Software testing is broadly divided into two categories: manual testing and automation testing. Without the use of tools or scripts, manual testing entails designing and carrying out test cases by hand. Automated testing uses software, scripts, and tools to create test cases and execute them.

It is common to ask which type of software testing should be used in a project. There are many factors to take into consideration, but the majority of organizations believe that time, cost, and quality (risk cover) are the most important. The goal of any software testing process is to produce high-quality software while minimizing costs and effort.

This blog will examine the main differences between Manual Testing vs. Automated Testing. We will look at the pros and cons of each method and give guidance on when manual testing should be used and when automated testing should be used.

What is Manual Testing?

A QA analyst performs manual testing on the software. To detect defects in the program that is being created is done. 

Manual testing is the process of checking all essential features in an application or software. This process is where software testers perform the tests and create the test reports manually, without using any automated software testing tools.

The most typical approach for all testing kinds, it aids in the discovery of software flaws. An experienced tester often performs the software testing procedure.

Benefits of Manual Testing

  • Start time and initial investment are reduced
  • Applicable to applications with a frequently changing GUI
  • Testing small changes quickly requires minimal or no coding.
  • Testers can evaluate the usability of applications by interacting with them as real users.
  • Human judgment and intuition are important for analyzing elements.
  • Visual feedback that is fast and accurate

Pros of Manual Testing

  • Visual feedback that is fast and accurate
  • You don’t have to spend money on automation tools or processes.
  • Manual elements always benefit from human judgment and intuition
  • An automation test could take a long time to run, even if it is only testing a minor change. You could also test manually.

Cons of Manual Testing

  • It’s a less reliable method of testing because it is conducted by a person. It is therefore always susceptible to errors and mistakes.
  • Manual testing cannot be recorded so the test can’t even be reused.
  • This method of testing is difficult to use manually and may add time to the testing phase.

What is Automation Testing?

Automated Software Testing is a form of automated software testing where testers use code/test scripts in order to automate the test execution. The test scripts are developed by testers using automation tools. The goal is for the test to be completed in less time.

To compare the actual results to the predicted outcomes, automated testing solely depends on pre-scripted tests that are executed automatically. This allows the tester to check whether an application is performing as expected. 

Automated testing enables you to perform repetitive tasks and regression tests without manual testers. Automation requires manual work to create the initial scripts, even though it is automated.

Pros of Automated Testing

  • Automation testing can help you find more bugs than a human tester
  • You can enjoy a quick and efficient testing process as the majority of the process is automated.
  • Automated processes can be recorded. You can reuse the same testing procedures.
  • Automation testing uses software tools to conduct testing, which is less tiring than manual testing.
  • The rapid & accurate results it produces can increase productivity.
  • Automated testing supports various applications
  • Automation testing tools can increase the coverage of your tests. Never forget to test even the smallest units.

Cons of Automated Testing

  • Without a human element, it might be challenging to acquire insight into the aesthetic features of your user interface, such as the colors, fonts, sizes, contrast, and button sizes.
  • Automation testing tools can be costly, increasing the costs of a project.
  • Automation testing tools still have some limitations. Each automation tool has its limitations, which limits the scope of automation.
  • Automated testing is not complete without debugging the test script. Test maintenance can be costly.

Manual Testing vs. Automated Testing–a key difference

Here is the key difference between Manual Testing vs. Automated Testing. So let’s have a look at them. 

 

Parameter Automated Testing Manual Testing
Definition Automation Testing is the use of automation tools to execute test cases. Manual testing involves a combination of a tester and software.
Processing time Automated testing can be significantly faster than manual testing. Manual testing takes time and human resources.
Exploratory Testing Automated testing does not allow for random testing Manual Testing allows for exploratory testing
Initial Investment The initial investment is higher in automated testing. The ROI is higher in the long term. Manual testing requires a lower initial investment. The long-term ROI of Automation testing is lower than Manual testing.
Reliability Automated testing can be a reliable technique since it is carried out by scripts and tools. Testing Fatigue is not a problem. Because there is a chance for human error during manual testing, it is less accurate.
Changes to the UI Automated Test Scripts must be modified for even a minor change in the UI. Changes in class, id, and other small details can be made. A button would not thwart the execution of a manual test.
Investments Automation engineers and testing tools require investment Human resources require investment.
Cost-effective Low-volume regression is not cost-effective Regressions with high volumes are not cost-effective.
Test Report Visibility All stakeholders can log in to the automation system to check the results Results from manual tests are often not immediately or quickly accessible and are typically documented in Word or Excel.
Human Observation Automated testing is not human-centered. It can’t guarantee user-friendliness or a positive customer experience. Manual testing allows for human observation which can be helpful to provide a user-friendly product.
Performance Testing Load testing, stress testing, spike testing, and other performance tests. The tests must be tested using automated technologies. Manual Performance Testing is not possible
Parallel Execution The testing can be performed on multiple operating systems in parallel, reducing the test execution time. The manual tests can be run in parallel, but you will need more human resources which is costly.
Batch Testing You can batch multiple test scripts to be executed nightly. The manual tests can’t be batch tested.

