labs supports Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox on Windows, Linux, iOS, macOS, and Android.

Advantages of Sauce Labs include:

• The chance to test mobile browsers on real devices
• A broad selection of emulators, simulators, and real devices
• Support for the newest browser versions
• Free trial available

However, Sauce Labs has a big disadvantage:

• Its high price significantly advances development costs

5. Browserling

Browserling is an interactive online easy-to-use tool for cross-browser testing powered by HTML5 and JavaScript. It doesn’t need you to install Java or plugins. A license begins at $19 per month, but Browserling allows a limited trial version.

Browserling supports only Android and Windows and runs with several versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, and Safari.

Advantages of Browserling:

• Allows a free trial
• Supports above 40 versions of popular browsers
• ?an be utilized for functional and responsive testing
• Provides for pixel by pixel comparisons
• Fit for quick testing

Disadvantages of Browserling:

• Doesn’t support rare browsers
• Doesn’t help operating systems besides Android and Windows
• The free version provides only three-minute limited sessions and supports a fewer number browsers

Conclusion

Cross-browser testing is a significant process for assessing the functionality of web applications on several browsers to detect and fix flaws before users see them.

Your selection of cross-browser testing tools will greatly depend on your website’s specifics. 

Begin with identifying browsers you need to review your site on. To do that, it’s crucial to understand your site’s target audience and their choices. By only testing on browsers and browser versions that are common among your target audience, you can significantly decrease your testing time.

Also Read: The Importance Of Cross-Browser Compatibility

At TestUnity, we aim for the highest quality in every project, and our professional QA specialists are ready to assure it. Contact us if you’re looking for a dedicated team to improve your product’s quality.

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