Katalon Studio is a powerful free license automation tool developed for desktop, mobile, web and API testing.
It is designed to eliminate the complex processes often associated with creating an advanced automation framework through proper integration of all the necessary testing components with built-in project templates and keywords.
The software solution is tailored for non-technical users, allowing them to create and reuse automated test scripts for user interfaces (UIs) without the need for coding or programming language knowledge.
It can be effectively used to automate front-end web and mobile applications, as well as web services. The platform gives users the ability to run automated tests of specific UI elements such as wait-times, pop-ups and i-frames.
Katalon Studio supports several testing environments and operating systems, including Mac OS X, Linux platforms, and Windows 7, 8 and 10.
It supports a number of commonly used web browsers, including Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Edge, etc.
One of the main selling points of this solution is its comprehensive framework and package. Implementing this tool eliminates the need to download or install any other third-party program or component.
Once Katalon Studio has been installed into the system, users can essentially start creating and running their automation tests without wasting time on coding or some other complex process.
Katalon Studio Features
Katalon Studio is packed with many robust features and capabilities. There are several built-in keywords that you may use directly, but you can also create your own custom keywords if and when the need arises.
The core features of Katalon Studio include:
Web testing solution
Katalon offers a comprehensive set of web testing tools that comes with built-in DevOps integrations as well as continuous delivery/continuous integration.
The solution is tailored for testing not just web applications, but iOS and Android apps as well.
It also has code-assist utilities such as in-context references, code refactoring and built-in object spy. Katalon’s native plugins support integrations with qTest, Jenkins, Jira and Git.
The web testing execution mechanism for Katalon Studio utilizes multiple datasets and configurations.
It enables users to customize and automatically run the execution workflow. This particular module allows the importation of external libraries to further enhance its automation functions.
API testing solution
Katalon’s API testing tool is designed so you can test APIs without needing additional third-party integrations.
The built-in feature enables users to perform end-to-end API testing, maintain their tests and automate the scripting process.
Some of the core features of the API testing module include a debugger, code snippets, references and code auto-completion and inspection.
The API testing software supports virtually all types of REST, SOAP/1.1 and 1.2 requests. It also supports multiple data sources, including XML, XLS and other databases with dynamic mapping in order to capitalize on its test coverage.
The module enables testers to import tests from various API testing and editing programs like Postman, WSDL and Swagger. Katalon’s API testing solution also has a built-in response viewer with search capabilities and auto-formatting.
Mobile testing solution
Katalon Studio’s mobile testing feature enables you to effectively test your applications for the web, Android and iOS platforms.
It comes with native integration via Appium, which is a test automation tool specifically designed for mobile applications.
The solution supports end-to-end testing for some of the most recent mobile platforms and devices in the market, without any additional integrations or installations.
It essentially reduces mobile testing time by efficiently storing and detecting objects.
In addition to using Appium as a native integration, Katalon also leverages the Selenium library.
This further improves the module’s mobile testing capabilities and makes things a lot more efficient and less time-consuming for the user.
Version control feature
Katalon Studio has built-in integration with Git, which allows for safe and secure storage of all test codes and framework libraries.
This is a very useful feature for those working at an enterprise level where teams often work with the code and the same framework. In such an environment, keeping track of the codes, updates and versions everyone is working on can be challenging.
Katalon avoids these kinds of issues through a proper version control solution.
Even if you’re working with a team that has little to no experience with version control systems, Katalon Studio is designed to be as user-friendly as possible anyways.
The platform has made the version control process easy through its well-laid-out UI menus where cloning, pulling and pushing any changes you have made into Git is relatively quick.
Debugging, reporting and analytics
Katalon Studio provides comprehensive reports and testing analysis, unlike other similar software solutions in its category.
The reporting and analytics feature can show you not just test results, but a complete test history as well, which it automatically stores and maintains.
Katalon Analytics presents its reports and analysis through an interactive dashboard that is well laid out and easy to understand.
Katalon reports prioritize testing areas, which highlights key aspects that are critical to the user. All patterns of execution are recorded via screenshots and videos and then stored properly.
