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10 Top 10 Must-Consider Test Management Tools: a quick overview

Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 17 tools reviewed.
  1. 1. New Relic — Best for its real-time analytics
  2. 2. Kualitee — Best for test case management and bug tracking
  3. 3. TestRail — Best all-in-one test management tool with custom dashboards and extensive integration
  4. 4. Xray — Best Jira test management app that uses Jira native issue types to manage testing artifacts
  5. 5. Tricentis qTest — Best to transition to agile while still supporting waterfall projects
  6. 6. Tricentis Test Management — Best for its DevOps workflow support through integrations
  7. 7. PractiTest — Best end-to-end SaaS test management platform for managing QA efforts in one place.
  8. 8. Tuskr — Best for its affordable, full set of test management features
  9. 9. Testiny — Best test management tool with a free plan for up to 3 users
  10. 10. aqua ALM — Best for requirements, test case and defect management

Test management tools are a great resource to help you find and manage the bugs that matter so you can focus on building better software and a better software development process.

Having a tool to manage all of the iterations of testing is critical, especially today with more software engineers adopting cyclical techniques like test-driven development,

Are you concerned about meeting quality standards in your software projects? Dive into my article because it explains how test management software can help you meet and exceed those standards.

Understanding Test Management: Why it’s crucial for software development

Test management is a complex process that involves multiple activities and stakeholders. Key tasks include:

  • Formulating test strategies
  • Crafting test plans and cases
  • Identifying and managing defects

Managing these manually can be cumbersome and error-prone. Software for test management automates these tasks, ensuring a streamlined and efficient process. It allows for better collaboration among stakeholders and provides real-time insights, making it crucial for the successful completion of a software project.

Key criteria for evaluating Test Management Tools: What you should know

What specifications and functions am I looking for when I select test management tools for review? Here’s a summary of my evaluation criteria: 

  1. User interface (UI): Is it clean and attractive?
  2. Usability: Is it easy to learn and master? Does the company offer good tech support, user support, tutorials, and training? 
  3. Features and functionality: 
    • Range of devices/browsers available for testing: Can the software test across different OSs, browsers, and mobile devices? Does it have integration testing tools?
    • Test planning: Can the tool create and record test plans, test cases, and test runs? Does it help QA team members plan test designs and create test suites?
    • Requirements management: Does it allow development teams to set and track requirements throughout the testing process?
    • Test execution: Does the tool support test execution for various types of testing, such as manual testing, test automation, continuous testing, integration testing, and more?
    • Reporting and analytics: Can team members generate detailed and useful reports on test results and progress throughout the test process?
  4. Integrations: Is it easy to connect with other tools or add-ons? Any pre-built and seamless integrations with other software you already have in use, such as bug-tracking software, issue-tracking software, test management system, application lifecycle management (ALM) software, project management software, continuous integration tools, or QA automation tools?
  5. Value for $: How appropriate is the price for the features, capabilities, and use case? Is pricing clear, transparent, and flexible?

In-depth reviews: The best Test Management Tools for 2023

Here’s my list of the best software test management tools. These test case tools help the software quality assurance process and reduce manual testing efforts so you spend less time messing around with Excel spreadsheets or old-school test cases and more time doing the work of software testing and fixing bugs.

1

New Relic

Best for its real-time analytics

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.3
415 reviews

Free version available

From $49/user/month

New Relic is a software analytics product that's all about giving you real-time insights into your software performance. It gives you the data you need to figure out why something's not working and how to fix it. Plus, it's got a great feature called APM (Application Performance Monitoring) that lets you see how your software is performing in real-time.

Another standout feature is the user interface. It's clean, intuitive, and easy to navigate. It also includes dashboards that let you visualize your data in a way that makes sense to you. You can customize them to show the metrics that matter most to you. It's all about giving you the information you need, when you need it.

Features include backend monitoring, Kubernetes monitoring, mobile monitoring, model performance monitoring, infrastructure monitoring, log management, error tracking, network monitoring, vulnerability management, and browser monitoring. 

Integrations include over 500 apps, like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure; CI/CD tools like Jenkins, CircleCI, and Travis CI; communication tools like Slack and PagerDuty; and other monitoring and analytics tools like Grafana, Datadog, and Splunk. It also has an API you can use to build custom integrations.

New Relic costs from $49/user/month and offers a free plan for 1 user and 100 GB/month of data ingest.

2

Kualitee

Best for test case management and bug tracking

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.5
120 reviews

7-day free trial

From $15/user/month

Kualitee is a cloud-based test management tool that supports both manual and automated testing. Testers are able to create and import test cases and associate them with builds and requirements to get complete end-to-end traceability.

With its feature of defect management, Kualitee runs a complete testing flow from test planning to execution and issue tracking. It’s an all-in-one tool where testers, developers, and project managers can collaborate.

