What are defect tracking tools? A bug tracking system or defect tracking system is a software application that keeps track of reported software bugs in software development projects. It may be regarded as a type of issue-tracking system.
Here’s a list of the best tools you can use to keep track of the defects and get the bugs fixed.
The QA Lead is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click through links on our site — learn more about how we aim to stay transparent.
Defect Tracking Software Buyers Guide
What should you look for when buying defect tracking software? Here is a quick buyers guide you should be aware of and customize to your company’s needs:
- User Interface (UI): I look for a clean and organized user interface that is easy to navigate with the ability to view everything you need from a single dashboard.
- Usability: I look for tools with slight learning curves, but with effective features, so all team members can navigate and work collaboratively
- Integrations: I look for the most complimentary integrations that allows development teams the capacity to thoroughly streamline their processes
- Cost vs Value: I look for the best user experience for a competitive price
Defect Tracking Tool: Key Features
These are the key features that any good defect tracking solution must-have.
- Customizable boards: Allows you to build your own tailored Kanban and task boards so you are able to create a bug tracking system that works best for your team
- Robust notification system: Notifies you as soon as a bug is reported so you are able to prioritize and tackle the issue efficiently, reducing downtime.
- Easy set up: Allows you to implement the software faster within your team
- Feedback features: Allows you the ability to easily and efficiently obtain feedback from your stakeholders, clients and team members
Overviews Of The 10 Best Defect Tracking Tools For Software Testing
Here’s a brief description of each defect tracking platform on my list showing what it does best, plus screenshots to showcase some of the features.
1. BugHerd – Best low-tech, in-browser website testing
BugHerd makes website testing simple for everyone, from expert QA testers to non-technical stakeholders. Easily mark up websites and store all bugs and feedback in one central place for easy workflow management.
This browser extension lets you simply report any website defects with a simple point and click and pins the reported bug/issue/defect on the website element on your page. BugHerd captures screenshots, video, and info such as screen resolution, browser, OS, CSS selector data, and more. All the things that your team needs to fix the discovered issue.
All issues/bugs are collected in the Kanban-style task board where your team can comment, manage and assign any tasks amongst the team, no other software is needed.
BugHerd integrates with Slack, WordPress, GitHub, Integromat, and 1500+ more options using a paid plan through Zapier.
BugHerd costs from $39/month and offers a 14-day free trial.
2. Kualitee – Best to monitor test execution progress through dashboards & reports
Kualitee is a software testing & defect management tool that comes with a built-in defect management module. The defect management feature is flexible enough to be used alongside the testing process or as an independent issue tracking tool.
Kualitee comes with a customized reporting feature that lets you generate custom reports for test cases and bugs, and export them in a format of your choice. Teams can schedule reports to receive automatic updates through emails, minimizing the time and effort to develop new reports from scratch every time.
Kualitee integrates with Asana, GitLab, JIRA, Redmine, Selenium, GitHub, and Jenkins.
Kualitee costs from $15/user/month and offers a free 7-day trial.
3. monday.com – Best for stakeholder and client involvement
Monday.com is a project management tool that allows you to manage an array of projects from marketing projects to software development projects. It is a completely customizable web application that provides you with the ability to manage and assign tasks to team members, build your own tailored Kanban boards and task boards, and provides email notifications when tasks are assigned or when bugs are flagged when issue tracking.
Monday.com’s functionality allows you to easily drag and drop tasks within your Kanban boards, for which team members will receive notifications but in addition, clients and stakeholders can access the board and view the status of their projects. This allows you to have clear and concise communication with all those involved with your project, eliminating confusion and the need to provide multiple updates. Your boards can also be used during your team scrum as the boards are clear and easy to navigate.
monday.com’s integrations include project management apps like Slack, Google Drive, Gmail, Google Calendar, Jira, GitHub, Trello, Dropbox, Typeform, and many more, accessible through a paid plan with Zapier.
monday.com is free to use for up to 2 users. Paid plans cost from $8/user/month and come with a free 14-day trial.
