BrowserStack vs Nightwatchjs

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BrowserStack

2.7K
2K
+ 1
498
Nightwatchjs

200
322
+ 1
11
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BrowserStack vs Nightwatchjs: What are the differences?

  1. Deployment: BrowserStack is a cloud-based cross-browser testing tool that allows users to test websites on various operating systems and browsers, whereas Nightwatchjs is a node.js based automated testing framework for web applications.
  2. Support for Multiple Platforms: BrowserStack provides support for testing on numerous platforms including real devices and simulators, while Nightwatchjs mainly focuses on web browser automation for testing.
  3. Integration: BrowserStack seamlessly integrates with popular testing frameworks like Selenium, Appium, and more, whereas Nightwatchjs is a standalone testing framework that can be integrated with other tools through plugins.
  4. Programming Language: BrowserStack supports testing in multiple programming languages including Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, etc., while Nightwatchjs primarily uses JavaScript for writing automated tests.
  5. Community Support: Nightwatchjs has an active community contributing to its development and sharing resources, whereas BrowserStack primarily offers customer support through their platform for users.
  6. Cost: BrowserStack is a paid service with various subscription options based on usage, whereas Nightwatchjs is an open-source tool that is free to use.

In Summary, BrowserStack and Nightwatchjs differ in deployment, platform support, integration, programming language, community support, and cost.

Advice on BrowserStack and Nightwatchjs

I am looking to purchase one of these tools for Mobile testing for my team. It should support Native, hybrid, and responsive app testing. It should also feature debugging, parallel execution, automation testing/easy integration with automation testing tools like Selenium, and the capability to provide availability of devices specifically for us to use at any time with good speed of performing all these activities.

I have already used Perfecto mobile, and Sauce Labs in my other projects before. I want to know how different or better is AWS Device farm in usage and how advantageous it would be for us to use it over other mentioned tools

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Replies (3)
Aaron Evans
Testing Strategist at One Shore · | 3 upvotes · 5.9K views

A SaaS offering like Sauce Labs (or BrowserStack or LambdaTest, etc) will provide a remote Selenium/Appium Grid including the ability to run test automation in parallel (up to the amount based your subscription level) an a wide array of browsers and mobile devices.

These tools can be expensive, but if you can afford them, the expertise and effort of maintaining the grid, browser updates, etc. is worth it.

AWS Device Farm can be significantly cheaper, but is much more work to setup and run. It will not give you as many devices, or the reporting and screen/video capture you get with the the services. And there is no support for AWS Device Farm, and very poor documentation. I have used it, but do not recommend it. Running your own grid and physical device lab is better, but I'd stick with a service like Sauce Labs or Perfecto which will save you time and give you better services despite the higher price tag.

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Recommends
on
BrowserStackBrowserStack

Stability - Just works. Availability - More than 15 datacenters. Enterprise features like SSO, local testing and SOC2/GDPR compliant.

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Jaymie Falconi
Recommends
on
BitBarBitBar

BitBar's Dedicated Devices would be a great option for you. It allows you to dedicate (reserve) devices for your use only which also having access to all of the devices in the shared cloud. BitBar has the features and integrations that you are looking for as well.

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Pros of BrowserStack
Pros of Nightwatchjs
  • 134
    Multiple browsers
  • 75
    Ease of use
  • 63
    Real browsers
  • 43
    Ability to use it locally
  • 26
    Good price
  • 20
    Great web interface
  • 18
    IE support
  • 16
    Official mobile emulators
  • 14
    Instant access
  • 14
    Cloud-based access
  • 11
    Real mobile devices
  • 7
    Selenium compatible
  • 7
    Screenshots
  • 7
    Multiple Desktop OS
  • 6
    Can be used for Testing and E2E
  • 5
    Pre-installed developer tools
  • 4
    Video of test runs
  • 3
    Webdriver compatible
  • 3
    Many browsers
  • 3
    Supports Manual, Functional and Visual Diff Testing
  • 3
    Favourites
  • 2
    Cypress Compatible
  • 2
    Test automation dashboard
  • 2
    Unify and track test cases
  • 2
    Free for Open Source
  • 2
    Test Management
  • 2
    Cross-browser testing
  • 2
    Bi-directional Jira Sync
  • 1
    Speed is fast
  • 1
    Real devices
  • 0
    Web accessibility
  • 0
    Test WCAG Compliance
  • 0
    Visual testing and review
  • 3
    Open source
  • 2
    Testing
  • 2
    Automates browsers
  • 1
    Better cross browser (use selenium)
  • 1
    Cross-Browser Testing
  • 1
    Multiple Browser Support
  • 1
    Parallel Test Running

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Cons of BrowserStack
Cons of Nightwatchjs
  • 2
    Very limited choice of minor versions
  • 2
    No automatic wait
  • 1
    Less flexibility
  • 1
    Limited native mobile app support
  • 1
    Limited browser support
  • 1
    Configuration complexity

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- No public GitHub repository available -

What is BrowserStack?

BrowserStack is the leading test platform built for developers & QAs to expand test coverage, scale & optimize testing with cross-browser, real device cloud, accessibility, visual testing, test management, and test observability.

What is Nightwatchjs?

Nightwatch.js is an easy to use Node.js based End-to-End (E2E) testing solution for browser based apps and websites. It uses the powerful Selenium WebDriver API to perform commands and assertions on DOM elements.

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What are some alternatives to BrowserStack and Nightwatchjs?
Browserling
We run the browsers on our servers. Fully interactive sessions, not static screenshots. No flash, no applets, nothing to install. Powered entirely by <canvas> and javascript.
LambdaTest
LambdaTest platform provides secure, scalable and insightful test orchestration for website, and mobile app testing. Customers at different points in their DevOps lifecycle can leverage Automation and/or Manual testing on LambdaTest.
Ghost Inspector
It lets you create and manage UI tests that check specific functionality in your website or application. We execute these automated browser tests continuously from the cloud and alert you if anything breaks.
AWS Device Farm
Run tests across a large selection of physical devices in parallel from various manufacturers with varying hardware, OS versions and form factors.
Appium
Appium is an open source test automation framework for use with native, hybrid, and mobile web apps. It drives iOS and Android apps using the WebDriver protocol. Appium is sponsored by Sauce Labs and a thriving community of open source developers.
See all alternatives