The tool allows users to run custom test, bug, and test execution reports, and includes functionalities for requirement planning. Their interactive dashboards are intuitive and user-friendly.

Kualitee integrates with Jira, Selenium, Jenkins, and Bitbucket. The tool also offers a mobile app for increased ease of use.

Pricing starts at $15/user/month. Kualitee also offers a free 7-day trial.

3

TestRail

Best all-in-one test management tool with custom dashboards and extensive integration

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.3
421 reviews

14-day free trial

From $37/user/month

TestRail is a test management platform for QA and development teams to manage test cases, plan and execute tests, and track results from both manual and automated testing. It can be used in waterfall or agile projects. You can organize test cases in folders and sections, and customize test cases with templates, statuses, and fields.

The TestRail API allows test automation engineers to push in test results from automated scripts so you can track results across both manual and automated tests. TestRail also offers dashboards and reports to help your team communicate test pass / fail rate, track test cycle progress, and assess the current level of risk of a new release.

TestRail integrates with Jira, GitHub, GitLab, Asana, and 20+ other issue-tracking or defect management tools. It supports reporting of tests run via Selenium, Cypress, Appium, Cucumber, Junit, TestNG, Pytest, or any other test automation tool or framework using the TestRail API. You can also integrate TestRail with CI/CD pipelines like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps and more.

TestRail costs from $36/user/month and offers a 14-day free trial.

4

Xray

Best Jira test management app that uses Jira native issue types to manage testing artifacts

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.4
9 reviews

30-day free trial

$10/user/month

Xray for Jira is a complete test management tool that helps you organize, plan, execute, and report on the progress of testing and readiness to deploy.

Xray uses Jira native issue types and all requirements are linked to test cases so you’ll never overlook a test. With Xray natively integrated into Jira, developers and testers work in the same unified ecosystem which allows for transparency into the work, visibility into the testing progress and collaboration between developers and testers. This way, every test is accounted for, every task lives in the same workflow, and everyone speaks the same language.

With Xray, managers can use agile boards to track the requirement status and test execution progress in real-time. You also have robust reporting capabilities with built-in reports for traceability and coverage analysis, as well as a dashboard with gadgets to easily assess the status of testing. Xray also supports data-driven testing with parameterized tests which allows you to test large sets of iterations quickly and easily.

Integration with your favorite Continuous Integration tools, including Cucumber and Jenkins, is straightforward through our built-in REST API. Xray also integrates with leading test automation frameworks including Cucumber, JUnit, NUnit, Robot Framework, and also supports testing in BDD with Gherkin-based frameworks.

Xray costs from $10/user/month and offers a 30-day free trial.

5

Tricentis qTest

Best to transition to agile while still supporting waterfall projects

14-Day free trial available

Plans start at $1,200 per user/year

Tricentis qTest is an agile test management tool that is scalable and can work for businesses of all sizes. The software provides DevOps and QA testing teams with a unified view of tasks and activities across the agile software development lifecycle (SDLC). Having a centralized control and orchestration of all automated workflows makes it easier to embed testing within continuous development pipelines. QA and development teams can leverage the software to transition to an agile methodology or to support their waterfall projects.

DevOps and QA teams can reuse their test cases and share them across projects so they can create and promote set standards and scale their best practices. This also makes it easier to build and maintain more test cases. Users can combine or centralize their solutions for automated, exploratory, and manual testing activities in the same software. They can also create shareable, customized reports on their testing data and activities using one of over 60 out-of-the-box configurable reports.

The software has native integrations with some of the most widely used solutions for product planning, development, and testing like Selenium, Jira, Jenkins, and GitHub.

Pricing for Tricentis qTest starts at $1,200 per user/year. A 14-day free trial is available.

6

Tricentis Test Management

Best for its DevOps workflow support through integrations

30-day free trial

From $1.38/user/month (first 100 users)

Tricentis Test Management is a test management software that integrates with different planning, testing, and DevOps tools, including Jenkins, Selenium, and Jira, which allows teams to have a unified view of the software testing process.

This management solution helps you approach testing strategically and collaboratively. This is achieved through several useful features, including qTest Manager to plan the testing phase, qTest Pulse for automating events, qTest Launch for test automation, and qTest Explorer for documentation.

Tricentis Test Management uses an automated, codeless, and AI-driven software testing approach, allowing you to accelerate software release speed. Additionally, this solution is scalable and data migration from spreadsheets and old test management solutions is easy, allowing you to seamlessly continue software testing when first adopting Tricentis. This platform can track, organize, and report on the testing process, help build custom workflows, manage automated testing, record and annotate testing sessions, and use a customizable dashboard for analytics and reporting.