4. Backlog – Offers enhanced team collaboration
Backlog is a cloud-based project management tool that is used by development teams and agile teams as an issue tracker and bug reporting tool. In addition to issue management, Backlog also provides you the ability to view your daily timeline and workflow by using Gantt charts.
Backlog provides development teams enhanced collaboration tools such as burndown charts, time tracking, progress tracking, and the ability to release code updates within the application. Team members can view each other’s tasks and updates real-time on customizable Kanban boards, which helps streamline processes and sprints.
Backlog integrates with Git which allows developers to effectively manage source code and project tasks. Backlog also integrates with applications such as Redmine, Typetalk, and Jenkins.
Backlog costs between $0 and $175 per user per month. The Enterprise Plan costs $1,200 for up to 20 users and has a 30-day free trial.
5. Zoho Bug Tracker – Best for tracking defect life cycle
Zoho Bug Tracker is a bug tracking tool with an easy-to-set-up web application that has features such as discussion boards and task boards, allowing you to check in on your team and monitor the progress of their work and enhance collaboration efforts. Zoho Bug Tracker also has a robust reporting feature that allows you to see clearly how many active bugs there are, making your team’s issue management seamless.
Zoho Bug Tracker is a scalable bug tracking software that allows you to track the life cycle of bugs from the onset to closure. The tool allows you to set up automatic notifications, and custom workflows to follow so you can fix bugs and close tickets faster. This allows you to automate issue management, so you are able to better focus on your clients and stakeholders’ needs.
Zoho Bug Trackers costs $4 per month for up to 10 users and offers a free plan for up to 3 users and 2 projects.
6. Trackduck – Extensive feedback feature so you can better serve your stakeholders and clients
Trackduck is an issue tracking and visual feedback tool that allows you to track defects in the UX/UI phase of your project. Trackduck allows you to review tasks and comments with tech details directly within the website and allows you to easily filter your tasks with the Trackduck toolbar where you can assign bugs and track their progress.
Trackduck provides unique features to obtain feedback on your web projects throughout their life cycle. Team members and stakeholders can provide feedback on the likes of mock-ups and wireframes. With the assistance of the browser extension, you can record screenshots of your website, mock-ups, and wireframes, and get feedback using the public feedback feature.
Trackduck provides integration with project management software such as Asana, Jira, Redmine, and Trello.
Trackduck is an open-source application and source code can be viewed on GitHub.
7. Bugyard – Provides extensive customer support best for small teams and freelancers
Bugyard is an issue tracking tool with an array of features such as backlog management, issue tracking, and task management. It is a web-based SaaS that allows you to gather feedback from stakeholders and team members, as well as offering the ability to direct link to your webpage, browser, and iOS details so you can easily understand the context of your user’s feedback.
Bugyard offers customer support and business hours support online and offers training via documentation. This allows you the resources to fully equip your development teams with the ability to train on the tool, which creates a possibility for all team members to work efficiently on issue management and test management. However, this also provides freelancers with full training and support when managing software development projects solo.
Bugyard offers an array of integrations with tools such as Asana, Trello, Freshdesk, and Zendesk which is beneficial
The cost of Bugyard starts at ~$10.10 (€9) for up to 2 users, and Bugyard also offers a free 14-day trial.
8. Rollbar – Best for resolving bugs real-time
Rollbar is a bug tracking software that allows for coverage across all applications. The tool offers the ability to group similar cases into one set which allows for automatic organization, providing you the opportunity to focus solely on the task in hand as they occur.
Rollbar provides you with automatic notifications, allowing you to proactively review and debug your application in real-time. The tool provides you with information about the bug instantaneously, allowing you to assess the severity such as whether it is an isolated issue or whether it is occurring across the whole application so you are able to prioritize.
Rollbar provides integration with project management tools such as Asana, Jira, and Redmine, and integration with automation servers such as Jenkins and Azure DevOps.
The cost of Rollbar starts at $21.00 USD per month for the Essentials package. Rollbar also offers a free version with all the basic features.
