Admittedly, Chrome is the dominating browser with around 62.3% of market share as of Nov 2023, but if you only test your websites on Google Chrome, there is still around 38.7% of your users who visit  your site on other browsers that you are missing out on. What if a bug occurs on those browsers? To ensure that no bugs went undetected, you need cross-browser testing.
 

To test across browsers, you may need a cross-browser testing tool. Without such tools, you need to constantly switch from one browser/device/OS to the next for the same test case. 

With a good tool, you can easily configure those test cases to run automatically across the environments of your choice, which is way more efficient than manual methods. In this article, we have listed down the top cross-browser testing tools for your QA team to consider. Make sure to choose a tool that aligns best with your team's needs, resources, and technical expertise.

Benefits of Adopting a Cross-browser Testing Tool

Cross-browser testing is, in fact, a much smaller subset of cross-platform testing, which involves testing across browsers, operating systems, devices, and their legacy versions. A different combination of these provides a completely different experience. Currently we have around:

• 9000+ different devices
• 21 different operating systems (including older versions)
• 6 major browser engines (Blink, WebKit, Gecko, Trident, EdgeHTML, Chromium) powering thousands of browsers (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge, Opera, etc.) 

Together they make up thousands of device - OS - browser combinations that you have to take into account.
 

Without a cross-browser testing tool, the QA team has these options:

• In-House Device Labs: some QA teams set up in-house device labs with a variety of physical devices and browsers ready for testing purposes. This also means investing into physical machines supporting combinations of browsers the team wants to test on. This approach can grow to be quite costly, and the effort to maintain those devices for most accurate test results is never small.
• Cloud Testing Devices: QA teams can leverage cloud-based testing devices to provide immediate access to virtual environments for a wide variety of browsers and devices. This eliminates the need to maintain an extensive physical device lab. However, a cloud testing service is external, and therefore disconnected from your internal testing activities, leading to challenges in management.
• Emulators and Simulators: another good option is using emulators/simulators to mimic the behavior of different devices and browsers. These tools are often part of integrated development environments (IDEs) or available as standalone applications. Their downside also happens to be the lack of connection with other testing activities.
  
  Read More: Emulators vs Simulators vs Real Device Testing: A Detailed Comparison

A good cross-browser testing tool solves those challenges by unifying all those features in one place. When choosing a tool, you should look at these criteria:

1. Does the tool support the on-cloud testing of browsers/devices/OS/versions that you need?
2. Does the tool connect your cross-browser testing activities with other testing activities?
3. Does the tool offer adequate CI/CD integrations?
4. Does the tool provide user analytics/monitoring for continuous feedback and insights? 

The questions above should provide you with a good starting point. Now, let’s look at the list of the top cross-browser testing tools in the current market. We compare them in detail, listing down their notable strengths, their key features, pricing point, and even link to their websites/documentations for your convenience. 
 

With that being said, here is our list of the top 10 cross-browser testing tools that we have carefully selected based on the aforementioned criteria:

1. Katalon Platform [Best For All Testing Purposes]
2. Selenium [Best Framework For Cross-browser Testing]
3. SauceLabs
4. BrowserStack
5. Browserling [Best For A Quick Test]
6. Applitools
7. Mabl

1. Katalon [Best For All Testing Purposes]

When it comes to cross-browser testing, and also any type of testing, Katalon Platform is the go-to choice for your team. As a comprehensive testing platform, you can do everything within one single workplace, from planning your tests, scheduling them, executing them across browsers, to viewing analytics for deeper insights. The entire testing life cycle is bundled within the Katalon portfolio, so there is no need for additional installations.
 

In other words, you get so much more than cross-browser testing capabilities with Katalon. It is like a powerful army Swiss knife for software testing.
 

Let’s focus on the particular features supporting cross-platform testing of Katalon. To do cross-browser testing, you need Katalon TestCloud. Once you have crafted some test cases in Katalon Studio, simply click the Run button and choose the TestCloud icon.

Read More: What is TestCloud? A Detailed Explanation

You can then choose the specific Operating System, browser, and versions to run your tests on. Click the Run button to execute your tests.

That is all it takes to run tests on the browser of your choice with Katalon. The process is extremely simple and straightforward. Creating tests with Katalon is also incredibly simple and intuitive, when you can just choose the Record-and-Playback mode, manually perform the test once, then Katalon will turn your manual test on the screen into a reusable test script that you can easily execute across browsers.