Why Should You Choose Automated Testing Instead of Manual Testing?

Here is the comparison between Manual Testing vs. Automated Testing that you must check out. So let’s have a look: 

1. More Efficiency

The first difference between Manual Testing vs. Automated Testing is more efficiency. It is easier to use automation tools and run more tests without any hassles, compared to manual testing which takes the same amount of time each time for repetitive tasks. Automated testing allows for more tests to be run in less time. It facilitates the process of delivering software more effectively and productively.

Automation is a priority, especially with the rapid growth of smart devices and apps. This is to improve the quality of the app. With the indications that efficiency is poor across industries, web, and manual mobile application testing has some importance.

2. Cost-Effective 

The next difference between Manual Testing vs. Automated Testing is cost-effective. Manual testing may require a smaller initial investment but it also requires a large amount of effort and human resources for each process. Automated costing is only a one-time expense. Testers can use the same tests over and over again once they are written. Manual testing requires testers to perform repetitive tasks, which is costly.

3. Test Cases with Improved Accuracy 

It is the next difference between Manual Testing vs. Automated Testing. When it comes to manual testing, even seasoned testers may make mistakes. This is especially true for complex use cases. Automated testing eliminates this concern and helps to perform tests more accurately as it follows similar algorithms and functions each time.

4. Test Suite Reusability 

It is the next difference between Manual Testing vs. Automated Testing. Due to the recurrent nature of automation test cases, software developers may quickly find application responses. The configurations can be easily set up, and automated test cases can be reused for different scenarios. 

5. Scalability

Scalability is the next difference between Manual Testing vs. Automated Testing. Scaling up manual testing projects is difficult because manual testing involves significant resources, including a lot of time and effort. This means that more people will be needed to test more cases. Automation testing is scalable as it only requires adding more test executors.

6. Reduced Manual Work

Automated testing helps testers reduce repetitive manual tasks throughout the testing journey. Additionally, it makes use of a variety of automated technologies to carry out the testing effectively. It is the next difference between Manual Testing vs. Automated Testing. A certain amount of manual work is still required at the implementation stage when testers create the scripts for the baseline tests.

7. Opportunity to Accommodate Advanced Features  

Software companies can automate advanced tests using real-user simulation technologies. Included are Face ID, fingerprint testing, location mocking, network virtualization, image testing, and voice testing. 

8. Test Coverage Increased

Manual testing limits the number of tests that can be performed as new tests require more resources and time to create and execute. It is the next difference between Manual Testing vs. Automated Testing is test coverage. Testing professionals may devote more time to developing new tests and including them in an automated test suite thanks to automation. This allows the testing of more features and expands the coverage.

 

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9. Consider Manual Testing in the Following Scenarios

Even though automation has mostly replaced manual testing, it is still occasionally essential. This allows testers more flexibility to create and execute complex test scenarios.

10. Initial Development Stage

Manual testing is the best process to use during the initial development phase. It helps testers identify bottlenecks and visual errors in advance, and it reduces the time and resources needed to fix bugs. Moreover, initial development is usually an unstable stage of product development, so it’s not rational to invest in automation. 

11. Test the Visual Aspects of UI

The visual aspects of user interfaces may be tested manually. Manual testing provides a wide range of capabilities, including the ability to record visual aspects, detect defects, and more. It is the next difference between Manual Testing vs. Automated Testing. 

A fantastic technique to make sure that the design components in an interface match the elements in the final layout is to manually test the user interface. 

False negatives are also less likely to occur. This can lead to additional work by DevOps teams in order for them to validate whether an error reported is true or not. Automating high-frequency, repeated tests is easy. Manual testing is suitable for:

  • UX and exploratory Testing
  • Complex test scenarios
  • Validating test scenarios every now and then.

Conclusion

The best way to prioritize manual testing versus automation testing depends on the organizational goals and needs. Automation testing can be less expensive, faster, and better at covering risks. However, manual testing will still be needed to do more exploratory testing.

Now that you know the difference between Manual Testing vs. Automated Testing. You should now carefully weigh the pros and cons of each approach and select the one that best suits your project and its resources.

FAQ

What is a Modular Testing Framework?

Answer: A modular framework for testing is based on abstraction. This type of framework requires the tester to create scripts for each app module under test. The scripts are then combined in a hierarchy order to create a test case.

What is a Test Script?

Test scripts consist of code that executes a series of instructions to test an app to see if it is working as expected. The test results are rendered as pass or fail based on whether or not the app works as expected.

What are the Main Steps in Automating Testing?

  • Selecting a test tool
  • Determining the scope of automation
  • Planning, designing, and development
  • Test execution
  • Maintenance

Can a Manual Tester do Automation Testing?

It can take an untrained manual tester a full year to create and execute automated testing using traditional code-based tools such as Selenium. With No-Code automation software like Opkey manual testers can automate and scale their tests after only a few training hours.