Tricentis allows users to seamlessly switch from old management systems to Tricentis and integrate with several Agile and DevOps tools. These integrations can be customized to support event-driven workflows with any third-party tool, including Bamboo, Azure Pipelines, Teams, and Slack.

7

PractiTest

Best end-to-end SaaS test management platform for managing QA efforts in one place.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.3
143 reviews

14-day free trial

$2490/year

PractiTest is an end-to-end test management tool. A common meeting ground for all QA stakeholders, it enables full visibility into the testing process and a deeper, broader understanding of testing results. The tool is fully customizable & flexible for the ever-changing needs of QA teams, allowing them to customize fields, views, permissions, issue workflows, and more.

The software also allows users to reuse tests and correlate results across different releases and products, as well as avoid doing duplicate work with anti-bug duplicates, permutations, step parameters, and the call-to-test feature.

Another great feature is the unique hierarchical filter trees, which are great for organizing everything and finding anything quickly. QA team members can visualize data with advanced dashboards and reports.

PractiTest allows for a vast array of third-party integrations with common bug trackers such as Redmine, Jira, Pivotal Tracker, and more, as well as automation tools. The tool also offers a robust API for further integrations.

Pricing for PractiTest starts at $2490/year. They offer a 14-day free trial.

8

Tuskr

Best for its affordable, full set of test management features

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.6
200 reviews

Free trial available

From $9/user/month (minimum of five users)

Tuskr is a complete test management solution for product managers, QA testers, development teams, and IT specialists. It provides robust features that are incredibly easy to use. It features a simple yet highly intuitive user interface, packed with powerful QA testing tools and capabilities. You can create test cases using the WYSIWYG editor with rich-text formatting. Overwhelming test data can be easily organized using HTML tables.

You can create flexible test runs complete with custom fields while capturing results. The software allows for custom result statuses that match specific requirements, while the bulk mode feature lets you reassign test cases or add custom results. With Tuskr, you can generate detailed status reports and export them in PDF format to share with stakeholders and clients. A workload chart is available, which can help identify testers who are overutilized or underutilized. Compare planned and actual performance charts to differentiate the top performers from the underperforming resources.

A free version of the test management software is available, with a maximum of five users. The Team plan starts at $9 per user/month, and a free trial is available.

9

Testiny

Best test management tool with a free plan for up to 3 users

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.8
12 reviews

14-day free trial

From $17/4 users/month

Testiny is a test management tool that facilitates test planning, execution, and reporting activities. Its customizable workflows help teams efficiently manage test cases, requirements, and defects. The software can handle various testing processes, such as functional, performance, and regression testing.

Users can create test plans in the software that outline the testing requirements, test cases, and expected results. Test plans can be assigned to team members, and the reporting system can generate reports that provide insights into the testing process. This feature helps users identify bugs, track issue resolution, and ensure testing aligns with overall project goals.

The software supports collaborative test management through document sharing, team chats, and task assignments. Users can create custom automated testing scripts that can be executed repeatedly, and features can be customized to meet specific needs. Automation features help streamline testing processes and reduce risk of human error. The software's test run view feature allows users to track the progress of their tests and identify which tests have been completed successfully and which require further attention.

Other bug-tracking systems like JIRA, Bugzilla, and Trac work with the software. Paid plans start from $17/user/month, and a 14-day trial is available. Teams of 3 users or less can also access a free plan.

10

aqua ALM

Best for requirements, test case and defect management

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
5
2 reviews

30-day free trial

From $38/month

aqua is an easy-to-use German test management system known for providing an enterprise-level service for customers of all packages for an affordable price (packages start from 39 euro/month). With aqua, you can organise tests & teams, run testing scenarios of any complexity and scale, and go from manual to automated testing smoothly. aqua's real-time analytics & enterprise-level reports give clarity over QA & dev workflows: you see what to improve & automate.

Since 2008 aqua has been serving as a test management and ALM solution for the biggest enterprises in Germany. From 2022, they also launched an SMB cloud tier which includes enterprise-level support and flexibility for an affordable price (from 39 euro/user/month).

Every package goes with the possibility of joining an unlimited number of 'Basic' free users, who can view reports, as well as create and execute test cases (perfect for manual testers). This helps you save costs by providing a paid aqua version only for test managers and automation testers.

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The Best Test Management Tools Summary

Tool Trial Info Price
1
New Relic

Best for its real-time analytics

Free version available

From $49/user/month Website
2
Kualitee

Best for test case management and bug tracking

7-day free trial

From $15/user/month Website
3
TestRail

Best all-in-one test management tool with custom dashboards and extensive integration

14-day free trial

From $37/user/month Website
4
Xray

Best Jira test management app that uses Jira native issue types to manage testing artifacts

30-day free trial

$10/user/month Website
5
Tricentis qTest

Best to transition to agile while still supporting waterfall projects

14-Day free trial available

Plans start at $1,200 per user/year Website
6
Tricentis Test Management

Best for its DevOps workflow support through integrations

30-day free trial

From $1.38/user/month (first 100 users) Website
7
PractiTest

Best end-to-end SaaS test management platform for managing QA efforts in one place.

