Looking for new test case management too? Don’t let the different options cause a headache. While TestLink is one of the oldest tools out there, it may not be the best solution for your needs.
By Testpad
November 20, 2024
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f you’re looking for a new test case management tool, it’s likely that TestLink has come onto your radar. It’s been around for more than two decades and is still going strong – although there are many other (newer and shinier) tools on the market these days.
But which one is right for you? Let’s take a look at TestLink, along with six of the best alternatives, to help you make your decision based on your team's size, budget, existing workflows, and specific testing needs.
TestLink is an open source test management tool that – like other testing tools – helps teams to organize and manage their software testing processes.
It can be used to keep the testing process organized, allowing users to:
One of the key differentiating features is that TestLink is open source. There’s no license needed to use the tool, and it’s freely available for download from either GitHub or SourceForge. That makes it particularly attractive to small teams and businesses on a budget.
The fact that TestLink is open source also means that businesses can modify the code to fit their specific needs, such as:
Many teams like this flexibility offered by TestLink, allowing them to create a more tailored experience that suits the needs of their project or organization.
TestLink supports different user roles and permissions, meaning that teams can manage access and control what different users can do within the tool. This feature may be handy for larger teams with lots of team members, where it’s important to restrict who can access what within the testing environment.
TestLink can connect with popular defect-tracking tools like Jira and Bugzilla. This streamlines the process of identifying and resolving bugs, allowing for better collaboration between testing and development teams. If a user discovers any issues while executing test cases, they can quickly log these defects directly into the connected bug tracking system without leaving TestLink – which also makes it easier for developers to see and follow up on those issues.
TestLink mostly supports manual testing, but it can also be used for automated testing through integration with other tools. That means that teams can track results from both manual and automated tests, all in one central location.
Because TestLink is open source, it’s free to download, use and modify. That makes it an appealing choice for teams of all sizes.
While it offers standard test management and organization features for free, users may find that it doesn’t quite meet all of their needs, leading them to look for TestLink alternatives.
Some of the limitations of TestLink include:
Finding the right tool to suit your testing needs can be a bit of a headache. Not sure that TestLink is the right one for you? We’ve done the hard work for you, searching high and low to find the best TestLink alternatives.
TestRail is a web-based test management tool that’s designed to help software development and QA teams manage and streamline their testing processes. It markets itself as an end-to-end tool for the entire QA process, from test management through to analytics.
Some of the main features of the tool include:
TestRail offers a few options, depending on the size of your team:
Professional Cloud
This is for standard test management, and includes:
The cost starts from $35/month (billed annually) per user
Enterprise Cloud
This includes everything offered in Professional Cloud, plus:
The cost starts from $71/month (billed annually) per user.
Enterprise Server
This includes everything in Professional Cloud, plus:
Available for up to 20 users at a cost of $1,412 per month, up to 40 users for a cost of $2,049, or for bigger teams – quotes are available on the TestRail site.
TestLink has been well-loved and well-used for the last couple of decades, but it doesn’t come with the most user-friendly design and requires technical know-how to use. TestRail offers a more modern, intuitive user interface and experience which may make it more appealing to less tech savvy users.
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Testmo is another unified test management tool that promises to help teams manage their testing more efficiently. It aims to streamline workflows by providing a platform where teams can collaborate on testing tasks, track progress and generate reports.
Some of the main features of Testmo include:
Testmo offers multiple pricing options for teams of various sizes:
Like TestRail, Testmo offers a more user-friendly alternative to TestLink. They promote easy integration with test automation platforms for full test automation management, integration and reporting may make it an appealing option for teams that are keen on both manual and automated testing.
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Again, like most other TestLink alternatives, Tuskr pitches itself as modern, do-it-all test management software. It provides users with a platform to manage test cases, track execution results, and collaborate effectively within teams.
Tuskr aims to offer lots of features within its simple interface. Some of the main ones you’ll want to know about include:
As with other tools, Tusker offers various subscription levels for different sizes of teams:
TestLink is fully free and open source – but it does require technical knowledge, and the user interface isn’t particularly intuitive. Tuskr is designed to be user-friendly and while there are limitations, its free subscription may be tempting for budget-conscious teams.
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Cons:
PractiTest aims to simplify test management. Like other tools within this space, it offers a robust suite of features including dashboards and reports and integration with other platforms.
Some of the major features of PractiTest include:
PractiTest’s Team plans include unlimited projects and end to end test modules:
There’s also a corporate plan, which includes an advanced security pack, multilingual support and a control and compliance pack. Corporate plans are available for 10+ users and prices are available on request.
PractiTest is more intuitive with a user-friendly interface, while TestLink can be seen as less modern and sometimes challenging to navigate. Its real-time reporting is a positive for fast-paced start-ups, while the AI features may be tempting to teams looking to save time and streamline processes.
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Like most modern test management tools, qTest pitches itself as a modern, scalable test case management tool that helps users to streamline the testing process across various phases of the development lifecycle. It supports agile methodologies, with its capabilities including test case creation, test execution, defect tracking and reporting.
Some of the main features to know about include:
Pricing starts at $82 per user, per month, billed annually – contact qTest for a quote based on your individual requirements.
One of qTest’s key differentiators is defect tracking within the platform. Other tools, including TestLink, require third party integrations in order to track bugs, but qTest allows it all to be done within one central location – which could streamline processes.
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Testpad takes a fresh approach to test management. Many traditional test case management tools are complex with a steep learning curve – and unfortunately, often they come with a lot of bugs and glitches, too.
Instead of a traditional database-driven approach, Testpad uses a simple checklist approach – it’s a lightweight tool that helps you test more, faster.
The key features of Testpad include:
Like other tools, Testpad offers a range of pricing options to suit teams of all sizes:
TestLink has been around for a long time, and has been popular for a reason – but it is clunky to use with a difficult interface. Testpad offers a straightforward, lightweight and flexible approach to testing, making it a good choice for teams that want to jump right into testing without having to first learn how to use a complex tool.
There are many different test management tools out there, so we get it – picking the right one can be tricky.
It’s important to think about what you need from your tool before making your decision. TestLink is one of the oldest testing tools out there – but legacy tools are often not as user-friendly as modern tools, and TestLink does take a lot of training and research to learn how to use it.
Many of the other test management tools on the market are fairly similar. They offer a range of features across the product testing lifecycle and various integrations with other tools – but you don’t always need the complexity that comes with this. Sometimes you need to keep things simple, and that’s where Testpad comes in.
If you value speed and simplicity, Testpad could be the tool for you. To see if Testpad fits your needs, try the 30-day free trial. It's the best way to figure out if Testpad's streamlined method can kick your testing process up a notch.
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EDITORIALS
Looking for a new test management tool? While qTest is a popular agile test management tool, it may not suit every team. There're many alternatives that offer similar features that you may find more helpful. Find the right tool for your team's size, budget, workflows, and testing needs, ensuring it aligns with your processes for maximum efficiency.
EDITORIALS
Looking for a new test management tool can be a headache. PractiTest is one option, but with so many alternatives that offer similar features it's hard to know which better suits your team's size, budget, workflows, and testing needs.
EDITORIALS
Test management tools can often feel clunky, complex, and difficult to master — which is the last thing you need when trying to streamline your efforts. TestLodge is a solid option for many, but is it right for your team?