After each testing, results are displayed clearly as specific KPIs on the interactive dashboards. The solution also features email failure notifications which you can view with detailed reports.
For the debugging procedure, users have the ability to create breakpoints which allow them to debug their test case.
The process is similar to that of the Eclipse system since the tool is created over the Eclipse SDK.
This means the Katalon debugging tool comes with all the same features and capabilities, including the built-in reporting and history logs.
Recording module
Katalon Studio is delivered using a Selenium-based recording module for both the Firefox and Google Chrome web browsers.
It is capable of recording tests, enables users to run their debugging tools, can automate the test management process and has the ability to export testing scripts into Java, Python, Ruby, Groovy, C+/C++ and Robot Framework.
The Katalon Recorder comes with a fairly straightforward record and playback feature for users with no coding or programming experience. It is also capable of saving previous methods utilized during testing for future reference.
Katalon Studio Benefits
Katalon Studio is designed and built for non-technical users as well as the experienced QC testers.
It is meant to facilitate the web, mobile, API and desktop application testing process through automation and with a comprehensive set of tools and features.
The following are some of the software solution’s main benefits:
Intuitive analytics dashboard and reporting
Katalon Studio offers a built-in, data-driven testing feature that enables testers of any skill level or experience to perform proper analysis of test results based on recorded or predefined scenarios.
The software displays the analysis results via inbuilt reports which can then be exported in HTML, CSV, PDF and Excel with just a few clicks. The generated reports are easily digestible and visually intuitive.
Comprehensive toolset and integrations
As a quality assurance solution, Katalon Studio provides many tools for users. It comes with application lifecycle management (ALM) integrations, plugins and frameworks compatible with various operating systems, including Mac OS, Windows and Linux.
It is integrated with CI and DevOps workflows
Katalon Studio is made compatible with a number of solutions generally implemented in Continuous Integration (CI) and DevOps.
The native integrations include Slack, Git, Jira, qTest and more. Moreover, this quality assurance tool is also integrated with cloud CI solutions such as Travis CI, BrowserStack, 12 CircleCI, Kobiton, SauceLabs and Selenium Grid.
Supports a number of testing types
Katalon Studio supports several types of testing, which includes data-driven testing, cross-browser testing, keywords-driven testing and API testing.
Data-driven testing is a test execution strategy that involves reading test scripts from different data sources such as CSV files, Excel spreadsheets, ADO objects and ODBC sources.
Katalon’s ability to work with most popular web browsers allows it to run automated tests across every browser, from Chrome and Internet Explorer to Headless, Remote and even custom environments.
Keywords-driven testing is the approach often used by testers who are lacking in expertise when it comes to scripting.
It is a testing process that utilizes keywords to represent the user’s actions on the applications under testing (AUT).
User-friendly graphical user interface (GUI)
Katalon Studio’s user-interface (UI) offers attractive yet easily comprehensible graphics, featuring neat tables, menus and tree views.
This makes managing test results, history logs and artifacts far easier and less time-consuming.
The overall design and interface of the solution is meant to provide convenience, ease-of-use and accessibility even for non-technical users.
Katalon Studio Pricing
Pricing for Katalon Studio Enterprise starts at $69 per month per node-locked license.
There is also annual-based pricing which starts at $759 for the node-locked license and $1,529 for a floating license, available only for the annual payment option.
The Katalon Runtime Engine starts at $49 per month for the node-locked license and $89 per month for the DevOps license.
The annual option will take you back $539 for the node-locked license, $979 for the DevOps license and $1,199 for the floating license.
You may visit the official vendor website for more information on their pricing options, licensing guide and contact details.
Conclusion
Katalon Studio is a reasonable choice for the majority of small and medium-sized businesses looking to improve their testing and quality assurance capabilities without worrying about the complexities of coding.
The tool is a constantly evolving solution with extensive integrations that enable users to perform a wide variety of testing types with just a single unified system.
The best part is that it comes with everything a tester needs straight away, with no additional installations necessary.
