Appium vs Selendroid: What are the differences?

Introduction

Appium and Selendroid are both mobile automation testing frameworks that are popular among developers and testers. While they serve a similar purpose, there are key differences between the two that set them apart.

1. Platform Support: The first major difference between Appium and Selendroid is their platform support. Appium supports a wider range of platforms including iOS, Android, and Windows, whereas Selendroid primarily focuses on Android testing only. This means that if you need to test your application on multiple platforms, Appium would be the better choice.

2. Automation Approach: Another significant difference between Appium and Selendroid lies in their automation approach. Appium relies on the WebDriver protocol to automate mobile applications, while Selendroid uses the Android Instrumentation framework. This difference in approach can have implications on the ease of use, compatibility, and flexibility of the testing framework.

3. Native Apps Support: Appium has better support for testing native mobile applications as compared to Selendroid. Appium allows testing of both native and hybrid apps, whereas Selendroid is primarily designed for testing native Android applications. So, if your application is a native one, Appium would be the preferable choice.

4. Community Support and Updates: Appium enjoys a larger and more active community than Selendroid, which results in frequent updates, bug fixes, and new features. This means that Appium is more likely to have better support and documentation and any issues faced during the testing process are likely to be resolved quickly and efficiently.

5. Official Support and Documentation: While both Appium and Selendroid have official support and documentation, Appium's documentation is more comprehensive and well-maintained. It provides detailed and up-to-date guides, FAQs, and examples, making it easier for developers and testers to use the framework effectively.

6. Compatibility with Testing Frameworks: Appium is highly compatible with various testing frameworks such as JUnit and TestNG, making it easier to integrate with existing test infrastructure. On the other hand, Selendroid has limited compatibility with testing frameworks, which can be a constraint if you are working with a specific testing framework.

In summary, Appium offers wider platform support, better native app testing capabilities, a larger and more active community, and better compatibility with testing frameworks. However, Selendroid is primarily focused on Android testing and uses a different automation approach.