In the competitive world of iOS apps, a single bug can cause massive harm to the development process and result in malfunction. Thus, there are a variety of automation tests that are designed to make development easier and faster.
iOS testing frameworks or tools automate repetitive tasks, speed up the testing process, reduce the chances of errors, and boost the development lifecycle. In this blog, we have shared the best iOS app testing automation frameworks in 2024, with the features, pros & cons so you can decide the best solution for your needs.
What are iOS testing frameworks?
iOS testing frameworks are the applications that help evaluate the performance, functionality and efficiency of the mobile apps. These frameworks use test cases or scripts to perform testing tasks, simulate real user interactions, and identify potential errors and issues in the applications.
Best iOS Test Automation Frameworks in 2024
Here is a list of the best iOS app test automation frameworks and tools to test iOS apps in 2024.
#1 Calabash
Developed by Xamarin, Calabash is an automation framework for iOS, Android native and hybrid applications. It is used for automated functional testing and supports cross-platform or cross-browser testing.
The framework uses Cucumber to write test cases that work simply like plain English text, making it easier for individuals with zero coding knowledge. Hence, you don’t need programming languages like Java, Python, JavaScript, or PHP to create test cases.
Key features:
- Enables testing UI elements of iOS apps like tapping buttons, entering text and swiping.
- Integrates seamlessly with CI/CD pipeline automated tools.
- Allows testing on a wide range of platforms, devices and simulators for comprehensive testing.
Pros:
- Improves the robustness of the product with easy-to-write test cases.
- Brings consistency to the tests.
- Expands testing capabilities due to cross-browser testing.
Cons:
- Limited documentation and knowledge base.
- No active community
#2 XCTest / XCUITest
XCTest and XCUITest are official frameworks developed by Apple for automated testing of iOS and macOS applications. XCTest is designed for unit testing, while XCUITest is an extension of XCTest that performs UI testing of iOS and macOS applications.
XCtest can be used to write various test cases in Object-C and Swift for unit, functional, and UI testing. Both XCTest and XCUITest are integrated into Apple’s Xcode development environment, allowing developers to create, run, and analyze tests seamlessly within their workflow.
Key features:
- It offers a lifecycle method that allows developers to set a condition before testing so that tests start from the consistent and different test cases don’t interfere.
- Seamless integration with Apple’s Xcode IDE that provides a cohesive testing environment.
- Detailed reports and analytics that cover the passed, skipped or failed test and health of test coverage.
Pros:
- Reduces the flakiness in app testing.
- Enables the tester to record tests and generate test codes for a reliable test creation process.
- Operates at object level, making maintenance easier in case of changes or updates.
Cons:
- Only supports Object-C and Swift programming languages.
- It needs the installation of XCode on every machine where the team runs XCUI Test.
#3 Appium
Appium is one of the most popular automation frameworks for testing iOS apps. Appium was created by Dan Cuellar in 2011 using C# and later made it open-source in 2012.
It allows testers to write tests using their preferred programming languages such as Java, Python, Ruby, making it a preferred choice for testers with technical knowledge. Powered with Selenium Web Driver, Appium lets you write test cases in any other language.
Here are some key points about why Appium testing for mobile apps is a great choice:
- Allows testing native, hybrid, and mobile web applications without requiring any modifications to the app’s codebase.
- The WebDriver protocol enables testers to interact with real-users and provides compatibility with a wide range of devices.
- Offers seamless integration with popular frameworks such as Selenium, TestNG, JUnit, and more.
Pros:
- Open-source and free to use.
- Extensive documentation and active community of users with tips on troubleshooting.
- Enables testing on real-devices, simulators and emulators.
Cons:
- Offers limited supported for hybrid apps testing
- Lacks detailed reporting and gestures.
#4 EarlGrey
Developed by Google, EarlGrey is another open-source framework for testing iOS web, mobile applications. This framework is phenomenal in UI testing and functional testing of iOS native apps like Youtube, Google Calendar, Google Photos, Google translate, and more.
Testers can write and execute test cases in Object-C and Swift. The best feature of EarlGrey is its synchronization with Espresso that synchorizes app with UI and network requests automatically.
Key features:
- Offers seamless integration with Xcode and XCTest framework, streamlining the app development through XCode.
- Provides extensive support for real user interactions such as multi-touch gestures, scrolling, swiping, and more.
- One of the largest communities of testers and developers that offer actionable advice and share best practices.
Pros:
- Completely open-source framework
- Best for performing actions on UI elements
- Offers flexible – grey box testing approach that combines internal workings of system
Cons:
- Complex to setup without proper technical skills
- The interface is slow and time-consuming.
#5 Detox
Detox is an end-to-end grey box automation testing framework, designed for testing iOS apps for performance and stability. This Java-script based framework provides developers with a powerful toolset to ensure the reliability of apps across different environments.
Detox can be integrated into various continuous integration system frameworks and other cloud testing services.
Key features:
- It integrates seamlessly with popular tools like Jest, which streamlines the workflow process and test creation.
- Simulates user interactions such as tapping, swiping, scrolling, and entering text for comprehensive testing of UI components.
- Offers extensive support along with an active community of developers & testers to help with React Native applications.
Pros:
- Supports testing on real devices without needing mock servers.
- Provides access to a range of APIs that interact with mobile apps for testing in a real environment.
- Supports cross-platform testing for native & web apps.
Cons:
- Doesn’t offer real-time testing for iOS.
- Not the best choice for testing non-React native applications.
Conclusion
This concludes our list of best iOS App test automation frameworks that prove crucial in testing and delivering high-quality iOS applications. Choosing the right iOS test automation framework not only improves the quality but also speeds up the production lifecycle and identifies bugs early.