14-day free trial

$2490/year Website
8
Tuskr

Best for its affordable, full set of test management features

Free trial available

From $9/user/month (minimum of five users) Website
9
Testiny

Best test management tool with a free plan for up to 3 users

14-day free trial

From $17/4 users/month Website
10
aqua ALM

Best for requirements, test case and defect management

30-day free trial

From $38/month Website

Other Test Management Tool Options

Here’s a few more that didn’t make the top list. If you need additional suggestions for handy testing tools, check these out.

  1. Test Collab

    Best for creating reusable test case steps

  2. TestLink

    Best for an open-source option

  3. Micro Focus Silk Central

    Best for bug and issue recreation

  4. TestGear

    Best to unite manual and automated testing

  5. IBM Rational Quality Manager

    Best for team collaboration

  6. QA Wolf

    End-to-end testing service run by a team of expert QA engineers

  7. TestMonitor

    Best test management tool with risk management features

Test management tools are indispensable in today’s software development world, providing the necessary structure and efficiency required for effective testing processes. For quality assurance software testers, developers, UX designers, technology leaders, and CPO/CTOs, staying updated with the latest trends in these tools is crucial. It ensures that they can meet the demanding requirements of software quality and address specific pain points.

Trend 1: AI and Machine Learning Integration

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are becoming increasingly integrated into test management tools, providing smart analytics and predictive capabilities. This trend is particularly beneficial for QA testers and software developers who face the challenge of not having enough capacity to test in a timely manner. AI-powered tools can predict high-risk areas of the application, optimize test suites for maximum coverage with minimal tests, and provide actionable insights to speed up the testing process. By leveraging AI and ML, teams can ensure they are focusing their efforts where they are needed most, bridging the gap between in-house capacity and QA workload.

Trend 2: Enhanced Collaboration and Accessibility

The shift towards more collaborative and accessible test management tools is evident, addressing the need for intuitive systems to manage software testing effectively. This trend benefits technology team leaders and managers, helping to tackle the lack of infrastructure and education on leading development operations. Modern tools are now cloud-based, offering real-time collaboration, easy access from anywhere, and integrations with various development and communication tools. This ensures that all team members, regardless of their location, have access to the testing data they need when they need it.

Trend 3: User-Centric Testing

Understanding the end-user experience is crucial, making user-centric testing an important trend. This is particularly relevant for user experience designers, helping them to address the pain point of understanding what users want and need for a better experience. Test management tools are now providing features for user behavior analytics, heatmaps, and user feedback integration, ensuring that the testing process is aligned with real user interactions and expectations.

Trend 4: Talent Retention Through Skill Development

In the highly competitive market for tech talent, retaining top talent is a significant challenge, especially for technology leaders and managers. The latest test management tools are incorporating features for continuous learning and skill development, addressing the disparity in experience within teams. These tools provide access to learning resources, certifications, and community forums, helping to keep the team engaged and up-to-date with the latest testing methodologies.

Trend 5: Scalability for Organizational Growth

For CPO/CTOs, creating scalable test strategies that enable organizational growth is a top priority. The new wave of test management tools is designed to be scalable and adaptable to the changing needs of the organization. They provide features for large data handling, integration with various tools and systems, and customizable workflows, ensuring that the testing process can grow in tandem with the organization.

Embracing the latest trends in test management tools is crucial for quality assurance testers, software developers, UX designers, technology leaders, and CPO/CTOs. By leveraging AI and ML for smarter testing, enhancing collaboration and accessibility, focusing on user-centric testing, investing in talent retention through skill development, and ensuring scalability for organizational growth, these professionals can address their specific pain points. Adopting these trends will not only enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the testing process but also contribute significantly to the overall quality of software products. Encouragingly, the adoption of these trends will drive innovation and excellence in software testing, positioning organizations for success in the competitive software development landscape.

People Also Ask: Your Test Management Queries answered

I know that most of you are seasoned software testers, but I always want to provide the best practices and industry knowledge for my tool review lists. Check out everything you need to know about software test management below!

Maximize Software Quality with Best Practices for Test Management Tools

Whether you looking for your first solution for testing management or ready to upgrade your existing test system, I included some additional resources below to complete your software testing tool kit and knowledgebase. Enjoy!

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By Jason Boog

Over his 15-year career, Jason Boog has worked as a QA tester, QA analyst, and Senior QA Analyst on video games, commercial sites, and interactive web applications. He spent more than a decade building out the QA team and process as Director of Quality & Client Support at a full-service digital agency.