You can even schedule for Katalon to automatically execute your test suites at specific time on browsers of your choice in Katalon TestOps, which is also available when you create your account.

Of course, Katalon also supports cross-browser testing on mobile devices. Here is a sneak peek in Katalon TestOps where you can choose the test environment to run your test suite. You can easily the wide variety of options you have at your fingertips.

The nice thing is that you can not only create tests without having to write one single line of code then execute them across environments but also easily manage them and generate detailed reports with rich insights so that you can easily make informed, data-driven decisions.

Download Katalon and Witness its Power in Action

2. Selenium [Best Framework For Cross-browser Testing]

Selenium is undoubtedly one of the first choices when it comes to cross-browser testing thanks to its well-known versatility. Selenium supports multiple programming languages, including Java, Python, C#, Ruby, and JavaScript. This flexibility allows testing teams to leverage their existing skills and choose a programming language that aligns seamlessly with their expertise.
 

This versatility extends to various browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, and others. Selenium's WebDriver API enables tests to be executed across different browsers without major modifications, ensuring cross-browser compatibility.

Read More: How To Do Data-driven Testing With Selenium & Katalon
 

For example, let’s look at a code snippet written in Java using Selenium to test on both Chrome and Safari. The testOnChrome and testOnSafari method is a test case for the respective browser.
 

import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.safari.SafariDriver;
import org.testng.annotations.AfterClass;
import org.testng.annotations.BeforeClass;
import org.testng.annotations.Test;
 
public class CrossBrowserTest {
 
    private WebDriver chromeDriver;
    private WebDriver safariDriver;
 
    @BeforeClass
    public void setUp() {
        // Set the system property for ChromeDriver
        System.setProperty("webdriver.chrome.driver", "path/to/chromedriver");
 
        // Initialize ChromeDriver
        chromeDriver = new ChromeDriver();
 
        // Initialize SafariDriver
        safariDriver = new SafariDriver();
    }
 
    @Test
    public void testOnChrome() {
        // Navigate to a website
        chromeDriver.get("https://www.example.com");
 
        // Perform your test steps on Chrome
        // …
 
        // Add assertions or verifications as needed
        // ...
    }
 
    @Test
    public void testOnSafari() {
        // Navigate to the same website
        safariDriver.get("https://www.example.com");
 
        // Perform your test steps on Safari
        // …
 
        // Add assertions or verifications as needed
        // ...
    }
 
    @AfterClass
    public void tearDown() {
        // Close ChromeDriver
        if (chromeDriver != null) {
            chromeDriver.quit();
        }
 
        // Close SafariDriver
        if (safariDriver != null) {
            safariDriver.quit();
        }
    }
}

 

Not just that, Selenium also supports mobile testing through frameworks like Appium, so testers can easily extend their cross-browser testing efforts to mobile devices.

3. SauceLabs

Sauce Labs is a cloud-based testing platform that caters to all phases of your software development and operations lifecycle. Upon signing up to Sauce Labs, you gain access to thousands of desktop browsers, real mobile devices, emulators, simulators, and real device clouds that can accommodate almost all of your cross-browser testing needs.
 

To test your mobile app on SauceLab, all you have to do is drag and drop your app file into SauceLabs “App Management” interface, which supports *.apk, *.aan, *.ipa, and *.zip files. In the manual mode, simply hover over the device in the grid and click "Start Test." The live test window will open with a wide range of options such as taking screenshots, sharing the session, rotating the device, etc. for you to freely interact with the app.
 

Read More: A Complete Guide To Manual Mobile Testing

For automated testing, Sauce Labs is quite versatile, supporting not only Selenium but also Cypress, Playwright, Cucumber.js, TestCafe, Replay, and more. To start testing, you first need to install the Sauce Labs testing library or bindings for your chosen testing framework. For example, you need to use selenium-webdriver for Selenium-based tests.
 

After that, you need to use your Sauce Labs username and access key to authenticate your tests with the Sauce Labs cloud. For more details, you can check out this example on GitHub. Write your automated tests using the chosen testing framework, and run your tests on the environment of your choice in Sauce Labs Cloud.
 

Pricing: There are 3 pricing plans: Live Testing, Virtual Cloud, and Real Device Cloud that you can choose from.
 