9. MantisHub – Best for time management within development teams
MantisHub is a cloud-based issue tracking tool based off of MantisBT, which is a PHP application. MantisHub is ideal for development teams who wish to get started without the need to set up servers and install MantisBT. MantisHub is a quick setup and has a user-friendly interface, allowing team members with all levels of technical ability to collaborate.
MantisHub has an array of bug tracking features, including the built-in time tracking feature. The time tracking feature allows you to record the time spent on debugging manually or with a timer, providing the opportunity to get a better understanding of how long a bug would take to fix. The feature also offers bug reporting and as well as setting hourly rates for chargeback to your stakeholders and clients.
MantisHub offers integration with applications such as Slack, GitHub, GitLab, TestRail, and TestLodge.
The cost of MantisHub starts at $22.95 USD per month when paid annually for the Gold package, and the service also offers a free trial.
10. Marker – Provides unique 2-way sync with your issue trackers and project management tools
Marker.io is a bug tracking tool that provides on-site bug reporting and automated addition of console logs. Marker.io also offers features such as customizable submission forms and fast mark-up tools for bug reporting and feedback collection, allowing you and your team to streamline your processes.
Marker.io allows you to create tickets directly from the web application into project management tools and issue trackers such as Jira, Github, Trello, and Asana. In addition, if you move a ticket in your project management tool, Marker.io will pull an “up-to-date” list, and the statuses automatically sync. The tool also allows you to collect feedback from clients and stakeholders and have it sync straight into your chosen project management tool, reducing the repetition of writing numerous tickets with the same details, increasing efficiency.
In addition to the above-mentioned integrations, Marker.io can also integrate with GitLab, Linear, Browserstack, Teamwork, and ClickUp. Marker.io also offers browser extensions such as Chrome and Firefox.
The cost of Marker.io starts at $39.00 USD per month (billed annually), and the service also offers a 15-day free trial.
Need expert help selecting the right Bug Tracking Software?
We’ve joined up with the software comparison platform Crozdesk.com to assist you in finding the right software. Crozdesk’s Bug Tracking Software advisors can create a personalized shortlist of software solutions with unbiased recommendations to help you identify the solutions that best suit your business’s needs. Through our partnership you get free access to their bespoke software selection advice, removing both time and hassle from the research process.
It only takes a minute to submit your requirements and they will give you a quick call at no cost or commitment. Based on your needs you’ll receive customized software shortlists listing the best-fitting solutions from their team of software advisors (via phone or email). They can even connect you with your selected vendor choices along with community negotiated discounts. To get started, please complete the form below:
Other Tools
- Asana – Project management tool that allows you to create customizable tasks in order to better manage your backlog and defects, and also provides a specific bug tracking template
- Bugzilla – Open source tracking tool that provides an advanced search system and a comprehensive reporting tool so you are able to generate charts and automated scheduled reports
- zipBoard – Visual bug tracker that allows you to review and collaborate on web projects using it’s central task manager, and offers integration with JIRA and Slack.
Check This Out: 10 BEST BUG TRACKING SOFTWARE IN 2022
What are defect tracking tools?
A defect tracking tool, or a bug tracking system, is a software application where development teams can report and track bugs that occur in software development projects.
Why use defect tracking tools?
Using defect tracking tools helps development teams and Agile teams streamline their processes and minimize downtime as team members can prioritize and manage bugs efficiently and collaboratively. The tools often come with built-in notification systems that alert teams to bugs almost immediately.
Conclusion
Defect management is a significant part of software development and managing those defects, especially in the early stages of a project, can become overwhelming. Using a defect tracking tool will better help your development teams organize and manage their work, and with the added bonus of these tracking tools being so easy to implement within a team, all of your team members can become involved with the QA portion of your project life cycle.
Should you wish to learn more about testing tools and test automation, sign up to The QA Lead newsletter.
Related Read: HOW TO WRITE A BUG REPORT (+ FREE TEMPLATE DOWNLOAD)