Website: Sauce Labs
 

GitHub: Sauce Labs Docs

4. BrowserStack

BrowserStack is a cloud-based cross-browser testing platform that allows developers and testers to test their web applications across a wide range of browsers and devices. It provides a scalable and on-demand infrastructure for running automated and manual tests.
 

With BrowserStack, you can easily test and debug your websites on desktop, real iOS, and Android devices. BrowserStack supports Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, Puppeteer, JS Testing API, and more, allowing QA teams to choose the frameworks that best suit their needs. More than that, you can also do accessibility testing and visual testing with BrowserStack, ensuring a high level of test coverage across environments for your applications.
 

Website: BrowserStack
 

Pricing: BrowserStack offers highly specific pricing for each of your testing needs, ranging from $29/month to $2,999/month for Large Grid plan You
 

Documentation: BrowserStack Docs

5. Browserling [Best For Instant Cross-browser Testing] 

Browserling is an online cross-browser testing tool that provides immediate browser testing services. 

To test on Browserling, simply type in your URL, choose the OS, browser, and version you want to test on, then click Test Now. You should be directed to a virtual environment where you can easily see and interact with your website. It is the ideal tool for testers who want to immediately gain access to a test environment without having to go through the authentication process. 

As you can see above, there are several options to assist your testing activities, such as Capture screen, Show keyboard, or Copy and paste. For this free plan, you only have 3 live testing minutes per session, and you can upgrade for unlimited sessions. Although 3 live testing minutes seem short, it is actually ideal if all you need is a quick and short test on another browser. You can upgrade to the Developer Plan for unlimited access or a Team Plan for multi-user license.
 

Straight-forward and relatively easy to use, Browserling is a good cross-browser testing tool for developers and teams with simple needs.

6. Applitools

Applitools carve for itself a specific niche in the cross-browser testing world: cross-browser visual testing. With Applitools Ultrafast Test Cloud, you get a Visual AI that enables you to perform visual testing across browsers for web apps and mobile applications without adding time to your release cycles.

Read More: Top Visual Testing Tools For Your QA Team
 

Applitools is powerful thanks to its concurrent testing capabilities by running screenshot jobs in parallel. These jobs are distributed across a grid of hundreds of browsers in the cloud. Each browser generates screenshots for various combinations of browser types, viewport sizes, and simulated or emulated devices simultaneously.
 

Moreover, instead of relying on virtual machines, Applitools Ultrafast Grid utilizes containers to render web pages on different browsers. This approach is faster and more reliable because it avoids the overhead associated with virtualization. Containers are lightweight and provide a more efficient means of running code in a distributed environment.
 

Website: Applitools

Documentation: Applitools Docs
 

7. Mabl

Mabl is a test automation platform designed for continuous testing and intelligent quality assurance. It is one of the first AI testing tools on the market.  focused on providing automated testing solutions that are easy to set up and maintain. Mabl aims to make testing an integral part of the continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) pipeline, helping teams deliver high-quality software with speed and confidence.

Mabl uses a scriptless approach to test automation, making it accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise. Test creation and maintenance can be performed without the need for extensive coding skills. Pairing that with its strong AI-powered features and cross-browser testing capabilities, Mabl is a great choice for any teams looking to test a wide variety of applications faster and better on many environments.
 

Website: Mabl
 

Documentation: Mabl Help

8. LambdaTest

LambdaTest is a cloud-based platform that provides cross-browser testing services. It supports live interactive cross-browser testing on 3000+ real mobile and desktop browsers, running on real operating systems. Users can perform testing on both public and locally hosted websites.
 

For enhanced efficiency, LambdaTest also supports online Selenium test automation on desktop, Android, and iOS mobile browsers. Users can run Selenium test automation scripts across LambdaTest's online Automation Browser Testing Grid, streamlining the development, testing, and delivery processes.

For mobile app testing, LambdaTest's Real Device Cloud provides a reliable platform for testing native, hybrid, and web mobile apps. The platform offers emulators, simulators, and real devices, eliminating the need for in-house device labs and ensuring scalability in mobile app testing.
 

Wrapping Up

Cross-browser testing is a crucial activity to ensure the efficiency and reliability of your application across environments, and a good cross-browser testing tool should offer plenty of environment options for QA teams to choose from, along with automation capabilities, reporting, analytics, and also CI/CD integrations.

Here is a list of testing tools that you might be interested in: